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.

STARING AT THE SUN

CONTRIBUTORS

Cross Country

OPENING SHOT

TILEN CEGLAR WINS EUROPEANS 2026

WHAT’S ON

RÉMI BOURDELLE

5,000K ACROSS THE USA

ON LAUNCH WITH COLIN RATHBUN

ELEVATE UNVEIL FIRST PARAMOTOR WINGS

HEATWAVE EUROPE’S RECORD XC

BACK IN THE DAY

THE ART OF FLYING IN THE PRESENT

“DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE?” • Having insurance is not the same as having the right insurance. Tarquin Cooper explains what you need to know

‘I WHACKED £13,000 ON MY CREDIT CARDS’

‘WE DON’T DO CLAIMS FOR AIRCRAFT’

THE INVISIBLE RAILWAY • Jörg Korner has compared long-distance flying in Brazil and Texas – with some remarkable results.

CAUCA VALLEY

TIP-TO-TIP WITH A WORLD CHAMPION • SRS pilot Luke Nicol goes wingtip-to-wingtip with Paragliding World Champion Baptiste Lambert at the Sports-Class Racing Series in Le Grand Bornand.

LE GRAND BORNAND

ADDICTED IN CHELAN • Jorge Atramiz has been visiting and flying Chelan for 15 years. He returns to Washington State to tell the story of this remarkable flying community through the old hands and new generation of pilots who know its mountains, flatlands and dust devils best.

TOTALITY • A total solar eclipse in Europe in August saw paraglider and paramotor pilots – and photographers – flying directly into the sun to capture the moment. We round up some of the best.

The rise and rise of ELISA DEUTSCHMANN • The German pilot has bounced back from illness, online haters and self-doubt to excel at this year’s X-Pyr, World Cup and the European Championships. She tells her story to Tarquin Cooper

X-PYR 2026: “THE HEAT WAS RELENTLESS”

IN BRIEF

New Gear

DESIGN INSIGHT: STEERABLE RESERVES • What do you need to know before opting for a steerable reserve? Bastienne Wentzel finds out

WHEN TO CHOOSE A NON-STEERABLE RESERVE

WHAT’S ON THE MARKET? • There are not so many steerable reserves to choose from, but they include:

WHEN IT’S TIME TO THROW… • Then throw! XC pilot Andrew Rayhill shares his real-world experience of using a steerable reserve system

DESIGN INSIGHT: TOWING BY DRONE • Drone towing is being developed in China. Jeroen Dekkers has been on a year-long journey to learn how to do it

AERO REMOTE • No more fiddling with a stylus or fat gloves – it’s one click and you’re done.

REELOQ PRO

DENIS CORTELLA • The pioneering harness designer and XC pilot on what matters most