Cross Country issue 143 is out now in digital, and in print – expect yours to land in your in-box or drop onto your doormat soon
And it’s packed: kicking off with a brilliant selection of photos from the top of Europe. We devoted the Gallery to the best photos we could find from that special day that saw cloudbase rise to over 5,000m, above Mont Blanc.
That eye-candy is backed up by a special XC Files by Red Bull X-Alps pilot Jon Chambers. Across four pages he explains in detail how to fly Mont Blanc legally, and how, if you’re lucky enough, to think about toplanding.
On Bar is the next article – a masterclass in how to fly on bar. We asked world-class pilots Russell Ogden and Adrian Thomas for advice on how to fly on bar better, plus we look at controlling the glider using the rear risers.
A couple of guys who know all about speed are Dustin Martin and Jonny Durand. They broke the world hang gliding record earlier this season, pushing it to an incredible 764km in Texas. We tracked Dustin and Jonny down to hear their story firsthand.
It’s been a big season in the USA. Four teams of paraglider pilots have been chasing the magic mark of 200 mountain miles, and Nick Greece and John Hunt finally did it. James Kiwi Johnston tells the story of this long hot summer in the Rocky Mountains, with amazing photos by Nick Greece.
A simply jaw-dropping photo story from Markus Zimmermann who has spent the whole summer in Europe tracking the aerial achievements of Barry Holubeck and Beni Kälin, who have been hooking-up in the air, one flying a speed wing, the other a wingsuit. “It’s so crazy to watch!” Markus told us.
If that’s a little too energetic for you, then relax. Tim-Patrick Meyer heads to Iceland to take part in the Icelandic Paragliding Nationals, and discovers a chilled-out scene set against a spectacular backdrop of big weather and big country.
In reviews, we’ve got the Sky Antea 2 (EN C) on test. “This glider has the fun factor in spades with no evident dark side, and that is all that counts,” is our reviewer’s conclusion. He had a great time, let’s put it that way.
Meanwhile, Marcus King has been reviewing Skywalk’s Cayenne 4 (EN C). He took it out on Mont Blanc Sunday and had a blast.
Marcus has also had the Flymaster Live on test all season. The big feature is Red Bull X-Alps-style tracking. It means everyone at home can watch as you fly far … and then zoom in on Google Earth when you land short.
Plus we have the latest from regular columnists Bruce Goldsmith and Mads Syndergaard, a whole pile of new products to leaf through, a bunch of news from the flying scene over the season, plus one or two extra little surprises. And of course, it features some of the best photography in the sport.
You can download your copy now for your iPad or tablet through the Zinio app, or read it on your computer.
Or you can buy a paper copy here and have it mailed to your door.
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