You’d love to compete in the X-Alps, but you’re no Alex Hofer? The X-Fly Mont Blanc might just be what you’re looking for. Drawing inspiration from this prestigious event, a group of French pilots headed by Bertrand Doligez have created a more accessible competition with an interesting scoring format. (more…)

The Belgian Nationals will be held in Laragne, France, from the 20th - 26th July.

The official website of the Competition is www.hangglidingchampionship.be. Registration is not yet open, but should be as of 23rd March. Cost is €50 if you register before the 1st of June, or €70 if you register later.

A spin-off from the highly successful X-Alps, The X-Scotia is an adventure race based around Lochearnhead and Killin on Loch Tay. It will be a 62km course around turnpoints to take place on the first flyable weekend starting April 19 - 20.

The official entry date has passed for this event, but late entry applications are being taken up until 11th April 2008.

For more information visit www.shpf.co.uk or email x-scotia@sky.com
To sign up, log onto:   http://groups.google.com/group/x-scotia2008?hl=en

Flight Culture still have a space available in one of their 4×4s, for a qualified (CP) pilot to join them on their adventure trip in Baja, Mexico, that takes place from 6th - 19th April. (more…)

It is now possible to leave your wing at home and rent a glider (plus harness, reserve and helmet as necessary) for your holiday in the Alps. Based near the landing field at Doussard, at the foot of lake Annecy, Paratroc have available for rental the range of Advance wings, plus ITV’s Tsampa Voyage mountain wing. Rental rates are by the day, reducing from the second day of rental, or you can save money by using a 3 or 5 day package. Don’t forget your license and proof of insurance when you go to collect.

For more information, www.paratroc.com/societe/paraloc-gb.php

Bob Drury will be travelling up the west coast of the USA in mid to late April visiting clubs and schools and giving presentation on his adventures in the Himalayas. If you want to hear the stories and see the pictures of some of the most pioneering paragliding journies of our time check here to see if there’s a presentation happening near you.

The Bogazici Paragliding club invite all pilots to an International Paragliding festival to be held at Sakarya, Turkey from 25th to 30th July 2008.

The 100 euro entry fee covers all expenses during the festival including accommodation, food (breakfast, lunch boxes and dinner) and transportation. To sign up, go to www.bogaziciparagliding.com or email fest@bogaziciparagliding.com

Always on the lookout for exciting new flying destinations, Adventure Extreme are operating a thermalling and XC trip to the Celestial Mountains of Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia in August.

The Tien Shan lie close to the Chinese border and offer wide opportunities for adventurous exploratory flying. Working together with their local agents in Bishkek,  Adventure Extreme have put together a fully supported trip including 4×4 and occasionally horseback transport to launch sites, all food, cooks, guides, interpreter and accommodation. Very little flying has previously been done in this area and the potential for thermal flying and XC’s in the area is said to be huge. Full details from their website at www.adventure-x.com

For the new season Nova introduces its innovative lightweight reversible harness, the ONE.

Developed for pilots who like hiking to their launch site, the Medium ONE weighs in at only 1.9 kg (including Cygnus Airbag), is supremely comfortable to carry and the backpack leaves enough room for a neatly packed standard weight glider. On arrival at launch, simply reverse the backpack and it’s a harness. (more…)

The Killarney Open took place in Queensland from January 26 to February 2nd 2008. The flooding subsided in the nick of time, leaving the western foothills of the main Divide carpeted in green, and ready to host this the second of four competitions that make up the Australian paragliding nationals.

Early cloud generally gave way to [...]