Bivouac flight in Norway ...

Norway is not the place you immediately think of when you think bivouac paragliding flights ...

Julien DUSSERRE tells us about his journey this summer with Antoine GIRARD. Julien flew with the Kolibri, the reference of bivouac flight.

2020 was supposed to be the year to fly in Pakistan, but the Covid-19 pandemic decided otherwise. Our plan B with Antoine GIRARD was then to cross southern Norway in bivouac flight. From Kristiansand to Trondheim. About 600 kms.

We showed up in Norway in early August with enough resources for 17 days of independance. That representes 30kg on each of our backs. We discovered an incredibly beautiful country for its landscapes, its fjords, its lakes, its fauna and its intact nature on the high plateaus.

In terms of paragliding, Norway was a test of our patience. The weather is fast-changing and unpredictable, the humidity very high and the air mass lacks instability. We remained focused on the possibility of beautiful flights thanks to the country's distance record of more than 200 kms.

Throughout the trip, we received the support and warm welcome of the Norwegian free flight community.  Two of the best Scandinavian pilots also tagged along: Johannes HELLELAND (helicopter pilot and weather expert), and Dagfinn GRANENG who will surely be part of the Norway team during the next XAlps.

It was with this cheerful team that we shared the challenges of such a journey. Strong winds, then pouring rain. The vagaries of group flying. Transitions over long forests that took our breath away. The suspense of finding the next thermal. Long walks in the marshes and masterful fishing sessions. To help me on this adventure, I was once again able to enjoy the benefits of theKolibri harness versatility. Even when fully loaded, it remains comfortable and precise to fly.