Techniques and Skills

Helping you fly better with expert advice

Illustration of katabatibc flow in mountains

Understanding katabatic flow

Cross Country’s meteorologist Honza Rejmanek tells us how to read downslope winds – and whether it’s safe to make those end of the day sled rides
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Understanding-the-Sky-new-edition-2022

Understanding the Sky – New Edition

Understanding the Sky has been re-issued in a brand new format. The classic weather book for sport pilots by Dennis Pagen has been updated
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How to deal with valley winds

How to Deal with Valley Winds

Caught out by the valley wind? Here are some tips to help you get down safely – hopefully without being blown back
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Paraglider in high mountains

Flying in the Lee

Flying in the lee is commonplace for cross-country pilots, but there are a few things you should consider before diving in
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Flying 50km by paraglider. Photo: Andy Busslinger

‘Fly 50km or Bust!’

Flying 50k is a landmark achievement in a new pilot's cross-country career, but it can seem elusive at first. Nigel Page explains how to make it happen
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Reserve parachute

Throwing your reserve: Théo’s ten tips

Nobody wants to throw their reserve parachute in anger but if you have to, you have to. Théo de Blic shares his top tips for ensuring it all goes smoothly
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Theo de Blic How to Groundspin

How to ground spin your paraglider

"You need 15-20km/h of wind" to start to learn how to ground spin, says acromeister Théo de Blic
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Annecy-April-1-Jerome-Maupoint

How to get ready for spring in the mountains

It's April ... Red Bull X-Alps pilot Jon Chambers explains how to prepare for those first flights of the season in the Alps
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How to thermal a paraglider

How to enter a thermal

Kelly Farina's Top 5 tips on thermalling a paraglider, from how to enter one properly to how to core correctly and efficiently
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Andean condor

Understanding how condors fly

Emily Shepard and her team at Swansea University have been tagging and tracking condors for five years. They have learnt that condors almost never flap in flight
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