NZHGPA Airborn #194

Issue 194; May, June, July 2015

HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING

NZ Hang Gliding Championships St Arnaud Paragliding XC Camp NZ Paragliding Open

Epic Alpine Cross Country Flying Omarama XC Classic

7.50 Including GST

$

9 771170 992006

M

any pilots visit flying sites outside their own region. To ensure that you don’t jeopardise arrangements between land owners and local flyers you must ALWAYS check with local pilots BEFORE flying.

That way you won’t upset land owners or pilots, you will be shown all the best sites and will be welcome back. We don’t publish site names and

locations because flying sites have been lost by careless visiting flyers. To assist travelling pilots, people wishing to learn to fly or to contact hang gliding and paragliding clubs, here is a list of people who can help you.

Those on the list or wishing to be listed, should contact their Club Secretaries who should keep Airborn and the NZHGPA website updated of changes of contact details.

NORTHLAND H.G.P.C. C/- Guntram Gross 1 Brook Road Whangarei Email: skywalk@igrin.co.nz Pres, Airsp; Shane Gross...............09 436 0268 Sec/Treas; Guntram Gross.............09 436 0268 PGSO; Wolfgang Harder................09 403 7594 HGSO; Stephen Chambers............09 430 3689 Herman Ahrens...............................09 432 9333

MANAWATU H.G.P.C. C/- Andrew Brownlie 11 Hollows Crescent Takaro Palmerston North 4412 Email: rosscoe@inspire.net.nz Pres, Airsp: Ricky Winduss (Wanganui)..............

06 345 7659, or 027 447 4117 Sec/Treas, HGSO: Ross Gray......021 126 0892 PGSO: Andrew Brownlie ...........027 444 8911

AUCKLAND H.G.P.C. PO Box 90 154 Auckland Email: grahamsurrey@gmail.com www.cloudbase.org.nz Pres: Graham Surrey .................021 0262 5023 Sec: Alex Daley............................021 121 0795 Treas, Airsp: Leslie Graham............09 579 6485 HGSO: Michell Jagersma...............06 622 3210 PGSO: Reuben Muir.......................09 446 0020 Cameron Kennedy..........................09 813 3610 Eva Walton-Keim............................09 446 0051 Tony Cowley ..................................09 426 1264 Website; Wayne Rohrs...................09 630 2939 Active Sky HG, Sebastian Katz....021 170 3646 Skywings Paragliding ....................09 570 5757 Aqua Air Adventure Hang Gliding.027 288 0193 Wings & Waves Paragliding ...........09 446 0020

BAY OF PLENTY H.G.P.C. C/-Dominique Le Sellin 41, Ririnui Place, Maungatapu Tauranga 3112 Email: frogiwi@xtra.co.nz www.facebook.com/BOPHangGlidingParagliding Pres: Dave Washer.07 544 2951/ 0275 992 934 Sec: Dominique Le Sellin.07 544 2951 / 021 617 111 PGSO: Wayne Roberts.07 574 4223 / 021 668 852 HGSO: James Low.......................021 102 5004 Airsp: Rhys Akers.........................021 177 7563 Sites: Dave Shaw...........................07 575 9560 Levitate Paragliding........................07 542 0098 Mount Paragliding..07 574 4223, 027 643 6529

WAIKATO H.G.P.C. Inc. C/- Ewen Tonar 23A Brookview Court Hamilton Email: etonar@infogen.net.nz Pres, Airsp: Neil Howe....................07 304 9631 Sec/Treas: Ewen Tonar...................07 855 3969 HGSO: Paul Brydon.......................07 825 9161 PGSO: Bruce Vickerman ...............07 868 4991

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KEY Pres; .............................................. President

Sec; ............................ Secretary/Treasurer PGSO; ............. Paragliding Safety Officer HGSO; .......... Hang Gliding Safety Officer CFI;...........................Chief Flying Instructor Airsp;.................................Airspace Officer

AORANGI H.G.C. C/- Tom Knewstubb PO Box 5976 Dunedin Pres, Airsp; Kevin McManus........021 134 0463 Sec/HGSO; Tom Knewstubb (wk) 027 289 6103 PGSO: Lisa Bradley......................021 156 3256 SOUTHERN H.G.P.C. C/- Mark Hardman 2127G Cardrona Valley Rd, RD2, Wanaka Email: admin@southernclub.co.nz www.southernclub.co.nz Pres, Mark Hardman......................021 809 275 Airsp: Keri Mapperson....................021 530 950 Sec: Jim Rooney....................... 020 4010 1926 PGSO: Blake Round.....................027 367 7679 HGSO: Ian Clark.............................03 442 3992 Treasurer: Craig Smith..................0273 433 537 Coronet Peak Tandem PG & HG..0800 467 325 Elevation Paragliding....................0800 359 444 Extreme Air............................ 0800 PARAGLIDE Flight Park......................................03 442 1586 Infinity Paragliding School..........021 0228 2939 Lucky Montanas PG (Wanaka).......03 443 1680 Paraventures.............................0800 FLYSOLO Skytrek Hang Gliding & Paragliding.0800 759 873

Photo; Linda Ponsonby

TARANAKI FREE FLYERS C/- Dennis Green 38 Kaitake Rd RD4, New Plymouth Pres/Sec/HGSO, Airsp; Dennis Green .......................................................06 752 7618 John H. Morgan..............................06 759 4262

MARLBOROUGH H.G.P.C. C/- Julie Bousquet 122 Wellington Street, Picton.

Email: j_bousquet@yahoo.com Pres, Airsp: Vern Sanders...............03 570 5322 Sec: Julie Bousquet.....................027 340 0718 Treas: Derek Wong Nam.................03 577 8857 HGSO: John Urlich: .......................03 577 8886 PGSO: Russell Read....................027 448 0888

CANTERBURY H.G.P.C. Inc. C/- Jennifer Corbett 17 Admirals Way, New Brighton Christchurch 8061 www.chgpc.org.nz Email: jenster66@hotmail.com Pres: Danial Campbell....................03 980 6335 Sec/Treas; Jennifer Corbett............03 382 4404 PGSO; Robert Kennedy.................03 329 3339 HGSO; Eddie Pearson..................021 280 0599 Sites PG; Patrick McGregor...........03 328 8333 Sites HG; Derek McKee...............021 251 2300 Airsp; Peter Taylor..........................03 338 6287 Website; Stephen O’Shaughnessy.03 326 7373 Samuel Bartholomew.....................021 819 755 Canty HG School; Bill Degen.......021 247 2676 Nimbus Paragliding......................027 432 4874 ParaPro.........................................0800 548 323

Paul Adriaens flying at Akaroa

HAWKES BAY H.G.P.C. Inc. 30 Kaweka Place Havelock North 4130 Email: hbhgpc@gmail.com www.soarhawkesbay.co.nz Pres, Treas: Rebecca Rae..............021 605 204 Sec, Airsp: Bernie Gunn.................06 874 3837 PGSO: Sam Elkink..........................06 824 3123 HGSO: Ross MacKay.....................06 877 2052 PG Sites; Euan Talbot .....................06 8778999

WELLINGTON H.G.P.C. PO Box 9824 Marion Square Wellington 6141 www.whgpc.homestead.com Email: firth@xtra.co.nz Pres: Kris Ericksen.......................021 116 4558 Sec: Grant Firth............................. 021 422 698 PGSO: Chris Connolly..................022 676 5599 HGSO: Grant Tatham...................027 636 3491 Airsp: Ian Miller ............................022 176 8205 Newsletter Editor: Kris Ericksen.....04 938 6539 Oceania Paragliding School.........022 676 5599

TASMAN H.G.P.C. C/- Olly Barrett 1/160 Collingwood Street Nelson 7010 Email: thgpgclub@gmail.com Pres; Peter Allison .........................03 546 5242 Sec; Olly Barrett ..........................027 382 8648 Treas; Brian Erasmus .....................03 545 1003 PGSO;Greg Benjamin.....................03 545 1543 HGSO; Mark Patton.......................03 548 7944 Site Owners; Tim Percival .............03 548 7397 Site Maintenance; Frog Twissell ....03 538 0339 Airsp; Ian Woods..........................027 245 1851 Nelson Paragliding.........................03 544 1182 Adventure Paragliding....................021 762 769 Hang Gliding NZ.............................03 540 2183 Tasman Sky Adventures...............027 229 9693

ISSN 1170-9928

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Magazine of the NEW Zealand Hang Gliding & Paragliding Assn. Inc. Published every three months for hang gliding and paragliding enthusiasts in New Zealand and abroad ● Subscription is by membership of NZHGPA (a legal requirement for all hang glider and paraglider pilots in NZ) ● For non

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members who quote their PIN number ● Classified advertisements are

N.Z.H.G.P.A. INC., 23 Covent Drive, Stoke, Nelson 7011, New Zealand www.nzhgpa.org.nz PRESIDENT

Evan Lamberton, 35A Manly Esplanade, Browns Bay, North Shore City 0630, 09 478 0063, 021 407833, gsifly@gmail.com VICE PRESIDENT

Derek Divers, 106 Lachlan Avenue, RD2, Wanaka 9382, 03 443 7190, 027 493 1112, d.divers@xtra.co.nz ADMINISTRATION/Licensing

Nicky Hamill, 23 Covent Drive, Stoke, Nelson 7011, 03 547 4845, admin@nzhgpa.org.nz Hang Gliding Operations Manager

Glenn Meadows, 8 Brook Tce, Nelson. 03 548 9151, 027 275 1022, gmeadows@clear.net.nz Hang Gliding Training Manager

Ross Gray, 7 Nathan Place, Palmerston North 4412. 06 357 8996, 021 126 0892, rosscoe@inspire.net.nz PARAGLIDING OPERATIONS MANAGER

Grant Middendorf, 30 Charles Court, RD2, Wanaka 9382, 03 443 5090, 027 491 3786, middy25@xtra.co.nz PARAGLIDING TRAINING MANAGER

Alan Swann, Rapid 115, Arthurs Point Road, Queenstown 9371. 021 0228 2939. info@infinityparagliding.co.nz AIRSPACE OFFICER

Nick Taber, 27 Strathaven Place, Dodson Valley, Atawhai, Nelson 7010. 03 545 0766, 021 420 742, nicktaber@hotmail.com CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISOR

Paul Brydon, 1431 Main Te Pahu Rd, RD5, Hamilton. 07 825 9161, 021 253 5264, paulbrydon@gmail.com DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE CONVENOR

Dean Straker, 35 Seymour Avenue, The Brook, Nelson 7010, 03 545 7511, 021 545 7511, dean@verticallimits.co.nz INTERNAL AUDITOR

Kris Ericksen, 11 Koromiko Road, Aro Valley, Wellington 6012, 04 938 6539, 021 116 4558, skf@paradise.net.nz NZHGPA BOOKSHOP

Ewen Tonar, 23A Brookview Court, Hamilton. 07 855 3969, 021 041 1418, etonar@infogen.net.nz HANG GLIDING COMPETITION COMMITTEE

Mark Alton, 09 480 8871, 022 195 5746, markalton@yahoo.com Dennis Green, 38 Kaitake Road, RD 4, New Plymouth 4374, 06 752 7618, 021 430 436, dennis-green@clear.net.nz Max Gebhardt, 03 312 7899, 022 159 6101, aerosm@gmail.com PARAGLIDING COMPETITION COMMITTEE

Johnny Hopper, (021 056 2275), Tim Brown , Cameron Kennedy, nzhgpapcc@googlegroups.com

In This Issue...

Alpine Paragliding Cross Country Flying...................................4

automatically deleted after each publication, for repeats please re-send or

NZ Hang Gliding National Champs.............................................7

gliders and paragliders must state certification status and meet our standard

A Lesson Shared.........................................................................18

quote identifying words and phone number ● Advertisements for new hang

conditions ● For display and other advertising rates and conditions please contact the editor

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Email:

Omarama XC Classic.................................................................19 St Arnaud Paragliding XC Camp...............................................20

Editing, Graphics; AeroDesign, Bill Degen Printing; The Caxton Press

Please send advertisements, photos and articles to the editor:

NZ Paragliding Open..................................................................13

Airborn Magazine

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Forbes Flatlands Aussie Champs.............................................22 Executive Notices, Safety Checks............................................23 Paragliding Competition Ladder, Events ...........................24, 25 Cross Country Champs Scoreboards.................................26, 28 Classified Advertisements.........................................................30 FRONT COVER: Sebastian Katz flying at Kariotahi. Photo; Steve Gilliver

Next issue deadline: 1 July 2015 A

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An Alpine XC Season There I was, all set to write some epic tale of breaking the XC distance record with Pedro, but Angus beat us to it. Ah well, two weeks of glory will have to suffice. So here’s a story about a flight into some remote interesting places instead…

F

or years I’ve wanted to fly into the Olivine Ice plateau. It is a wilderness area on the West Coast sandwiched between Fiordland and Mt Aspiring with no tracks or huts but lots of lovely mountains.

A week after flying to Mt Cook with Pete, I came up with a plan to hike up Sugarloaf Pass and see how far into the boonies I could go. On the 23rd Dec I caught a shuttle to the Routeburn Track road end, loaded up with 3 days food, tent, sleeping bag etc… Reaching the take-off into the Rockburn after a 2½ hour hike, the day was already cranking, so a mad rush ensued to get airborne.

Strong climbs took me to 7000ft over the main divide with views down into the Hollyford River and the Darren Mountains to the south. Nick Neynens popped up on the radio to say he was nearby, on glide across the Hollyford to Mt Tutoko. He’d hiked out of the Dart River earlier in the day and we’d hoped to meet up en route somewhere.

As it turned out, the seabreeze had pushed up the Hollyford making it

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By Brian Moore

Above; Wingovers with Climax peak in the background Below; Looking down the Hollyford River to Martins Bay. Mt Tutoko (2746m) on the left. Nick is somewhere below the bushline on Tutoko

Right; Lake Unknown and the head of the Wakatipu

slow going and scratchy for Nick, so instead of chasing him I stuck with plan A and headed north towards the Olivines.

Constant battles with the seabreeze coming over the passes made flying tricky, but eventually I snuck over an 1800m pass near Fohn Saddle and slipped into the Forgotten River Flats. Cloudbase was just below the tops of the peaks, so it was a case of keeping on thermalling for another 10km through the wilderness area before the next opportunity to escape over the Barrier Range into the relatively accessible Dart Valley.

The other option was landing in the Forgotten Valley (3 day walk out) or the Joe River (and I didn’t think it was possible for me to walk out of that one). All was good and several sweet thermals took me over Possibility Col and the Derivation Icefall into the Joe Glacier. What a desolate scary place the Joe is.

The Olivine ice plateau looms to the north and the glaciated Barrier Range to the south. A wasteland of moraine in the valley floor below leads to kilometres of trackless bush, then the Arawhata River and 10 hour gorge before another few days down valley to escape to Above; Reading the paper on the West Coast. So fortunately the way up to Glengyle Peak above the Matukituki I didn’t land there!

6km down the Joe I finally got Right; The route over enough height to pop over the Barrier Possibilty Col and the Derivation Icefall. Olivine Range and back into familiar terrain Ice Plateau on left (Climax in the mid-Dart Valley (only 1 day to Peak 2432m) walk out from here). At this point I Below; View down the Joe made the decision to cut across Valley. The Barrier Range to the Forbes Mountains north of is on the right Mt Earnslaw where cloudbase was several thousand feet higher and I would be free of the effects of the West Coast seabreezes at last.

From here on the flying became fast and classic – strong climbs to over 9000ft using lots of speed bar zipping along the ranges. The kilometres were passing quickly now – over into the West Matukituki, up the East Matukituki and straight over the Buchannan Mountains to cross Lake Wanaka near Makarora.

And then, there it was, a road!!

Crikey – how civilised. Ah well, the wind wasn’t going that way, so it was over the back again through the McKerrow and Young Ranges to the head of Lake Hawea.

Getting late now and the thermals were weakening. It became a case of scratching to ridge height and lobbing into the next dark valley, gliding for sunny spurs and repeating this again and again. Into the Ahuriri, onto the Barrier Range then a final glide over the Temple Valley and landing in the Hopkins at the foot

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Above; Bryan flying off Gertrude Saddle in the Darrens Left; The head of the Dart.

Mt Aspiring in the distance

of the Neumann Range. 150.1kms all up.

The first road crossing was at the 85km mark. There wasn’t a second one. I spent the night in a Red Hut then hiked up Rabbiters Peak the next day hoping to fly back to Wanaka. The wind didn’t think this was a good plan, so several more hours of bush bashing were required to get down again then a slog downvalley until a passing 4WD gave me a ride out to the road.

This has to be one of the best seasons we have had for flying in Otago. The open distance record has been broken twice, the out

Date

From-To

Duration Dist (km)

Colour

02 Dec

Treble Cone - Lake Pukaki

5h44m

115.7

Yellow

07 Dec

Treble Cone - Mt Cook (with Pete Groves) - NZ record (briefly)

5h39m

152.1

Purple

23 Dec

Sugarloaf Pass - Hopkins Valley

7h29m

150.1

Red

28 Dec

Gertrude Saddle (Milford Sound) - Dingleburn Valley

8h07m

131.7

Orange

03 Jan

Mt Cook - Mt Ida (with Grant Middendorf)

8h17m

140.7

Blue

06 Jan

Sharks Tooth - Twizel (with Glen Stevens)

7h31m

117.8

Green

07 Jan

Coronet - Pleasant Flat (Haast Valley)

5h13m

117.1

Brown

Above; View over Mt Head (2579m) to Earnslaw (2819m) and back record twice and the FAI triangle record once. Angus’s big flight to Cook from Coronet was on the same day as my trip through the Olivines described above. I’ve managed to do 7 flights of over 100km in 5 weeks, 4 of which were on “hike and fly” trips. Things have been pretty epic really.

At left is a table showing my top 7 flights over a 5 week period in December – January.

Below; At Gertrude Saddle in the Darrens

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NZ Hang Gliding Nationals Wanaka 2015 Mark Alton reports‌

T

he event attracted 24 pilots registered and 5 novices turned up to learn from the more experienced pilots.

DAY ONE Grandview Mountain was the first launch site. The task was Race to Goal 45.4 km; Downwind to Long Gully, back up into a light NW wind to Breast Peak and then out to Wanaka with the possibility to land in Pembroke Park in town.

Take-offs were a bit rough due to the bowl facing west and the wind NW with clear blue skies, but everyone got away. One novice I met at 5,500ft above Grandview later told me that he had used the advanced pilots to show him the way, so much for wind dummies.

The second leg into wind was difficult with light lift, so many pilots were lost on the way. Turnpoint two needed large cajones if you were not above Breast Peak, then light lift above the Hawea Flats got you a good glide to Wanaka.

Three pilots made it into goal; John Smith, Hagen Brueggemann and

Above; Eddie Pearson near Breast Peak with Hawea and Mt Maude behind Right; Meet director Kevin McManus in action Photo; B. Degen

Below; Rigged and ready at Grandview Photo; Kris Ericksen

Mark Alton. It was a great start for the 8 day competition.

DAY TWO Treble Cone. Wind is light northerly and cycling up the bowl in front of the car park at the ski field base.

The course was Race to Goal 69.4

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km; North around the corner to Crash Peak and then out to Cromwell via a turnpoint between Tarras and Bendigo.

The novices were keen to get off before the task started and we could see that there were light thermals down at Pub Corner. John, Hagen and Shane McKay took off to find it very light and scratchy. Other pilots followed and those on the hill could see that it was hard work to get up.

After a while pilots could be seen getting high further down the ridge so the rest of us piled off and found lift to the south of the waterfall at the Pyramid.

Those who got high headed to turnpoint 1 but did not find any lift to get us above the slope to reach the turnpoint. Most were in the bomb out paddock, but to our surprise we found out that John Smith and Bill Degen did get the turnpoint and made goal, but due to no other pilots getting the first turnpoint it was a low scoring day.

One of the free flyers, Niall Mueller texted in to tell us he had made it 60km past Alexandra and had flown 130km, a personal best. It goes to show that an average day on the hill can still lead on to a great cross country flight.

DAY FOUR Long Gully - Task 3, High cloud with patches of lower cloud and light SSE winds.

After tracking down the land owner we got up the hill and set up on all three sides of the ridge. The task was Elapsed Time Race of 28.1 km.

Clint Fraser got off first under overcast skies and found a nice thermal to take him drifting down the ridge towards the first turnpoint at Mt Maude. Others soon followed but we could see that they were not getting the luck that Clint had.

The sun was on the ground over towards Wanaka and slowly moving our way, so when it hit the hill Grant Tatham got off and climbed out on the lee side getting good height.

Others followed as the shut off time of 5pm was not far off.

Tight lee side thermals made it hard to get enough height but some persisted and they were paid

off and made their way down the Hawea range.

John and Bill got to goal at Pembroke Park in Wanaka to show that it could be done.

Adriel Kind in sport class made it out to the DOC camp ground and showed the more skilled pilots how it was done. All the novices got off the hill, picking up the thermals on the lee side to land out on the flats below the range.

DAY FIVE Treble Cone Task 4, The forecast was for light easterlies to come on at 13:00 and build to peak around 16:00 with late afternoon showers.

One News TV turned up at takeoff in the Treble Cone car park and interviewed a few of the competitors and novices.

The task was Race to Goal 64.6 km with a 2km start gate at Pub Corner with three start gates, out to Mt Roy then on to Mt Maude at the south end of Lake Hawea, then up the isthmus between Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka to where it narrows and then back to Pembroke Park in Wanaka.

Hagen was first off followed by John but they had to work hard to stay up and as they slowly wound down it did not look a good time to follow them.

The conditions got better and a few pilots took off but most stayed on the hill. Cloud was building behind us at the top of TC and some paragliders were getting height so the rest followed to find tight broken thermals.

It was working to the south of the waterfall and persistence paid off with pilots climbing out above TC to over 8000ft after a hard fight.

Those who did make it above TC had a good glide out to Mt Roy to top out and a buoyant glide to Mt Maude.

You needed to stay high on the range along the isthmus as it was a long glide out to the road with no good landings on the east side.

The day had developed well by this stage and those who had made it this far had a good run back to Wanaka with plenty of height to burn off over Pembroke Park.

Task into GPS on Grandview

Photo; Kris Ericksen

Eddie Pearson on TC launch

Photo; Adam Seaseny

John Smith was first into goal followed by Angus, Grant, Bill and Glenn Meadows to make it the best day so far.

The showers did come around 8:30pm when the midweek BBQ at the lakeside was in full swing.

DAY SIX Task 5, Top of Grandview 5000ft, Light easterly, great conditions.

The task was north to Breast Peak and then west to Mt Maude, south west to Mt Iron, back to Grandview, then goal at Pembroke Park. 63km.

John was first off followed by Tom Kellner. John got weak lift on the southern ridge while Tom scratched low and made his way out front. John flew north to get out from under the cloud building above take off and when Tom hit the sun out in front of the hill he found a thermal to take him to 8000ft.

The rest of us piled off the hill when the sun came back on the hill. Some pilots got good height while others worked their way along the ridge to Breast.

Those who did not leave Breast with good height had a hard scratch at the base of Mt Maude. Lift was

Left; Flying near good clouds at Grandview

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Photo; Kris Ericksen

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then found before and around Mt Iron. The 15km glide back to Grandview could be topped up with thermals along the way and patience was needed if the cloud above Grandview had shaded the hill.

John was first into goal with Bill, Dave Austin, Andrew McKirdy, Grant, Shane, Glenn, Mark Nichols and James Oakley completing the task to make it an even better day than the last. Dave won the day with the fastest time.

Tom Kellner had a two hour flight and flew direct to Pembroke.

Kim the novice got to 8000ft and Ian Miller kept his first place position in Sport class getting nearly to turnpoint 4.

All the novices had great flights and lots of practice thermaling.

Thanks Organising the HG Nationals was made hard for us by not living in Wanaka or even in the South Island for two of us, but with the help of many people the event was a success. So we would like to take the time to thank some of those who helped us get the HG Nationals at Wanaka this year.

Bryan Moore and Kat West helped with the site guide and contacts for the land owners, who were more

than happy to allow us to use their land in a very dry season with an extreme fire risk over the whole summer, with a special thanks the owner of the Treble Cone who set aside a large paddock for bomb-out and mowed it for us.

Niles Moore who liaised with the owners of the Treble Cone landing field before the event began.

Derek Divers who helped sort out details for the BBQ and the prize giving night and also permission to use Treble Cone ski field for take-off and many other issues.

Dennis Thorpe and Tony Cowley who help set up the blog and put results and updates on the Association web site.

Kaitalin for the t-shirt design and Tony Seaman from Promco for t-shirt printing.

A big thanks to Kevin McManus who not only volunteered to be Meet Director but also made the great trophies for all the place getters.

Kai Waka Pai who allowed us to use the upstairs of their cafĂŠ for our morning brief and also put forward prize vouchers and great coffee and breakfasts for the competitors.

Wills Wing for the t-shirts, caps, scarfs and hoodie.

Moyes Gliders for t-shirts and hats Hang Gliding and Paragliding Supplies for drogue chute and last minute spares for gliders.

And a big thanks for all those who took time to come to Wanaka to fly and compete in the HG Nationals from all over NZ and made the event a success.

A special thanks to Mark Hathaway and One News who took time to come to Wanaka and put us on One News Sport and let NZers see that our sport is still alive.

- Wanaka Hang Gliding Nationals organisers; Mark Alton, Grant Tatham, Max Gebhardt.

Leaving Mt Roy at over 8000ft

Photo; B Degen

Background; Clint shows how it’s done at Long Gully

Photo; B Degen

Top 20 places #

Name

Glider

Class

T1

T2

T3

T4

T5

Total

1

John Smith

Moyes Litespeed RS4

Open

964

370

448

1000 884

3666

2

Bill Degen

Wills Wing T2

Open

478

297

376

727

615

2493

3

Glenn Meadows

Wills Wing T2C

Open

431

154

239

721

664

2209

4

Andrew McKirdy

Moyes Litespeed RS3.5 Open

478

154

224

385

813

2054

5

Shane McKay

Moyes Litespeed RX5

455

154

268

379

767

2023

Open

6

Grant Tatham

Airborne C4

Open

270

154

156

751

656

1987

7

Angus Tapper

Wills Wing T2C

Open

685

154

166

785

0

1790

8

Dave Austin

Aeros Combat L13

Open

183

154

140

220

944

1641

9

Mark Alton

Wills Wing T2C

Open

702

154

166

256

359

1637

10 James Oakley

Airborne C4

Open

183

154

167

453

501

1458

11 Mark Nichols

Atos

Open

366

154

140

213

512

1385

12 Hagen Brueggemann Moyes Litespeed S4.5

Open

831

154

149

202

0

1336

13 Maximilian Gebhardt

Open

449

154

181

219

311

1314

Moyes Litespeed RS4

14 Derek McKee

Moyes Litespeed RS4

Open

390

154

140

377

183

1244

15 Clint Fraser

Moyes Litespeed RX4

Open

183

154

228

216

453

1234

16 Gary Turner

Airborne Sting

Open

0

154

140

604

205

1103

17 Ian Miller

Moyes Litesport

Sport

226

154

140

181

365

1066

18 Eddie Pearson

Airborne C4

Open

334

154

140

181

186

995

19 Adriel Kind

Airborne Sting

Sport

183

154

270

181

64

852

20 Ian Bowie

Moyes Litesport

Open

183

154

140

181

120

778

Prizewinners and participants

A

Photo; Adam Seaseny

i r b o r n

9

In with the Big Boys, the heights and sights of Wanaka

By Kim Pullan

I

f anyone had told me a year ago that I would be flying around Wanaka with the best in the country, getting to heights of 8200 feet and being on national TV, I would have told them they were crazy.

standing up on Treble Cone, with 30 experienced pilots behind me watching my every move while pretending not to be looking. My first day of my new career as ‘wind There I was learning how to dodge technician’ (or as I like to put it ‘wind thistles with a rather large and heavy dummy’) and I was off, I jumped kite attached to my back. Hoping to (what! jumped? I hear you say) well ‘yes’ fly just a little bit and perhaps I was standing on a cliff edge and land on my feet, coping with my usual couldn’t think of any other option (I left-right dyslexia (a little challenging am a learner remember) and perhaps for my fab and very patient tutor) and waiting for just a little bit more wind to come up the front would have been a wise idea. But I did it!

My face may have been just centimetres from the ground, but I stayed calm and flew away with the gasps of horror fading in the distance. A bit of a short flight, just around the corner a little bit of lift near the waterfall then Above; Kim and Tyla on the telly down to bomb out (I got the stress of watching my teenage to know these paddocks quite well son learn... wasn’t he just learning over the next few days). What a thrill to walk a couple of month’s ago?!! though, and it was great to see lots All the while having to use bribe of other’s landings as they joined therapy to ‘encourage’ him to help me down there (entertaining stuff!). me pull my glider back up the top So there were several good things of the hill after each of my thistle that came out of this experience. cropping flights.

Firstly that I didn’t crash, another When Glenn told us about the was that I decided that being wind Nationals happening in Wanaka, I dummy was not the career for thought it sounded like a fun holiday me, I would gladly hand this over so we were off... to some other poor unsuspecting Then before I knew it there I was, soul, that my landings aren’t as

10 A i r b o r n

Tyla flying at Treble Cone

Photo; Adam Seaseny

bad as I thought and fourthly, it I experimented around checking gave everyone something to tease out other places where I thought me about, a good icebreaker in the there would be thermals and yes testosterone filled world of hang quite often I was right and up I would gliding. go again, I could touch the cloud Apparently it is possible to run even base and see for miles and miles. with two steps and it does make a Soon there was just one thing big difference to take off! And where bugging me, there had been no are all the other female pilots I ask! ladies room at the top of Grandview, There was a huge amount of not usually a problem but there had learning for me over the week at also been very few bushes available, Wanaka, it was amazing to be so now after two hours of fun flying I surrounded by mountains and was busting for a pee. And the only people (well men) who loved to fly, option is to land and find a bush to experience the comradeship, skill so that is what I had to do. Lesson and helpfulness of everyone. learnt, always take gloves and pee I was very aware that we could have before running off a hill! been seen as a nuisance, sometimes So the other thing I have to thank getting in the way of the serious Mark for, other than managing to flying that is done at the Nationals. pull off the amazing feat of running So I thank everyone who was a national competition in a town there helping to make this possible particularly Glenn (who as well as looking after us two newbies managed to come 3rd!!) and also Mark Alton who made me go and fly from Grandview when I was feeling a bit tired and fancied a day of Above; taking over the Treble Cone carpark retail therapy (a female thing). that is not anywhere near where he On that day I let my son be the lives, and that is for telling the news wind dummy, whoops, technician reporters about the mother and son and then bravely took off after a team learning to fly. spectacular crash right in front of Luckily for Mark it was less stressful me (no it wasn’t Tyla) and cruised than I expected and was fun for Tyla along the ridge to the end and hit a to be on the TV. So he is forgiven for big thermal. Round and round up I tossing me into some thing way, way went, carefully watching the horizon, out of my comfort zone! no air sickness here!

This experience of flying so high Slowly I realized my mistake, no and getting to really feel and see gloves! It is cold at 8200 feet, my what the ‘real’ hang glider pilots fingers became stuck to the base do was absolutely amazing. I can’t bar, a good place for them to be I believe that anyone would not want guess... but the views, absolutely to take up this sport. To all the women breathtaking!! I couldn’t believe this out there, try hang gliding! If I can do was happening, finally after my week it as a 40(ish) year old kindergarten of short flights I was really flying. teacher, then anyone can do it!!

Here’s looking forward to seeing everyone (and more) at next years Left; Tyla and Glenn on comp. The sunny top of the South!! launch Photo; Justine Dunning

A Novice at the Nationals

By Aaron Darby

I

t’s midnight. I’ve just dropped John off at Dunedin Hospital. We won’t call his wife yet.

Lucky for me the old boys network is awake - I have a friends place to crash down the road.

It’s a fair drive back in the morning.

Better get some shut-eye ready to head back in the morning.

John and I first connected for this trip out at Kariotahi Coast. Mark was putting out the good word about getting down for the Nationals, John was keen to share a journey, I was keen to catch up with a bunch of friends down that way. The stars were aligned! Novice at Nationals 2015 became the war cry and so the journey begins…

The real goal for me is getting in my first real cross country flight. My background so far: Some coastal training and flying courtesy of Paddy, and one weekend of bombing off the Kaimais. Certainly not in the experienced category but I am not alone. I’m actually heavily supported from all sides. The experienced pilots are always making sure I have all the support to safely get off the hill, what to watch for, local knowledge, and how to get safely on the ground. Always willing to offer their best tip. It’s a proactive community spirit that is very rare to find in the outside world.

The journey starts with a drive from Auckland to Wanaka. 1500km in 25 hours. A 10 am start from Auckland with the odd coffee break sees us in Wellington late afternoon. We bump into the Wellington pilots on the same ferry, then we drive on through the night taking turn about to drive and sleep.

That dropped us in prime position and surprisingly fresh for a Friday afternoon fly at Treble Cone. I’m a relatively regular Mainlander; I’m here at least once a year. I know

Pilots looking for lift at Treble Cone the hills are big, but as we drive up the gravel track, I’m reminded of the enormity that I’m about to step into.

Did I tell you I’m afraid of heights?...

It’s a bit of a cliff launch and it doesn’t disappoint. I have the nose down tight and push off hard. The few spectators have a sharp intake of breath as I scuttle down the gully in front, “dragging my toes down the rocks” but I’m comfortable in my launch. I have quickly built plenty of airspeed which I can turn back into height at any moment.

I’m watching for anything to my front ensuring I remain well clear and I’m quickly soaring clear into the roughest patch of turbulence I’ve experienced yet! Up, down, left and right in quick succession. The crowd goes wild! And I am reminded why I packed spare underpants… I’m soon on the ground in the bomb-out paddock but what a ride!

We head on back to my friends Mandy and Muscles’ for the night.

Venison sausages and a Speights for dinner. Welcome back to the Mainland...

The next morning it’s on. A bit of a brief for the week, then we’re heading for the hills. It’s interesting watching the pros. They’ve been doing this for years. So much to learn!

“Wheels are optional.”

“Everyone breaks a bone at some point” “Just Follow John Smith off the hill and you’ll be sweet.”

I reflect on these learnings as I hear another high performance glider grinding its base bar across the bomb-out paddock towards me, finishing with a gentle whack as the top takes over, and John Smith sails off into the distance…

So much to learn!

Here’s the summary from a solid week of flying and Novice lessons learned: Day 1: Launch from Grandview - The wind is fickle and not in the most helpful direction. I learn about ‘Hang Driving’. The frustration set in and people start setting up on the track on the steep side of the hill.

I find a comfy spot with the least amount of spear-grass for me to run through at launch. I already know the Spaniard well.

I have been given some good info.

“Catch a thermal up onto the ridge beside us. Stay on top of the ridge and catch the next thermal up to the top of the mountain behind us.

Head north and across country!”

Somewhere just after I launch, one of the pros has a mis-launch and bends a DT but I don’t notice.

I’m shitting my pants again as I’m thrown up in the air by a 900-up thermal bullet. I have faith in the knowledge that I am still flying despite the ground dropping away so quickly beneath me but my skills are poor and I quickly loose it. I troll back and forth along the face trying to find something else.

30 minutes later after several little ups and downs I decide it isn’t working so head out to the flats to find something better. It’s a foolish amateur move that finds nothing.

But some are already on the ground

Left; All eyes on the cliff launch Photo; Adam Seaseny

Photo; Adam Seaseny

to the north. Their field looks much nicer and easier to land in than bomb-out. I land about 5km from my take off point but not at bomb-out.

Technically cross country? I’ll take the win! But the lesson: patience!

In discussion with John afterwards - he finally got up and away after 45 minutes patiently pacing in the same gully. Patience…

Day 2: Treble Cone. I learn my first thermal coring technique from an old hand: ”Turn tighter if the beeps drop off, flatter if they go up” – thanks Kevin! I also have some meagre local knowledge from my Friday flight now compared to others. It doesn’t help. But as I come in 500ft over bomb-out, I feel my left wing get pushed up. I’ve read about this!

I do my best to throw a left turn and core it instantly! Kevin’s top tip keeps me in it as I climb 150 feet higher beeping all the way until it fades. “WOOOOOO HOOO!” I still bomb. It’s later on I have to laugh when I overhear one of the top flyers complaining about how he bombed out while he watched some novice perfectly core a thermal in front and fly off without him…!

Day 3: Long Gully. Long Gully is up a loooong gully. There’s a bit of high cloud around which is keeping things cool. We set up on a ridge line either side of a fence. The wind is moving around and there’s a ridge to get over from launch early in the piece – not an easy novice launch and the second novice off has people nervous as he skims across the ridge top. But the cloud is holding everyone back.

Fortune favours the brave – the pressure is too much and Clint charges off the hill. He’s quickly up and lets us know: “Come on in boys!

The waters fine!” and just like that he’s off down range! But it’s still cold.

The next few people struggle and bomb. Eventually the start window

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Right; Rigged and ready at Grandview Photo; Kris Ericksen close of 5:30pm draws near. At 5:20pm there’s a mad rush off the hill. It’s all downhill. And my curiosity grows. How does one person make it, yet another doesn’t…? What was the key difference…? I still don’t know.

John and I head out at dusk with Mark and Mandy to gather some South Island “chicken” (rabbit) for tomorrow night’s hang glider BBQ. I make a mess and some are discarded. Mark helps out with some tidy head shots and their dogs retrieve well.

Day 4: The return to Treble Cone.

It a hot day. It looks promising. I’m a lot clearer on how to get up now. It’s almost like phases. Catch the small rough thermals up off the hillside to the top of the ridge/hill. From here they get bigger so then take the larger easier to get thermal high,and you’re away. I have a strategy. A good stable launch, straight out past Pub Corner to the main valley.

I catch a small thermal off a low spur up to the top of the big rocky waterfall. I find another above the waterfall that carries me higher to the ridge behind. I might get away today! Suddenly I’m surrounded by 5 other gliders and a paraglider who have spotted my progress. After a few unsure moments I decide to play it safe and find another thermal with less activity. I find nothing but sink all the way to bomb-out, but holy crap what a ride! I don’t feel bad. There are a lot of pros in the paddock with me again.

I see John coming in after 90 minutes of scratching around in the valley. He comes in with good pace, rounds out into ground effect and WHACK! That didn’t look so smooth… He’s alright, the glider looks alright, ok he’s not quite alright.

A broken collar bone. We get his glider packed up and a couple of the guys take him down to A&E in Wanaka. John doesn’t do half a job.

It’s a well smashed collar bone, and he’ll need to head over to Dunedin hospital tonight so they can operate to clean it up. So begins our trek to Dunedin. The Wanaka pain killers

work well. He’s a box of birds on the way over but I know he’ll be sore later – he’s waving his arm around a lot...

He decides he’ll upgrade his wheel size when he gets back… Helmet cam later shows he rounded out a little low and caught his base bar on the edge of a small culvert running across the field. Note to self: don’t round out low. Lesson learned…!

The rest of the team had a BBQ back at Wanaka this night.

Apparently the “South Island chicken” (rabbit) that I slipped in on the menu earlier was good…

Day 6: It’s a late start for me and a long drive back. The crew are up at Grandview again but right up the top this time. It’s a hot sunny day so it’s booming. I hear later about another novice, Kim getting up over 8000 feet! I get there late – everyone’s launched but here’s one of the old digs Dennis– he’s waiting for me to help me off the hill! What a top bloke! A large cloud has formed over top and it’s cooled off. The hill has stopped cycling. I can see a large rocky face on the far side of the gully that I hope will still have thermal activity. It’s a no wind launch – I run hard and it goes smoothly but the cloud has taken its toll. My sink alarm is groaning all the way across the valley, there’s no life at the rocky face. I follow the ridge line down hoping for something. It’s all sink. Bomb-out is approaching.

There is a small knoll on one side of it that has a tiny weak bubble but it’s all too little too late. Sink sink sink. I quickly learned this lesson: there is

a window of opportunity when the thermal activity starts until it closes.

Don’t launch early and don’t launch late. Be patient. I didn’t really learn this lesson here. It would bite me twice more later in summer back home…

Tonight is party night. We’ve double the patronage of Luggate Pub. There’s venison steak everywhere, a few beersies and some beautiful hand carved trophies courtesy of Kevin. I note that it was the third place winner Glen that I out cored earlier in the week. Now if I could just get the rest of Glen’s skills…

I keep dreaming. We take over the television when the news comes on. TV3 was with us out at Treble Cone. They wanted to interview the mother and son hang gliding team.

And there we all are!!

Day 7. The weather has closed in. It’s showery. We head up Treble Cone to try our luck. Cloud base is down and it looks like we have to launch from the lower Pub Corner.

It’s a bombing run but a novice is quickly off the hill as some rain sets in. But behold – he maintains height for some time! Slowly he eeks down before throwing in some beautiful wingovers and lands beside the vehicles below. The Nationals are declared closed without any further launching. Everyone else packs up in the rain and heads off. The shower clears as we finish loading gliders and then the most amazing sight! The extra humidity creates bubbles of cloud below us that make the thermal movement visible! We watch in amazement as a big thermal bubble cloud flows up in front of us. A small skinny bullet powers up behind it. And correspondingly further down the valley we can see the sink… I’m star struck. A great finish! We go for an explore further up the valley by vehicle and foot to relax for the rest of the day.

And so the trip came to an end – but it was only the beginning!

My eyes have been opened! To gain that level of experience and learning (“currency”) in such a short

Left; a well run launch Photo; Adam Seaseny

12 A i r b o r n

space of time, would have taken me almost a whole season of weekend flying back home. The exposure to different launch sites and landings, the different weather and thermal types, the pro lessons – both good and bad all bundled in together! If you’re a Novice and really want to step forward in your flying ability and experience – do it! Next year it’s in Nelson. Bring it on!

Of note for other novices out there: Free stuff! I have the free xcsoar app on my smart phone. I start it up and tuck it in a safe pocket just before launch. It uses the phones GPS to automatically capture a track log for me which I can then enter for competitions, but most importantly, I can replay the flight and see where I circled beside a thermal instead of in it, where I could have done better.

It’s a great free learning tool and as a bonus, the igc file it creates can be re-played though a free igc player on you pc which plays it on google earth! – you get to re-fly your flight in real time with you mum! (I didn’t but you might…)

I have a few people to thank for this amazing trip. I am very grateful for your support! My friends Muscles and Mandy for putting up with us for a week, drinking his beer, eating his venison and wild pork, shooting his rabbits, taking over his garage, and partying with his friends and family.

My mate Flawny and Michelle in Dunners for the late notice bed and breakfast. Life saver!

John for sharing the amazing journey with me.

Mark for pointing me in the right direction at the start, and then making sure I was well looked after when there. Kevin, Glen, Bill, John, for all giving me their top tips and lessons – I betting they don’t even realise how important their offhand comments were. Kim and her family for their inspirational novice flying.

The Wellington boys! Was great sharing the journey with you half way down the country, and also picking up your top tips – ask Grant for a set of outstanding straps if you get a chance! Thank you all!

See you all on the hill again some time soon!

Paragliding Open 2015

Kyla MacDonald reports from Wanaka Photos by Kris Ericksen

R

egistration kicked off on Friday night without a hitch, but there was a lot of rumbling amongst the pilots about the weather forecast.

It seems the hang gliders may have used up all the decent weather with their Nationals in the past week, and the next few days are not looking good for us.

TASK 1 However, we are a stubborn lot, so we headed up to Treble Cone on Saturday morning to sit in the clouds on launch and consider our options.

The task was set, and everyone hurried up to wait for the cloud to lift and conditions to improve.

Joel Hanlon, on his tandem, was the first to launch. Although the rest of us admired his bold behaviour as we caught glimpses of him through the cloud, no one was convinced to join him in the air.

Eventually with the clock ticking to the launch window closing, Peter Groves decided to take action. As soon as the cloud cleared enough for the launch window to open, he was off. That, and only 30 minutes remaining to get around 50 pilots in the air, was enough to get a buzz going.

All pilots managed to get in the air, although Kris Ericksen cut it a bit close, lifting his feet a mere ten seconds before the launch window closed for the day.

The task was a run up and down the ridge, over to Glendhu Hill, back to Pub Corner, and goal at Glendhu Bay. Although no one quite made it, it was a bit of a surprise to have a valid task! Congratulations to the winner of the day, Hugo Robben.

DAY 2 On Sunday the task committee took us to Coronet Peak, deemed our best chance of getting a task in.

Top; Jean Brossard coming into the TC landing paddock, Above Getting ready at Pub corner After waiting in the rain at the Flight Park, we set off up to launch. We were optimistic! Until the rain set in again, which didn’t take long.

No task, but a few people stuck around to free fly, and the Crown

Terraces turned on in the late afternoon. So did the Cardrona Hotel.

DAY 3 Briefing on Monday morning was cancelled, as it was clear there would be no flying.

DAY 4 Although it turned out we couldn’t get a task in on Tuesday, it was a productive day; The Paragliding Competition Committee elections were held, with Cameron Kennedy

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Jérôme Studer, at Treble Cone, Wanaka is in the distance elected to join Tim Brown and Johnny Hopper on the PCC. The pilots then met at Treble Cone to check whether conditions were viable. It turned out to be too strong, so Sam Bartholomew, who has been running a paragliding-specific first aid course with a group of pilots, led the group in a few accident scenarios.

It was a great exercise for both the people doing the course, who acted as team leaders for the incident, and the wider pilot group.

Feedback is that it was quite realistic (and remarkable, all the pilots in the scenario had very similar injuries!)

I hope all the distributors in NZ have plenty of light-weight equipment in stock, because after Bryan Moore’s talk last night, pilots are really fired up about hike and fly and vol-biv.

Bryan spoke a bit about preparing for vol-biv, and did a show and tell of a few of his flights, including several breath-taking photos.

Nick Neynens also talked through

some of his recent flights in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and France.

Hearing about these flights is really encouraging and a few pilots have reported that it’s given them confidence to give hike and fly a go themselves.

DAY 5 I thought that a few pilots heading home early would be enough to trigger the weather gods to shine down on Wanaka. Sadly not.

Wednesday is wet and windy.

DAY 6 Come on Mother Nature, throw us a bone!!!

Thursday was another blowout, so pilots took advantage of the other exciting activities around Wanaka - mountain biking, tramping, motor biking.

In the evening, Itai Almog gave a talk about some of the considerations in selecting the right reserve for your size, wing and harness. Great insight in there.

I met up with the competition

Technical Delegate, Johnny Hopper, for a chat about scoring and competition validity. I zoned out when he started getting into the formulae for scoring - it’s pretty complex stuff with loads of variables.

But he left me with an interesting titbit – the PG Open is only valid (for the purpose of selecting the NZ champion) if we get at least 2000 points of task value.

Task 1 was worth 407 points (that’s what Hugo, the winner, scored). So we need at least 1593 points over the remaining tasks in order to determine a new NZ champion – otherwise it’s determined based on the National Ladder. It’s still possible, but we’re going to need some help from the weather on Friday and Saturday to get big tasks in!

DAY 7 It seemed there was a chance we would fly. The regular 9:30am briefing was postponed to 11am so we would have a better idea of what was possible. The bad news came in

shortly after 11 - not taskable.

It did look like we might still be able to get our feet off the ground, so a few keen beans headed over to Treble Cone to have a look. More bad news. It was immediately clear that safe flying was not an option.

Oh well, get back in to Wanaka to prepare for tonight’s talk - Louis Tapper gave a great presentation on planning and preparation for his kite surfing trip (2000km along the coast of Brazil!), and how it applies to paragliding.

Peter Groves also talked about the preparation for his big flight to Mt Cook last year. Actually he sort of talked about how he HADN’T prepared for it because it didn’t look like it would be a big day. One of his key messages was to never write a day off! It certainly paid off for him that day; here is the Leonardo link: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/ leonardo/flight/1073435

DAY 8 Saturday saw us in the air again!

Getting ready at Pub corner on Treble Cone

14 A i r b o r n

RESULTS Overall Top 40

Reuben Muir, Jeff Ripley, Eva Keim and Grant Middendorf on the Podium Very happy to get another successful task at Treble Cone. This one was similar to Task 1: down to Shania Spur, back to Crash Ridge, over to Glendhu Hill, back up to Rocky Hill, down to Mid Triangle and back to the bomb out.

No one made goal; Middy was the task winner, with Russell in close second.

We raced over to Luggate for our celebration dinner and the awards.

As we suspected, the competition wasn’t valid for the purposes of selecting the NZ National Champion and NZ Women’s Champion as we didn’t have a high enough total task value, so we reverted to the National Ladder to determine those winners.

Well, it turns out that even if the weather in NZ can be unreliable and inconsistent, we can always rely on Grant Middendorf and Eva Keim to be on form.

Middy was the competition winner as well as being top of the Ladder - which makes him NZ National Champion for 2015.

Eva was the top female in both the comp and ladder, so she takes home the title of NZ Women’s Champion.

Congratulations to them both - well and truly champs!

Good work by the Task Committee of Mark, Louis and Jeff in working with what the weather handed them (it wasn’t much, believe me); Tim for taking care of launch, Johnny for scoring, Jan for check-in, Pete for sponsorship and prizes, Bryan, Itai and Louis for their talks, Kris for the photos, and of course Derek for organising the competition.

Anyone else keen for next year?

Get your bids in to the Paragliding Competition Committee!

# Pilot Glider Total 1 Grant Middendorf Gin BoomerangX 864 2 Hugo Robben Ozone m6 855 3 Derek Divers Gin Carrera 791 4 Russell Read Ozone Mantra 6 774 5 Roy Tingay Delta 2 721 6 Louis Tapper Gradient Aspen 5 716 7 Jeff Ripley Bin Carrera 706 8 Reuben Muir GTO2 696 9 Wayne Rohrs Gin Boomerang GTO 681 10 Eva Keim GIN Carrera 679 11 Itai Almog Ozone Delta 2 611 12 Hamish Barker Gradient Aspen 3 586 13 Peter Groves Nova Mentor 3 Light 568 14 Rostislav Vondra Sky Antea 2 559 15 Mark Hardman UP Summit XC3 534 16 Kris Ericksen Nova Mentor 3 532 17 Johnny Hopper UP Kantega XC2 488 18 Joshua Hockett Artik 3 474 19 Timothy Heather UP Makalu Light 467 20 Nick Stead Astral 444 21 Jean Brossard Delta 2 438 22 Lucas Le Courtois Rush 4 420 23 Duncan Macnab Sigma 8 419 24 Rodger Kerr Delta 2 395 25 Kyla MacDonald UP Kantega 387 26 Cameron Kennedy 385 27 Peter Taylor Mentor 2 361 28 Joel Hanlon BDG Dual Lite 347 28 Woo Young Jang LM5 347 30 David Cleary Niviuk Hook 3 345 31 Jaroslav Tuma Advance Sigma 8 321 32 JuanCarlos Restrepo M6 310 33 Elisabeth Tobler Gin Sprint Evo 305 34 Robbo Robinson Delta 2 299 35 Anand Srinivasan Gin Tribe 279 36 Glen Stevens M6 274 37 Ian Douglass Skywalk Arriba 249 38 Evan Lamberton Carrera 246 39 Mike Ferguson Atlas M 204 40 Sandy Yong Mentor 2 203

R1 361 407 371 273 379 329 375 362 339 366 273 297 258 274 229 249 260 241 221 243 166 238 218 213 235 230 361 163 347 161 321 0 219 299 193 274 249 246 204 203

R2 503 448 420 501 342 387 331 334 342 313 338 289 310 285 305 283 228 233 246 201 272 182 201 182 152 155 0 184 0 184 0 310 86 0 86 0 0 0 0 0

Above; Jean Brossard at Treble Cone Below, 2015 participants at the Flight Park

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St Arnaud Paragliding XC

T

his year’s St Arnaud Paragliding XC Camp was a smaller affair due to a lessthan-optimal weather forecast - a little too much moisture and cloud was predicted - keeping away Canterbury and Southern Club pilots.

It deterred a lot of the local Tasman Club pilots too! However it didn’t dampen the spirits of the keenest and most committed ones: the pilots committed to aviation, and committed to the XC Camp meet regardless of an “iffy” forecast. They were in attendance to make the best of the conditions served up.

And okay, they were also the ones who had already committed mega $$ to Mssrs. Interislander and Blue Bridge for passage with vehicles across Cook Strait: i.e. some of our dear Waikato and Wellington flying brothers and sisters coming to the mainland for a holiday regardless!

By end of day Thursday, a core group of nine pilots and two drivers had settled in at our St Arnaud bach HQ with the Club representation being: Waikato (4), Wellington (3), Marlborough (2), Tasman (1) and non-club (1). Up to six local Tasman pilots joined us on a day by day basis.

Of the pilots in attendance, not enough wanted to fly regional competition tasks, so the planned concurrent St Arnaud League competition was scratched. (Which

Barry Baxter flying a few kilometres out from launch, Gowan Valley below and Lake Rotoroa beyond Photo; Tim Percival I must say made things a lot simpler on launch for me, the planned competition director, and simpler at the end of the day back at the meet HQ).

Of the attendees, we were very lucky to have Nik Moody down from Coromandel just for a holiday and to drive for us because a recent knee operation precluded him from flying.

Nik had brought his big Jeep 4WD truck with large flatdeck that proved to be awesome for transporting lots of pilots and wings up the steep Mt Murchison road! (and at the bach we benefitted from Nik’s fine baking skills).

HQ activities of the long weekend included: cooking, baking, eating, drinking beer, drinking wine, yarning, reading, plotting, drinking more beer, the odd paragliding video on a laptop, chopping wood and trapping mice.

Launch Sites, Weather and Flying Conditions The sites used were Mt Murchison (1469m/4820ft), Parachute Rocks on the St Arnaud Range (1510m/4950ft) a n d Ta k a k a H i l l (900m/2950ft).

The main influence

Left; Nik Moody’s truck all loaded up and ready for the drive up Mt Murchison Photo; Bruce Vickerman

18 A i r b o r n

on the flying was westerly wind conditions, especially on and about the ridges, including the Mt Murchison and Parachute Rocks launch sites, with 10 to 15 knot winds encountered when we were flying, and at times 20 knot winds when we were on the ground.

Precipitation stayed away over the days Friday to Monday, despite some weak troughs forecast for the Nelson area over the period.

Cloudbase kept fairly low in the Mt Murchison area, rising in the early afternoon to around 6000ft on the Friday and 7000ft on the Sunday.

Above the main ranges to the east, base was higher at around 7750ft, rewarding the pilots who reached them or started their flights from Parachute Rocks.

The consequence of this was that even at Mt Murchison, our most suitable site for XC for pilots of low air time or new to flying high hills and mountains, the conditions were not conducive to easy cross country flying. (It occurred to me on the first day that such conditions would have made for testing competition tasks for more experienced pilots, if sufficient numbers had turned up for the regional competition!)

Prizes This year we were fortunate to have been given some nice prizes

by Wellington’s Oceania Paragliding, to be awarded to those competitors adjudged to have shown the best

spirit of the St Arnaud XC Camp.

See below for the prize recipients.

Day Diary Day 1, Fri Feb 27, Mt Murchison.

Forecast: cloud clearing and the wind southwesterly, 15 knots easing to 10 knots. Golly, the wind was cold and breezy when we got out of our vehicles at the top of the hill!

Stronger and seemingly colder than any of my previous visits! On arrival we measured the wind as being in range 30-35kmh.

After an hour or so parawaiting the wind had eased a little and Russell Read, in the role of knowledgeable wind technician, took off to get the flying activities started (thanks Russ). The southwest tussock bowl of the mountain was quite soarable with a little help from some thermal activity.

However, for heading off crosscountry, things were a little tricky: to escape the bowl one needed to be able to recognise when a thermal was coming through too. And once up above launch you could see that downwind your landing options weren’t great - a lot of bush and the Buller River Valley with some narrow, windy sections. (Westerly is not my favourite wind direction for Mt Murchison!)

In the end about six pilots got away: Russell and Thomas Dobrisek found thermals to the right, NW of takeoff and drifted off downwind; Chris Connolly, Barry Baxter, Nick Taber

Camp and I later opting to depart the launch area by heading left, following the Braeburn Ridge southeast.

Best straight line distances of the day were achieved by Barry, who flew 30km to St Arnaud village, landing across the road from our bach HQ, and Russell who overflew St Arnaud to land at 59.5km.

Next were Thomas and Chris with distances of 22km and 21km respectively.

I personally found conditions a bit tricky, I didn’t take any photos because I was always trying to maximize the use of any lift encountered (i.e. always fearing sinking out!) I made it over the first ridge downwind, but didn’t get over the second, landing in the Gowan Valley (9km).

Day 2, Sat Feb 28. Forecast wind southwesterly 15 knots, increasing in the late afternoon.

I wasn’t keen on Mt Murchison in conditions windier than the first day, instead I figured that the best bet for some flying that day, of the sites anywhere nearby, would be Takaka Hill, nominating it as an allowable XC Camp take-off for the day.

Chris, Thomas, Bruce Vickerman, Rob Gillard and Jerome Studer decided to try their luck from Parachute Rocks which, being above the village, was just a five minute drive and a two and a half hour walk away. Russell took the day off to kayak a section of the Buller with daughter Emily (age 6, in separate kayaks!) Barry, Sally Sukolski and I with Nik as driver went to Takaka Hill which turned out to be a 140km drive away (why didn’t we properly look at a road map first!??)

From Parachute Rocks Chris, Thomas and Bruce managed to launch okay before the wind strengthened, peeling off right off the north end of the St Arnaud Range for quick flights downwind, keeping out in front of the Raglan Range in a good lift band, with straight line

February 28 to March 3, 2015 distances of around 40km for Chris and Thomas, and 13km for Bruce.

Rob and Jerome decided not to launch once the wind had picked up and had to resign themselves to a walk back down.

At Takaka Hill, Barry, Sally and I found the thermals a little bit weak, and then when attempting to fly the ridge southwest towards Hailes Knob, things were a little bit rough (as it often is when there’s a strong southwesterly wind up top). No one flew for much more than an hour as a result. It was another day that I did not take any photos, this time because of the perceived need to be flying actively at all times for the prevention of collapses!

Day 3, Sun Mar 1, Mt Murchison.

Forecast: westerly wind, 15 knots easing to 10 knots by 1-2 pm-ish.

Easing to light winds above 6000ft.

On this day we had a special guest, Clint Fraser, to demonstrate how easily his sleek, new hang glider could handle the 15 knot wind about the top of the hill. Clint launched at 1:30pm, and to start with we were mesmerised by Clint’s wing, marvelling at the way it really carved turns and soared through the sky with speed - a paraglider’s motion was just a sluggish creep in comparison.

However as time passed it started to get uncomfortable watching Clint and then somewhat painful: he was flying and we weren’t!

Russell was the first amongst us to decide that the time for watching was over, walking a little way downhill from the wind compression zone of the summit to where the breeze was quite okay for launching our paragliders. Barry and Chris were quick to set up in the same place and follow Russell into the air launching at 3:15pm, sending the rest of us into a flurry of set up action too.

I launched at 3:40pm, by which time the southwest wind had further weakened, and within a minute an excellent thermal was pulling me skyward, up over the Mt Murchison radio aerial and away. A couple of clouds in the direction I was drifting told me I was on to a good thing, and it wasn’t long before Barry joined me and we flew together, staying high, above 6000ft, for the first

Left; Tim Percival and Rob Gillard on Mt Murchison Photo; Bruce Vickerman

10 km. Russ, Chris and Thomas were about 10 minutes ahead of us flying a little bit lower, while Above; Parawaiting on the top of Mt Murchison Photo Laurie Ross Bruce was following our path just a few minutes behind. This was easy - the day had turned on and we were away! This time it was a day I took photos, I was feeling at ease in the smoother and more buoyant conditions.

Q: What was the best or most enjoyable Best straight line distances of the or most memorable moment (or day were achieved by Bruce, Tim experience)? and Chris with flights of 61.5, 60 Chris: Riding up Mt Murchison on the back and 56km respectively, followed by of Nik’s truck.

Rob: The best experience was flying Mt Barry, Thomas and Russell with 22, Murchison.The most enjoyable was meeting 21 and 13km flights. and bonding with fellow paraglider pilots.

And Day 3 was the last day of the The most memorable was walking up XC Camp with a 20 knot westerly Parachute Rocks and then walking down to blow all day on Mar 2, and rain because it was too windy. forecast for Mar 3.

Tim: Looking down on St Arnaud village from Prize Awards 6000ft, the first time I’ve managed to get Chris, Russell and Tim together to St Arnaud from Mt Murchison in about determined the recipients of the ten attempts. Nik’s absolutely scrummy pumpkin and kumara pizza. prizes put up by Oceania Paragliding: 1st Prize to Bruce Vickerman: Q: What was the worst or least enjoyable moment (or experience)?

A choice of 40% off an AirDesign Chris: Leaving on Monday.

SUSI mountain wing, or a pair of Rob: Buying gluten free Weet-Bix, this has Veledrom sunglasses of his choice. got to be the most disgusting breakfast Awarded to Bruce for achieving the product ever! best open distance of the XC Camp Tim: Driving for over an hour towards Takaka (61.5 km) and for his great levels of Hill and failing to even reach Motueka in enthusiasm! that time.

2nd Equal Prizes to Brian Erasmus, Q: What was something that you learned Sally Sukolski and Jerome Studer: from the XC Camp?

40% off any glider in the AirDesign Chris: Be patient. range of their choice. To Brian for Rob: I learned that flying the mountains/ his persistence and then great big hills of the South Island, is a different ball game than flying small hills in the thermalling to escape “the bushy North Island. Having done so has given depths” of the southwest slopes of me more confidence flying all together.

Mt Murchison on day one. To Sally Getting together with fellow pilots, learning for ably handling the Mt Murchison about our instruments we fly with, has also launch and flying conditions on both been a great help. Planning XC routes with days including soaring to the top knowledge from the locals was very cool. of the southwest bowl stack on her Tim: Re-enforced was not writing days low-end EN-B wing on day one. To off too early - conditions can improve, get Jerome for two excellent flights from easier later in the afternoon.

Mt Murchison with good control and Q: Do you have any other comments you great decision making when just a would like to add? newly qualified pilot.

Chris: I reckon that the XC Camp is the best place to meet and fly with other pilots who I’d like to thank: i) our drivers, want to develop their XC skills in a relaxed, especially Nik Moody for bringing fun environment. an awesome 4WD truck; ii) Rob: The XC Camp was a great experience Russell Read for his enthusiasm and I am very excited about the next time. and knowledgeable advice; iii) David James the Mt Murchison farm Cross Country Competition Placings landowner for the Place Pilot Flight Distances (km)* Best 3 access across his Total 27-Feb 28-Feb 1-Mar land; and iv) the pilots themselves for 1 Chris Connolly 23.9 48.3 59.3 131.5 attending and making 2 Thomas Dobrisek 24.0 48.0 23.0 95.0 it the enjoyable event 3 Bruce Vickerman 7.8 17.0 70.0 94.8 that it was.

Q & A / Pilot Comments

* The XC flights were scored as Leonardo score type ‘free flight’ which scores 4 different legs.

4

Tim Percival

11.9

14.3

68.2

94.4

5

Russell Read

71.0

-

15.0

86.0

6

Nick Taber

11.3

16.4

28.8 25.5

70.7

7

Barry Baxter

34.1

10.7

25.2

70.0

A

i r b o r n

19

A Lesson Shared T

he day had finally arrived – the car was packed and off we went down to Christchurch on our way to the much hyped Manilla! !

We had been planning this trip for a few months, so had time to get the shiny new toys necessary for such an event. We had even gone to the lengths of convincing Allie - a friend of ours to come along to be a retrieval driver, as we knew that we were in for some big distances.

On the flight to Sydney, I mentally composed some fitting words of acceptance to the world paragliding enthusiasts club for breaking every record that existed, and penned a note to Jean–Baptiste Chandelier about the finer points of flying a wing. Let us say confidence was high. On arrival in Sydney, we were greeted by menacing grey clouds and the promise of rain, but our spirits could not be dampened and soon we were off, arriving in Manilla around 6 hours later.

Hmmm sky’s were still grey but still we were hopeful, so we went and checked in with the local club (awesome guys and facilities by the way), went up to the take-off for a bit of a familiarisation of the site – and were stoked, big clean take offs in all directions, and miles of flatlands.

The other 2 pilots, Mark and Big K got their gear out and did a nice clean top to bottom flight from the eastern take off, but as I went to go, the wind died off and I decided to wait until next time.

We zoomed back to our house we had booked and spent the evening charging batteries, checking and rechecking gear and going over all the different flight plans, communication plans and then a final check of the weather – oh dear.

It turns out that we had arrived at the same time as 2 cyclones were hitting the east coast of Australia.

Unbelievable!

For the next 3 days we brooded, and whilst we tried to make the most of it – talking to local pilots, nature walks and swimming in the local rivers etc, in the back of all of our minds was we need to get up there and get flying.

Day 4 arrived and looked promising, we decided to head up early and get in a top to bottom – just a bit of a shake out, get comfortable in our gear and generally just get our heads in the zone, now that we were on.

I should mention at this point that I have been flying for a bit over a

20 A i r b o r n

By Jason Gluer

Photos; Fleur Tiernan and Mark Davis

year, I have probably clocked up a bit over 100 odd hours in that year, flying both inland and coastal sites. I am not the best pilot but I am not the worst either, I don’t take unnecessary risks, and won’t fly if I’m not comfortable, but I won’t sit around all day watching others fly either. So really a middle of the pack sort of guy.

Anyway, boom we were on the site, on the eastern take off ready for a simple top to bottom. Conditions were light but totally fine for what we intended to do. I found myself at the front of our little group of 3 and with all pre-flight checks completed, took off.

As soon as I took off I knew something was wrong, the wing bit in and pulled me hard to the right – I could hear Mark yelling the dreaded word to the amateur paragliding enthusiast – CRAVAT!!!!

At this point I was looking up and could see it was not a cravat, but a very big line tangle on the right side affecting about 40% of the wing. I vaguely recall yelling some fairly choice words and could see I had about 30 seconds before smashing into the southern side of the hill, in a pretty nasty spot.

I immediately weight shifted to the left and applied the left brake hard to get the wing flying straight, ok good we are flying, I can tell you at this point my mind is racing at a million miles an hour – what did Jocky Sanderson say to do here on his DVD, what did my instructor teach me, what did I read in the books, what did I see on YouTube, it all comes together to form a plan – first I am flying in clear air and have space – good.

Next need to pump out the tangle...

Pump Pump not working- give it some big inputs Bang Bang - still nothing... Shit.

For those who know this site, my flight had now taken me a full 180 so now I was in front of the western take off. Still high, Still had a big tangle and no way to get rid of it.

Ok - breathe. Think. Fly the wing. I don’t need the entire wing to stay flying – OK. I can hear yelling over the radio, can’t talk need to focus. I am looking around constantly to see where I am going to park this thing, wind sock! - western bomb out - sort

of in front and half left – we can make this happen and then wham!!

Collapse - the right side of the wing folds under, and then boom whacks open again, and boom it happens again. Shit.

I realise that I am in a thermal, vario starts telling me what I don’t want to hear – I am going up!! Shit. Ok breath - still fully weight shifted to the left, still working the left brake hard – I can fly straight out of this.

My right hand follows my seat line down to where it meets my reserve handle. Again mind is working faster than I can believe – I still have height to use it, but am over trees, so what?

Hold on I still have control of the wing even though its untidy, let’s fly out for a bit longer and see what happens. Ok vario is telling me good news, we are heading down, and we are heading towards a safe landing, still have height to use the reserve, shall I? no need, we are ok, it’s gonna be tough, but we are gonna do this, coming in real fast to the landing – which way is the wind blowing, shit I am heading down wind, turn turn turn too slow, left turn pleeeeease , putting everything into turning the wing, but not enough to stall the wing, Trees Trees, sweat pouring, yelling to myself to do it.

Boom. Landed.

Phew. What the hell just happened?

Car racing towards me with my team mates in it – running – glad you’re safe mate. What the hell happened?

I am sure that all of you that have managed to read this are thinking – dude, tangle must have been there before you took off. Why on earth did you not build the wall properly, why did you not ground handle the wing before take-off, why why why.

And you know what – you are totally right. I don’t know why.

But what I do know is this – it’s a lesson that I need to be taught only once. And this is why I am sharing it with you all. I am also sharing it because I am relatively new to this sport, and I really think that there should be a culture of sharing – both our success and our failures – and as a community we need to be able to share these stories without fear of humiliation from the more experienced pilots (that we sometimes do) but all learn and grow from them. I hope you feel the same way.

Omara XC Cla 2015 A fter all the circuit flying at the Wanaka Nationals, we were all fired up to get cross country kms at the Omarama Classic but the great weather had stopped.

As the last day of the Nationals brought rain to Wanaka, in Omarama a few keen flyers got a slim lead with short flights from Buscot.

Next day was better but winds were forecast strong so some choose Tara Hills and others the Magic Mountain lower launch. At Magic after much trying we didn’t get great height but at least avoided the showers at other sites giving Mark Alton the lead with a 40km flight from Magic to Otematata.

Then a trend of strong winds and rain started, but Tuesday saw some brave flights from Buscot down the Waitaki funnel won by Cris Lawry who landed past Otematata at 35kms followed by Steve Bankier with 25kms.

Cris bettered that on Friday by flying from Mt Eric to Dog Kennel Corner, a distance of 63kms.

On Saturday all were on the Magic lower launch for a forecast of strengthening West to South winds with 9000ft cloudbase. Cris again made Dog Kennel Corner and the lower Magic launch start earned him 81kms. Max Gebhardt was next with 30kms to Twizel.

The last day had a similar forecast with stronger winds but only I chose the lower launch at Magic while others went to Tara Hills. Wind at launch was strong but not too bad in the air and I was soon out front climbing. Oddly, the wind dropped to very light after I launched.

Clouds looked great near Cloud Hill so I left without getting high, climbing before Cloud Hill and passing Mt Eric and Buscot at 8000ish before climbing in front of the Benmores.

Cris joined me there in a thermal on his way north after launching at Tara Hills so I expect he’d had a similar easy run.

He seemed to lose height as he

ma ssic Bill Degen reports on the worst weather and best flights of this years event

Above: Comfortably passing Timaru at over 10,000’ Photo: B. Degen

Above; 2015 Omarama XC Classic winner Cris Lawry headed north so I hung on and took the lift to over 10,000ft. Too confidently, I headed over the back straight towards Haldon and suffered serious sink for the long glide over Lake Benmore; - I should have gone north and made a much shorter jump there.

Getting away from the Benmore lake wind past Haldon I grovelled up then headed for better clouds over the Grampians where eventually it was up over 11,500ft with a helpful southwest drift. Skipping the Dalgetys, I veered southeast toward Timaru to check out developing clouds. It was fantastic to be so high that terrain didn’t matter.

Thermals were difficult to hang onto and often quickly disappeared but there wasn’t much sink to worry about. Many thermals were blue with some barely forming clouds. I just went on my way circling up in any bubbles while they lasted.

Convergence clouds over the plains produced smooth but strong lift, but then I had to speed away to avoid getting sucked in, as the cloud grew and I continued to climb while flying away as more cloud formed below.

At over 10,000ft over the Canterbury Plains, a plane passed a few kms away, probably out of Timaru airport, fortunately I was legal but I double

checked airspace on the Oudie display to be sure. Being over 10,000ft where I’d been grateful to finish previously was satisfying, as was being above landable, roaded plains instead of navigating mountains with few roads in reach.

The next cloud was more mellow but no more were visible so I veered east for the best line over the seabreeze that I expected would soon drill me. I could see Banks Peninsula ahead and the glide remained good as the seabreeze turned out light and made for an easy landing near Rangitata Huts, about half way back to Christchurch!

It appears to be a new site record (142.9kms), but the flight wasn’t too demanding and it’s a pity more people weren’t flying that day.

After all the recent work I’d done keeping the Magic site open, it felt great to be rewarded with such an enjoyable flight. Thanks to all who helped, I hope you all get similar flights there too.

In the end Cris was this years Classic winner with the highest total of 3 flights, I was second plus longest flight and Mark placed 3rd.

The Omarama Pub found our historic trophies so place getters have been updated and engraved.

Let’s all be there for the usual great flying in Jan-Feb 2016.

Above; 20 years of XC Classic winners. The Cup records each event winner (best total of 3 flights) and the Shield records the longest flight during each event. There’s a few NZ champs and HG celebrities featured.

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Forbes 2015 Australian National Hang Gliding Championships

By Vicki Cain Photos by Michael Zupanc and Zhenshi Van Der Klooster

I

t was a super finish to our ninth consecutive Forbes Flatlands comp with 37 pilots in goal on the last day. A total of 1017.8km flown in six tasks, an average of 35 pilots made goal each day, some gaining over 35 airtime hours during the comp.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Open class: 1st Zac Majors USA 5046, 2nd Jonny Durand Aus 4974, 3rd Gordon Rigg Uk 4946.

Australian National Champion: Jonny Durand.

Women’s class: 1st Sasha Alexandra Serebrennikova Rus. Forbes A Grade: 1st Harrison Rowntree Aus. Forbes Council Encouragement Award: Christopher Czajkowski.

Thank you to all our wonderful crew for making the trek to Forbes and making this event the best it can be.

Thank you to all the pilots for coming ! We all had a blast, amazing weather, lots of PB’s, lots of flying and lots of fun! See you next year!

An exciting finish to the competition with the lead changing almost every day! Top placed in the Open Class L-R: Jonny Durand Aus 2nd, Jonny Durand diving into goal on the last day to take 2nd place and Zac Majors USA 1st, Gordon Rigg UK 3rd. the title of Australian National Champion 2015.

The Forbes sky setting us up for a good one! Pilots setting up for launch at BMIA – Bill Moyes International Airport! 58 competitors, 52 in the Open Class and 6 in the Sports Class.

Sports Class Action: There were six pilots in the Sport Class, they fly a slightly shorter task than the Open class.

We launched them together either before or after the Open class depending on conditions. It’s so exciting to see these guys doing PB’s almost every day!

Forbes 2015 All tasks map: The task committee of Gerolf Heinrichs, Gordon Rigg and Jonny Durand did a brilliant job of charting the tasks and dodging storms. This competition would not be the comp it is without the exceptional expertise of the task committee.

All the action! 6 Dragonfly’s, 6 Master tug pilots, 2 Launch Marshalls, 6 Dolly assistants, 2 Quad bike retrievers. Over 400 launches during the 9 day event and not one incident.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Greg Cain, Grace Cain, Thea O’Connor, Lizzy Nevins, Annie Crerar, Tony Hanlon, Alan Bond, Matt, Tricia Voigt, Wesley Hill, Rob Van Der Klooster, Zhenshi Van Der Klooster, Christina Quinn, Bob Bailey, Blaino, Marco Carelli, Bruce Crerar, Steve McCarthy, Bill and Molly Moyes

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Executive Repor ts NZHGPA Submission on RPAS/ Drones – Part 149 Certificate Holders Granted RPAS Exception Back in December the CAA called for submissions on the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or more commonly referred to as Drones.

Whilst RPAS/Drones present many challenges they also perhaps present opportunities not yet considered as the technology evolves, especially for commercial operations like flight following and photo opportunities. The NZHGPA Submission raised questions over standardisation and quality of training, airspace knowledge and making RPAS/Drone Operators aware of HG/PG regional flying sites and club point of contact through a link to the NZHGPA Website, perhaps through some form of inclusion in the CAA Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) which lists airports/airfields.

The NZHGPA also suggested that HG/PG Part 149 Certificate Holders are already (as per Part 61 pilot licence holders) have enough airspace knowledge and qualified enough to hold any future pilot qualification issued by a model aircraft association. The CAA agreed and have recommended the following wording for inclusion; CAR 101.205 (a) (3) Make an exception for a person holding a pilot licence issued under Part 61, and for a person holding a certificate issued under Part 149, from the requirement to hold or be supervised by the holder of a pilot qualification issued by a model aircraft association approved by the Director.

The CAA received 86 submissions demonstrating the level of concern from training, maintenance, enforcement, incident reporting etc and a full summary of submissions can be found at: http://www.caa.govt.nz/rules/nprms_closed.htm Go to link; Summary of Submissions on the NPRM 14-01;Part 102 Unmanned Aircraft Operator-Certification. The above extract on licencing CAR 101.205 (a) (3) can be found on page 16.

A full copy of the NZHGPA submission can be obtained from your Airspace Officer or the NZHGPA Airspace Officer.

- Nick Taber, NZHGPA Airspace Officer

Reporting of RPAS, UAV, UAS, Drones and Model Aircraft There has been a huge growth in the development and use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). There have been 15 aviation incidents involving RPAS/drones reported to the CAA in 2014, compared to one incident reported in 2010, and more than the previous record of 12 incidents reported in both 2012 and 2013. The Civil Aviation Authority now receives up to 50 enquiries a week relating to unmanned aircraft.

For the safety of all air users it is important that if you see any of the following rules below being broken by RPAS, UAV, Drones, Model Aircraft, than you should speak to your club Airspace and or Safety Officer or if the air safety breach is happening at the time of observation contact your local ATC and ask to file an Air Safety Incident Report giving the; date, time, description of aircraft, nature of breach and any other information you can obtain on the operator.

Key Points of RPAS/Drone Airspace Safety 1. Give way to all crewed aircraft.

2. You cannot fly your aircraft higher than 120 metres (400 feet) above ground level.

3. You cannot fly closer than four kilometres from any aerodrome.

If you want to fly a RPAS/model in controlled airspace, you need to get prior authorisation from the ATC unit administering that airspace, so for example HG/ PG sites at say Nelson fall within the 4km zone. Check the current controlled aerodromes to see if your HG/PG site is within the 4km zone: a. Auckland. b. Blenheim c. Christchurch. d. Dunedin. e. Gisborne. f. Hamilton. g. Invercargill. h. Napier. i. Nelson. j. New Plymouth. k. Ohakea. l.

Palmerston North. m. Queenstown. n. Rotorua. o. Tauranga. p. Wellington. q. Whenuapai.

4. The operator needs to be able to see the aircraft with their own eyes (eg, not through binoculars, a monitor, or smartphone). The aircraft can only be flown in daylight.

5. To fly your aircraft, the weather must be clear enough so you can see three kilometres or further.

The model must remain clear of cloud. You cannot fly the model if the cloud base prevents you from seeing it, unaided, at all times.

Further details on the up to date rules are expanded at the CAA web link; www.caa.govt.nz/rpas/ index.html Final Thought If you’re thinking why should I bother to report an incident, then I will leave you with this final thought which is obvious but worth consideration; Should a light weight RPAS/drone vs manned aircraft collision occur, the only potential loss of life will be in the manned aircraft.

- Nick Taber, NZHGPA Airspace Officer

Safety Checks Batten clips, Spiral dive hang glider MastR - M DHV 01-0444-09 Do not exceed flight operation limits! Check Batten clips!

On 9th of March 2015 a test pilot, on behalf of the DHV, performed a spiral dive with 50% VG setting and strongly pulled in base bar to re-enact a video documented accident. While clearly exceeding the operating limitations given by the manufacturer “maximum bank angle 60 degree, maximum speed 90 km/h” a stable spiral occurred, which could not be recovered by the pilot. He needed to activate the rescue parachute. The reason for the appearance of the stable spiral dive is not doubtless clear yet. The video documentation of the test flight shows, that during the spiral dive, batten clips on the inside of the turn open, as on the previous accident.

The behaviour of this glider type in a spiral dive had been tested during the certification.

In this process no batten clips opened and the spiral could be recovered normally. On grounds of the accident the DHV had undertaken video documented test flights last year, but not with strongly pulled in base bar as in the accident.

Thereby no anomaly occurred.

Also the manufacturer Icaro 2000 presented a video documentation where a spiral with intentionally opened batten clips could be recovered without problems. However, in this case the spiral dive was also not flown with strongly pulled in base bar.

In July 2014 , as a result of an accident investigation, the DHV requested in the DHVInfo Nr.188: “Check Batten clips!” and at the same time addressed the manufacturer of the batten clips, Airborne. In the meantime Airborne presented limiting values for the holding force of the batten clips (which are used in most hang glider types). Airborne

points out: If the batten clips are operated the wrong way when being opened they wear out.

To much tension can damage them as well.

The following limiting value for the holding force must not be undercut:Vertical application of force at the end of the clip 8,6 kg.

Irrespective of this, in general by exceeding the operating limits, stated in the owners manual by the manufacturer, uncontrollable flight attitudes/situations can occur.

- Wolfgang Kaiser ICARO paragliders - Fly & more GmbH Hochriesstrasse 1, D-83126 Flintsbach Tel. +49 (0)8034 - 909 700, Fax 909 701 www.icaro-paragliders.com office@icaro-paragliders.com Kortel paraglider harness reserve parachute handles Kortel Design has issued a safety advisory regarding defective reserve parachute deployment handles.

Models affected: Kamasutra II, Karma II, Krashbox Module Kuik II Rescue with 2 or 3 pins Some handles may have the plastic wires (pins) not processed correctly. They may slip in the handle. This has the consequence that in extreme cases, makes it difficult to release or even can not be triggered at all.

Currently, two cases are known.

Kortel advises the pilot to check the handles themselves: - Hold the handle in one hand.

- With the second

hand pulling each plastic wire separately.

If the wires remain in place as you pull, the handle is in order.

If the plastic wires in the handle slip, one should replace the handle.

Manufacturers safety advisory: (PDF) www.dhv.de/web/fileadmin/user_upload/ files/2015/sicherheit/Warnung_Kortel_ Rettungsgriff__2_.pdf Manufacturer: info@korteldesign.com - Karl Slezak, DHV Safety Department

Don’t Do This A member complained to the NZHGPA about last issues cover photo of Aurelia Halle.

I selected the photo because it was eye catching and the best available but I neglected to publish an advisory. (I was waiting for the caption which came later on).

For the record, flying in this manner without the usual body armour is not legal in NZ. The photo was taken in France. My apologies for those who felt the photo was a damaging to our reputation in NZ. Just in case anyone is impressionable enough to copy this, flying without a helmet is obviously unsafe, too cold to be fun and you’re in for a painful lesson without sturdy footwear.

Flying without the right safety equipment can ensure you won’t be flying again after an otherwise minor accident. Have fun but be sensible.

- B. Degen

NZ Pilot Compliance and Site Ratings The NZHGPA Internal Auditor Kris Ericksen undertook a number of spot checks again this season of pilots and whether or not they where carrying their licences and had current WOFs attached to their wings. Pleasingly the proportion of pilots complying with these OPM/ CAA requirements has increased compared to the previous season. Spot checks will continue next season. The best thing though is that Kris doesn’t issue $1000 infringement notices like CAA! - Kris Ericksen, NZHGPA Internal Auditor

Aeronautical Charts Visual Navigation Charts (VNCs) can be purchased from Aeronautical Information Management (a division of Airways NZ) on 0800 500 045, or their web site, www.aipshop. co.nz. VNCs come in two scales 1:250,000 and 1:500,000, and cost $16.35 for a pair of charts printed on a double-sided sheet. The coverage of the 1:250,000 charts makes them handy for planning cross-country flights.

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NZ National Paragliding Ladder 2014-2015

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Paragliding Competition Committee write up

T

he New Zealand Paragliding Competition Season has finished for 2014/15 and the National Ladder is now final. You can find it on the facing page and it’s downloadable as a PDF from the NZHGPA website. Remember, to see where your points came from, it’s best to read from to right to left.

Congratulations to Grant Middendorf who is still top of the ladder with Reuben Muir still in second place. Wayne Rohrs used a late Regional Comp to claw his way into third place by just one point.

Eva Keim is the highest female, still in eighth place.

Derek Divers has re-entered the Top Ten at the expense of Nick Taber.

Visiting Dutch pilot Hugo Robben did well at the PG Open and is the pilot on the ladder who has scored the most points, however that’s just what happens when a visiting gun-pilot comes to the PG Open, so kudos really goes to Louis Tapper who scored 76 ladder points.

Joint biggest ladder climbers are Johnny Hopper and Kyla MacDonald each climbing 11 ladder places this season. However, MacDonald is quick to point out that she has scored 61 ladder points; 1 more than Hopper and has therefore, apparently, “won”.

There were exactly 100 pilots on the ladder at the end of the season, 39 of which mainly fly in the North Island and 61 of which mainly fly in the South. This more or less directly matches the distribution of points. While this shows that the South Island has more competition pilots it also shows that we are equally bad.

Before next season all pilots will have their points reduced by 10% which means that 278 is the magic number... if you’ve got this or more ladder points then you will survive the cut, as all pilots with less than 250 points are removed from the ladder between seasons.

It was a good season for comps… the PGOpen only had two valid tasks (due to inclement weather) but we made up for this with a pilots flying at the Corryong FAI Cat-2 comp in Australia, and also with 6 successful Regional Competition tasks, 4 in Auckland and 2 in Wanaka.

I’ve been the scorer most of those competitions last season and it’s great to still be able to use the marvellous AirScore software that is provided to us by the Aussies, virtually for free. I’ve created a guide to using AirScore specifically for NZ comp scorers,

so if scoring is something that puts you off organising a Regional PG Comp next season – the PCC has your back and you’ll be fully supported.

One thing that hasn’t been going so well is pilots either unable or unwilling to upload their tracklogs after a task. It is the pilot’s responsibility to upload their tracklog after a task and although the comp organiser or scorer is often willing to help there will be limits to what they can do. So please ensure that you know how to work your instrument and upload a track. There can be quite some complexities (COM ports, drivers etc) that can lead to difficulties – particularly with older or newer flight instruments.

Cameron Kennedy recently introduced me to USB-OTG (“On The Go”) cables and I’ve had great success using it. It’s highly recommended. It allows you to connect your flight instrument directly to an Android smart phone (running GPS Dump) and upload your flight to Airscore (and/or Leonardo) without a computer in-between. I definitely recommend getting this set up, so you can land, ball your wing, send your “I am okay” text, pack your wing and then upload your tracklog directly from the field, assuming you have a data connection. The OTG cable costs about $24.

Android smart phone, USB Cable, OTG cable and flight instrument can be used to upload your track while you’re still in the sheep pooh

Sometimes (and generally at the end of the comp) pilots choose not to submit a tracklog because they haven’t done very well and have become “non-competitive”. While at first this seems innocuous it’s actually not acceptable.

Firstly, it’s not fair on your fellow pilots who have also joined a competition and want to see how they stand against their peers, rather than get a placing because of several people scoring zero (that’s right, if you don’t submit a track you don’t get “bomb out points” – you get zero points).

Secondly, and more critically, not submitting a tracklog can affect the overall value of a task, and therefore the scores of all the other pilots. So please, by a good sport, and submit a tracklog for every single task.

So please! Learn how your comp flight instrument works, and ensure in advance of going to the comp that you know how to input the waypoints, set a task and, most importantly, download and submit the IGC file. Winter is a good time to practice loading waypoints & entering practice tasks.

Any questions, queries etc... please contact myself, Tim Brown or Cameron Kennedy, the NZHGPA PCC, at nzhgpapcc@googlegroups. com - Johnny Hopper, on behalf of the PCC

EVENTS 2015 Red Bull X-Alps Starts Soon July 5th is the official start of the 2015 Red Bull X-Alps!

Be prepared for some epic action as 33 athletes from 18 countries race from Salzburg to Monaco, by foot or paraglider, a straightline distance of over 1,000km. Check out the official video teaser: www.redbullxalps. com/news/article/2015-red-bull-x-alpsevent-teaser.html This year some of the world’s top adventurers (including Nick Neynens from NZ) are taking part, and for the first time, two female athletes. Meet the lineup and discover who’ll be at the startline: www.redbullxalps.com/ athletes.html It crosses six countries and Europe’s highest mountains in a grand arc, from the historic city of Salzburg, Austria to the Mediterranean sea of Monaco. Organizers have revealed the route of the 2015 Red Bull X-Alps and it could be the hardest yet! There’s also a new twist to the event; a one-day Prologue.

This will see athletes in a hike and fly battle around the lakes and mountains of Austria’s Salzkammergut region.

Powertraveller Prologue Taking place on July 2, the Prologue will see athletes compete in a tough hike and fly race around the mountains made famous in the movie, The Sound of Music. For the first time all athletes will be concentrated in a

Above; The X-Alps route

Hang Gliding Competition Dates NZ Nationals 2016 Nelson. From 13th - 20th February with 21st a reserve day Organisers Glenn Meadows, Max Gebhardt Omarama XC Classic Camp 2016 January 31st - February 7th 2016 which gives a few days rest for those going to the Nationals.

Contact Bill Degen for info; aero@xtra.co.nz

Competition Organiser’s Responsibilities It is the Comp Organiser’s responsibility to; 1. Obtain a list of current members from the Administrator.

2. Ensure every competition entrant is a current NZHGPA member.

3. Sign up any non-members.

Any competitors found to be non-members will be listed and scored as ‘Disqualified’.

single area, starting and finishing at the same point, Fuschl am See. It promises to be a real spectacle for fans, providing a gripping contest and a foretaste of the closely fought action to come. And for the winners, there are big advantages to play for.

The first three athletes to finish will each be given a five-minute headstart in the main race start on July 5. They’ll also be rewarded with an additional Led Lenser Nightpass to journey through the night and steal a march on their rivals.

The Route The route has a straight-line distance of 1,038km, just a few kilometers longer than the 2013 course but there the similarity ends. The 2013 race resulted in a new record of 6 days, 23 hours, 40 min for winner Chrigel Maurer (SUI1), helped of course by favorable weather, but the 2015 route is unlikely to see such fast times. The reason? It’s way more demanding, says race mastermind Hannes Arch, “It places a far higher demand on tactical skills. In many places there is not an obvious flight path to take and athletes must use all their skill to stay airborne. If you are forced to land, the consequences can be critical.”

The race begins in Salzburg and then heads east from the Gaisberg to the Dachstein massif, 2,995m from where athletes launch themselves from its glaciated slopes and begin

X-Alps continues on page 27

Costa Brava, June 2015 The Sky Film Festival is an Audiovisual Festival (cinema, television and advertising) organised by MultiSignes producer with sky, air and flight as a theme.

During the 18th - 21st of June Castello d’Empuries-Empuriabrava will be filled with audiovisual screenings and side activities (conferences, fair, air sports exhibitions, childrens workshops...). The intention is to create an international meeting point, both for specialists and those interested. Nature will be one of the festival’s highlights, given that birds are the kings of the sky and hence the importance of the Aiguamolls de l’Emporda, a protected wetland zone for its rich ecosystem.

We must not forget the tramuntana north wind, which creates a unique climate and is one of our country’s distinguishing features. www.skyfilmfestival.com www.facebook.com/skyfilmfestival If you want to join our sponsorship program, send us a mail at comunicacio@ skyfilmfestival.com - Francesc Xavier Marti, Communications & Marketing Manager

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N Ne eww ZZeeaa ll aa nn dd C rC ross o s s - -CCoouunntr t r yy

HH AA NN GG gglli idding i ng CC hh aa mmppionshi i o n s h pi ps s

January 1st to December 31st

T

he 2015 Hang Gliding XC Champs is off to a good start in spite of the Omarama XC Classic getting mostly bad weather. Cris Lawry and I got some good cross country flights from Omarama, Geoff Christophers has been blazing along the Kaimais and John Smith has yet another big flight from Coronet plus some from the Wanaka Nationals.

Neil Howe has been at it along the Kaimais plus a 60km flight from the Paeroas to Okoroiri. Rick Hawkeswood has a couple of decent Kaimai flights to start off this years table. They are sure to add more big flights soon.

Gary Turner has a 56km flight from Magic. Les Graham has been at Moirs, Dills and Pukemore but his longest so far have been from the Kaimais and Paeroas. Meanwhile Mark Nichols has been working the Craigieburns. I expect we’ll see a lot more entries in Spring.

The way to get those cross country flights is to keep trying so you are flying fit when that good day comes up. Then you need to be there at the right place when conditions turn on. Often it’s the ordinary looking days that unexpectedly turn out best, and it’s those who are out flying on the day that get to take advantage of it.

There’s always time to improve your cross country skills and while doing that you could get that big flight that will top your personal best distance. You’ll be surprised at how well you can do if you are out flying on a day that turns it on.

ONLINE RESULTS Latest results are posted as they come in first at www.hgpg.co.nz and at www.nzhgpa.org.nz/ competitions/hg-competitions/hang-gliding-crosscountry-championships (but check it’s up to date).

Online scoring? Not yet, but if you have a 3D GPS you can enter any of the online contests as well.

If you do this, just let me know by emailing me a link to your online entry and that’s all we need to enter your flight.

TO ENTER...

It’s free and simple; fly anywhere in NZ before midnight on 31st December, email or post in your flight details (and tracklog if you have one) before 30 days has passed and you’re entered. Enter as many flights as you like. Your shorter flights are automatically replaced by your longer ones. Only your longest four flights are scored.

For each flight entry, please supply; • Your name, email address and contact phone number.

• Flight date, take-off/release place, landing place, and flight distance in kilometres and 10ths.

• Tracklog file from a GPS that can be read by GPSDump, such as an IGC file.

• That’s all, unless you don’t have a GPS tracklog, then please also supply; Start and landing witness/s name & contact details.

A GPS instrument has many advantages for XC flying, but for pilots who don’t have GPS, you can still enter the NZ HG XC Champs without one, you’ll just need to give take-off and landing witnesses.

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2015 Cross-Country Championships Table so far...

Name Flight 1 Flight 2 Flight 3 Flight 4 Total kms 1 Bill Degen 142.9 102.2 69.9 58.0 373.0 2 Geoff Christophers 108.7 100.9 75.4

285.0

3

255.9

John Smith

166.5

56.4

33.0

4 Cris Lawry 81.4 63.5 58.6 35.3 238.8 5 Neil Howe 89.1 60.0 54.8 203.8 6 Rick Hawkeswood 74.2 51.2 125.4 7 Leslie Graham 36.8 36.0 27.3 23.4 123.4 Sponsors 105.8 8 Mark Nichols ** 48.3 31.6 25.9

HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING SUPPLIES

9 Gary Turner 56.1 28.6 84.6 10 Bill Fisher 32.7 24.9 57.6 11

Mark Alton

40.0

40.0

12 Ian Miller 19.3 12.2 31.5 13

Steve Bankier

25.0

GPSDump works on Windows or Mac and reads GPS tracklogs from just about any instrument, then works out the best start and finish points for you automatically. It also works out if the flight fits any other FAI criteria such as out and return, triangle etc. You can even export it for viewing in Google Earth in 3D. You can download GPSDump for free at; www.gethome.no/stein.sorensen Rules You must be a paid up NZHGPA member during all flights or you do not score. Entries must be postmarked or emailed within 30 days of the flight or do not score. This helps ensure accuracy, prevents pilots holding back flights until the end, and we all want to know how everyone’s doing.

Please DON’T phone, txt, or tell me in the pub, all entries must be in writing (email preferred) with all flight details (and GPS tracklog if using remote launch and/or landings) or do not score. Don’t assume that because someone else was there or you were in a competition that your flight has been entered. It is each pilots’ responsibility to declare and enter full details of their own flight entries.

Measure your flights in kilometres and 10ths of km, straight line from take-off to landing. Optimised flight distances with a Remote Start and/or Remote Finish are welcome, provided you send in a valid, GPS track log to prove it. Out and return, triangle or multiple distances are not eligible at this stage.

Aerotow launched flights are permitted, but your release altitude must be less than 5% of the flight distance (current FAI ruling) or does not score. Tow release position (not take-off) verification should be witnessed by the tug pilot, or confirmed with known landmark photo or GPS tracklog.

Please Note: If you don’t follow these rules and provide all relevant flight details, (including valid tracklog for remote start or finish flights) you DO NOT SCORE. GLIDER CLASSES Same as FAI rules. Flex wings including kingpostless gliders are Class 1. Rigid wings such as the Atos are Class 5 and Swifts are Class 2 or Class 5 without the pilot fairing.

There’s a special prize for pilots flying skyfloater gliders such as such as the Fun, Falcon, Malibu etc.

2.4

1.2 ** Class 2 (rigid wing), * Skyfloater

28.6

30% double surface training gliders such as Buzz, Gyro, Mars, Target, Ventura, Malibu etc can be flown in this class too. As long as it has exposed crossbars.

Don’t forget to point it out on your entry if you have an exposed crossbar glider or rigid wing. You can enter in as many classes as you like. Skyfloater flights can be entered in a separate class and/or included in your Class 1 score, whichever you prefer.

SCORING The pilot with the best total of four flights is the NZ Hang Gliding Cross Country Champion for that year. He or she gets first choice of prizes followed by pilots with second and third best totals. The pilot with the longest single flight gets fourth choice, then prizes go from fourth best total onwards.

Flights for the current years XC Champs must be flown before 31st December and entered within 30 days. This ends the contest at a good part of the season while it’s still hot for flying. Flights from January onwards will be entered in the XC Champs for the new year.

SEND YOUR ENTRY TO; aero@xtra.co.nz (Please write “XC Entry” in the header and please keep your entry separate from other emails) or post entries to; NZ Hang Gliding XC Champs, Bill Degen, 99A Panorama Road, Christchurch 8081

World Hang Gliding Champs in Mexico The FAI class 1 (flex wing) World Hang Gliding Champs were held at Valle de Bravo in Mexico from February 28 to March 13, 2015.

Overall winner was Italian Boisselier & Ciech with a stand in for Christian Ciech flying Icaro Voiblet on the podium Laminar as was France’s Antoine Boisselier in second place.

Third went to Swiss Christian Voiblet flying Aeros Combat.

Country rankings were Italy 1st, Switzerland 2nd and Australia 3rd. Christian Voiblet broke his arm on the second to last day so no doubt was relieved to hear from hospital that the last day was cancelled!

Jonas Lobitz represented NZ, coming third in task 7 and finishing a a creditable 28th place.

the long journey to the sea. In 2013 athletes were able to cover 100s of kilometers in a single push along the Pinzgau valley because its flying conditions were so favorable but this year they must stick to the north, which has more complicated terrain for flying.

The next Turnpoint is Aschau-Chiemsee, Germany, which is dominated by the Kampenwand, 1,669m in the heart of the Bavarian mountains. The route then heads south-west via Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze, 2,962m to Lermoos in Austria and then due south to the Brenta mountains of Italy. It’s here where the race’s true contenders will become apparent, believes race director Christoph Weber, “This section is much more difficult than anything in 2013. The valleys are deep and wide and will be hard to cross in the air. And if you stay in the valleys you will have to hike a long way or climb really high to fly once again.”

The technical challenges will remain high for the athletes as they then battle their way to Turnpoint 6, St. Moritz-Piz Corvatsch in Switzerland. “There are no obvious valleys you can follow,” adds Weber. “The athletes will have to do their homework. If they don’t research the area well it could take a long time and they could easily find themselves in a difficult situation.”

From Piz Corvatsch, the route broadly follows the line of previous years, passing the iconic peaks of the Matterhorn and Mt Blanc to Annecy, France, the spiritual home of alpine paragliding and ‘vol bivouac’ adventures. From the turnpoint of Planfait, the route heads south, following the Alps Maritimes to Peille, above

X-Alps competitor Photo; Felix Woelk/Red Bull Content Pool

the city-state of Monaco. It was this leg that witnessed one of the most epic duels of the 2013 race when Frenchmen Antoine Girard and Clément Latour battled for 200km along different routes for second place, eventually arriving within an hour of each other after racing non-stop for almost 24 hours straight.

At Peille, the official clock stops but it’s not over until athletes make the last ceremonial flight to the landing float in Monaco Bay. On average only 12% of athletes make it this far.

Whoever is successful in 2015, one thing is a given they will be among the most skilled adventure athletes around today.

Kiwis at the X-Alps It’s the first time a Kiwi will compete in the Red Bull X-Alps race and there are plenty of people here in the community that have expressed their excitement about us being involved.

In many ways it’s a media event for Red Bull and at odds with the understated Kiwi “put your boots on and go approach.” It’s paragliding’s Olympics or Tour de France, but for Nick the event is about having fun Nick Neynens over the McKerrow Range near Wanaka and not being like everyone else.

For me the fun is in making sure Nick is improving my flying so I can compete in the air.” well supported and providing an environment In the short term, the website http:// where he can focus on simply walking, flying kiwiparagliding.co.nz/will be the focal point and having fun without distraction. Based on for updates from the X-Alps race because Nick Nicks flights this summer, who knows what doesn’t want to pollute his existing blog with is possible.” smelly socks, sponsors and cans of Red Bull.

The question Nick seems to be getting Longer term we hope to inspire with authentic/ asked the most is how is the “training” going, independent content about Kiwis competing a word he hates the most. Currently he is and travelling internationally, paragliding gear, in India flying and walking and has mostly NZ as a paragliding destination and also the been sitting drinking cups of tea and waiting low down on places we travel to. We are open around for weather to clear. He did have this to other Kiwis contributing to this website to say though, “Why I hate the question and so drop us a message if you are keen to be the ‘t’ word? Probably because it’s the most involved. We hope to also share these stories commonly asked, it implies that you should through Airborn magazine and the NZHGPA be doing something undesirable to get better, website as well. it has connotations of gruelling tedium, it We are also very excited to have two suggests I have the same cliché approach iconic kiwi companies; Jucy and Macpac on and mindset as everyone else, and it supposes board as sponsors. The support of the New that the X-Alps is the most important thing Zealand paragliding community through the ever - it’s not, the important thing is to have discretionary grant ($2000) and Southern Club fun, and that’s why I’m doing it. ($2000) funds is also greatly appreciated.

Based on my past experience in X-Pyr It’s not a cheap exercise to do the X-Alps and X-Berg and other vol biv and tramping and we are up against some well funded and trips I think I’ll manage just fine. I’ve always experienced European teams. With a bare considered that all rounder skills (fitness, bones approach we estimate the costs to be navigation and management in the outdoors, somewhere between $12,000 to $20,000. marginal weather, handling the wing, taking off We don’t really like asking for money but a and landing) are surprisingly lacking in many few people have mentioned they would like to past X-Alps athletes, who are used to flying donate so have provided an easy way for people cross country competitions. I believe these are to do this. https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/xalps my strengths so I am continuing to focus on

- Louis Tapper

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2015 Red Bull X-Alps continued from page 24

Ewen Tonar 23A Brookview Court Chartwell Hamilton Phone 07 855 3969 etonar@infogen.net.nz

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27

N Ne eww ZZeeaallaa nn dd C rC ross o s s - -CCoouunntr t r yy

ing PP aa rr aagglli idding CC hh aa mmppionshi i o n s h pi ps s

April 1st - March 31st. Sponsored by Wings & Waves

April 1st 2014 to March 31st 2015

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ere’s the confirmed standings and wrap up of the 2015 competition!

It was a bit hard to keep up with all the brilliant mountain flying happening in the South Island, especially in the Otago mountains - record flying it was! If someone had told me before this season that five different pilots would fly further than the existing NZ open distance record, one that had stood for nine seasons, I’d have said they needed their head read, but it happened! Here’s a list of just some of the highlights: • NZ’s Open Distance record broken twice, the mark is now 170.4 km (Angus Tapper, Coronet Peak) • NZ’s FAI Out and Back record broken twice, the mark is now 110.3 km (Grant Middendorf, Treble Cone) • NZ’s FAI Triangle record broken by 39% (134.1 km, Nick Neynens, Roys Peak) • NZ 150km open distance achieved for the first time, and by three pilots.

• During just one season, the tally of NZ100km open distance flights has been boosted from 32 to 53!

• Eight NZ100km open distance flights bagged in a single season by a single pilot (Bryan Moore), when no one had accumulated more than seven NZ100km flights since the beginning of the champs (1992)!

• A new regional open distance record for Canterbury (Middendorf, 157.3 km) • The previously long-standing Paeroas open distance record broken (Shaun Gilbert, 78.0 km) • The Southern Alps flown from Nelson Lakes to Wanaka in just six days (Neynens).

For details of other site records flown during the season, look for asterisks in the right hand column of the Season Site Best Flights tables.

2015 NZ XC Champions and Category Winners 1st place and 2015 NZ XC Champion: Nick Neynens. Wow! Nick has taken his flying to new standards this season and in doing so has taken Southern Alps flying to new standards, which he had to, to edge out runner up, Bryan Moore. Nick seems to be at home anywhere in the mountains and is

2014/2015 Final Standings (top 40 placings) Pilot Nick Neynens Bryan Moore Louis Tapper Grant Middendorf Glen Stevens Rory Devine Peter Groves Shaun Gilbert Stew Karstens Mark Hardman Nick Taber Rostislav Vondra Romain Bernard Steven Christophers Bruce Vickerman Angus Tapper Jeff Ripley Derek Divers Luke Goleman Martin Kräemer Jean Brossard Lucas Le Courtois Aaron Ford Rhys Akers Kat West Chris Connolly Rodger Kerr Loic Kersuzan Wayne Rohrs Eva Keim Peter Taylor Evan Lamberton Laurence Robinson Tim Heather Tim Percival Gareth Gore Rob Gillard Andres Celada Tim Brown Michal Karnik

Club Southern Southern Southern Southern Canterbury Southern Southern Hawkes Bay Tasman Southern Tasman Overseas Overseas Southern Waikato Southern Auckland Southern Canterbury Southern Canterbury Overseas Southern Bay of Plenty Southern Wellington Auckland Overseas Auckland Auckland Canterbury Auckland Auckland Southern Tasman Canterbury Waikato Overseas Tasman Southern

flight 1 299.2 254.2 218.7 253.3 213.5 208.0 238.8 153.6 170.9 179.8 145.4 187.8 129.5 135.7 105.1 269.6 103.4 98.5 89.1 84.6 86.6 93.9 83.7 82.3 82.9 89.0 76.1 81.4 65.4 85.2 88.5 79.2 88.2 82.6 102.3 65.5 69.2 159.8 80.3 77.0

flight 2 268.9 251.0 204.8 249.0 206.7 198.1 172.5 152.3 145.6 147.8 139.4 86.4 116.6 79.1 90.8 0.0 79.2 82.1 88.6 80.7 76.3 80.2 66.7 75.6 64.9 72.4 64.1 52.2 64.7 57.1 51.1 60.1 40.8 47.2 38.5 49.6 45.9 0.0 78.8 41.3

flight 3 248.2 248.7 194.7 100.7 153.2 156.0 146.3 146.2 117.0 82.4 93.1 52.0 76.7 67.6 84.4 0.0 74.4 70.7 65.3 74.1 66.6 50.5 66.5 58.5 57.8 35.8 56.5 51.2 53.0 40.0 40.0 39.9 38.9 36.2 21.4 45.2 44.9 0.0 0.0 32.0

Total 816.3 753.9 618.2 603.0 573.4 562.1 557.6 452.1 433.5 410.0 377.9 326.2 322.8 282.4 280.3 269.6 257.0 251.3 243.0 239.4 229.5 224.6 216.9 216.4 205.6 197.2 196.7 184.8 183.1 182.3 179.6 179.2 167.9 166.0 162.2 160.3 160.0 159.8 159.1 150.3

2015 Season Site Best Flights (from entries) Open Distance

Region Site/Site Group Distance Pilot Date Take Off Northland Kamo 23.2 Evan Lamberton 15/01/2015 Auckland Bridges 21.3 Wayne Rohrs 25/10/2014 Auckland Dills Hill 27.7 Rodger Kerr 01/03/2015 Auckland Moirs Hill 59.0 Jeff Ripley 09/11/2014 * Waikato Alans Hill 16.6 Bruce Vickerman 18/02/2015 Waikato Kaimai Range 53.4 Bruce Vickerman 08/11/2014 (Kaimai) Waikato Puriri Hill 17.5 Bruce Vickerman 25/10/2014 * Waikato Te Hoe - Maungakawa 21.1 Bruce Vickerman 09/11/2014 (Pukeitionga) Waikato Waihi 55.9 Bruce Vickerman 15/01/2015 (Mt Misery) * Bay of Plenty Paeroa 78.0 Shaun Gilbert 10/03/2015 * Hawkes Bay Te Mata Peak 100.4 Shaun Gilbert 25/01/2015 Hawkes Bay Turiri 94.0 Shaun Gilbert 20/03/2015 * Wairarapa Kourarau 13.7 Mick Kennish 09/01/2015 Nelson Inwoods Lookout 91.6 Stew Karstens 03/09/2014 Nelson Mt Murchison 84.7 Nick Taber 15/03/2015 Nelson St Arnaud 41.8 Chris Connolly 28/02/2015 (Parachute Rocks) Nelson Takaka - Riwaka 28.8 Nick Taber 16/07/2014 (Takaka Hill) Canterbury Buscot Hill 28.6 Steven Christophers 03/01/2015 Canterbury Craigieburn Range 54.9 Luke Goleman 14/12/2014 (Cheeseman) Canterbury Little River 24.2 Jean Brossard 07/09/2014 Canterbury Ohau Ski Field 26.0 Louis Tapper 08/01/2015 Canterbury Port Hills 32.2 Jean Brossard 10/02/2015 (Castle Rock) Canterbury Sealy Range 157.3 Grant Middendorf 03/01/2015 (Sealy Tarns) * Otago Cardrona 28.2 Derek Divers 28/12/2014 Otago Coronet Peak 170.4 Angus Tapper 23/12/2014 † Otago Haast Pass 113.1 Rory Devine 20/02/2015 (Brewster Hut) * Otago Hawea Eastern Ranges 30.7 Bryan Moore 11/02/2015 (Pakituhi Spur) Otago Matukituki 117.8 Bryan Moore 05/01/2015 (Sharks Tooth) * Otago Obelisk 24.0 Mark Hardman 28/09/2014 Otago Pisa Range 12.7 Steven Christophers 27/07/2014 (Waiorau) Otago Routeburn 150.1 Bryan Moore 23/12/2014 (Sugarloaf Pass) * Otago Roys Peak 64.1 Nick Neynens 16/02/2015 Otago Treble Cone 152.1 Bryan Moore 07/12/2014 * * Site Record ** Site and Regional Record † National Record

For the detailed flight information, see the 2015 PG XC Champs Table at Leonardo (Leonardo season name: “2014”). www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/league/world/season2014/brand:all,cat:1,class:all,xctype:all,club:0.9 (Note that for the NZ PG XC Champs, the Leonardo table is an approximate table only: international pilots are incorrectly excluded from the NZ ‘club’ competition).

28 A i r b o r n

we could see where there was good flying to be had.

2015 Season Milestone Flights Next issue I’ll do a full report on the pilots (including hang gliders) who have for the first time surpassed the ‘milestone’ distances of 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 or 200km (open distance) in NZ. But in brief, for the paragliders: 17 pilots surpassed 25km for the first time which bodes well for the future, and Luke Goleman and Chris Connolly achieved the sometimes elusive 50km.

At the top end we have seen some experienced xc pilots really excelling in the conditions of the season, with eight pilots (Devine, Groves, Middendorf, Moore, Neynens, Stevens, A. Tapper and L. Tapper) accounting for all of the 75km or higher milestones achieved!

Membership of the 150km “club” is now three when it was zero, 125km membership has increased by three to eight, and five pilots have surpassed NZ100km for the first time, boosting that group to 15 pilots. (Yes, that’s a 50% increase in one season, when we had a run of seasons, 2008 to 2012, when not one 100km milestone was achieved!)

Fly high – Tim Percival (on behalf of the PG Competition Committee)

Photo: Ross Gray

Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

good at flying both triangles and open distance. See www.sharemyjoys. com for details of his adventures of last season!

1st Runner Up: Bryan Moore.

Bryan’s top three flights averaged 147.6 km open distance! And, as mentioned above, this season Bryan added eight NZ100km open distance flights to his tally. Only the triangle scores of Nick kept Bryan from the top spot.

2nd Runner Up: Louis Tapper.

Louis’ flights included the best flight of November (Coronet, 126 km), and a triangle circuit flight of 109 km from Treble Cone.

2015 Women’s XC Champion: Kat West. A visit to Roys Peak late in the season proved beneficial for Kat, bagging 55 km and enough points for her 4th Women’s title!

Best Rookie (first-time PG2 competitor): Rob Gillard. Rob’s tally included the best distance ever flown from the Hospital Hill take off, Waihi - 39.5km.

North Island Champion: Shaun Gilbert, who broke the long-standing Paeroas distance record flying 78 km, and had the best N.I. flight (100.2 km, Te Mata Peak).

Well done all of the above! And thank you to all who submitted flights so

Learn to Fly

Want a better mag?

Hang gliding, paragliding schools and instructors that you can contact for qualified flight instruction in New Zealand NORTHLAND HANG GLIDING

Skywalk Guntram Gross, Herman Ahrens Phone: 09 436 0268 or 09 432 9333, 021 072 0357 Email: skywalk@igrin.co.nz

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SEND photos, of the people, place or gliders involved and one of yourself to make the article more interesting. We now have plenty of COLOUR and with digital photo editing, it’s amazing what we can do to enhance ordinary snapshots. Black and white or colour prints are fine. Digital images should be high resolution. I can help with emailing large files. Contact me if you want help.

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North Island table (top 20 placings) (Top scoring from North Island flights).

Pos Pilot Club F1 1 Shaun Gilbert Hawkes Bay 153.6 2 Jeff Ripley Auckland 103.4 3 Bruce Vickerman Waikato 90.8 4 Rhys Akers Bay of Plenty 82.3 5 Rodger Kerr Auckland 76.1 6 Wayne Rohrs Auckland 65.4 7 Evan Lamberton Auckland 79.2 8 Laurence Robinson Auckland 88.2 9 Rob Gillard Waikato 69.2 10 Eva Keim Auckland 85.2 11 Emlyn Revell-Nash Auckland 65.3 12 Matt Harrison Auckland 62.2 13 Don Smith Auckland 74.9 14 Elliot Revell-Nash Auckland 54.4 14 Anand Srinivasan Auckland 47.5 16 Graham Surrey Auckland 40.5 17 Rick Hawkeswood Waikato 38.3 18 Andrew Cavaney Auckland 40.9 19 Tony Cowley Auckland 37.2 20 Kyla MacDonald Auckland 44.5

F2 152.3 79.2 84.4 75.6 64.1 64.7 60.1 40.8 45.9 40.0 35.8 53.8 28.2 35.4 40.7 39.9 32.6 31.6 35.7 20.7

F3 146.2 74.4 61.4 58.5 56.5 53.0 39.9 38.9 44.9 21.9 35.0 15.5 26.1 34.5 36.1 36.3 32.3 25.2 16.1 19.1

Total 452.1 257.0 236.6 216.4 196.7 183.1 179.2 167.9 160.0 147.1 136.1 131.5 129.2 124.3 124.3 116.7 103.2 97.7 89.0 84.3

FAI Out and Back

Region Site/Site Group Distance Pilot Date Take Off Waikato Kaimai Range 40.2 Rhys Akers 28/02/2015 (Kaimai) Nelson Mt Murchison 91.0 Stew Karstens 14/12/2014 ** Canterbury Craigieburn Range 39.0 Peter Taylor 23/12/2014 (Cheeseman) Otago Coronet Peak 89.2 Andres Celada 23/12/2014 Otago Hawea Eastern Ranges 18.8 Martin Kräemer 16/12/2014 (Pakituhi Spur) Otago Roys Peak 102.7 Nick Neynens 16/12/2014 * Otago Treble Cone 110.3 Grant Middendorf 23/12/2014 † * Site Record ** Site and Regional Record † National Record

Distance Pilot 134.1 Nick Neynens

Date Take Off 16/12/2014 †

WAIKATO PARAGLIDING Wings & Waves Paragliding and Kitesurfing Reuben Muir and Eva Keim Phone: 09 446 0020, 027 472 7013 Email: info@wingsandwaves.co.nz Web: www.wingsandwaves.co.nz OMAHU, THAMES/PAEROA PARAGLIDING Bruce Vickerman Phone: 07 862 4919, 027 498 9941 Email: bruce.v@clear.net.nz HAWKES BAY PARAGLIDING Airplay Paragliding School Barry Sayer, Phone: 027 451 2886 Email: barry@airplay.co.nz Web: www.airplay.co.nz BAY OF PLENTY PARAGLIDING Levitate Paragliding Ltd Shane and Summer Tims Phone: 07 542 0098, 027 649 2222 Email: levitateparagliding@hotmail.com Web: www.levitate.co.nz Kiwi-Air Mike & Aniko Phone: 07 929 5807, 021 104 6208 Web: http://kiwi-air.co.nz Mount Paragliding Wayne Roberts Phone: 07 574 4223, 027 643 6529 Email: thermalmonkee@hotmail.com MANAWATU HANG GLIDING SkyVenture (Manawatu HG & PG Inc. Club School) CFI: Ross Gray Phone: 06 357 8996, 021 126 0892 Email: rosscoe@e3.net.nz WELLINGTON/WAIRARAPA HANG GLIDING Wellington Hang Gliding & PG Club Grant Tatham Phone: 06 379 7322, 027 636 3491 Email: tathams@xtra.co.nz Oceania Paragliding School Chris Connolly, Phone: 022 676 5599 Email; school@oceaniaparagliding.co.nz Web; oceaniaparagliding.co.nz NELSON/TASMAN HANG GLIDING Hang Gliding NZ Ltd Kevin Rooke, Phone: 03 540 2183, 0800 212 359, 021 762 769 Email: rooke@slingshot.co.nz Web: www.hanggliding.co.nz Nelson Hang Gliding Adventures Glenn Meadows Phone: 03 548 9151, 027 275 1022 Email: gmeadows@clear.net.nz Web: www.flynelson.co.nz

PARAGLIDING Adventure Paragliding & Kiteboarding Kevin Rooke, Phone: 03 540 2183, 021 762 769 Email: info@skyout.co.nz Web: www.skyout.co.nz Nelson Paragliding Stew and Zanna Karstens Phone: 03 544 1182, 027 446 3930 Email: paragliding@xtra.co.nz Web: www.nelsonparagliding.co.nz MARLBOROUGH PARAGLIDING High Adventure New Zealand Russell Read, Phone: 027 448 0888 Email: russread@ihug.co.nz CHRISTCHURCH HANG GLIDING Canterbury Hang Gliding School Bill Degen Phone: 03 326 6411, 021 247 2676 Email: aero@xtra.co.nz Web: www.hgpg.co.nz

PARAGLIDING ParaPro (Paragliding & Powered Paragliding) Dave Dennis Phone: 03 328 8255, 0508 548 323 Email: info@parapro.co.nz Web: www.parapro.co.nz WANAKA PARAGLIDING Lucky Montana’s Flying Circus Advanced over water manoeuvres (SIV) instruction Rob Darby Phone: 03 443 1680, 027 220 1185 Email: lucky_montana@hotmail.com QUEENSTOWN PARAGLIDING Elevation Paragliding School Shai Lanuel Phone: 0800 359 444, 027 224 2121 Email: elevationpg@xtra.co.nz Web: www.elevation.co.nz Infinity Paragliding School Alan Swann & Blake Round Phone: 021 0228 2939 or 027 367 7679 Email: info@infinityparagliding.co.nz Web: www.infinityparagliding.co.nz Neverland Paragliding Dominic Eller, Phone: 021 314 730 Email: neverlandpg@hotmail.com Paraventures Paragliding School Mark Hardman Phone: 0800 FLYSOLO (0800 359 765), 021 809 275 Email: info@paraventures.co.nz Extreme Air Tandem Hang Gliding & Paragliding Lisa Bradley Phone: 021 156 3256 Email: lisa@extremeair.co.nz Web: www.extremeair.co.nz Queenstown Paragliding School Lisa Bradley Phone: 021 156 3256 Email: info@extremeair.co.nz Web: www.extremeair.co.nz Queenstown Hang Gliding School Lisa Bradley Phone: 021 156 3256 Email: info@extremeair.co.nz Web: www.extremeair.co.nz DUNEDIN PARAGLIDING Dunedin Paragliding & Hang Gliding School Lisa Bradley Phone: 021 156 3256 Email: lisa@extremeair.co.nz Web: www.extremeair.co.nz

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Photos: Neil Brown, Ross Gray

FAI Triangle

Region Site/Site Group Otago Roys Peak † National Record

AUCKLAND HANG GLIDING Aqua Air Adventure Paddy Monro Phone: 09 528 7594, 027 288 0193 Email: aquaair@ihug.co.nz Web: www.gethigh.co.nz PARAGLIDING SkyWings Paragliding Alan Hills Phone: 09 570 5757, 027 498 2345 Email: alan@skywings.co.nz Web: www.skywings.co.nz Wings & Waves Paragliding and Kitesurfing Reuben Muir and Eva Keim Phone: 09 446 0020, 027 472 7013 Email: info@wingsandwaves.co.nz Web: www.wingsandwaves.co.nz

Tasman Sky Adventures Trevor Leighton, Phone: 027 229 9693 Email: info@skyadventures.co.nz Web: www.skyadventures.co.nz

■ Paid up NZHGPA members may run one advertisement per classification for free in each issue ■ Please send your written advertisement to the editor, quoting your NZHGPA PIN number ■ Commercial operators, dealers, and non-members must enclose payment of $0.50c per word with their advertisement ■ All advertisements are deleted for next issue unless repeat request received ■ Buyers are advised that all used hang gliders and paragliders are required to have a NEW fitness check (WOF) when sold ■ It is dangerous to fly a glider or with equipment that is above your rated ability ■

MOTOR Paragliding PARAMOTORING – Miniplane and PAP motors - contact SkyWings for courses and equipment - www.skywings.co.nz or phone Alan 09 570 5757 HANG GLIDERS MOYES LiteSport 4. Full mylar sail. Topsail; white. Underside; lavender, light green. Current W.O.F. Brand new glider bag & zip, grass green, $170 worth. Spare set of S glass tip wands. $3000.00. Dennis, 021 430 436, 06 752 7618 SKYFLOATER Falcon 195 with 16 hours on the clock from new. Comes with near new apron harness, training wheels and speedbar. Recent full strip check and warrant. Red and white, offers to Julian on 021 708 549 SPORT 2, 175, Blue and red lower, near new, just 10 hours, very tidy condition, No prangs, 1 geriatric owner, contact 03 326 6411 or aero@xtra.co.nz for info.

SKYFLOATERS; New & used; Fun, Falcon, fully strip checked, test flown and trimmed, contact 03 326-6411 or aero@xtra.co.nz for info.

MOYES Litespeed RS4, Full carbon, not many of these around. Only 40 hours flown.

Excellent condition. Red, white and blue undersurface, smoke mylar top surface. Phone Guy 021 707 203, ah 03 528 4472 guyharding@xtra.co.nz ATOS VQ for sale. Low hours. Near new. 19:1 glide with 0.65m/s sink rate. Excellent handling. $15,000. Phone Mark on 021 339 336.

AIRBORNE Climax C2-13, yellow and white. Excellent condition, less than 80 hours. Flys and lands nicely. $1500 ono. Phone Cris on 03 310 3050 or 022 653 3900 flyingfish1@ xtra.co.nz C2 Lite 14. Recent work, New wires & strip check (receipts available). Approx 120 hours. $2200 Phone Adrian 027 247 2436 or 03 326 5689 adrian.brown@lincoln.ac.nz WILLS Wing U2 160, 2004, 150 hours of great flying. Selling as have upgraded to T2C. Very few hours on coast so it’s in good condition. Phone Mark 022 195 5746 STING2 XC 175, As new under 50 hours and well looked after. Selling on behalf. Suit experienced Novice or above with hook in weight of 80-135kgs or with a motor harness which it’s perfect for. This is the later version with lever-tip battens and lighter pitch pressure. It has PX mylar leading edges and flouro yellow/dark blue lower. Photos available.

Reasonable offers wanted. Full strip check & WoF available. Contact Bill at aero@xtra. co.nz or 021 247 2676.

DISCUS ‘C’ 13.7 (147.5), very low hours, (3 seasons old?) Excellent condition, ‘C’ model specs include Wills Wing litestream uprights, aerofoil basebar with streamline fittings & slipstream KP. Spare upright. Recent strip check. Has dacron sail for longer life and better handling. Great combination of performance and handling, read the reviews on the net. $5500 ono. Open to trades. Contact Peter on 027 752 9650 or peterj.deboer@clear.net.nz ATOS 146 rigid wing. Top sail; white with blue and white undersurface. Contact 03 545 0630 julie.bryant@xtra.co.nz ATOS VR 2006 model. Flown lots of 80-100km+ flights. Outstanding sink rate and glide angle. Suit larger pilot. Price $8,000. Contact 03 359 7358, 021 339 336 mark.nichols. home@gmail.com ELITE 151, Sail a bit scratched on leading edges but Ok, 7075 leading edges, spare upright.

Make an offer. Buck 027 655 1968 jacquipay@slingshot.co.nz HANG GLIDER HARNESSES WOODY Valley harness, size 4XL (but not as big as what you think), suit pilots 5’7” to 5’11” tall, near new c/w parachute. Phone 03 577 8886 or email john.urlich@nzdf.mil.nz.

AEROS Race harness, with front mounted reserve parachute. Contact 03 545 0630 julie. bryant@xtra.co.nz MOTOR HANG Gliding EXPLORER motor harness with carbon fibre folding prop and reserve. offers considered, Tony 021 265 8224, email tony@sthlaw.co.nz AIRTIME motor harness, late model, 8 hours airtime, Folding prop, Tiny tac, Tuning lights, 2 owners, contact 03 326-6411 or aero@xtra.co.nz for info.

MOSQUITO NRG motorharness, very tidy with very low airtime, all the usual features plus folding carbon prop, Stainless auto carabiner, parachute if required. Phone 021 247 2676, email aero@xtra.co.nz MOSQUITO Motor Harness, approx 50 hours, good condition, earlier top entry pod type, folding carbon prop, also spare prop with crack in one blade. Reluctant sale, located in Kaitaia. May be able to deliver Auckland. $4200 ono. Phone 027 292 3928 trevvvster@ gmail.com ACCESSORIES CHARLY and PlusMax helmets, chin guards etc. Also aerofoil basebar handfairings, Drogue chutes, carabiners for HG or PG, Hall wheels and wind meters, contact Bill 021 247 2676, 03 326 6411 a.h, aero@xtra.co.nz Helmets in stock, PlusMax, No Limit, Insider, range of colours and sizes including metallics and carbon, No Limit with visor option, PlusMax with chinguard option, phone 021 247 2676 email aero@xtra.co.nz INSTRUMENTS DIGIFLY Flytec/Brauniger, Oudie and Aircotec flight instruments, basic varios to full GPS flight computers. Large range in stock. Phone or txt 021 247 2676, email aero@xtra.co.nz

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RESERVE PARACHUTES RANGE of Charly reserve parachutes, Front containers, Hook knives, Connectors etc, in stock at HG & PG Supplies, Phone 021 247 2676 or email aero@xtra.co.nz INSTRUCTION NELSON Hang Gliding Adventures HG training course Beginner and Novice rating. Call Glenn to register interest. 03 548 9151 or 027 275 1022, gmeadows@clear.net.nz HANG Gliding/Skyfloating. Experienced instruction in Christchurch using the latest skyfloater hang gliders and equipment, Phone Bill 021 247 2676, 03 326 6411 a.h., email aero@xtra.co.nz and www.hgpg.co.nz EMPLOYMENT PARAGLIDING tandem pilots wanted - Full time positions available - Please send your CV to info@skytrek.co.nz HANG gliding tandem pilots wanted - Summer 2015-’16 - Must have minimum advanced rating, training given to suitable applicants. Please send your CV to ian@skytrek.co.nz or phone 027 430 1741 for more information.

CORONET Peak Tandems Ltd, Queenstown, are looking for tandem hang gliding and paragliding pilots. Call 021 220 5932 Business NELSON Paragliding, established 1993, After 20 years of operation I am looking for a business partner to share in the running of the school and 115 commercial Tandem flights.

Nelson Paragliding has excellent equipment and sites where high standards are achieved.

Although seasonally busy would suit someone with secondary income. So if you’re a motivated pilot with good people / business skills and like hanging out on hills please enquire as full training will be given. Contact Stew Karstens 03 544 1182 paragliding@xtra.co.nz Lost & found NIVIUK Icepeak 6; green leading edge with Blue and white tips. Has distinctive competition numbers 222 on the lower surface along with ABAC (factory race team name)... this is a top comp wing and very obviously a comp 2 liner wing. Very few people should be flying this wing unless they are very experienced. Stolen in a GIN black with flouro green stripes 90 l bag... Reward for return and notifying police!! My cell 027 667 7123...

Many thanks and hopefully I’ll get it back somehow... it wasn’t insured :( - Grey Hamilton AIRCOTEC XC-Trainer Easy vario/GPS, S/N 1473. Went missing from the Blenheim area approx two years ago. Phone 03 577 8886 or email john.urlich@nzdf.mil.nz HARNESS, helmet & hang gliding gear, taken from Omarama March 2010. Custom High Energy Tracer harness (black with blue stripe), Lara parachute with swivel, Spot Satellite Messenger, Olympus Mju Tough camera, Charly No Limit helmet (metallic dark silver) with visor, radio headset, Silkbody top, softshell jacket and other gear in black backpack.

Contact Bill 03 326 6411, 021 247 2676 or email aero@xtra.co.nz.

Keep in touch with the NZ hang gliding and paragliding scene, the latest developments, events, new and used equipment...

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All NZ hang glider and paraglider pilots are required by law to be members, and receive Airborn magazine as part of their membership but non flyers and overseas pilots are welcome to subscribe.

For Airborn SUBSCRIPTIONS please contact; NZHGPA Administrator, 23 Covent Drive, Stoke, Nelson 7011, New Zealand

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PARAGLIDERS ADVANCE Paragliders by Infinity Paragliding. Check out the new Advance Iota - high performance EN-B, the Epsilon 7 - mid range ENB and the Lightweight PI mountain glider @ 3.14kg! Also an exceptional range of harnesses - the new Lightness 2 lightweight POD harness, the Axess 3 Air and Progress 2 reversible. Go to www.infinityparagliding. co.nz or www.advance.ch for all the specs or call 021 0228 2939 NOVA Mentor 4 - just released. 5 glide better than Mentor 3 - best all-round XC wing?

See www.nova-wings.com and Alan at SkyWings for ordering - 09 570 5757 - www. skywings.co.nz OZONE Paragliders - fly-ozone.com - exclusively by SkyWings - Awesome new models - Swift 4, Rush 4, Roadster 2, Viper 3 & the amazing Zero miniwing - www.skywings. co.nz - 25 years bringing you the best wings - email alan@skywings.co.nz NOVA Paragliders - nova-wings.com - exclusively by SkyWings - See Nova’s new website and great new models - Mentor 4, Ion 3 low EN B, highest performing school safe wing ever, Triton 2 - highest performing EN C ever and Suzi - current safest wing - www. skywings.co.nz - email alan@skywings.co.nz SPEEDFLYING specialists - and dozens of great XC wings - happy to trade - all kinds of harnesses in stock as well - www.skywings.co.nz or phone Alan 09 570 5757