Hang gliding dominated XCeara 2009, Brazil’s big-distance paragliding and hang gliding competition, which ended on 29 November. Marcelo Ferro flew the furthest, hitting 352.9 km on 25 November…

Female Icelandic paraglider pilots, Anita Bjornsdottir and Aslaug Einarsdottir, are about to embark upon a two-year paragliding adventure with an added twist: to raise global awareness of issues such as women’s rights and gender equality, and to learn about the lives of women in different cultures. “We intend to approach this matter in a positive [...]

U-Turn have now had their XL Bodyguard II paraglider certified LTF 1 / EN A for solo and tandem use. Representing, says U-Turn, the ultimate combination of safety and fun, the Bodyguard II incorporates U-Turns’s AFS (Active Flying System), which automatically flies actively for you, to a point. Developed alongside experienced flying instructors it was [...]

David Llewellyn and his group of hang glider and paraglider pilots have now reached Guatemala, and flew yesterday from Panajachel…

The Paraglider Manufacturers’ Association will be holding an International Paragliding Experts Symposium (i-PES) in Hausruck Wald, Austria from 11 to 14 November 2010. Aimed at continuing the education of paragliding professionals from all over the world (developers, flying schools, dealers, importers and all other experts in our sport) it will take the form of 30 [...]

Ozone is set to release a new Open Class wing for competition paragliding well in advance of the start of the 2010 Paragliding World Cup tour, the company has reported…

We have a new phone number at the Cross Country Office: As of now, we can be contacted on +44 (0)1273 256090

Sky Country’s high performance paraglider, the MyStiC2, surprised the Ukranian company when the size 26 achieved EN C certification – described by the company as “a new milestone in the high performance class”, they had expected it to achieve EN D. Sky Country say the MyStiC2 has “radical performance, excellent turning capability and good passive [...]

Ukranian paraglider manufacturer Sky Country are celebrating a very successful year in paragliding competitions in 2009 with their wing, the Evolution 09, which they say has “again proven its winning potential”. The Evolution achieved first places at the Russian, Ukraininan and Moldovian national championships; and first places at the Ukrainian, Kurai, Karpat, Donbass and Koktebel [...]

We’ve slashed the price of the digital version of Cross Country magazine down to from £29.95 to £19.99! And we’re offering the current issue for only 99p! Back issues from XC99 in March 2005 are also available for only £3.50 so now you can get you hands on our archived information at the click of [...]

Digifly’s Leonardo Plus flight instrument is a low-cost combined GPS-vario unit for non-competition hang glider and paraglider pilots. It has all the safety and flight evaluation benefits of a combined GPS-vario, but the Leo Plus software is missing the competition waypoint-task management option required for competition use. It can easily be upgraded, though, if you [...]

UP’s Aconcagua is a windproof shell vest designed to keep the core warm on chilly days, or supplement further layering on really cold days. It is for those days in the great outdoors when it is too warm for a full-on jacket, but too cold without one. The Aconcagua features two lateral slit-style hand-warmer pockets, [...]

Ozone’s new heavy hoody is now available in 3 colors: light blue, grey, and navy blue, and features an all new front and back design. It is a full front zip, extra thick, 100% cotton hoody that is ideal for slipping into at the end of a long flight. In fact, Ozone say, it’s so [...]

Nirvana Systems‘ Flystyle have come up with a way of banishing the hot-aches associated with beautiful, crisp winter flights: their Hot 5 heated gloves. Described by Flystyle as “the most efficient heated glove on the market”, the Hot 5 uses energy-efficient flexible heating elements to deliver 70% warmth to the back of your hand and [...]

Frank Brown and Kamira Pereira have flown Sol Tracers to the top spots in both the Open and female categories of the Brazilian paragliding nationals 2009

Ozone announces the Layer, an all new high tech flight suit designed to shield you from the elements at cloudbase. They say that “Freezing high altitude temperatures and speed bar induced wind chill will no longer get you down, and you will cruise toward your cross country goal in comfort and style; The Layer is [...]

Australian hang gliding manufacturer Moyes welcomes the following new dealers into its fold: Spain: Blay Olmos Jr is our new Spanish dealer taking over from Jose Galan. A big thank you to Jose for supporting Moyes for the last 15 years or more! Blay is currently ranked 10th in the world rankings and is a [...]

The XC-Open team have a new photo album online, with images by Werner Schuetz and Fernando Pradi from the Araxá event last month. Organisers would like to publically thank the Clube Araxaense de Vóo Livre, its president José Wilson, the city of Araxá, the Virgilius Palace Hotel and Sol Paragliders for their support of the [...]

The Hombres Pajaro (Birdmen) 09 hang gliding festival in Ecuador ran from 24 October to 2 November in celebration of the opening of Guayaquil‘s new Center for Free Flight, including the launch at Bototillo. Over 30 pilots from the United States, Australia, Canada, Venezuela, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador attended the event, which included display flying, [...]

British female mountaineer and paraglider pilot, Squash Falconer, recently achievement a long-time ambition to climb and fly from the top of Mt Blanc, Europe’s highest peak. Travelling from the UK to Chamonix by motorbike with the wing on her back, Squash realised her dream in September, with British ex-pat Annecy mountain guide Irwyn Jehu of [...]