Cross Country Travel Guide 2018

1 – Abu Dhabi p69 2 – Albania p47 3 – Annecy, France p60 4 – Asagiri, Japan p84 5 – Bali p26 6 – Bir, India p70 7 – Bright, Australia p23 8 – Canoa Quebrada, Brazil p38 9 – Canungra, Australia p22 10 – Cape Town, South Africa p44 11 – Cauca Valley, Colombia p40 3 – Chamonix, France p56 13 – Chelan, Washington, USA p34 14 – Corsica p46 15 – Croatia p48 16 – Devil’s Dyke, UK p64 17 – Dolomites, Italy p57 18 – Dubai p68 19 – Gerlitzen, Austria p62 20 – Hakuba, Japan p84 21 – Interlaken, Switzerland p57 22 – Ishigaki Island, Japan p86 23 – Iwaya, Japan p85 24 – Jupiter, Utah, USA p33 25 – Kamshet, India p74 26 – Kerio Valley, Kenya p 42 27 – Kilimanjaro, Tanzania p43 28 – Lake District, UK p65 29 – Linzhou, China p80 30 – Manilla, Australia p22 31 – Markstein, France…

Welcome to the seventh edition of the Cross Country Travel Guide. Once again we have packed it full of great places to fly. Some of them are well-known, accessible international sites, meccas of free flight with good infrastructure and local schools, guides and accommodation. Others are less visited and less well-known, small gems you might otherwise look past. For all of them, we’ve asked the locals for their advice on flying there. Whether it is Yuki Sato-Colombé’s rough guide to Japan, Louis Tapper’s tour of New Zealand or Joanna Di Grigoli’s guide to going big in Brazil, each pilot has generously given us their own unique insight into the region. Thank you to all those who contributed. Travel guides like this are a chance to dream a little. “Where would you go…

Peter Loncar was born in Belgrade, Serbia, and has been flying since 2007. After completing his military service he focused on air sports, especially paragliding acro. Despite the complete lack of acro scene at home, he went on to master the most difficult tricks and is now a full-time pilot with U-Turn. He is always on the road, exploring new sites and planning new projects. His story of getting well off the beaten track travelling and flying in Mongolia is on p88 u-turn.de Yuki Sato-Colombé was born in Morioka, northern Japan, and lived in Tokyo for many years before moving to London and then Morocco. She now lives in Àger, Spain, her favourite flying site in the world. She’s been flying for 18 years, is a regular on the PWC podium, and…

Manilla, NSW Conveniently divide up your friends into two groups by mentioning you are going to Manilla. Half will wonder why you are heading for the Philippines. Anyone who flies will allow their mouth to fall open and stare wistfully upwards thinking of long glides and perfect cloud streets. Mount Borah near Manilla is Australia’s free-flight mecca. Operated by Godfrey Wennes it’s super consistent, but come in spring or summer to get the best XC conditions. Godfrey is often on hand to give sage advice. He flew the PG world record from here in 1998 so he knows a bit. Astro-turfed launches face all wind directions. The milk-run that follows the road northwards to Bingara and beyond may well be the easiest 100k of your life. Triangles have become more popular in recent…

From May to October the southerly trade winds roll in from the Indian Ocean and hit the southern coast of the Bukit Peninsula on the island of Bali. There are four launches on the ridge: Timbis, Gunung Payung (1 & 2), the new Riug launch (hammocks provided!), and Nyang Nyang at the western end. They all provide access to 12km of coastal ridge-run: great for new pilots building hours, or those who want to just chill. The wind starts SE in the morning, and moves S by the afternoon, which is what you need to fly the cliffs. You need a (rarer) dead-on S/SSW to fly the whole ridge to the Uluwatu Temple – push too far with the wind behind you and you will struggle getting back; when the tide…

Welcome New Zealand has fantastic flying sites and something to offer every pilot. From black-sand beach soaring to flatlands and snowcapped mountain XC. Spectacular scenery and spectacular flying. Whether you are coming to fly in New Zealand as a student, a free-flyer or a professional pilot, you will find the local community very welcoming. Note though that by law you must be a member of the national association, the NZHGPA. The NZHGPA has a low-cost membership for visiting pilots that gives full access to flying in NZ, $5 million insurance cover and support from our clubs and national association. It’s easy to sign up online. Many sites also have strict airspace restrictions and sensitive environmental areas: get in touch with locals; who knows, they might even introduce you to some more outrageously beautiful…