NZHGPA Airborn #197

Issue 197; February, March, April 2016

HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING NZ Paragliding and Hang Gliding Records Broken Paragliding Iceland Bethels Mission

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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 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 AUCKLAND H.G.P.C. PO Box 90 154 Auckland Email: info@cloudbase.org.nz www.cloudbase.org.nz Pres: Graham Surrey .................021 0262 5023 Sec: Paul Henriques ......................021 310 779 Treas: Malcolm Dawson...............021 052 1568 HGSO: Michell Jagersma...............06 622 3210 PGSO: Reuben Muir.......................09 446 0020 Stefan Sebregts ...........................021 266 1287 Steve Price ....................................021 781 828 Eva Keim .......................................09 446 0051 Skywings Paragliding ....................09 570 5757 Aqua Air Adventure Hang Gliding.. 027 288 0193 Wings And Waves Paragliding ......09 446 0020

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 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

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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 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 WELLINGTON H.G.P.C. PO Box 9824 Marion Square Wellington 6141 www.whgpc.homestead.com Email: info@whgpc.org.nz Pres: Kris Ericksen.......................021 116 4558 Sec: Grant Firth............................. 021 422 698 PGSO: Ian Bowie .........................027 535 4567 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 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

KEY Pres; .............................................. President Sec; ............................ Secretary/Treasurer

PGSO; ............. Paragliding Safety Officer

HGSO; .......... Hang Gliding Safety Officer

CFI;........................... Chief Flying Instructor Airsp;.................................Airspace Officer

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 CANTERBURY H.G.P.C. Inc. C/- Dan Campbell 3 Marley View Street Somerfield 8024 Email: dan.cam@paradise.net.nz www.chgpc.org.nz 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 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

Tom Collet flying his Climax glider at Kariotahi, Auckland

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

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.

ISSN 1170-9928

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

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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

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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...

NZ Paragliding Records...............................................................4 NZ Hang Gliding Record..............................................................8 Rhythm of Flight Project............................................................10 Paragliding in Iceland................................................................12 Bethels Beach Mission..............................................................18 Paragliding Competition Comitttee Report.............................20 Events .........................................................................................24 Cross Country Champs Scoreboards.................................26, 28 Classified Advertisements.........................................................30 Recovering a Stolen Wing.........................................................31 FRONT COVER: Not the NZ Alps, but the latest Nova Ion 4 flying in Europe Photo: Nova

NEXT ISSUE DEADLINE: 1 APRIL 2016 A

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New Zealand Paragliding Nick Neynens on the Recent Alpine XCs

We thought last summer was amazing but already this year we have been flying further than ever before, and it’s only the first week of January.

Bryan first up on Momus Cruising along the Barrier Range

We’ve had some European visitors (it’s slowly catching on) who have probably wondered what all this talk about the nor’wester is about (after a scary start to the season), the locals have taken to vol biv as if it’s the next big thing, and it seems like nearly every day is a 100km day. Until I flew 200 – and then did it again – a first for New Zealand.

Three 100 km days

17 Dec; An out and (not quite) back The first week I hid away up at Mum’s place in Glenorchy, flying only once in a short weather window but mostly helping out around the house.

On 16 December my Red Bull X-Alps supporter Louis and I delivered a talk to local pilots in Queenstown.

Later the same night I walked through beech forest on a track lit only by glow worms in the overcast, cold, and showery night. I was positioning myself at Sam Summers Hut in readiness for an early start on Mt Crichton, on the southwest corner of the Shotover catchment nestled up against the edge of Queenstown airspace. I climbed up the hill for my

first ever flight, having scoped out the track a few days earlier.

As soon as the clouds caught up with me I took off and thermalled up immediately before tracking along the peaks – clouds were close but everything was going up. Fantastic flying, fast hopping between tussock ridges and I crossed the Shotover in good time before heading up the East Matukituki. I’d flown 85+km in good time and without an airband radio I would have to change course to avoid the Mt Cook MBZ (mandatory broadcast zone).

I considered flying over to the West Coast since it was clear in the southeasterly, but given the next few days were good flying I thought it made more sense to try an out and return. Things got tricky as I approached Cascade Saddle however, and I ended up landing close to Dart Hut. Racing up to Rees Saddle I reflew before a hasty uninterrupted long walk back home in the evening, arriving after 1am.

18 Dec; Sugarloaf (with Bryan) to Ahuriri With four hours of sleep I met up with Louis and Bryan, we raced up the

Launch above Sugarloaf Pass

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gravel road to collect my paraglider which I’d left on the roadside, and headed up to Sugarloaf Pass. The weather was a bit iffy, there was a rather strong southwesterly aloft. It was a little scary thermalling from the lee of the mountains into a wind so strong I dared not take my hands off the brakes to turn my phone screen on and check my groundspeed... but in hindsight the shear seemed to be distributed evenly and I appreciated the push for a long crossing of the Dart Valley onto Sandy Bluff.

I continued to have a great flight in the direction of Mount Cook, getting stuck in the Matukituki a while as I wasn’t game to get too deep in the mountains with the wind, as Bryan did (but he also got stuck).

Nevertheless we made good time and I landed in the Ahuriri after the high cloud thickened into a sun blocking soup. I spent the night in Hideaway Hut, surprised to see my brother featuring in the visitor book.

There were a few spots of rain in the evening and the next morning the clouds floated low in the valley.

19 Dec; Ahuriri to Tekapo Expecting the sun to change things quickly in this arid landscape, I climbed a short way up onto the morning sun facing slopes of the Barrier Range. Despite a pronounced southerly crosswind, I soared up early and a few spurs along I was high above the range. Significantly higher than the clouds on the ranges either side of me I noted to myself that right now I was in the best part of the country for flying. I flew into the Hopkins Valley and shouted out loud when I spotted Bryan – but on closer inspection I realised it wasn’t him, it was another green glider! Later two more pilots took off – whoever heard of meeting other paragliders this deep in the back country.

I made good time and for the first time I crossed the Tasman Valley south of Mt Cook. The ranges beyond are so dry and rocky that any high cloud muting the suns energy is a welcome bonus. But today the problem was the North Canterbury cloud banked up against the Mackenzie Basin – I made a right

Records angle turn and flew as close as I could to Tekapo. A little complacent perhaps, as after enduring all the rough air of the day without a collapse, I crashed in shadow of a rocky spur at 8pm. Luckily there was nothing to show for it apart from a few scratches on my harness, and feeling a little sheepish.

North Canterbury cloud mass, Two Thumbs Range

Christmas vol biv and a new open distance record

23 Dec; Sugarloaf (with Louis) to Hunter The 23 of December was Louis’ day. We again started from Sugarloaf pass by the Routeburn Track. I’d been flying a few hours in the stable morning conditions with nothing to show for it but cold hands and a full bladder. Louis took off and joined me just as I was getting high enough to go on glide. I missed the climb and for the next while up the Dart

of the next mountain, sliding off to land by Lake Hawea.

Louis’ last radio transmission mentioned the Huxley and I thought he may have had a chance of flying the open distance record, although it would depend on the northerly. I camped on the shores of the lake and spent the next day walking up the Dingle Burn, hut bagging. After 14.5 hours in the hot sun (30km northerly first thing in the morning and forecast

Louis in the Dart (view to west)

Valley Louis gloated several hundred metres above me.

I suggested he cross to Sandy Bluff, which he did, and was still thermalling when I arrived but I was content to continue at ridge height.

We diverged paths as I went for the Rob Roy Spur and he flew over Shotover Saddle, and I didn’t hear from him again until Makarora.

There I was backtracking as I hit a strong northerly, eventually joining Louis and chasing him until I found myself just slightly too low in the lee

high cloud led to a decision not to climb up to fly) I reached Top Dingle Hut just before 9pm, thrilled to have been left a can of Speights beer as a Christmas Eve present.

25 Dec; Ahuriri to Arthur’s Pass On Christmas day I arrived nice and early to the best launch around, a north east face beneath towering rocky bluffs. Despite the early hour, the gusts were aggressive enough to knock my solar panel off its rock, and fearing it was wind mixing in, I quickly readied myself to launch.

Lawrence River and Arrowsmiths in sunshine

In fact it was just strong thermal cycles. A few ridges to the north and I thermalled up to 10,000 feet alongside the glaciers of Mt Barth, with Mt Brewster, Mt Cook, and other landmarks forming an impressive 360 degree view.

Again I had a fantastic run and I was pleased to have gotten away early. Crossing the Tasman Valley my first hurdle was the Gorilla (Mt Blackburn, the mountain south of Gorilla stream). It felt really windy or just big, somehow, and it took some perseverance to finally climb enough to sneakily float over into the Jollie Valley. Here the mountains were just ballistic. There was no trouble finding climbs but it was so active that the sink between glides quickly put you back where you started from.

I reached the edge of the Mackenzie Basin, gliding into a rocky peak deep behind The Thumbs with a moderate wind and very little wiggle room, but found no climb. Cautiously combing the ridge I returned to the peak having lost height, and decided to dive through the col while I still could.

Expecting a battering on the other side I stopped most but not all of the collapses, and soon enough I got established in the strongest climb of the day. It would have been the most dangerous flying of the day although when you expect it you are a lot more attentive and arguably safer.

A long crossing of the Havelock braided river flats and I approached more sunny rocky mountains marked by pumping clouds. But further down the track two banks of cloud were shading the peaks and there were two route options evident. Initially I

followed the peaks to the north of the Lawrence river, super scenic soaring in light and gentle lift. But seeing the head of the Rakaia in almost complete shade, and expecting valley winds to make things difficult, I changed my mind and pushed my way in front of the Arrowsmiths. Here I got to base before a long crossing of the Rakaia.

T h e f o l l o w i n g h o u r s w e re completely different to the high octane hours I’d endured up until then. Clouds were shading the whole area. With probably under 100 feet to spare I cleared a pass and shared buoyant air on the other side with seagulls and a kea. Drifting into the Clyde Valley I got flushed behind a spur, only to recover on the next.

Soaring the valley wind and hopping from spur to spur was a relaxing end to the flight.

I watched the kilometres as I approached the existing open distance record. My phone battery was nearly flat, and although a solar battery pack lay on top of my pod, the charging cable was in my backpack.

I flew fast to get the record logged on my phone, and started logging the remainder of my flight on my GPS watch, as I soared gorgeous scenery in the head of a valley where I’d finally found sun, amongst deep gorges, snowfields, and views of the west coast. It was fitting, with my paper maps inaccessible in my harness, that I later look at the map to see the name of the pass I glided through next – Unknown Col. The valley winds helped me along and I recognised Lake Browning, despite never having visited this

Soaring near Unknown Col

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At landing above the West Coast area myself in person. I knew that I was close to Arthurs Pass and that if I could just get up over Mt Rolleston I’d be able to set myself up for a long tailwind final glide into the Taramakau. It was not to be though, I never reached cloud base in the dying sun and west coast air, and after sampling a sunny rocky bowl and finding no lift I decided to land high rather than glide into the jungle, finishing my flight at around 210 kilometres at 1400 metres.

26 Dec; Waimakariri attempted triangle This would set me up for the next day, where I found a snow melt puddle to rehydrate and climbed a small mountain to survey the scene.

I managed a tricky snow patch launch amongst the rocks after a few attempts and proceeded to get flushed down the Waimakariri. There was a brisk wind in the valley that was not evident on launch. I managed to recover and get up high on the dry rocky interior – it really is remarkable how quickly the vegetation changes as you leave the main divide. I flew on to the Craigieburns with a 200 km triangle in mind. Emboldened by another skin of my teeth pass crossing, tricky convergence line negotiation, and flawless crossing of Porters Pass, I got up high on the Torlesse Range and tried my luck at a crossing of the Waimakariri Gorge.

The ridge that I’d given myself fairly average odds on was full of trees and gorges, and the wind was as strong as ever – I landed in the peak of the day, half way through my triangle, with a long walk to the road. It was a nice touch that after asking at the Flock Hill Lodge for some water and returning to my pack I’d left outside, someone had left a beer for me on the adjacent fence post. After a wash in the creek I retired for a bed in the pine needles.

Committing snow launch

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The next day I climbed up early to fly but although it appeared to be active super early it was very windy – up to 30km/h – so I wrote the day off and hitch hiked to the West Coast. In Hokitika the clouds looked amazing and the forecast was passable so I’m not sure about that judgement. In any case I gorged myself on two litres of Tip Top boysenberry ice cream, followed by fish and chips, as I enjoyed views of the Southern Alps, Mt Cook and Tasman appearing to be floating on air. Late that night I hitched further south to the Wanganui River and camped at 10pm when it was too dark to continue.

28 Dec; Wanganui to Havelock I was a little later than I’d like to have been but the day was stable so it didn’t matter – I reached a brilliant viewpoint – Blue Lookout on the Lord Range. My flight was scratchy but stunning. I crossed the divide as soon as I reached cloud base. The two forks of the Rakaia both had moderate down valley wind which converged to give me a rough ride up over Meins Knob, where I’d done a vol biv in autumn many years ago.

Later I spent some time just soaking up the amazing scenery, dragging my feet on the snowfields by a high pass. Across the valley some mountain goats kicked up dust to show me the air was rising, and I crossed over to work it patiently before popping through a snowy col with metres to spare. I was really enjoying the late evening light and not having to rush – I had nowhere I had to be. I landed high in a snow basin to kill an hour before returning to land at a camp site by a small tarn, once the thermals had died down.

29 Dec; Havelock to Mt Cook The next morning I climbed a peak and did a forward launch off the snow to glide to a better launch. The

Cook and Tasman from the Jollie day began slowly but it was another stunner. I flew past the Godley Lakes and along the heads of the valleys just south of the Murchison, where I observed first hand the huge actively crumbling slope that was filling the valley with dust. I reached Mt Cook and a more humid and depressed airmass and tried to cross the Ben Ohau Range. After having a one second look through a col to the sunny side (with the clouds miles above the peaks) I was never able

“moderate westerly” but “you’ll be alright”. It was a real skill test to join the seagulls hiding in the lee behind the barrier of the Richardson range, but it was nice to persevere and finally cross. I needed my speed bar to reach the front paddock at home – Dave warned me of the wind on the radio.

It was quite amusing that I’d flown under 30 kilometres in what seemed like an extremely technical flight, since it would not even qualify as a

Glacier south face of Earnslaw

to regain that altitude, so I landed by the road and hitch hiked back home.

Two Learning Flights

31 Dec; Coronet to Glenorchy Sometimes you have to switch modes between flying as fast and far as you can, just enjoying yourself, or improving your skills and understanding. Logistically I was unable to join friends at Mt Crichton so I flew Coronet peak instead, and my mission was simply to fly home (near Glenorchy). Bryan informed me on the radio that there was a

Hiking up Humboldt Range

cross country worthy of an advanced level pilot under New Zealand’s paragliding association.

1 Jan; Moke Lake triangle attempt The next skill tester was another attempted 200 km triangle. When the northwest made itself evident (it took me three attempts to cross the Richardson range behind Cleft peak by the Rees saddle) I knew it was probably not the day, but it was still a good learning experience.

Sometimes you make it through the col, and sometimes you don’t – this

Mt Aspiring south face (skyline)

Mt Earnslaw time I had to walk 250 metres on flat snow. But it was good to explore the mountains a bit and gather a bit of knowledge for next time.

Another open distance record 4 Jan; local flights (Earnslaw) It was a three day thing. A small group of us hiked up on the southern flanks of the Humboldt range near Glenorchy. The southerly was white-capping on the lake which made things difficult but I made some cheeky crossings before finally landing in the Rees behind Lovers Leap.

Climbing through dense young beech forest I relaunched in the afternoon. The southerly made things difficult and I glided below an overhanging rock where we’d taken photos the previous day with my brother and Mum. I was stoked to

manage to get up on the Richardson Range from there, and spent the rest of the day getting up close and personal with Mt Earnslaw before gliding over to join Dave who had established a magnificent bivouac

by Sugarloaf Peak.

5 Jan; Sugarloaf to Macaulay.

Open Distance Record The next morning I opted to descend to Sugarloaf Pass and climb up the other side closer to the rocky spines of Momus. This made all the difference, as Dave who was flushed to “Paradise” below in the valley will attest to. I managed to get up and with the moderate northwest winds we’d experienced all morning I decided to go tailwind and try and repeat the flight I’d been meaning to do for ages, and that my French X-Alps compatriot

Nelson had recently done – flying into Southland. But on my second climb I encountered the southwesterly aloft and received a text from Louis simply stating “200 km today?”. Indications were that it was a good day to go far.

Racing around the Rees I got super high on the southeast ridge of Earnslaw and cruised off for the Shotover saddle where I got deep and prolonged sink behind Mt Tyndall. Thinking the saddle was in the bag I had to drop downwind

and recover before pushing for the saddle. I didn’t want to waste any time so I had cut it fine yet again, but thankfully I made it into the Matukituki valley, pushing strong headwind over rather flat ground.

The rest of the day was relatively simple – glides were helped by the southwesterly tailwind, and the air was unstable (it was very cold up high) so there was no time wasted looking for climbs. It was just a matter of staying in the air and plodding

Approaching Huxley

Cheeky kea wakes me up

Nick’s Straight Line XC Distance 235.8 kms

Destination The Thumbs

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Christm

By John Smith

The weather forecast for Christmas

Looking for a gap in the clouds along. Of course there was plenty of lively air to contend with, radio traffic galore, and the cold. I even removed my helmet on a crossing to adjust my balaclava, shivering most of the time as it was.

It was my longest ever flight, 9 hours and 35 minutes, and I landed at 9pm. I was the lucky one who started further south, but even so I was Macaulay River and Lake Tekapo stopped by the bank of cloud surrounding the above 700 metres of east facing Mackenzie Basin and again I could scree slopes. not enjoy adding last kilometres 6 Jan; exit flight to Tekapo with a final glide. Instead I landed My launch worked so well that it in a strategic location for the next seemed even my exceptionally early day, a small tussock basin perched

Encroaching northwest, Godley Lakes, Mt Sibbald

Lake Tekapo, into the flats

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Day was showing potential for some great cross country flying so Lisa and I decided we would have the day off from training students and do some solo flying for ourselves.

start of 9:12am was conservative. I thermalled up and ventured deeper towards the divide, having seen the northwest on the clouds on that side.

On a ridge of Mt Sibbald I encountered it, barely penetrating the wind. It was time to turn around and fly as close to Tekapo as I could.

So I did, and it was a great way to end things – covering a few days walk in a few hours and having lunch while the wind got stronger and stronger on the lake.

Another great season and again I’ve been spoilt, but soon it will be back to work for me so I’ll have time to digest all these memories, the old dream of exploring New Zealand valley by valley and ridge by ridge.

Light winds on launch at Coronet Peak with a moderate south westerly at higher altitudes was forecast. It had been dry and no rain with the front that had passed.

Having flown from Coronet through to Tekapo on a few occasions in the past including three days earlier, I was keen to have a crack at trying to fly a little further and maybe 200km.

On the previous flights I was stopped by the sea breeze that comes through Burkes Pass. The trick me thinks, is to launch early enough and fly fast enough to beat the sea breeze to Tekapo. I put Lilybank Station in my GPS as goal.

It is 200km from Coronet, 10km past the head of lake Tekapo. It is also the dead end of the road before the Godly River.

I was ready on launch at 11am but the tandem gliders flying at the time were struggling to stay up. Just before midday they started circling and gaining height. This was the cue for blast off. I climbed quite quickly to the left of launch before pulling out at 5400ft so as to avoid the Queenstown airspace.

I headed for Brow Peak and eventually climbed high enough to jump across to Soho. The run from Soho to Roys Peak in Wanaka on a good day is a milk run and this was a very good day. Good climbs up to base at 9000ft.

Crossing Lake Wanaka I reached Mt Maude above the top. This hill

mas Hang Gliding Record 2015

John flying at Coronet Peak has worked every time I’ve been there. Up to 8500ft, then across Lake Hawea and onto Breast Peak.

From here the keen paraglider pilots track north east heading deep into the Ahuriri, I could see why. The mountains are higher and clearly producing good lift with big fluffy clouds as far as I could see. The scary thing is, no roads and horrible landing options before the Ahuriri.

I was quite deep in and the clouds looked so good I almost went, but my pussy side came through and I ran back towards the sanctuary of the road at Lindis Pass. Here I got quite low, just 1000ft above the pass before climbing up high again and heading for Magic Mountain.

At Magic; decision time again.

The track

Photo: Koichi Yasuda

Track north towards Ohau or cross the flats. I chose the flats as they had the best looking clouds. The sea breeze was visible in the form of low cloud near Burkes Pass but it was further east than previous times, indicating possible fortune.

I made good time across the flats with a moderate tailwind up high and pretty decent climbs.

I met the sea breeze convergence east of Mt Mary on the road to Tekapo. At this point I knew I had the height to go further than the NZ hang gliding record of 177km. I went down the western side of Lake Tekapo reaching the foot hills of Mistake Peak with enough height to ridge soar up and above the top. From here Lilybank was an easy glide.

John at Omarama Photo: Rod Stuart

As the distance from take-off ticked past 200 kms on my GPS I found another thermal just past Lilybank. Climbing again to 7700ft I looked at the fluffy clouds on the Sibbald Range to the north. I was not familiar with exactly where these huge mountains go, so didn’t really consider going any further north.

Instead, I headed back towards Tekapo, landing near the head of the lake. Distance was 202.3kms, flight time 5 hours 44 minutes.

After packing I hitched a ride with the last car up this dead end road, 32km back to Tekapo.

I have been really inspired by the paraglider pilots who are pioneering some incredible cross country routes in the Southern Alps. They

Below; Landed near Lilybank Photo: John Smith

are showing the potential that these incredibly beautiful and rugged mountains offer. Had I known that Nick was deep in those mountains to the north of me when I was at Lilybank, I may have been motivated to try a little harder and risk a long walk out, or even a night out in the bush. Vol biv hang gliding, yeah man;- Well maybe not.... I wasn’t prepared for that and I really felt like a beer.

I have since had a good look at the map and reckon on the right day from Coronet Peak, 270km is on and 300 is not impossible. The problem for most people is you need to be there on the day and on average there are maybe two or three days from Coronet a year that it is possible. Look for a post (dry) frontal south westerly that’s not too windy in November, December or January, that is unstable and give it a go. It would be nice to have the company of some more hang gliders on these very good days flying over the most spectacular countryside.

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The Rhythm of Flight Pro

Wolfi Siess from Austria and Jonas Lobitz from New Zealand created a film project focused on hang gliding named ‘The Rhythm of Flight’.

This entails a series of short movies and footage compiled for a feature film documentary that immerses the audience into this incredible sport and the lives of our unique flying community.

T

he project was initially funded through the crowdsource portal Indiegogo, raising around US$6,000 with additional support from sponsors; Primuvr, Rowa - Moser, Wills Wing, Moyes, USHPA, Flytec and the pilots themselves.

Wolfi and Jonas’ mission is to show the world what hang gliding is all about.

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This sport has experienced a shortage of publicity and many people do not even know what a hang glider looks like. They strive to share the experience of true free flight to a new generation of future pilots. New technologies such as action cams, YouTube and social media provide the perfect tools to show the world that flying has found a new rhythm!

The Rhythm of Flight began as a dream to travel through the United States to

rediscover some of the old-school hang gliding sites of the 80’s and 90’s, including some of the most spectacular flight parks in the world. The vision expanded and has now grown into a unique full-fledged project and adventure! The plan was to begin shooting the trip with LA filmmaker Tony Ritter in California, then head across the continent to Florida for the first two

major competitions of the U.S. hang gliding season. Then north crossing into Georgia to visit Lookout Mountain Flight Park, one of the largest flight parks in the world.

The route continued to North Carolina, the original birth place of flight at the dunes of Kitty Hawk. Wolfi and Jonas then headed west into the great Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.

Their trip continued all the way up to Canada for the Canadian Nationals, the pinnacle of hang gliding competition in the country. Next they travelled down to Utah to fly the legendary sites in Salt Lake City and Moab. Over 29,000 kilometers later, they returned to California for the grand finale to fly from one of the most spectacular sites in the world at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park!

Wolfi and Jonas had a truly epic adventure. Along the way they spent time with some of the best pilots in the world including current world #2 Jonny Durand, multiple U.S. Champion and world #3 Zac Majors, the world distance record holder Dustin Martin, aerobatics legend John Heiney, as well as other local flying legends and newbies of the sport. The footage includes introspection and interviews from a plethora of these extreme athletes.

The filming has been spectacular.

Conditions came together perfectly for them to fly Elsinore, CA with veteran John Heiney. They experienced convergence that helped them climb to 11,000ft with a perfect beach landing to finish the day.

Things did not always go as planned as there was an unexpected incident where Wolfi was rolled upside down in turbulence and forced to throw his reserve parachute! It is all on film with a successful deployment and fortunately only minor injuries.

The North American tour is now complete: 29,000km, 25 states, 30 flying sites, mountains, desert, swamp, cliffs, multiple legends, many many memories, a

ject pickup truck with a camper and no spare tyre. Two terabytes of video are in the bag and six episodes are already available to view on the Rhythm of Flight website in HD. The seventh episode will be coming out soon with more to follow.

Check it out at www.rhythmofflight.com, you won’t be disappointed. This flying trip was more than they could have hoped for and achieved Wolfi and Jonas’ goal of sharing the freedom and beauty of this spectacular sport. Check out what they have released so far and discover the sky for yourself.

WWW.RHYTHMOFFLIGHT.COM

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ICELAND:

The Land of Fire and

By Phil Hystek

Iceland. That somewhat mystical place, about as far from New Zealand (geographically and physically) as you can get but still be on planet earth. An wild, icy, windswept volcanic island on the Arctic circle, famous for huge plumes of volcanic ash from a volcano, the name of which no one in the western world can pronounce... not a place that most paraglider pilots would think of as a destination for a flying vacation.

The first thing you notice about Iceland when you fly into Keflavik (Reykjavik) airport, is the total absence of trees. There are none... anywhere, as far as you can see.

The second thing you notice about Iceland is the total lack of night.

Being just on the Arctic Circle, and in late June, the daylight in Iceland lasts just that, all day, and all the next day, and all the next day... This can really play havoc with the body clock. Circadian rhythm takes a back seat when you suddenly realise that all the things you couldn’t normally do when evening came, are now possible. Sleep? Who needs sleep when there are all these things to see and do, and so much daylight to do it in.

And then there’s the wind. When

it blows in Iceland, it really blows.

Careful with the car doors when you open them in the wind. Luckily there’s a lot of light wind days as well.

The weather forecast didn’t look good for our first day; 50-60kt winds, showers and temps down to 5c. Iceland is touted as “one of the worlds best destinations for cycle touring” Really?... So what makes for a bad place? I asked as we passed the first of many cyclists we’d encounter during our stay, most struggling to make any headway in the atrocious conditions. The quietness and warmth of our rental car with its seat warmers, never felt so good. I’m sure there’s a certain beauty to cycle touring... but at that point I couldn’t see any.

Day 2 and the weather has

“I’ve gota fly out there?” Puffins… the ultimate combo of cuteness and ungainliness.

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improved slightly, so we ventured inland for a very pleasant 1 hour hike up to the hot springs of Reykjadalur nestled in the hills above Hveragerði Hot springs are almost more common in Iceland than pubs in Australia, almost every town has some. There’s something almost magical about lying quietly in huge pool of natural hot water, under the wide arctic sky, as the steam swirls and dances across the surface in the wind.

The weather for the next week looked better so we headed for the NW Fjordlands and their famous seabird rookeries.

Driving around Iceland can be a strain, not so much for your wallet, but for your neck and your camera clicking finger.

Constantly bombarded with a neverending stream of stunning photo opportunities. Beaches of all colours, rolling red and black hills, sheer cliffs towering above fjords of blue/green water and jagged snow covered peaks interspersed with ice fields and glaciers. And amongst this, the contrast of the lowlands with their lush green fields and immaculately presented vivid white farm buildings with brilliant red or blue roofs. You just can’t help taking photos, lots of photos in Iceland.

The lack of trees makes Iceland a ‘hike and fly’ paraglider pilots dream.

No matter where you look, there’s a launch site begging to be pioneered.

All we had to do for our first Iceland flight was to wait for the wind to back off. And it did, just enough to

Strong wind speedwing soaring near Bíldudalur

Ice

Climbing out over Mt Burfell with Hekla volcano in the distance pull out my 15m speedwing for fun session of high wind ‘fjord soaring’.

If you’re going to Iceland for flying, definitely take a speed wing. Given the probability of wind, having an extra wing to cover you on the “strong” days will make your trip so much more rewarding.

The smoothest wind always comes off the sea, and given the huge length of the Icelandic coastline, all you have to do is to drive around the island until you find a hill that faces into the wind. A lot of the rocky slopes are covered by permanent snow, or an amazing carpet of soft moss, making launching your glider relatively stress free.

At Oerlygshafnarvegur in the far southwest of the country the 800’ cliffs tower over the wild Arctic Ocean and are home to a huge seabird rookery. Millions of birds of all shapes and sizes nesting on small shelves or little hollows, or on nests seemingly stuck like glue to the absolute vertical cliffs. The sky

teeming with bird life, effortlessly wheeling, soaring and diving.

But we had come to see one bird, the absolutely adorable Puffin. This podgy little icon of the Arctic, with it’s multi-coloured beak nests on or just below the grassy cliff top. For some reason, the Puffins here are unafraid and happily shuffle to within a metre of your camera.

Unlike the other birds soaring effortlessly, the puffins madly flap their tiny wings as they struggle home to their cliff top nests from the ocean far below, beaks loaded with tiny fish for their young, you get the feeling that their creator definitely gave them a choice. Fly effortlessly, or look cute.. they certainly chose the latter.

It was now close to midnight and as the sun scribed its low path across the northern horizon, and as the biting icy NW blew relentlessly we left the birds and their stunning home and headed NE in search of more humanly flyable conditions.

“This has got to be flyable” we said to each other. We were gazing up at the top of a 200m high, 2km long ridge which sat at the end of a 10km long fjord. Most of the tourists here had come to see one of the most spectacular waterfalls imaginable. Millions of litres of frigid water poured over the cliff edge, thundering seawards over what looked like a massive multi-layered wedding cake.

We were looking at the scene in a whole different light. The swirling katabatic close to the waterfall would make launching here an impossibility. The far end of the ridge looked pretty launchable, so after a pleasant hike under a now brilliant blue cloudless arctic sky, we arrived on a soft moss covered slope high above the fjord.

Conditions were perfect for a really enjoyable flight in smooth ridge lift interspersed by light thermals coming from the beach below. The thermals were not topping out high

enough to commit to heading XC over the snow covered plateau so I opted instead for a play around above the thundering waterfall.

In stark contrast with Australia, there’s not much wildlife in Iceland.

The main concerns while driving are reindeer and sheep. There are a lot of sheep in Iceland and they love grazing next to, and lying on the roads in the afternoons. Rather than huge flocks, there’s usually only two or three together and are most are considerate enough to jump off the side of the road with a quick toot of horn. I’m thinking that the national maximum speed limit of 90km/h is there to protect the sheep.

Reindeer on the other hand usually hang out in herds and don’t have the same road sense. They’re also quite well camouflaged, especially if you meet them in thick fog late in the evening...

While not exclusively so, the majority of tourist viewpoints in Iceland have something to do

Dynjandi. One of so many stunning waterfalls in Iceland

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13

Wanna fly? Just pick a hill… Launching somewhere in the Westfjords with the geology. Molten earth, subterranean boiling water or mud, plate tectonics, volcanoes.

Everywhere you look, you see the signs of bits of the earth being squashed together, torn apart, pushed up, squeezed out, cooked and boiled.

One of the most unusual is on the south coast near Gunnuhver. Here, an innocuous looking rocky gully (about 15m wide, 8m deep and 100m long) marks the place where the European and the American tectonic plates are being slowly and inextricably separating at the rate of about 1cm per year. This is the only place on dry land where you can see the two plates right next to each other.

Another geological draw card are the numerous dormant volcanos and “cinder cones” that dot the landscape.

An almost textbook dormant small volcano rising 300m above the flat surrounding plain looked perfect for an afternoon flight. Like most hills in Iceland, the rocky slope was relatively easy to climb, and like

14 A i r b o r n

many as well, the top had areas of smooth thick moss.

No matter what hill/mountain you climb in Iceland, the view from the top is always going to be worth the climb. Stunning vistas of either rounded and rolling, and other places sharp and angular, snow covered mountains stretching to the horizon under an amazingly clear Arctic sky. This hill was no exception with the lowlands in front dotted with small lakes and streams reflecting the afternoon sun. Truly magical.

During Hike’n’Fly expeditions, I try to absorb as much of the vista as possible during the climb to the top (along with assessing the prevailing conditions). My motto of, “if it’s on, get off,” means there’s little time on the top to admire the view. Once I’ve found a suitable launch, and assessed the conditions as good, I launch. Sure, conditions might get better, but they may get worse.

Even though my rule is, “only ever walk up a mountain if you’re prepared to walk back down”, I

really love the flight down and so “if it’s on...”

Having both a normal size glider, and a speedwing during a visit to Iceland gives you much greater flying opportunities than the limitations imposed by having only one size wing, particularly if doing a lot of Hike’n’Fly. Mostly you’ll have no idea of the wind speed or the quality of the launch area before you start the climb. If you’re not absolutely sure that the wind and the hill are suitable for launching and flying a normal size wing, then having a smaller wing that can handle both more wind, and a smaller, rougher and more challenging launch will at least give you the ability to fly down.

Few things are more frustrating than carrying your glider all the way up only to find the wind just too strong to fly. “If only I’d brought my speedwing...”

And for me, Hike’n’Fly is more the sum of the parts rather than one or the other. Both the hike and the flying are equally rewarding. A 2 hour hike is totally worth a 5 minute flight.

Another benefit in having a smaller faster wing in Iceland is being able take advantage of the many strong wind ridge soaring opportunities offered by the vigorous but smooth arctic wind whistling down the long fjords. Quite a few very fun flights would not have been possible if not for a wing capable of handling 20 knots.

The little town of Reykjahlið in central northern Iceland is located in one of Iceland’s most geologically active areas and the nearby hills are basically devoid of vegetation due to the high sulphur concentration in the air and in the hot underground water.

The nearby hot baths of Jarðboeðin við Myvatn are a must visit in this area and despite the hefty admission fee, we had to stop by and check them out. Floating quietly in one of the recently constructed large open-air naturally heated baths, as the sun carves its low trajectory through

the evening arctic sky, is quite a salubrious experience.

Heading further southeast, the environmental desolation is quite surreal. From horizon to horizon, the land is completely devoid of any living thing. Black and grey volcanic ash and lava from past eruptions completely covers the landscape.

This place is so much like the moon that most of the astronauts who have walked on the moon came to this area for training prior to their space journey.

One of the reasons for our travel to Iceland was to compete in the National Paragliding Championships. The 5 day comp was to be based from the flying site of Mt Burfell, a rock and scree covered 669m tall volcano sitting in the middle of a 30km wide alluvial plain in the south of the island. The view from the top of Burfell is spectacular with the skyline to the east dominated by the snow and ice covered Mt Hekla, one of the worlds most active volcanoes.

The drive to the top of Burfell was certainly a test for our little Suzuki.

The slopes of the mountain are mostly covered with loose rock over a hard layer of bedrock giving not much in the way of traction for the highway tyres. But climb it did in a quite emphatic way (albeit with a bit of wheel spin) for such a small vehicle. Most of the 4x4’s in Iceland have HUGE tyres to comfortably traverse both the snow and areas of soft volcanic ash. So we were proud to make it to the top with the big boys.

There were only small patches of snow on top of Burfell as the summer thaw was now in full swing and the rocky but flat mountain top had the appearance of being solid. But the ground under foot was anything but.

Most of the ground had only a thin (around 10cm) layer of rock and ash, and beneath that was a very mushy aqueous layer of soft mud.

If you walked over the same piece of ground more than once, the thin surface layer would start to soften and very quickly, the whole area would be like walking on a waterbed.

Jump up and down in one place and the ground up to 3m away would ripple and rise. Not sure how deep the layer of soft mud extended but it felt like any moment, you could crack the surface and disappear forever into the murky depths.

The small and relaxed comp was fun. Climbing out above Burfell, with Hekla to the east and the massive expanse of ice covered central Iceland to the north was a feast for the eyes. Climb rates of 4m/s to cloud base of near 2,000m made for some sweet flying.

One of my biggest concerns when flying cross country is the possibility of landing in a tree. Flying XC in

Iceland has different risks... rivers.

“Please make sure you land on the correct side of the river,” said Agust the comp director. The rivers in Iceland are very wide, very fast flowing and very cold. And the road network isn’t as vast as in some other countries. Landing on the wrong side can mean a very long walk out. Or as a pilot in a recent comp found out, if you land on an island in the middle of the river, the only way out maybe by very expensive helicopter ride.

Even though the competition area is only about 50km from the ocean, I was surprised to find that the seabreeze arrived with gusto each day. It was the seabreeze which put most pilots on the deck each day during the comp.

Sadly, the end of the comp, and along with it, the end of our stay in Iceland came way too quickly.

Driving the south coast road back to Keflavik airport, we reflected on an absolutely amazing two weeks.

Two weeks of exploring, pioneering and adventuring, sightseeing and soaking in hot springs, flying in stunning locations and seeing the country in a way that most normal ‘tourists’ can’t dream off.

“Hey, that’s got to be flyable” we said to each other as we drove past an 11km long and up to 200m high ridge running parallel to the coast and only about 2km inland from the beach. “Surely there must be a launch up there.” But that’ll have to wait... till our return trip...

Climbing over Mt Burfell looking NE to the 8,400 square kmVatnajökull ice field

Midnight soaring

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SKYFLOATERS

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ACCESSORIES

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All traded gliders are strip checked, test flown and trimmed so you know they are safe and fly perfectly. Ring or email for current stocks.

GLIDER SPARES

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intermediate and over pilots who want competition performance and XC ability without the extra weight, battens and stiffer handling of topless wings. It has a kingpost but no lufflines, using topless style inner sprogs. Choice of low drag aerofoils and aerofoil basebar. The best value in its class. 145 (29kg) and 160 (31kg) sizes, USHGMA Certified.

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HANG GLIDER HARNESSES

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AeroDesign APRON The most comfortable and practical harness for training and dune flying.

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INSIDER & NO LIMIT Helmets by

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WEATHERFLOW WIND METER A compact, accurate, affordable wind meter that simply plugs into your Apple or Android device showing wind average, lull & gust, plus direction from the device’s compass and GPS. You can share info by SMS, email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Vine, Weatherflow etc. Reads in meters/sec, miles/hour, knots, kilometers/hour, & beaufort.

HALL compact (11.5cm) ‘Small Hall’ is the best priced airspeed meter available. Simple and accurate. Brackets for hang or para. Never needs batteries!

PLUSAIR Helmet; tough ABS shell, matte rubber coating & EPS liner with 11 passive air vents & Hydro-Cool lining. Removable ear covers. Certified EN966 for free flight & ski. 470g. Optional chin guard.

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Muriwai to Bethells Bea A mini-adventure

O

ften when we think about adventures it tends to be in the context of accomplishing record distances or exploring remote and inaccessible areas, while the more achievable experiences close to home get overlooked.

The view north looking over Maori Bay towards Muriwai Beach

Sometimes the culmination of a long-held wish to accomplish a small goal can offer a great deal of satisfaction, which isn’t necessarily reflected in the distance covered or the degree of difficulty involved.

For me this was definitely true of a recent flight from Maori Bay, Muriwai to Bethells Beach along Auckland’s beautiful West Coast, a trip that I had been wanting to do for years but for which the conditions had never been quite right.

Maori Bay has always been one of my favourite flying sites. Only 40 minutes drive from the centre of Auckland it boasts stunning scenery, including 75-metre high cliffs that display the underlying pillow lava geology in huge striated slabs of rock, along with the pounding West Coast surf that explodes dramatically through a blowhole in a rocky platform when the tide is high.

Huge numbers of visitors flock to Muriwai to see the colony of Australasian Gannets that arrive in their hundreds over summer to nest on the headland and rock stacks just offshore, while locals know the beach for the quality of its surf breaks. All of these factors work together to make it a great site for paragliding, as you have the great views of the sea, the birds and plenty of people around if you like to fly with an audience!

On the day in question, 6 December 2015, I arrived at Maori Bay mid-afternoon to find a perfect WSW seabreeze of about 20 km/ hr pushing in. Launching my Gin Carrera from the grassy slope

18 A i r b o r n

By Graham Surrey

Looking down on the gannet colony from above Fantastic lava patterns in the cliffs above Maori Bay

ch and Back below the carpark I turned south and quickly climbed up above the lava cliffs towering over the bay.

The lift was lovely and smooth so I carried on south along the coast, flying over Collins Bay and Pillow Lava Bay before coming to the large headland that had always thwarted my previous attempts to complete the flight to Bethells Beach.

This headland is quite wide and juts out into the ocean, leaving no landing options below, so it’s always presented the first major obstacle for any flights further along the coast.

Previous attempts to get around it had always involved pushing into wind on speedbar seeing whether it was possible to make it around the point before finally chickening out and running for the safety of the cliffs downwind.

On this day however the wind was square-on to the cliffs and the lift was so buoyant that it was easy to climb well above the headland and continue flying south. At this point I was feeling great. After years of flying at Maori Bay I’d finally managed to open up a new stretch of coast to explore and the conditions meant that I was able to exploit it to the full.

Sailing high above the cliffs I quickly flew south down the coast, passing over the wave-swept rocky platforms where the Tasman Sea hits the shoreline below.

About a kilometre further on was another headland located immediately north of O’Neill Bay, which was even larger and wider than the previous one. Again the conditions were perfect, with the lift allowing me an easy traverse up and over the gently sloping paddocks on top of the headland and an easy glide towards my goal of Bethells Beach.

From here the views were magnificent. To the east the Waitakere River snaked its way through the expanse of Te Henga Wetland, the largest remaining wetland in the Auckland region. To the southeast I had great views of Lake Wainamu, a popular location for a host of films and TV shows, and the enormous kilometre-wide sand dune that has almost completely blocked the outflow from this catchment and created the lake as a result.

Also nestled high in the neighbouring hills was the heart-shaped Lake Kawaupaka overlooking the sleepy beach community of Bethells Beach, while far to the south I could see the black sand of Whatipu curving around to the mouth of the Manukau Harbour.

Flying over O’Neills it was clear that

Heading back to the cliffs

Steve Dwyer & Mark Alton shooting through below me Looking west over Te Henga Wetland and the massive sand dune in front of Lake Wainamu

the gap in the hills to the south, where the Waitakere River flows into the sea at Bethells Beach, was going to be too far to glide without bombing out.

Although Bethells is only 6km from Muriwai as the paraglider flies, the lack of a direct coastal road meant that the consequences of landing there would have likely meant an ambitious hitch-hike of several hours

back to my starting point, which I was pretty keen to avoid.

Having got to that point I was pretty happy to soak in the scenery before heading back the way I had come, but in my eagerness to eke out a little more distance I decided to soar a shallow bowl directly behind a semi-detached headland at the northern end of Bethells. Just when

I was thinking, “I’d better watch out for turbulence‚“ the glider suddenly dropped behind me before surging forward. I managed to brake and catch the surge, but not before getting a 30% tuck in the left wingtip. Having that bit of excitement encouraged me not to hang around the area so I banked the glider up and headed back north.

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19

This is what happens when you fly downwind of large terrain features!

The fun wasn’t quite over, as approaching the headland from the southern side I found myself pushing into wind and slowly going down.

The prospect of landing in the lee at O’Neill Bay wasn’t too appealing, so I applied half-bar and watched anxiously as I crept slowly back towards the downwind ridge line of the headland. Fortunately I managed to arrive high enough to slide back into the lift band and soar up and

Looking south with Bethells Beach in the foreground and Whatipu in the far distance over the top of the headland it to fly back north. As I headed back along the cliffs towards Muriwai I was joined

by Mark Alton and Steve Dwyer, who’d taken off from North Piha on their hang gliders and were making the most of the conditions to race fast and low up the coast.

Arriving back high over the Maori

Bay cliffs I took the opportunity to throw some wingovers in celebration before coming in to land back where I’d started. Finally the conditions had lined up for the flight that I’d been thinking about for years and I felt a flush of satisfaction at having finally accomplished it.

Although it was nowhere near

the longest or most technical flight I’ve ever done, the fact that I’d managed to explore new territory and stunning scenery from one of my favourite sites on a perfect summer afternoon made it all the more special. Sometimes it’s the small adventures that are the most memorable!

Dolomites in Danger T

he Dolomites area is again at risk of being closed to free flight. We keep having serious problems in the Dolomites (expecially in Canazei – Col Rodella – Pordoi – Marmolada).

The search and rescue helicopter service in the Dolomites area (Canazei, Col Rodella, Pordoi, Marmolada) is still struggling when hundreds of pilots, from all over Europe, keep flying during rescue operations not allowing the helicopter to properly operate to help fellow free flight pilots that need assistance.

The situation is so bad that the authorities will close the area if we can’t manage to solve this problem.

In order to keep everybody safe and in order to keep open to free flight one of the most beautiful flight areas in the world, all pilots flying in the Dolomites area are requested to: 1) Take note: the official phone number in Italy for the rescue service is 118.

2) Starting from this year, we start experimenting with a radio channel reserved to flight safety.

Keep a radio always listening on the safety radio channel that we call “8-16” which is PMR channel 8 with CTSS subtone 16. For the most technical pilots the frequency is 446,09375 Mhz + subtone 114,8 Hz This radio channel will be used to provide instructions during rescue operations and for any other

20 A i r b o r n

Photo; Ant Green

safety-related communication.

Keep the channel free, don’t use it for non-safety communications.

PMR radios are cheap and light. Getting a second radio just for this safety channel is a good choice: it will be your cheapest piece of safety equipment. Communication during emergencies is very important.

3) When you see the helicopter (red or yellow) fly at least 2km away from the rescue area.

4) Tell also to your friends, on your usual radio channel, to move 2km away from the rescue area.

5) If there is no other way to communicate with them, use the “ears” with the paraglider as a way to communicate that they also have to leave the area.

6) Don’t stay in front of the helicopter when it’s hovering. Even when you think that the helicopter has reached it’s operation place and that it’s safe to keep flying, the helicopter is probably waiting

for free flight pilots (including yourself) to move away in order to proceed to the rescue area.

7) Every pilot flying in the Dolomites area must have a red and a green smoke bomb. They can be found at the Col Rodella cablecar. If you have an accident and need medical help use the red smoke bomb. If you have an accident and don’t need medical assistance use the green smoke bomb and fold the wing.

- Rodolfo Saccani Commissione Sicurezza FIVL

O R C A & S V I S URSE O C

SS E E S S R R U U O O C C TT LLLL R R A A O O , , PP S D S D N N N N A A A A R R M T T E R D R E E T R T P A P L O O U C I P L E O P H E O D T DUE W INCLU NO

Location Lake Wanaka NZ

Lake Wanaka NZ

SIV Dates Dates November 20th-24th

November 20th-24th January January 22nd-26th 22nd-26th February February 19th-23rd 19th-23rd March March 18th-22nd 18th-22nd

Contact: Contact: Craig Craig Taylor Taylor Email: info@freeflyparagliding.com Email: info@freeflyparagliding.com Web: Web: www.freeflyparagliding.com www.freeflyparagliding.com Mobile: Mobile: +64(0)21 +64(0)21 942 942 533 533

Learn to Fly

PCC Write up Records, Records, Records!

Looks like an amazing paragliding season is already under way, particularly on the mainland where records are dropping left, right and centre. You can find details of the current records on the NZHGPA website, but here is a summary of some of them: • Nick Neynens has destroyed the national Open Distance paragliding record with a 235.8km flight from Sugarloaf to well north of Mount Cook.

• Visiting pilot Belgian pilot, Laurent Faniel, has broken the national Tandem Open Distance record, flying 88.4km from Treble Cone which replaces the previous 77.4km flight from Blowhard by Stew Karstens.

• Bryan Moore’s enormous 147.7km flight (from Cardrona) through some very remote country is now the national record for an FAI Triangle.

• Bryan also broke two site records for the (abruptly popular) Cardrona site with a 108.7km out-and-return flight which also earned him a 55km open distance record.

• Evan Lamberton has broken two site records in the North Island, a 67.2km open distance record from Moirs Hill and a 64.1km out-and-return flight from Kaimais. The latter flight being remarkable not least for the fact that he did it (unknowingly at the time) with a broken wrist that he had fractured moments earlier during a daring top landing.

• Polish pilot Kinga Masztalerz has exploded on the national scene and broken the women’s open distance record that was previously held by Antje Daehler. Kinga’s 83.4km flight prompted the following quote from the PCC master of records, Tim Percival: “Notably a flight where Kinga has really disregarded IFR rules (I follow roads), like some other recent record-setting pilots, and has been well rewarded”. Kinga has also been noted for her rock-climbing and pond boating skills.

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

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 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

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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

Map showing Bryan Moore’s enormous FAI triangle flight Competitions The Auckland Regional Paragliding Competition was cancelled for both dates due to inclement weather, but the Southern Club managed a task in early December which was won by our national champion; Grant Middendorf.

Eight pilots in total made it in to goal at the end of the 41.59km task.

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

Photos: Neil Brown, Ross Gray

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

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

Grant’s tracklog from the Southern Comp, in blue, as he followed the northern route over the lake. The purple track belongs to Derek Divers, who took the south route back over Mt Roy. The National Ladder has been updated with those results, and is published opposite. By the time you read this we will probably have had both the big PG Open rounds in Manilla and Nelson, so see the NZHGPA website for the latest and greatest ladder if that’s the case.

Leonardo and XContest The PCC is working on a project to replace the existing Leonardo system as the platform for the national Cross Country Championship. Leonardo has served us very well for many years thanks to an initiative by Eva Keim at Wings & Waves… however we a trialling a move to an XContest hosted platform. XContest is also widely used around the paragliding world, and offers us the ability to customise the system to meet our needs better and to have more control over the flights that are posted there.

The XContest system, like all new software implementations, still has a few issues that need to be ironed out, so it’s unlikely that we will be able

to switch over directly for the 2016/17 season but we would like to invite all pilots to now give it a go and to post their flights to both Leonardo and XContest going forwards.

Next edition we will have more information about XContest, and some new rules for how the Cross Country Championship will work, but for now we invite you to head to www.xcontest.org/newzealand, make yourself an account and start uploading your flights to help us with the testing… oh, and that includes our hangy cousins too if they like, most welcome, but I doubt they read this bit of the mag.

- Johnny, Tim and Cameron at the PCC (nzhgpapcc@googlegroups.com)

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NZHGPA Discretionary Projects Fund - 27 November 2015 The DPFC is now calling for bids for projects from clubs and committees of the NZHGPA for the 2015/16 year.

Terms of Reference Members of the NZHGPA Discretionary Projects Funding Committee (DPFC) are to be appointed annually by the Executive.

There shall be a minimum of three committee members: one representative of hang gliding, one representative of paragliding, and one Executive member.

The amount of discretionary funds to be allocated will be set annually at the AGM. [For 2015/16 $3000 has been set aside for the fund.]

Applications must be submitted by a committee or sub-committee of the NZHGPA or a NZHGPA club, supported by a minuted motion proposed and seconded at a committee or club meeting by current NZHGPA members.

The DPFC will consider all applications for funds against the criteria (listed below).

The DPFC will assess applications as they are received during the course of the year.

The DPFC may request additional information.

Each funding application will be assessed on its own merits, with no expectation of ongoing funding based on past funding approvals, or commitments to fund aspects of a project into future years. That is: each application should be for a stand-alone project or event.

The DPFC will make a recommendation to the NZHGPA Executive as to how funds could be distributed.

Not all funds available have to be distributed annually.

It is a requirement that clubs receiving funds will report at appropriate intervals on the use of the funds. Reporting requirements will be advised by the DPFC at the time of the funding approval.

Criteria for the NZHGPA Discretionary Projects Fund Financial assistance will be considered for projects that meet some or all of the following criteria or considerations: 1) Helps to develop, protect and promote the sport of hang gliding and/or paragliding.

2) Facilitate the safety, development, long term or ongoing use of a launch site of national importance. (A site of “national importance” would generally be considered to be a site that has been used at least several times for national competitions, or which is used on an ongoing basis for training a significant number of students.) Applications for funding of launch sites need to have a plan demonstrating how future maintenance costs will be covered.

3) Support gliding meetings, competitions, or technical seminars (where there is a demonstrated benefit to the wider membership).

4) Maximises the number of Association members that will benefit as a result of the project.

5) Otherwise supports or fulfils the objectives of the Association.

6) All things considered equal proposals that have a demonstrated contribution of resources (financial or in kind), by the NZHGPA committee or club requesting funds and/or from other sources, will be given stronger weighting.

7) That the requesting NZHGPA committee or club has adequately reported on the outcomes of any earlier grants received.

Relevant objectives from the Association’s Constitution are: (a) Develop, protect and promote the sport of hang gliding and paragliding. (d) Foster harmony between Member Organisations, Pilot Members, Visitor Members, Student Members, Non Flying Members, Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, public and local bodies, flying site owners and the general public. (e) Encourage sharing of knowledge and provide for the benefit of all members and member organisations, advice, education and technical information to advance and promote safe hang gliding and paragliding. (i) Promote gliding meetings, competitions, technical seminars, gliding schools, social events, Booksellers, publications and anything else which may assist these objectives. (j) Foster the technical development of the sport in terms of hardware and flying techniques.

Applications must be submitted by a NZHGPA committee or club, supported by a minuted motion proposed and seconded at a committee/club meeting by current NZHGPA members.

Applications should explain how the relevant criteria listed above are fulfilled by the proposal.

Applications are to be made online using the form at https://docs. google.com/document/d/1CsMD05NaL6DQ4EF8RHOMwztRA3wVYNHB hRQQUJCiWDM/edit Please send an email to dpfc@googlegroups.com with the title of the project and you will then be sent an editable link to complete the application.

- NZHGPA Discretionary Projects Funding Committee;

Grant Firth firth@xtra.co.nz

Derek Divers d.divers@xtra.co.nz

Andy Maloney nzmadvet@yahoo.co.nz

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EVENTS New Zealand Hang Gliding Championship Nelson 2016 13 - 21 February 2016 Registration Entry Fee for Sport and Open Class is $150 after 31 December.

Entry gets you; • A Nelson Nationals T Shirt • Free BBQ Wednesday night • Entry to Prize giving night at the Kohatu Flat Rock Cafe • Prizes 1st, 2nd, 3rd Open Class, 1st Sport Class, Day prizes • Contact Glenn Meadows for registration and payment of entry fee.

Early registration will free up time on Sat 13th February. email gmeadows@xtra.co.nz phone 027 275-1022 Pilots must have at least an intermediate rating to compete in either class. Novice pilots are welcome to attend, meet and fly with other pilots and receive advice from more experienced pilots each day.

Accomodation The Kohatu Flat Rock Cafe (formerly the Kohatu Pub) will have a few rooms available.

Quinney’s Bush Camp have cabins and camping.

Tapawera Settle Motels and Campground (they are offering a group discount - email to say you are part of the HG Nationals when you book) Tapawera Forestry Camp cabins may be available however owner is waiting until later in the year before committing to short term rentals. The owner is Mitch Irvine (03) 522 4208 if you want to call him remember he is a farmer so it is best to get him after work.

Notice from the Tasman Hang Gliding & Paragliding Club: There is Extreme Fire Risk likely in February. All vehicles must carry a Fire Extinguisher of at least 0.9 kg, and a shovel. No smoking at all at launch or landing areas.

More info at http://nzhgnats.blogspot.co.nz/p/nelson-registration.html

Omarama Hang Gliding Classic Cross Country Camp Saturday 30 January to Sunday 7 February 2016

O

n as always during the week of Waitangi Day. Finishing 5 days before the 2016 Nationals so there’s time to do both events.

Last years event saw the site record broken with a 143km flight to the coast at Rangitata Huts. It’s been hotter this summer with great flying so far so let’s see if the record can be broken again.

11,000ft over Killermont looking up the Ahuriri January 2016 Photo: Bill Degen At this time of year, Omarama gets the most flying days with the least turbulence and strong winds so has the most cross supervision and if conditions are suitable. Printed site country flying opportunities. It can be hot, maybe windy briefings are available. and maybe rough (thermals up to 3000 fpm+) but the This is mountain high desert country so essential competition format is stress free. equipment is; a 2.5m rope for securing gliders during Fly the whole week, just the weekends or just fly the dust devils, radio, cellphone, maps, GPS, water, survival best days. It will be spectacular; expect to get 9 or gear (can be over 30°C daytime with frosts at night), 10,000ft and between 20 to over 100km depending on basebar wheels, spare uprights, glider fully checked your skill and luck. You’ll probably beat your Personal and a repacked chute.

Best; height, distance etc, and move up the XC Champs A satellite messenger such as a Spot is recommended table, or maybe fly to Mt Cook! for pickups as cell reception varies. An Emergency Locator The road up Magic Mountain is less stressful at Transmitter may be useful too. Note that airband radio present but still limited to 4WDs with low ratio gearing.

(118.6 Mhz) is mandatory for flying North of Ohau if you To help maintain the road we’ll ask everyone for a small head for Mt Cook. donation. There’s other sites nearby too which are less Bring a brave but careful 4WD driver, and a spade is demanding on vehicles. essential for clearing gravel slips off the road. If you THE MISSION; fly open distance, in any direction from don’t like driving up mountains, bring your aerotow or the Omarama area that you choose. Enter any number car tow set-up. of flights. Take any days off, only your best 3 flights All types of accommodation are available; free camping, get scored. Flights can be entered each evening at the cabins, caravans, motels and luxury hotels. There’s hot Omarama Hotel, the cottage next door or at the camping pools in Omarama for after flying too. area entry boards.

For more information, site briefings, maps etc; contact REQUIRED; Advanced rating with mountain/XC skills.

Bill Degen aero@xtra.co.nz or check www.hgpg.co.nz Pilots with lower skill ratings may fly only if under for updates

Hang Gliding Competition Dates 2015/16

Nelson’s Ready – Are You Ready

NORTH ISLAND Northland League 7 & 8 Nov, Reserve dates, 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 28 & 29 Nov 2015 Contact Tom at tkmechanical@vodafone.co.nz Kaimais League 5th & 6th Dec, Reserve days 12th & 13th Dec 2015 Contact Geoff at Geoff@tradeupjobs.co.nz Wellington League 23-25 Jan 2016 Contact Grant at Tathams@xtra.co.nz Auckland League 27 & 28 Feb Reserve dates 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 19 & 20 March 2016 Contact Mark at markalton@yahoo.com or Les at grahammackie@vodafone.co.nz SOUTH ISLAND Cheeseman League 24th Oct to 26th Oct Max Gebhardt 027 836 4288 Omarama XC Classic Camp 2016 January 30th - February 7th 2016 which gives a few days rest for those going to the Nationals.

Contact Bill Degen for info; aero@xtra.co.nz The Nelson Golden Triangle Nationals 13/2/2016 - 21/2/2016 Sites; Sherry River, Inwoods Lookout, Tapawera, and Mt Murchison Organisers; Glenn Meadows 027 275 1022, Max Gebhardt 027 836 4288

Auckland Regional Paragliding Competition 12, 13 March 2016 Reserve dates on the following weekend 19, 20 March 2016 FAI Cat-2 sanctioned! So get your world ranking points here.

Sites could be Dills Hill, Moirs Hill, or as far as Paeroas.

Saturday night barbecue with domestic fowl spotting excursions.

No entry fee - all qualified NZHGPA paraglider pilots welcome.

WOF, Back protection, UHF Radio, altimeter and reserve parachute mandatory.

All gliders must be certified EN-A, EN-B, EN-C, EN-D or CCC Comp First timers are very welcome, but please make contact in advance.

Contact Johnny on johnnyhopper@gmail.com or on 021 056 2275

HG Nationals Organiser 2017

Game on at Mt Murchison - 2014 Nelson Nationals Photo John Henderson

T

he famous Nelson weather is booked, the grass on launch is cut, the BBQ is stoked and the prizes are waiting to be collected, all we need is a good keen bunch of pilots and Nelson is ready to go fly and have fun at the 2016 National PG Comp - 26 Feb to 5 March 2016.

In preparation for this great event The Tasman Club has been busy, busy, busy clearing sites like Takaka and Havelock on a large scale to double the capacity for launching and laying out of gliders waiting their turn, so that we can get you in the air quicker when it turns it on. Maps will be provided and GPS waypoints can be downloaded in advance of attending pre-registration and can be found on the NZHGPA Competition page under Paragliding waypoint downloads - Nelson.

Who will be the first pilot to get their name engraved on the new PB Trophy and enter the Hall of Fame for flying a personal best during the competition? Sponsored by The Tasman Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club to encourage pilots to fly far and made by Nelson’s renowned artist Mike Ward out of Kinleith Bronze, copper and brass, this is truly a great Trophy to put on the mantel piece for 2016.

Unable to make the whole Comp, then why not consider joining us for a long weekend and join in the fun and still score some points with the Weekend Warrior Package all for a small fee of only $85 from Friday 27th Feb (Compulsory evening Brief 18:00 hrs) to Monday 29th Feb. Even if you are unable to participate in the comp, then we would still love to see you at the evening prize giving dinner at the Honest Lawyer, Monaco, all are welcome for a cost of $32 per head.

Details of how to enter the competition, The Weekend Warrior package or attend the evening dinner can be found on the PG Open Website at www.pgopen.org. nz/home/nelson or talk to Frog on Tel: 021 228-2121 email: frog.t@me.com To help cut costs the Tasman Club has negotiated cheap Ferry crossings and accommodation.

For individual ferry bookings go to the Interislander website and enter discount code: FA5655. Current NZHGPA Licence must be shown at check in or retail fares will be charged; www.interislander.co.nz/Booking/Group-Bookings.aspx The Tahuna Beach Holiday camp is base HQ offering a whole range of accommodation options from tenting, cabins or motel rooms and is offering stay 8 nights get one night free, go to website under the heading Special Offers NZ Paragliding Open and enter Promo code: PG Open you will be asked for your NZHGPA Licence on check in; http://tahunabeachholidaypark.co.nz/special-offers/ The Tasman Club looks forward to catching up with you all and having some great flights.

Up for grabs - The New Personal Best Trophy

We are looking for someone who is interested to run the 2017 HG Nationals in the North Island.

For the last two years it has been in the South Island. Time to bring it back North and hopefully some South Island pilots with it. Please contact the HG Comp committee to voice your interest. - HG Comp Committee

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’.

Tim Brown in action at Takaka Hill Photo John Henderson

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

April 1st 2015 to March 31st 2016 2015/2016 XC Scores on Leonardo as at 20/1/2016 Best 3 flights

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Total 950.83 830.51 767.71 630.98 432.87 362.64 335.2 312.83 311.75 302.19 295.89 273.85 273.12 262.73 262.56 262.08 259.83 255.95 246.65 244.75 244.27 221.87 221.14 215.72 209.37 208.05 206.14 205.16 204.49 187.49 182.79 180.61 180.36 168 160.97 158.78 158.2 152.56 142.59 141.26 136.44 136.17 135.7 134.59 133.08 131 123.03 120.05 114.38 112.69 111.29 110.13 106.97 105.86 105.31 102.91 99.82 94.87 93.85 85.45 79.5

flight 1 385.61 296.21 274.63 238.43 179.75 194.95 203.14 125.62 145.92 158.21 112.72 100.63 113.03 107.18 124.95 103.98 94.82 92.39 115.06 86.43 112.44 86.81 105.24 96.62 80.96 116.72 72.22 73.51 77.73 87.28 84.29 68.27 94.63 103.44 83.65 59.84 88.2 61.83 78.85 141.26 81.91 81.59 76.97 54.73 59.54 63.39 52.48 63.13 52.54 87.78 62.61 110.13 42.27 44.79 36.47 58.47 94.72 34.03 33.45 45.63 40.77

flight 2 330.79 274.68 257.03 220.66 137.25 87.36 80.08 102.44 87.49 85.98 105.53 94.45 95.12 80.34 97.03 79.59 93.28 85.14 67.22 84.45 98.74 71.71 59.34 59.95 76.03 57.84 69.25 70.39 69.52 58.87 72.06 61.7 50.3 47.43 39.26 56.99 70 52.24 34.1 - 30.66 28.41 30.82 42.12 43.54 41.91 39.28 28.56 33.89 24.91 48.68 - 34.34 41.52 35.67 24.19 5.11 33.74 32.88 24.39 22.3

flight 3 234.44 259.62 236.05 171.89 115.86 80.33 51.98 84.77 78.33 58 77.65 78.77 64.96 75.21 40.58 78.52 71.74 78.42 64.36 73.86 33.09 63.35 56.57 59.14 52.38 33.49 64.67 61.26 57.24 41.35 26.44 50.64 35.43 17.13 38.06 41.95 38.49 29.64 23.88 26.17 27.91 37.74 30 25.7 31.27 28.37 27.94 30.36 19.55 33.17 20.25 27.1 27.52 15.43 16.43

31.79 21.77 21.58 40.76 29.06 41.07 20.49 30.9 30.48 40.94 20.44 25.36 17.35 16.96 29.91 14.94 13.34 25.2 20.38 10.52 19.79 19.11 16.51 21.89 13.41 6.42 41.38 - 13.51 12.75 12.6 28.95 - 15.09 12.44 26.99 - 26.27 - 26.16 - 13.47 11.34 21.14 - 19.34 - 5.89 5.89 5.07 16.71 - 16.69 - 5.93 5.76 4.19 15.76 - 10.57 - 5.38 3.84 4.61 4.16 8.48 - 8.19 - 4.41 - -

PARAGLIDING XC CHAMPIONSHIP RULES 2015 SECTION 6.CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP Each flying year a National paragliding cross country championship may be run.

An organiser of this championship (XC Champs organiser) may be appointed by the PCC in April of each year. This appointment shall automatically continue in the following years, until he/she is notified otherwise by the PCC, or he/she informs the PCC of their intention to stand down. If no XC Champs organiser is appointed the competition shall be administered by a member of the PCC. The flying year shall run from 1 April to 31 March the following calendar year.

6.1 Cross Country Championship Format A pilot’s Cross Country Championship score shall be the total of the score from their three highest scoring flights in one flying year.

Flights shall be scored in one of the following categories with points allocated as defined on the xc competition web site: www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo 1. Free Flight. (distance X 1.5) 2. Free triangle. (distance X 1.75) 3. FAI Triangle. (distance X 2.0) The definitions of these types of flight shall be the same as the definitions specified for records in section 6.6

6.1.1 XC Rover An XC Rover table may be part of the XC Championships at the discretion of the XC Comp organiser.

Flights for the XC Rover table must originate from sites more than 50km apart. Only one flight is scored per site to count towards a pilot’s total score.

A pilot’s XC Rover score shall be the total of up to 5 flights in one flying year.

A pilot must have a minimum of 3 XC Rover flights before scoring on this table.

6.1.2 Sub Classes At the discretion of the XC Champs organiser, sub classes may be collated and shown as part of the XC Championships. These may include: - Open - Male - Female - Tandem Class - North Island - South Island - Rookie - Open distance 6.3 Flight Submission and Minimum Documentation Flight submissions are to be uploaded to the XC website (www.paraglidingforum.com/ continued next page

For detailed PG XC Champs flight information, see the 2015 PG XC Champs Table at Leonardo (Leonardo season name: “2015”) www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/league/world/ season2015/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). These are preliminary results dependent on checks for eligibility and legality.

Photo: Ross Gray

Pos Pilot 1 Nick Neynens 2 Bryan Moore 3 Mr Yaker 4 Pete Groves 5 Gert van Maren 6 Glen Stevens 7 Kinga Masztalerz 8 Mark Hardman 9 Martin Kraemer 10 Jean Brossard 11 Evan Lamberton 12 Michal Karnik 13 Eva Keim 14 Mal Haskins 15 Dylan Vickerman 16 Ian Douglass 17 Bruce Vickerman 18 Doug Patterson 19 Shaun Gilbert 20 Rob Gillard 21 Aaron Ford 22 Nick Taber 23 Joe Ward 24 Kat West 25 Emlyn Revell-Nash 26 Jeff Ripley 27 Tim Brown 28 Tim Heather 29 Helen Jeffery 30 Rob Boyle 31 Roy Tingay 32 Rhys Akers 33 Russell Manning 34 Scott Arrell 35 Derek Divers 36 Matt Stanford 37 Stefano Gigli 38 Luke Goleman 39 Elliot Revell-Nash 40 Brendon Sinclair 41 Alexander Ianovski 42 Rory Devine 43 Mick Kennish 44 Guillaume Mora 45 Stephen Gullick 46 Kapua Turanga 47 Leighton Joll 48 Keith Clapson 49 Kyla MacDonald 50 Rodger Kerr 51 Reuben John Muir 52 John Smith 53 Gareth Gore 54 Mike Ferguson 55 Mark Macdonald 56 Mark Curtis 57 George Stead 58 Andrew Cavaney 59 Dave Washer 60 Mark Sedon 61 Johnny Hopper

62 Dominique Washer-Le Sellin 75.13 63 Sheralee MacDonald 69.82 64 Cam Kennedy 61.55 65 Wayne Rohrs 61.38 66 Joel Hanlon 61.37 67 Kat Cerna 59.67 68 Peter Jones 58.18 69 Paul McGinley 56.1 70 Felipe Esturillo 55.4 71 Simon Corbett 41.73 72 Greg Benjamin 41.38 73 Glenn Doggit 38.86 74 Craig Miller 28.95 75 Dave Livesey 27.53 76 Lloyd Greenfield 26.99 77 Simon Craddock 26.27 78 Matt Harrison 26.16 79 Alexey Kryssov 24.81 80 Nick Stead 21.14 81 Sam Elkink 19.34 82 Fred Timmermans 16.84 83 Riaan Lambrechts 16.71 84 Graham Surrey 16.69 85 Stefan Sebregts 15.88 86 Peter Taylor 15.76 87 Brendan Clark 10.57 88 Olly Barrett 9.22 89 Andrew Smith 8.76 90 Cliff Swailes 8.48 91 Andrew Edgar 8.19 92 Chris Connolly 4.41

leonardo) within 30 days of the flight, except that all March flights must be submitted

by April 5.

Refer to the website for details. The competition website will be notified at the start of each competition season.

6.3.1 Basic Details for All Flights.

All submissions are to include: - the name of the pilot, - flight date, - take off site, - GPS track log.

To submit a GPS tracklog, the pilot shall upload a suitable format file to the nominated website.

6.3.2 Flights scoring 75 points and over, or flights claiming a “Record”.

All flights scoring 75 points and over, and those claiming a “Record”, shall be verified with a 3D GPS track log. i.e. includes valid height data in the log.

Refer to Section 2.6 for GPS track log validation criteria.

A “record” claim is for either a site record or a national record. If this flight is under 75 points and GPS verification is unavailable it may still be submitted to the XC Champs but it will not be awarded “record” status.

6.3.3 Flights scoring under 75 points.

Flights under 75 points may submit a 2D tracklog 6.4 Scoring Unless determined otherwise by the XC Comp organiser and published on the NZHGPA competitions page before the start of the next season the points allocated to each flight shall be as defined in the rules of the nominated website.

6.5 Challenging a flight.

Any flight may be challenged by the XC champs organiser or by any pilot competing in the XC champs. If a flight is challenged, initially the XC champs organiser or a PCC appointed scrutineer shall obtain and scrutinise the flight documentation.

If the challenging pilot or the challenged pilot is not satisfied with this outcome, a jury will be appointed by the PCC. The jury’s decision will be final.

6.5.4 Validation of Flight The flight is valid providing that: - the flight was flown in New Zealand, - at least 2/3 of the distance was flown inland (thermal flying rather than coastal soaring), - the pilot has at least PG2 rating or foreign equivalent, - the flight complies with NZ Civil Aviation Authority regulations for paraglider flight.

- The appropriate level of evidence is provide to the XC champs organiser (see 6.3) - The flight has not been challenged under 6.5 By entering a flight into the Cross Country Championships, the pilot confirms that these conditions have been met.

Foreign pilots may enter the competition providing that they have taken out temporary NZHGPA membership.

Note that the title of NZ XC Champion will go to the best placed NZ resident pilot.

6.6 Cross Country Records New Zealand XC records may be claimed by submitting the 3D GPS track log or IGC file to the XC competition organiser. These files will be examined and scored separately from the annual online XC competition.

6.6.1 Categories For all task types; start, end and turn points do not have to be specified before the start of the flight. The start and end points of a flight submission do not have to be the flight’s take-off and landing points, e.g. a flight’s first turn point may be used as the start point, and

similarly, the flight’s last turn point may be used as the end point.

XC records will be kept in 7 categories; 1. Cross Country Distance (XC): The total distance over three turn points. So: - Start to turn point 1 - Turn point 1 to turn point 2 - Turn point 2 to turn point 3 - Turn point 3 to Finish 2. Open Distance (OD): Straight line distance from start point to finish point. In other words, the distance between the two furthest apart points on the tracklog.

3. Out and Back (OB): Straight line distance from start point to any turn point, then back to the start point.

4. FAI Triangle (TR): The definition of an FAI triangle shall match the FAI definition at the time of the flight.

5. Declared Goal: Open distance from start point to a goal declared in writing to a witness before launch.

6. Female: Open distance flown by a female pilot.

7. Tandem: Open distance flown on a certified tandem glider with a passenger.

6.6.2 Mis-close of OB & TR flights An OB or TR flight may have a “mis-close” of up to 2% of the flight distance (or 400m for flights <20km). If the pilot returns to within that “mis-close” distance from their start point at the end of their flight then they shall be deemed to have achieved the OB or TR flight.

Diagrammatic examples of Open and Distance and XC Distance flight measurements:

6.6.3 Site Records Separate records for each recognised inland site may be claimed in each of the above categories.

6.6.4 In order to break an existing distance record, for the purpose of these regulations, the new distance must be at least 1% longer than the previous record if the flight is under 100km, or at least 1km longer than the previous record if the flight is over 100km

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.

N Z H G P A BOOKROOM THE ART OF PARAGLIDING

by Dennis Pagen. Instruction manual for beginner to intermediates. Large format 374 pages $80 HANG GLIDING TRAINING MANUAL by Dennis Pagen.

Ultimate guide to Beginner to Advanced hang gliding flying skills $80 PERFORMANCE FLYING by Dennis Pagen. Hang gliding for intermediate to advanced flying skills, includes competition, cross country, towing $80 UNDERSTANDING THE SKY by Dennis Pagen. Sport aviation weather and micrometeorology for hang glider, paraglider and microlight pilots. $60 PARAGLIDING, BEGINNER TO CROSS COUNTRY by Sollom Cook. From basic techniques to competition flying $60 A PILOTS TRAINING MANUAL (PG) Includes zone free, 80 minute DVD with 9 chapters including; forward inflation, reverse inflation, manoeuvres, soaring, flying thermals to landing methods.

Only $65!

NZ HANG GLIDING TRAINING HANDBOOK Essential Beginner/ Novice instruction information for NZ hang gliding students learning to fly. $15 NZHGPA HANG GLIDING TOW MANUAL All aspects of towing with clear photographs and step by step instruction $15 NZHGPA AEROTOW MANUAL In depth detail of aerotow procedure as authorised by MAANZ and NZHGPA $15 NZHGPA PARAGLIDING TOW MANUAL This manual outlines requirements and procedures for towing $15

NZHGPA LOGBOOK With rating record $15

NZHGPA MOVIE LIBRARY FLYING OVER EVEREST, DVD, Angelo D’Arrigo and the story of his flight over Mt Everest.

PLAY GRAVITY, DVD, Extreme paragliding, snowboarding, BASE jumping, freeriding and speedflying in the most awesome settings.

EAST WIND, DVD, German pilots fly hybrid recliner bike/ paramotors 1632 kms across eastern Europe; Hanover to the Black Sea. DYNAMIC DECISIONS, DVD, Shows how different DHV paragliders react when flying the most dangerous manoeuvres.

THE RACE, DVD, A race between climber and pilot in the Italian Dolomites. Winner of 4 world film contests.

Paragliding Learn to Fly, DVD Tutorial for PG Performance Flying, DVD by Jocky Sanderson Never Ending Thermal Pura Vida Flying Security in Flight & The Speed to Fly Birdmen of Kilimanjaro The Red Bull X Alps Managing Risk in Aviation CAA Red Bull X-Alps 2005 Check the NZHGPA web site for the latest special offers In order to cover the high cost of importing HG and PG DVDs, cost of hire and postage is $10 for 10 day loans Postage and GST is included in price.

Please send your order with payment to;

BOOKROOM

NZHGPA

PARAGLIDING XC CHAMPIONSHIP RULES continued

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

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January 1st to December 31st

T

he 2015 Hang Gliding XC Champs is over with a new NZ record and John Smith firmly in the lead with the highest total of any NZ XC Champs. These results are subject to any that haven’t been lodged within the 30 days but top positions are unlikely to change.

With Spring and early Summer bringing lots of wind and rain, and memories of a past El Ninos, not much happened till summer when John had 2 big flights from Coronet Peak, first to near Tekapo and then past Tekapo to Lilybank for a NZ record.

In the last week of 2015, Geoff Christophers and Neil Howe got good Kaimai flights and I managed one from Magic.

Mark Nichol’s 38km flight from Cheeseman to Arthurs Pass, then to the Torlesse Range and back to Castle Hill was actually a remarkable out and return of 52kms over 3 mountain ranges. Gary Turner flying a Sting 175 has the top kingposted glider score.

The 2016 XC Champs are now on. The way to get those big cross country flights is to keep trying so you are flying fit when that good day comes up. You just need to be flying 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.

Only one person can be at the top of the table but if you are improving your ability or your own total, you are winning too.

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

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2015 Cross-Country Championships Table

Name Flight 1 Flight 2 Flight 3 Flight 4 Total kms 1 John Smith 202.5 166.5 161.8 56.4 587.2 2 Bill Degen 142.9 102.2 69.9 64.0

378.9

3 Geoff Christophers 108.7 100.9 75.4 72.3

357.3

4 Neil Howe 89.1 60.0 58.1 57.0 264.1 5 Cris Lawry 81.4 63.5 58.6 35.3 238.8 6 Rick Hawkeswood 74.2 51.2 31.7 157.1 7 Mark Nichols ** 48.3 38.0 31.6 25.9 143.9 8 Gary Turner 56.1 46.4 28.6 10.6 141.7 9 Leslie Graham 36.8 36.0 35.7 27.3 135.7 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

2.4

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

28.6

2016 Cross-Country Championships Table so far...

Name Flight 1 Flight 2 Flight 3 Flight 4 Total kms 1 Bill Degen 93.4 77.2 170.5 2 Rick Hawkeswood 61.5 61.5 3 Neil Howe 61.0 61.0 4 Mark Alton 54.5 54.5 5 Gary Turner 48.8 48.8 ** Class 2 (rigid wing), * Skyfloater

still enter the NZ HG XC Champs without one, you’ll just need to give take-off and landing witnesses.

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 & 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.

Note: If you don’t follow the rules by providing 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.

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 and 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

Forbes Flatlands Gliding Champs 2016

W

hat started out looking like it was going to be the worst Forbes comp ever turned out to be one of the best! I think we’ll be talking about this one for a long time to come!

Our 10th consecutive Forbes Flatlands competition. 62 pilots from 13 countries and 22 crew from all over. 42453.1 kms were flown by all pilots (with a grand total of 712,394.92 km by all pilots from 1999 - 2016). All together in one place, for 10 days, doing what we love, having fun, seeing old friends, making new friends and making the most of this amazing sport.

We set 6 Tasks totalling over 1000 kms with the leaders averaging 160 km per day, that’s close to 100 miles per day!

The consistent flying at Forbes is why we come back year after year.

Conditions turned on for task 4 to allow us to set the longest task ever in a hang gliding competition. 368 km from Forbes to Walgett.

A massive 26 pilots made the task, that’s 41% of the field! It was a personal best flight for all at goal except for Jonny Durand, Len Paton and Guy Hubbard.

And a World Record Declared Goal flight for the only female pilot to make goal, the current World Champion Yoko Isomoto.

Hang

By Vicki Cain Photos by Michael Zupanc, Peak Pictures Top 10 Open Class 1 Jonny Durand 2 Michael Jackson 3 Jason Kath 4 Glen McFarlane 5 Len Paton 6 Josh Woods 7 Lukas Bader 8 Fredy Bircher 9 Gavin Myers 10 Olav Opsanger 29 Simon Braithwaite

Australia Australia Australia Australia Australia Australia Germany Switzerland Australia Norway NZ

Moyes RX 3.5 Moyes LSS 5 Wills Wing T2C 144 Wills Wing T2C 144 Moyes RS 4 Moyes RX 3.5 Moyes RS 4 Moyes RX 3.5 Moyes RX 5 Moyes RX 3.5 Moyes RX 3.5

Womens Class 1 Alexandra Serebrennikova Russia Moyes RX 3 Sport Class 1 Noel Bear Australia Moyes Gecko 155 Forbes A Grade Award 1 Josh Woods Australia Moyes RX 3.5 Forbes Council Encouragement Award Howard Jones Australia Moyes RX 3.5

Above; Olav Opsanger in action

A most deserved win with a dominant performance, and his 6th Forbes Flatlands title went to Jonny Durand.

The comp ended with an awesome feed and presentation night hosted

by Janine, Amy, Alice and Steve at their home by the river.

And the Forbes mantra rings true “How Good is Forbes!”

Dragonflys at work Gerolf Heinrichs 1st into goal on task 5 Jonny on tow

Right; Goal getters from the World’s longest competition task!

Yoko Isomoto

Forbes 2016 it’s on!

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■ 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 ■

PARAGLIDERS ADVANCE Paragliders by Infinity Paragliding. Check out the new Advance Iota - high performance EN-B, the Epsilon 7 - mid range EN-B and the Lightweight PI mountain glider @ 2.45kg! 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 OZONE Paragliders - fly-ozone.com - exclusively by SkyWings - Awesome new models - Swift 4, Rush 4, Roadster 2, Viper 3, the amazing Zero miniwing - and the new Rapido www.skywings.co.nz - 25 years bringing you the best wings - email alan@skywings.co.nz NOVA Paragliders - nova-wings.com - exclusively by SkyWings - 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

ACCESSORIES HELMETS, No Limit, Insider, Loop, Breeze (adjustable) and PlusMax. Range of colours & sizes, No Limit visor option, PlusMax chinguard option, phone 021 247 2676 email aero@xtra.co.nz

MOTOR PARAGLIDING PARAMOTORING – Miniplane and PAP motors - contact SkyWings for courses and equipment - www.skywings.co.nz or phone Alan 09 570 5757

LOST & FOUND ZUNZUN 19m2 paraglider; green with a trim system. The bag is small and grey. My harness is a Karpo Fly red in small size. Contact claire. agnes99@yahoo.com 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

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 and swivel. $650 Phone 03 577 8886 or email john.urlich@nzdf.mil.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 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 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.

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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INSTRUCTION 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 CORONET Peak Tandems Ltd, Queenstown, are looking for tandem hang gliding and paragliding pilots. Call 021 220 5932

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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A4 size issues $4.- each

Feb/Mar/Apr May/Jun/Jul Aug/Sep/Oct Nov/Dec/Jan 2015 issue numbers 193 194 195 196 2014 issue numbers 189 190 191 192 2013 issue numbers 185 186 187 188 2012 issue numbers - - 183 184 2011 issue numbers 179 180 181 182 2010 issue numbers 175 176 177 178 2009 issue numbers 171 172 173 174

Feb/Mar Apr/May Jun/Jul Aug/Sep Oct/Nov Dec/Jan 2008 issue numbers 165 166 167 168 169 170 2007 issue numbers 159 - 161 162 163 164 2006 issue numbers 153 - 155 156 - 158 2005 issue numbers 147 148 149 150 151 152 2004 issue numbers 141 142 143 144 145 2003 issue numbers 135 - 137 138 139 140 2002 issue numbers 129 130 131 132 133 134 2001 issue numbers 123 124 125 126 127 128 2000 issue numbers 117 118 119 120 121 122 1999 issue numbers - - 113 - - 1998 issue numbers 105 106 107 108 109 110 1997 issue numbers 99 100 101 - 103 104 1996 issue numbers 93 94 95 96 97 98 1995 issue numbers - - - - - 1994 issue numbers 81 82 83 84 85 86 1993 issue numbers - 76 - 78 79 80 1992 issue numbers 69 70 71 72 73 74 A5 Issues below $1.- each (Prior to issue 69 all are the smaller A5 format) 1991 issue numbers 63 64 65 66 67 68 1990 issue numbers - 58 59 60 61 62 1989 issue numbers 51 52 53 - 55 56 1988 issue numbers 45 46 - - 49 50

For BACK ISSUES; send your order with payment to; Airborn Back Issues, 99A Panorama Road, Christchurch 8081, NZ

- Sorry issues marked with this symbol are no longer available

HANG GLIDERS WILLS Wing T2 144, Hydranet (spectra) sail, well maintained and tuned wing with many comp and XC wins including 2nd at 2015 Nationals and the Magic Mountain XC distance record. Has all the performance options but tuned to handle and lands extremely well. Full strip check.

Contact Bill 03 326 6411 or aero@xtra.co.nz 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. Dennis, 021 430 436, 06 752 7618 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.

STING 2 XC 175, As new under 50 hours airtime and well looked after.

Selling on behalf. Suit experienced Novice or above with hook in weight of 80-135kgs or to use with a motor harness. 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. Contact Bill at aero@xtra.co.nz or 021 247 2676.

C2 Lite 14. Recent work, New wires & strip check (receipts available).

Approx 120 hours. Phone Adrian 027 247 2436 or 03 326 5689 adrian. brown@lincoln.ac.nz 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

RESERVE PARACHUTES RANGE of reserve parachutes for hang gliding and paragliding. Bridles, Front containers, Maillons, Swivels, Hook knives etc, in stock at HG & PG Supplies, Phone 021 247 2676 or email aero@xtra.co.nz

How to Get a Stolen Wing Back

By Grey Hamilton

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he good news is I got my the police database did stolen wing back after nearly not connect the wing two years. You may have seen handed in with my report, it advertised in the Stolen Gear which had everything classified section in this magazine. including colours, size, It is still in pretty good shape and make, model and serial has passed a WOF and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been number. flying it. How did I get it back you So a couple of things might ask? to consider. The police Well thanks to some very observant database may work on friends from all over NZ it was spotted recognising key words. I on the Trade Me online auction site would suggest if your wing advertised as a parachute, albeit a does get stolen that you pretty weird looking parachute to use as many key words any one who knows anything about to describe your wing as paragliders. possible like wing, chute, So after being spotted on Trade Me parachute, skydiving wing, I rang up the police from overseas paraglider, parapente, with my case file and number and my flying nappy, jellyfish...

Above; My wing online story was recorded, well I think it was the list can go on. Also I recorded. Nothing much happened for a while. sort of gave up on getting it back. Maybe I should Several of my friends rang the seller and organised have been more proactive and continued visiting to see it in person but my friends Paul and Linda the police station on a were totally onto things. They contacted a friend regular basis in the hope in the police force who eventually got the wing of recovery. back after visiting to confirm it was indeed mine.

BTW... Claire Agnes, a After some time, fortunately before the auction visiting pilot from France closed, I got it back had all her paragliding Now the bad news. The wing was actually (sort kit stolen from her car of) handed into the police in 2014 and it went into in Christchurch before storage for 12 months at the same police station Christmas. Photo at that I had reported it missing to. left and details are in It stayed in storage and was eventually returned the classifieds on the to the Trade Me seller last October. Unbelievably previous page.

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USHPA Moves into Self Insurance

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ollowing a 35% increase in insurance premium and notification that schools and instructors would no longer be covered, the USHPA has decided that self insurance is the only viable option and begun to form an entity called a Risk Retention Group.

Insurance is essential for access to a huge number of sites and over the long term the scheme could save USHPA members money as long as accidents and claim payments donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t increase.

They need $2m in capital as an asset base by March 2016 and are on their way to raising that.

USHPA Magazine will become bi-monthly, USHPA assets such as their building will be sold and membership fees will be increased by 50%. 1988 people have made donations and one has even pledged the final $100,000. Many pilots abroad come to fly in the US and USHPA could use help from those who have or one day hope to fly their sites.

Donors are being thanked with special t-shirts and jackets. Go to http://freeflightforever.org for more information or to make a donation.

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http://www.flytec.ch/en/devices/paraglider-hang-glider/connect-1/overview.html

www.flytec.ch

Picture: Tobias Dimmler, tobiasdimmler.com

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www.flyozone.com www.nova-wings.com

www.skywings.co.nz

EN B .5 glide better than the class leading Mentor 3, so glide ratio around 10.5 - Better handling and improved safety - almost no one needs more - this glides very close to Mantra 6 but with vastly more safety and ease- EN B This is the new performance reference for high B gliders

EN C

INDEPENDENT REVIEW GERMAN THERMIC MAGAZINE JULY 2013 “In Summary: The Delta 2 is a force to be reckoned with! It launches superbly, and turns when you move your finger in the direction you want the wing to go.

This glider is sensationally solid, glides very well, is easy to accelerate,and it delivers pure pleasure and happiness to the pilot.

Although the Shark Nose profile and dynamic nature might make it look and feel at first glance a bit agressive, in the end this is not true. In any case, anyone who flies regularly will not experience any bad surprises.

Except that the permanent smile induced by the D2 can only be removed by surgery.This is truly a wing designed how wings should be.

Amen”

Nova Ion 3 - EN B Once again, Nova bring the most performance you can get to a School safe glider. And also the most dynamic handling you can have in a first glider.

low EN B

20 years motoring & teaching Our level of experience means everything when you learn to motor www.papteam.com www.miniplane.net

Harnesses Exclusive importers of Sup’Air and Ozone harnesses like the Ozone Ozium - 2.5kgs

www.flyozone.com Miniplane - under 20kgs NZ’s most popular motor

Mini Wings

Twice the fun, twice the flying, half the price! Perfect your ground handling skills.

Huge fun for soaring and strong day thermalling. We are the specialists with 20 years on the smallest wings.

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As much performance and handling as you can get in a first glider.

The perfect beginner intermediate glider.

PARAMOTORING SPECIALISTS

- Shark Nose Technology - Glides .1 better than Mantra 4 - (10.3) - Replacable Rods - C Riser control system - Improved agility and compactness - New advanced arc and profile - Clear EN C leader

Ph: 09 570 5757 Cell: 0274 98 2345 email: alan@skywings.co.nz

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