Cross Country

“Every journey starts with a single step,” goes the saying. Or when you look it up it’s actually, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” and it’s attributed to Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. It can also be translated as “A thousand mile journey begins where one stands”. Several of our stories in this issue follow this exact philosophy, and nowhere more clearly than with Chrigel Maurer and Peter von Känel’s incredible adventure through the Alps this season. On the day they set off they hadn’t even decided if it was a training flight for their “Big Idea” or whether they were actually starting. As Tarquin Cooper writes in his interview with them both: “It was cloudy and windy at the pass, far from ideal, but they…

Werner Luidolt’s love affair with free flight started age six when he used to watch swallows in the fields and his Dad taught him how to make paper planes. A former gliding champion he dived into paragliding in 2009 and has been immersed since. This issue he shares his love of Portugal – p64 Tarquin Cooper is a writer, journalist and Alpine history expert so there was no better person to talk to Chrigel Maurer and Peter von Känel about their incredible summer expedition through the Alps. “What they did is so inspiring, it’s truly breathtaking,” he said – p50 Galen Kirkpatrick’s social media profile describes her as a “guide, listener, speaker, clown girl” and also “2023 US Paragliding Champ”. A US team member and World Cup pilot her description…

Pan-Americans 2024 The Pan-American Paragliding Championships are in Andradas, Brazil – one of South America’s most consistent and accessible XC sites. Big grassy take-off, flatland and mountain flying, big smooth thermals. The comp is doubling up as a test event for the Paragliding World Championships next year. 14-21 September, civlcomps.org XRedRocks 2024 The number-one hike-and-fly race in North America. Like Euro comps this is a multi-day hike-and-fly event where it’s just you and the elements for four days, no supporters. Pro, Adventure and Challenge classes. 25-28 September, xredrocks.com Canungra Spandi-Cup The Australian season kicks off with a week of XC racing in peak spring season. The competition is split into classes based on span – a handicap system to try to even out the field. There is a mentoring element…

The racing was full-on at the Paragliding World Cup in Cameli, Turkey in August with 4,000m cloudbase and fast tasks that used the convergence lines that set up in the afternoon. Martin Jovanoski (MKD, Ozone Enzo 3, Gin Genie Race 5) won the overall competition but it was Violeta Jimenez (USA, Ozone Enzo 3 / Submarine) who stole the show. The US pilot was on fire and placed second overall, just 57 points out of more than 5,000 behind Martin. She thrived under pressure and went from third to second place on the final task. “The Paragliding World Cup in Cameli provided us with perfect weather and seven tasks,” organisers said. “This final day proved to have some of the best conditions of the competition, with cloudbase around 4,000m, light…

Edouard Potel flew a record 352km FAI Triangle in the French Alps on 6 August, raising the bar again for the FAI Triangle world record. He launched from the Col de l’Izoard, close to Briançon in the southern French Alps, and spent the next 10 hours 40 minutes in the air. He was flying an Ozone Enzo 3 and clocked an average speed of 33.63km/h. Cloudbase was at 4,000m by 12.30pm, which meant he enjoyed some spectacular, high flying for the whole day until landing back where he started at sunset. The flight just beats Baptiste Lambert’s flight of 350km flown on 20 August last year from the same site. France saw more outrageous action on Big Tuesday when several pilots flew downwind flights of more than 300km on Tuesday…

The flying festival that celebrates all things wonderful about free flight returns again to St Hilaire, running from 17-22 September. The 51st Coupe Icare is expected to attract thousands of pilots and spectators to enjoy displays, demonstrations and the opportunity to catch up with flying friends. “The Coupe Icare is much more than just an event,” says director Thibault Lajugie. “It is a fabulous air show, a film festival, a series of concerts, two professional exhibitions, a program of street arts, as well as all the experiences planned for the youngest participants as part of Icare Mômes.” The Coupe Icare programme officially kicks off on Tuesday 17 September with a two-day testival, with the main events beginning on Thursday 19 September. These include the indoor trade fair, where you can…