This week's Tuesday Tip is from Chrigel Maurer, winner of the 2013 Red Bull X-Alps, and is from an interview featured in the current issue of Cross Country Magazine

I generally always fly at speed when on an XC or competition flight until I’m climbing again in lift.

I begin my turn in a thermal when the lift is constant and I feel I’m climbing as efficiently as possible.

I then adjust my turn radius with asymmetric circles until I’ve found the core. Then I tighten my turns.

Thermals are alive, so you have to constantly readjust your turns to climb as efficiently as possible.

If other pilots are flying close by then I observe them to see if there’s any better lift or if there’s sink I should be avoiding.

Photo: Marcus King