FAQs

The signup process is easy...

1. Submit the signup form, accessible from any of the XC tour pages
2. We will review your submission, and we'll respond via email, including methods of payment
3. You should reserve your spot asap by making a payment

The XC Challenge is designed for intermediate and advanced pilots wanting to fly challenging tasks with only a handful of supportive pilots, efficient retrieve, and without the stress of a competition.

We accept Wise, Venmo, Paypal, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, bank transfers and wires, and cash (USD or euros).
Recommendations, ordered by least to most cost to the pilot making payments:
US-based pilots: PayPal, Venmo, bank wires, Wise, credit cards.
Pilots outside the US: Wise, international wire transfer, credit cards, PayPal, Venmo.

Yes, the trip guide also plans to join in on the fun and fly the task with the group.

We use the premium version of PureTrack.io to track all the group's members during flight. This software connects with all major device manufacturers. It also provides data redundancy for each pilot, as it's able to receive data from the pilot's handheld app and GPS devices.

You MUST bring the following:

• Passport (that doesn't expire for your entire trip)
• Debit card(s), commonly used to withdraw Mexican pesos for your day to day expenses
• Your paragliding gear and technology that you typically fly with (helmet, wing, rucksack (not an easy or stuff bag) reserve, phone, etc.)
• eSIM or physical SIM (will be needed for tracking and group communications)
• Health insurance card
• Bring your stoke!

We ENCOURAGE you bring the following:

• GPS device (e.g. Garmin, XC Tracer, Oudie, Flymaster, etc.)
• Travel insurance
• Repatriation insurance

Consider short-term traveler's insurance policy, covering baggage loss and delay, accident/life, and trip cancellation. We also recommend reading Cloudbase Mayhem's insurance article and get the paragliding insurance that meets your needs and covers paragliding. It's always a good idea to ensure that you have health insurance coverege when flying at any destination.

These trips are ideal for paragliding pilots wanting to go XC that are able to launch on their own. As with all XC, pilots need to already have developed the skill of, and being comfortable with, landing outside the established landing zone.
Language proficiency in English or Spanish is a must.

The best xc seasons for Algodonales are: March/April, and September/October. Algodonales is very flyable almost all year round, with the exception of July and August, when the conditions aren't great and the heat is exhausting.

Flying is outstanding in Algodonales. Check out all the uploaded flights from that area (XContest account required) xcontest.org

Generally, December and January are the best xc months for paragliding. December tends to be more mild, and progressing into January gets stronger.

Flying is exceptional in Valle. Check out all the uploaded flights from that area (xcontest account required) xcontest.org

One of my buddies from NC joined me on a trip to Valle in 2025, and he broke the site distance record during that trip. You can listen to Koen's podcast on the Cloudbase Mayhem and get a first hand description of flying in Valle that day.

No, I don't include any controversial topics in the content of my speeches.

Most of my speeches are currently local to North Carolina, though I'm happy to travel. I can also deliver speeches online as an alternative.

Yes, I'm very capable in delivering remote speeches using Google Meet or any other platform that the host offers.