No. 436 AUGUST 2025 The magazine of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association 2 SKYWINGS AUGUST 2025 attitude ‘Under pressure, we don’t rise to the occasion – we fall to the level of our training.’ We all know that to get good at something we have to practice, consistently. Whether it’s in the gym, on the mountain or in the air, repetition is key to mastering any skill. But what happens when the skill we need comes with inherent risk? If the only time we practice it is once a year at a wing-control clinic. Can we really expect to have it sharp and ready when it matters most? At some point training becomes about trusting yourself. That trust isn’t easy to earn, but with progressive, consistent practice, these skills start to feel less like theory and more like instinct. Or at least, that’s the hope. Over the past three years I’ve completed multiple SIV courses and gradually built up a set of manoeuvres I feel confident practising solo. I’ve made a conscious habit of using spare altitude and sub-par XC days to focus on refining my wing control – pitch exercises, rapid exits, wingovers – all integrated into everyday flying. These drills have made a real difference, improving nearly every aspect of how I fly. With that foundation, I set myself a personal challenge at the start of this year: to complete 100 stalls on my own in the UK. Not just to tick a box, but to become a safer, more competent, and well-rounded pilot. I’m pleased to say I reached that milestone ahead of schedule – and in the process, I’ve learned a lot. Most of all, I’ve realised I’m only just getting started. • With regular, progressive practice, things that once felt intimidating have started to feel natural. • My bandwidth has expanded. I’m no longer just running through a mechanical sequence and hoping for the best. I’m beginning to read the wing, to understand what it needs, when, and why, especially in high-demand situations. That growing awareness is carrying over into every part of my flying, and that’s a huge win. • Between flights, my camera became one of my most valuable tools. Reviewing footage evolved into a kind of mental simulator. I’d replay each stall, studying the subtle cues in the wing’s behaviour, my timing, and where I could do better. Over time, that visual feedback helped me form a clear mental model of the wing’s dynamics. It also laid the groundwork for vivid visualisation, a technique I’d first found helpful when learning to ground handle. Now I often rehearse the stages of a stall while walking the dog or during long training runs. Even when I’m not flying, I’m flying in my mind. And research shows that the brain often can’t distinguish between vividly-imagined and real experiences. Each mental rep becomes a real one – refining technique, sharpening intuition, and deepening my connection with the wing, even from the ground. What’s surprised me most, though, is how much fun I’ve had. It turns out, flying your wing backwards can be surprisingly addictive. This goal was never about the number, it was about the process. About building confidence and awareness through consistent, self-directed practice. And I’m excited to keep learning. Will I ever need to use a stall in the wild? Hopefully not. But if I do, I feel one step closer to being ready. Building bandwidth, one stall at a time ANDREW FOWLIE, PARAGLIDER PILOT AND CONSTANT IMPROVER 4 SKYWINGS AUGUST 2025 regulars features AUGUST 2025 SKYWINGS 5 THE BHPA LTD 8 Merus Court, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1RJ. Tel: 0116 289 4316. SKYWINGS MAGAZINE is published monthly by the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Ltd to inform, educate and entertain those in the sports of Paragliding and Hang Gliding. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, their Council, Officers or Editor. The Editor and publisher accept no responsibility for any supposed defects in the goods, services and practices represented or advertised in this magazine. The Editor reserves the right to edit contributions. ISSN 0951-5712 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DELIVERY ENQUIRIES Tel: 0116 289 4316, THE EDITOR Joe Schofield, 39 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9BH. Tel: 01379 855021. COVER PHOTO Markus Grundhammer flies the Skyman Sir Edmund Shark Photo: Markus Grundhammer THIS PAGE Tom Jeanniot and the Ozone Lyght Photo: Olivier Laugero DESIGN & PRODUCTION Fargher Design Ltd. Killane House, Ballaugh, Isle of Man, IM7 5BD. PRINT & DISTRIBUTION Newman Thomson Ltd, One Jubilee Rd, Victoria Ind. Est, Burgess Hill, RH15 9TL. ADVERTISING Tel: 07624 413737 SKYWINGS ONLINE All issues of Skywings magazine are now freely available DEADLINES News items and event/competition reports for the October issue must be submitted to the Skywings office by Friday August 29th. Letters for the September Airmail pages should arrive no later than Monday August 18th. Advertisement bookings for the September edition must arrive by Monday August 11th. Copy and classified bookings no later than the following Monday August 18th.6 SKYWINGS AUGUST 2025 news Northern Squadron fast-tracks N-S Cup Seven pilots completed a remarkable 236km flight from Malvern to goal at Ipswich on Sunday June 15th. The occasion was the annual North-South Cup, eventually won hands-down by the Northerners after some preliminary skirmishing in the days leading up to the big flight. The photo shows John Westall relaxing overhead Silverstone circuit, about halfway through the five-hours-plus flight. The event had begun with a with teaser, a tough 200km goal flight from Malvern to Bury St Edmunds on June 2nd. Several pilots overflew their goal, inevitably hear a railway station, for the wilds of the Far East and over 270km. The event raised over £3,000 for four Air Ambulance charities. Those in goal at Ipswich with Westie on the 15th: Guy Anderson, Stephen Ashley, Jacob Aubrey, Pete Logan, Richard Meek and Bud Paterson. Durogati wins X-Alps After one of the fastest races in its 21-year history, Aaron Durogati crossed the finish line of the Red Bull X-Alps race in first place late on Sunday June 22nd. For the first time in 16 years the Red Bull X-Alps had a new champion, with eight-times winner Chrigel Maurer beaten into 4th place behind Lars Meerstetter and Simon Oberrauner. The top four had been in close contact for much of the race, but Durogati stole a march from the penultimate turnpoint to put him in Zell am See (pictured) ahead of the chasing pack. Earlier, Maurer had admitted to making ‘some mistakes’ the day before. The race had begun on June 15th after World Champion Maxime Pinot had won the prologue in difficult conditions on the 12th. The top three prologue pilots gained an additional Night Pass, allowing them to skip a mandatory rest period during the race itself. Storms in the Dolomites early in the event had led to pilots flying in conditions that some onlookers considered dangerous – and at least one instrument destroyed by lightning! Many pilots expressed pessimism about the conditions and continued on foot. World Champion winner Maxime Pinot chose to withdraw. Canada’s James Elliott was the first pilot to be eliminated on Friday 20th, deliberately easing up to allow China’s Bei Yu to overtake him and remain in the race. The day after the winners crossed the line Celine Lorenz, the race’s sole female entrant, pushed hard to overcome a six-hour setback earlier in the race, but was eliminated the following day. At that point 15 contestants remained in the running. Seven more pilots crossed the line on Day 11; on Day 13 (Friday 27th) Dutchman Sebrand Warren, the last man still on the course, made goal inside the final deadline. 21 athletes completed the 1,283km course, in which they had had to climb halfway up Mont Blanc to tag Turnpoint 9 instead of from the air, as is usual. ‘This edition was one of the hardest we have ever seen,’ said director Ferdi Vogel. ‘And, above all, it was the closest-fought race we’ve ever seen.’ Photo: Sebastian Marko/Red Bull Content Pool. UK paragliding record goes to 329km Friday July 3rd was a red-letter day in UK XC paragliding circles. Mark Watts set a new straight-line distance record at 329km, with Hugh Miller close behind at 325. Kirsty Cameron set a new female distance record at 311km and, with others, set a new UK goal record. Ben Dry also cleared 300km. This was part of a group breakout from Llangorse; 50km to the east a mass exodus from Worcester Beacon made it over a dozen 200km+ flights on the day, with pilots dropping all over East Suffolk into the evening. Alex Coltman made 247km from Llangorse; three days earlier he had flown 303km, pretty much solo, from Milk Hill White Horse to East Yorks. On the same day (June 30th) James Chancellor flew 244.42km from Mercury on the South Downs, threading his way around a lot of airspace, to claim a site record. Congratulations to all! July 11th: Steve Ashley extends the triangle record to 135km! More triangles from Carl Not content with his 217km hang glider free-distance triangle on May 9th, Carl Wallbank and his Aeriane Swift achieved a 155km triangle from Malvern Aerotow on June 16th and a 191km triangle two days later. ‘I had declared a 221km triangle,’ he said afterwards, ‘but cut the last turnpoint short to make sure I got home. In hindsight there were still over two hours of good conditions left!’ Chasing Carl at the top of the XC League is Atos VR-mounted Marek Pisarek, with a 189km XC from Bradwell in May and no less than four triangle flights from Cambridge aerotow. X-Dales/Dales Fly-In update The 5th X-Dales Hike&Fly Challenge and Dales Fly-In takes place at Settle, N. Yorkshire on September 5th-7th. Ed Cleasby’s serious- but-fun H&F comp shares the weekend with the club’s own free flying/social event. The X-Dales offers a longer, more demanding one-day A race, a B race and a shorter waypoint-bagging C race, again making use of the nearby Settle-Carlisle railway, with prizes for each. The Fly-In, promising late-summer flying in spectacular settings, will provide forecasts, daily site recommendations and informal tasks, much to do if it isn’t flyable and plenty of socialising round the campfire. Entry is via Eventbrite (search for Dales Fly-in), also linked £12; pilots staying at the campsite will need to enter the Fly-In too. AUGUST 2025 SKYWINGS 7 CALL THE SPECIALISTS 0800 5999 101 FOR BHPA MEMBERS life insurance EST 1989 Run by Pilots for Pilots We Fly What You Fly! Protect Your Family, Mortgage or Business 205 SkywingParamotors skyscraper ad 0125-297x104.indd 1 Satellite tracking now mandatory for FAI Cat 1 events The CIVL plenary meeting at Montenegro in March agreed to mandate satellite tracking for all FAI Category 1 paragliding events, with immediate effect. The ‘approved list’ of devices currently requires either Garmin inReach or Spot trackers. This will represent an additional cost of around £300 per competitor, plus an ongoing subscription of at least £15 monthly (with significant pause/restart costs). BHPA Paragliding Comps have indicated they will leave the British team members to fund this, however Brett Janaway has been able to negotiate a 25% discount from Garmin. Team members, and other BHPA pilots with a reasonable requirement, should contact him for the code. At present this rule will not apply to hang gliding. Although there are no plans to introduce it to Category 2 events, the PWCA and SRS are considering similar proposals. BHPA AGM The 2026 Annual General Meeting of the BHPA will be held in the Conference Room of the Association’s Leicester Office on Saturday February 28th at 11am. The location, trialled last year as a cost-saving measure, turned out to be the perfect venue for such proceedings. Members will also be able to participate online via a GoTo meeting link, a vast improvement over livestreaming. It is anticipated that those receiving awards will attend in person. Stuart Blackburn left the BHPA Exec in June, and members Paul Dancey and Brett Janaway will stand down in February and not seek re-election. Steve Young will stand down having completed his three year term, but will re-stand. At the time of going to press it’s clear there will be at least three vacancies on the team. Any member who thinks they might want to join Exec should contact Chair Jenny Buck Exec member for further information as to what’s involved. Nominations to stand for election to Exec must be received at the BHPA Office no later than Friday November 28th; contact Nominations are also sought for the Association’s Merit Awards. If you fly or work with someone who has put commendable effort into the sport over a number of years, please nominate them. Citations for these awards should arrive at the Office by Friday November 28th too. Any member wishing to raise a discussion topic for the AGM should email details to the Office by the same date. BHPA Rules amended The BHPA expects its members to abide by its ‘Rules for Individual Flying Members’. These are occasionally amended to provide greater clarity and avoid potential misinterpretation. At an Exec meeting in June, the Rules were amended to be more specific regarding ‘appropriately licensed’ in Rule 5, and to exclude possible misinterpretation of Rule 9 regarding non-BHPA qualifications. The revised rules are: Rule 5. Members engaging in activities involving others (for example providing Coaching, Instructing, Dual Flying, Towing, Aerotowing) must hold the appropriate BHPA licence(s) for that activity. They must also comply with the requirements set out in the BHPA Technical Manual. Rule 9. Members must restrict their participation in activities contained in the BHPA Approved Activities matrix to those for which they hold a BHPA qualification, or a qualification explicitly approved by the BHPA. Staying within these Rules will keep your flying in harmony with other pilots, BHPA clubs, the Association itself and the general public, and ensures that the Association’s third-party public liability insurance will cover you in the event of a mishap. They can be found online at 8 SKYWINGS AUGUST 2025 newsnew products More European records fall It’s the flatlands rather than the Alps this year. On May 23rd Justin Puthod flew his Niviuk X-One 390km from La Comté in the Pas de Calais to claim the European Junior free-distance-via- three-turnpoints record, also the direct free-distance record at 385km. If ratified, there goes François Montuori’s 2024 direct record and José Jiménez Belda’s three-turnpoints mark set the same year. And, from the same site on the same day, Constance Mettetal, also flying an X-One, laid down previously-unset European women’s free distance and three-turnpoints marks at 347 and 354km. Go Corinna! On July 2nd one of hang gliding’s longest-standing world records fell to Corinna Schwiegershausen. Corinna, five times women’s world champion, drove her Moyes RX round a 25km triangle at Austria’s Emberger Alm at an average of 41km/h, eclipsing Jenny Ganderton’s 1990 mark of 26km/h by a whopping 57%. If ratified, her flight also becomes the previously unset European record. Only three free-flight records have stood for longer: Kevin Klinefelter’s declared tandem O/R distance from 1989 (132km), and Larry Tudor and Rainer Scholl’s Class 1 and 2 height gains (4,343 and 3,820m) set in 1985. Corinna also holds the women’s world free-distance record at 407km! [Photo Zhenshi van der Klooster] In brief BHPA online membership card suspended. For reasons asso- ciated with GDPR compliance, the BHPA stopped updating its online membership card on August 1st; the entire system will close soon after that date. This may inconvenience clubs and, particularly, competition organisers using digital cards to verify membership. Exec. is actively seeking a remedy and hopes for normal service to be resumed soon. Members should not be concerned about any loss of personal data; this is a pre- cautionary step to ensure compliance with data protection law. Launching by drone? An experimenter-manufacturer in China has succeeded in regularly launching a paraglider by towing it with a drone. Climb rate is alleged to be 2,000ft inside three minutes. The system, powerful enough to cope with tandem launches, is said to cost around 8,000 euros. Another step on the road to autonomous flatland launching, perhaps. A pair of French entrepreneurs are pursuing a similar concept. may make it hard to deliver in a UK setting. Paragliding fatality. BHPA CP Vijay Soni, 53, an experienced PWC competition pilot, died after a mid-air collision at Kruševo on July 5th. He was preparing for the Flymaster Open/FAI Pre-European/ Pre-World Junior Champs. Highly respected in Indian paragliding, Vijay had trained countless pilots at his own school at Kamshet. Verso 4 Gin’s Verso lightweight reversible seatplate harness reappears in a 4th iteration with lighter materials and geometry refined for better handling. Its target is the pilot seeking a compact, reliable all-in-one solution for travel, hike ‘n fly and everyday use. A new ABS system offers enhanced stability and better roll control; connection is simplified and the airbag has been reshaped to inflate faster and absorb more energy on impact. The rucksack has been redesigned too, adding roll-top closure, external bottle holders, increased storage, etc. Available in five sizes from Gin dealers everywhere; information is at BGD Wrap harness BGD expand their harness range with the EN-certificated Wrap lightweight reversible, aimed at everyday flying and hike-and-fly. Robust and durable, it features a lightweight polypropylene/air sandwich seat plate, airbag protector with nitinol edging and a built-in underseat parachute storage. A safety system prevents unsecured launching and the airbag is said to give 60% of full protection before launch. There’s a large back pocket and zipped pockets on both sides; the rucksack has stretchy side pockets and smaller zippered pockets on the waist belt. Four sizes cover heights from 1.55-2m. Note that BGD are now offering all-in-one packages – an EN-A or low-B wing, Wrap harness and Wow reserve – at a discount. From BGD dealers everywhere; for details go Quick facts abo out the NG series: weight(m²) Surface g)(k Max load NG g)weight (kg)t (k G NG light The world´s leading rescue systems Use of high-qu• even at low spe g, g • Available in 3 s certified accord • New, innovative • Excellent sink r to a jump from • Very reliable op • Intelligent, light ality lightweight materials eeds gp sizes as NG and in the light versio ding to EN12491 e X-Flare concept for high efficien rates, each just over 5 m/s, equiva a height of about 1.3 m pening and extremely good pend tweight construction for fast open g, NG 140 Ser NG 120 Ser -geneous load distri --flares for homoX NG 100 Ser on NG light, ncy alent dulum stability nings, 33 1401,85rie 291201,6rie 25100rie1,45 1,49 5 1,3 18 6 concept. -Flare innovative X s to the , thankface -Nearly flat top sur 5 1, for fa ow L ast opening canopy height projected surface area bution across the large geneous load distri stability pendulum outlets for air defined Precisely Minifox Heavy The new upgraded 3-axis Minifox from Fun Flying is dubbed the ‘Heavy’, engineered for the 300kg max all-up UK SSDR category. Heart of the beast is a 39HP Swiss Helvenco four-stroke engine (two- stroke options are available). It’s available as a kit or ex-works flyaway. Recent builder Nigel Charles reports his went from crate to flight in just four months despite working part-time. ‘Not just another microlight,’ says Fun Flying’s Marce Colucci, ‘but a blueprint for affordable aviation.’ For details contact Marce on 0118 230 Xped rucksack Developed for hike-and-fly competitions, and particularly for their Hero XPed/Sock SL wing/harness combo, AirDesign’s XPed rucksack comes in 50 (pictured) or 60- litre sizes. A superlight (0.5kg) rucksack for superlight gear. ‘Because absolutely nobody likes to walk with a heavy rucksack.’ Absolutely! From AirDesign dealers everywhere; info is at Plum perfect! A new women’s T-shirt shirt from Advance has a wider cut than the previous model and is made from a lighter and softer (95% cotton) material. Casual, stylish & versatile, they say, and available in XS-XL sizes in, er, plum!Next >