The legend that is Chrigel Maurer, three-times winner of the Red Bull X-Alps reveals some of his secrets in issue 148 of Cross Country magazine.
Here’s a taster.
How do you core thermals, any tips?
I generally always fly at speed when on an XC or competition flight until I’m climbing again in lift. I begin my turn in a thermal when the lift is constant and I fell I’m climbing as efficiently as possible.
I then adjust my turn radius with asymmetric circles until I’ve found the core. Then I tighten my turns. Thermals are alive, so you have to constantly readjust your turns to climb as efficiently as possible.
If other pilots are flying close by then I observe them to see if there’s any better lift or if there’s sink I should be avoiding.
Chrigel is one of the best pilots in the world and has a remarkably laid-back, fresh approach to flying.
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