Cross Country

Cross Country is the world’s leading voice for hang gliding, paragliding and paramotoring pilots. Eight times a year, our magazine content reflects our obsession with flying, and we express it by packing each issue with the most imaginative, inspirational photography and writing we can lay our hands on.

BRIDGING THE GAP

CONTRIBUTORS

Cross Country

OPENING SHOT

IN THE CORE • People, news and insight from around the free-flying world

XCONTEST 2026 WINNERS WRAP-UP

A TRAGIC END TO THE COUPE ICARE

FINAL FLIGHT OF THE HAPPY ICARUS • Toni Bender was a key figure in our sports. Till Gottbrath pays tribute to an old friend

ON LAUNCH WITH HUGO CHABOUD

FLYING FILMS TO CATCH

BACK IN THE DAY

FLYING IQ • Helping you fly better with expert advice and know-how

EMERGENCY HELICOPTERS 101 • Fred Souchon is a mountain guide and works for the mountain rescue service in Chamonix, France. When not flying XC on his Omega ULS or on a hike-and-fly mission he will often be inside the PGHM rescue helicopter on his way to help rescue alpinists, hikers or pilots in the Alps

YOUR SECRET SUPERPOWER • Benjamin Gaudry is a pilot and trail runner from France. He is a mental coach at Font Romeu, the specialist sports school in the French Pyrenees where paragliding is on the agenda

THE 12-STEP X-ALPS PROGRAMME • Chrigel Maurer shared his advice on how to prepare for the X-Alps. Jack Sheard took notes

THERMALS WITHOUT SUN • Vasilis Besikiotis has a doctorate in chemistry and works on green fuels and decarbonisation. Originally from Greece he lives in Norway, where he flies XC and hike-and-fly

MENTORING MATTERS • Allen Weynberg is a school guidance counsellor in Brisbane, Australia. At weekends he spends most of his time trying to keep up with the talented pilots of Canungra in southeast Queensland

DESTINATION TAPALPA, MEXICO

400K FAI • Months of preparation, 5,000m passes, 6,800m base, off-the-clock thermals and stormy skies. In June Antoine Girard flew the world’s first 400km FAI triangle, launching from Hunza, Pakistan. He tells us how he prepared, how he flew the line and what happened when his brake line snapped.

The Ballroom of the Alps • While mist clings to the forests of the lower mountains elsewhere, autumn can be the best time of the year to fly the high mountains of Switzerland’s Upper Engadin Valley

Soul Sisters • From her first flights in the French Alps to the international competition circuit, Mathilde Chivet has found inspiration and friendship – but also unexpected challenges along the way. As she reflects on the women who shaped her flying she asks, do women need balls to fly?

LOOPING Deconstructed • Swiss acro pilot Lucas Ruffieux tells Tarquin Cooper how he developed and flew the world’s first paragliding loop

AIMING FOR THE TOP • The US women’s paragliding team has gone from grassroots ambition to international podiums in a few short years – and it’s been by design, not chance. Jack Sheard met team members Jenny O’Neil, Violeta Jimenez and Alexia Fischer at this year’s Paragliding World Cup Superfinal in Spain

KITLIST • All the latest reviews, gear and technology for free flying

COUPE ICARE 2026 • From accessible subs and parakites to the latest tech, we round up what was on display

THE PARAKITE EXPLOSION • EVERY BRAND EITHER NOW HAS ONE, OR IS DEVELOPING ONE

ON REVIEW: NAVITER NIMO • It might be small but it packs a big punch. Marcus King takes a look at this entry-level flight instrument

SYRIDE’S V4 SERIES • Marcus King looks at riser-mounted Alti V4 and GPS V4. Charlie King checks out the tiny Solar

SYRIDE SOLAR

YOSHIKI OKA • The 79-year-old pilot from Tokyo on what...