Page 70 - Cross Country Travel Guide 2019

El Hierro, Spain
El Hierro is only a few years old in the acro
scene, but for the top pilots it has become a

yearly pilgrimage. The flying conditions are
amazing and can be really strong, even for
small acro gliders.
The island has several take-offs. The best
for acro is Sabinosa. Here it can be flyable
all day long, from 9am to 8pm, and this
definitely makes it the most efficient place on
Earth that we know of right now.
However, conditions can get pretty
tricky, even for the top acro pilots, with low
cloudbase, really strong wind and a non-
existent acro box. If you want to train there

you have to be confident about your skills
as well as attentive to the conditions around
you. It is not the place for acro beginners.
Make sure you have your speedbar
working, and a compass. Life in general is
pretty cheap and the people are super nice.
Renting a car is a necessity.
flyelhierro.com/en
Photo: Marcus King

Verbier, Switzerland

Verbier is well known as one of the most
expensive ski stations on Earth, but as it
turns out it is also one of the most efficient
and easy spots for training acro in winter.
Indeed, this is one of the highest spots I
know for acro runs: with sometimes over
1,600m AGL in the acro box. However, the
box is pretty small so you have to be careful.
The scenery is breath taking and thermals

start early in the season (January). It also
works in summer. A day pass is not too
expensive, although buy food and essentials
outside the valley if you plan to stay.
Beginners have many possibilities for
take-offs and landings which makes it an
easy place to fly. Finding accommodation in
Verbier is easy so long as your bank account

is full. Otherwise the whole area is super
expensive. However, if you pass by for a day
make sure to stop; it is only 90 minutes’ drive
from Chamonix.
flyverbier.ch
Photo: Verbier.ch

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