They did it again. Almost exactly a year to the day that the paragliding world record was set in Brazil, three pilots raised the bar once more with a huge flight of 564km on 13 October 2016. Elisa Eisenlohr spoke to the Brazilian Dream Team to find out how they did it. …read more
Author: winguu
Jeff Goin: ‘Flying is one thing, teaching is another…’
“So you want to teach? Flying is one thing. Teaching flying? Now that is another matter.” After flying for nearly two decades, Jeff Goin, author of the Powered Paragliding Bible, is finally training to be an instructor. He shares his essential tips for other wannabe gurus. See what’s in the rest of Issue 176 …read more
Couchsurfer USA: Mitch Riley
“We can’t spend our whole life on the couch.” From Nepal to Alaska, US adventure pilot Mitch Riley never seems to stop moving. He tells us how he caught the travel bug – and how he navigates the trails less travelled. – Come on Red Bull X-Alps, Wildcard this guy! See what’s in the rest of […] …read more
There I Was… In a forest, in Indonesia
“Momentum meant the wing twisted very fast … one, two, three, five, many times, followed by a dive into auto-rotation.” When Nora Martiny had a paragliding accident in remote Sulawesi, she learned a vital lesson: always understand the risks before deciding to take them. See what’s in the rest of Issue 176 …read more
News and New Products in XC176
GIN have announced that the lightweight Explorer is now in the final stages of the certification process. It’s a high-performance EN-B wing with an aspect ratio of 6.1, aimed at experienced cross-country pilots. This plus lots more latest news and new product news in Cross Country 176. See what’s in the rest of Issue 176 …read more
Red Bull X-Alps: An open letter to the rookies…
“Over the years, the event has become much more professional and I believe this is a great thing – but don’t let this detract from the fact that you should run your race true to you and to yourself.” Two-time X-Alps competitor Jon Chambers pens an open letter of advice to the rookies taking part […] …read more
Naked Pilot: Jack Pimblett
“I first took flight when I was three, on the tandem with my Dad. I was hooked – and I started to reach up to the handles aged eight.” Eighteen-year-old young gun Jack Pimblett talks to us about infinity tumbles and his perfect year. See what’s in the rest of Issue 176 …read more
Sweet River: Flying the length of the Rio Doce
In November last year, a catastrophic dam-burst led to an environmental disaster along Brazil’s beautiful Rio Doce. Lu Marini took to his paramotor to assess the damage from the air and expose the “hidden reality behind those who lost everything to mud”. See what’s in the rest of Issue 176 …read more
Icaristics: Bruce Goldsmith on the key to staying safe
“If a pilot feels his wing is super-safe this becomes a danger in itself, as he is more likely to push the limit. “Accident statistics show that a safer wing does not lead automatically to fewer accidents.” Bruce Goldsmith reveals his invaluable tips on staying safe and why the key to avoiding accidents is … […] …read more
Exploring Middle Earth: Vol-biv in New Zealand
“The sky was beautiful, with lovely cumuli. D-Day! Off we went, hopping from one valley to the next with Lord of the Rings scenery all around.” What’s it like to soar over a real-life Middle Earth? Antoine Girard and Benoit Outters flew the length of New Zealand’s Southern Alps – twice – to find out. […] …read more