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Cross Country

@xcmag

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#xcmag
In the core, since 1988
International Free-Flying Magazine

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The new issue of Cross Country is out! 🪂

From big adventures and inspiring pilots to the latest gear, techniques and destinations, our latest issue is packed with everything we love about free flight.

In this issue:

– The best flying photographs from the solar eclipse
– SRS pilot Luke Nicol goes tip to tip with World Champion Baptiste Lambert at the SRS, France
– We talk to Elisa Deutschmann, who this season has excelled at the X-Pyr, the Europeans and the PWC

And much more!

Read the latest issue ➡️ link in bio by @xcmag

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a month ago

The 120 best pilots in the world, from 25 nations, will be competing for the title of PWCA World Champion at the PWC Superfinal in Grindelwald-Interlaken, in one of the world’s most spectacular Alpine scenery ! 🪂🏔️

In May 2024, a World Cup was organised very successfully for the third time in the Grindelwald-Interlaken area. In May 2027, the same clubs – Jungfrau-Tächi Grindelwald and Deltaclub Interlaken – will once again organise the World Cup Superfinal in collaboration with the Swiss League. 🏆

The Superfinal lasts 10 days and brings the 2026 PWC season to a close. Qualification is based on the five World Cups held during the season. From a sporting perspective, the Superfinal is considered more prestigious than a World Championship. Competitors will be battling it out for the title of “PWCA World Champion”! 🔥

📅 5–15 May 2027
🌐 www.swissleague.ch/pwc27

Enjoy the breathtaking action in the videos, at the First launch site or on the big screen in the heart of Interlaken – and watch the spectacular landings live!

#officialparaglidingworldcup #lasportiva #jackandjones #paraglidingcompetition #shv-fsvl by @xcmag

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4 hours ago

For huge XCs and distance records, your main options are Brazil 🇧🇷or Texas 🇺🇸. But which is better?

On paper, Texas wins. Both the current hang gliding and paragliding world records were set there. The HG world record of 764km was set from Zapata, on 3 July 2012 by Dustin Martin, and the PG world record of 613km was set by Sebastien Kayrouz on 20 June 2021.

However, Texas involves tricky logistics and other difficulties such as locked gates and landowners with gun licenses. In recent years, Brazil has been more popular.

Data scientist Jörg Korner analysed some big-flight tracklogs from both locations to decide once and for all. He found one parameter that gave Texas the win.

Read The Texas Railway 👉https://xcmag.info/TexasRailway

📷
1&2: Texas, with Jonny Durand
3 Quixadá, Brazil by Kiwi Johnson
4&5: On board in Brazil with the (super-chilled 😎)Seb Kayrouz by @xcmag

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8 days ago

Imagine be towed up into the air by a drone. No need for a long field, no hassle with cables, always into wind, and the ability to release exactly where you want. Is it just a dream?

Absolutely not, says Jeroen Dekkers, who spent the last year researching the technology. He travelled to Shenzhen, China's equivalent to Silicon Valley. There, he was towed into the air on his own paraglider by a Blue Wing Technology drone.

“The drone towed me smoothly upwards, the sensation completely different from any winch launch I had experienced before. The tension in the line was remarkably constant and the pull was perfectly aligned with the direction of flight.”

Is the technology coming to the masses anytime soon? Blue Wing say the drone is almost ready for production, but Jeroen looked into European regulations and recognised that there were still “obstacles to overcome” in order to operate such a drone in Europe.

Read the article in issue 268: https://xcmag.info/drone

Photos: Blue Wing Technology / Jeroen Dekkers taken in Shenzhen by @xcmag

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11 days ago

It doesn’t get better than this! A 500k day in Brazil. Nico Suremann (CH, Niviuk Icepeak X-One) and Joanna Di Grigoli (VE, Ozone Zeno 2) heading home right now after an epic day yesterday.

Nico, 23, flew 570km to top the XContest table and set a new Junior World Record in the process.

Joanna flew 535km to become only the second woman to fly more than 500km by paraglider. Joanna missed grabbing the women’s world record by 1.7km – ouch! We know you'll get it next time, JoJo :).

Joanna said: "We had 35km/h tailwind almost all day – even at the end, it was 20km/h. I'm super happy, especially as I was flying alone, and made every single decision on my own."

Nico said: "Not just 500 km — it’s also the Junior World Record! A huge, huge thank you to FlyWithAndy and Swiss League. And big thanks to Flugschule Jura Thal for everything and for being by my side from day one. I am soooo happy. This is a childhood dream come true."

The day saw six 500km flights logged in XContest, including Ondrej Prochazka (CZ), Krzysztof Martyna (PL), Samuel Milani (BR) and Rafael Esquillaro (AU).

Huge congratulations to all!

Photos: @joanna.digrigoli @nico.suremann
Tow team: @flywithandy_paragliding
Driver: Joao Adeildo (the real hero) taken in Sertão by @xcmag

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12 days ago

“I started flying in 1990. It was a crazy period for paragliding. We didn’t know we would be left in charge to invent the activity. Every week a new model, every day a customer was a test pilot! I was one of them. Before flying I was into rock climbing. To eat, I was a mountain guide and ski instructor.”

We talk to pioneering harness designer Denis Cortella in the latest issue 👉 https://xcmag.info/DenisCortella

Photo: @jeromemaupoint by @xcmag

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14 days ago

Please, don’t worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this earth — life is fleeting.

Make your life spectacular. I know I did.” 📸🪂#paragliding #photography taken in Allgäuer Alpen by @xcmag

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17 days ago

Having insurance is one thing. Having the right insurance is another.

“It’s every pilot’s worst nightmare. Or perhaps more accurately, it’s your family’s worst nightmare – that moment after an accident when they realise your insurance isn’t going to cover the costs or isn’t valid at all.”

In the latest issue, @adventuretarq helps makes sense of insurance, and work out what cover you actually need. Travel, health, third-party liability, search and rescue (yes, those are two different things), repatriation, gear… it's a minefield before you even get to the exclusions and special clauses lurking in the small print.

Take a deep breath and dive in 👉 https://xcmag.info/insurance

📸 Jacques Paul-Stefani by @xcmag

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18 days ago

When you need to throw, you want a reliable rescue. The question is, steerable or not? Some people think steerable reserves are just for acro pilots and pro’s, but are they? In the latest issue we asked some designers. 👉 https://xcmag.info/steerables

Video: @highadventure.ch featuring the Beamer 3 and @valentinparapente, @soaringscotty, @jennifer_pl, @nicola.thost, @lucasinc_, @theochalloner by @xcmag

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20 days ago

AUTUMN IS AROUND THE CORNER 🍂

Some flights are special.
Some stay with you forever.

Chasing the last warm light, high above the mountains. 🪂🏔️

#paragliding #parapente #paraglidinglove taken in Allgäuer Alpen by @xcmag

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21 days ago

“If you are active on social media and people don’t like you, you get lots of hate... It hit me really hard." @elisa.deutschmann opens up about her triumphs at the @xpyrrace, the @fai.civl Europeans and @officialparaglidingworldcup – and her battles with online trolls. The full story is in our latest issue, which you can find online via our bio link. by @xcmag

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25 days ago

The @coupeicare showcases the best of our sports – bringing together people and pilots in a festival that celebrates all the many different disciplines.

This year we made a perfect early morning hike-and-fly, watched in awe as the acro pilots tumbled over the valley, got inspired by the new generation of parakites, and met old friends and made new ones in the trade tents.

Sadly, this year the Coupe Icare also experienced the worst side of our sports, when a tandem hang glider crashed on the morning of the last day. Pilot Rhal Ssan, 29, and his passenger, Nadège Chiffot, 45, were both killed. A full report is on our website.

The Coupe Icare is run by volunteers, almost exclusively. Each year hundreds of them go out of their way to welcome the flying world to their beautiful home site, and they work together to put on a world-class show. Their passion, dedication and experience allow the rest of us to have a great time without thinking too much about what goes into making it happen.

Sadly this year, those same organisers and volunteers also had to manage this tragic accident – the worst in Coupe Icare’s 53-year history. They did that with professionalism, sensitivity and respect.

We extend our sincere condolences to the friends and family of Rhal and Nadège as well as the tight-knit French hang gliding community.

And we offer our personal thanks to the emergency services, people, pilots and volunteers at the Coupe Icare who found a way to go above and beyond on Sunday. We are thinking of you all.

Icarnaval photos @erwinvoogt
Videos @bastiennewentzel
Photo of Rhal @babs_thompson taken in Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet by @xcmag

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