NZHGPA Airborn #201

Issue 201; February, March, April 2017

Competitions Paragliding Distance Record Forbes Hang Gliding Tow Meet 7.50 Including GST

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9 771170 992006

HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING

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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

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.

MANAWATU H.G.P.C. C/- Andrew Brownlie 11 Hollows Crescent Takaro Palmerston North 4412 Email: flyer.rosscoe@gmail.com Pres, Airsp: Ricky Winduss (Wanganui) .......................... 06 345 7659, or 027 447 4117 Sec/Treas, HGSO: Ross Gray......021 126 0892 PGSO: Andrew Brownlie ...........027 444 8911

AUCKLAND H.G.P.C. PO Box 47813 Ponsonby, Auckland 1144 Email: info@cloudbase.org.nz www.cloudbase.org.nz Pres: Stefan Sebregts .................027 225 2255 Sec: Graham Surrey ..................021 0262 5023 Treas: Malcolm Dawson...............021 052 1568 HGSO: Fraser Bull .......................027 801 4044 PGSO: Reuben Muir.......................09 446 0020 Airsp: Leslie Graham .....................09 579 6485 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

BAY OF PLENTY H.G.P.C. C/-Dominique Le Sellin 41, Ririnui Place, Maungatapu Tauranga 3112 Email: bophangparaclub@gmail.com www.facebook.com/BOPHangGlidingParagliding Pres: Dave Washer.......................0275 992 934 Sec: Dominique Le Sellin...................... 021 617 111 PGSO: Darrell Packe........................027 249 2702 HGSO: James Low.......................021 102 5004 Airsp: Rhys Akers.........................021 177 7563 Sites: Dave Shaw...........................07 575 9560 Kiwi Air.........................................021 1046 208 Mount Paragliding........................027 643 6529

WAIKATO H.G.P.C. Inc. C/- Ewen Tonar 23A Brookview Court Hamilton Email: ejtonar069@gmail.com Pres/Airsp: Neil Howe....................07 304 9631 Sec/Treas: Ewen Tonar...................07 855 3969 PGSO: Bruce Vickerman ...............07 868 4991 HGSO: Rick Hawkeswood.............07 868 6250 HAWKES BAY H.G.P.C. Inc. 30 Kaweka Place Havelock North 4130 Email: hbhgpc@gmail.com www.soarhawkesbay.co.nz Pres, Rebecca Rae.........................021 605 204 Sec/Treas: Duncan McNab..........027 624 6434 Airsp: Shaun Gilbert.....................022 477 8804 PGSO: Sam Elkink..........................06 824 3123 HGSO: Ross MacKay.....................06 877 2052 Sites Liason; Euan Talbot ..............06 877 8999

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MARLBOROUGH H.G.P.C. C/- Richard Evans PO Box 546 Blenheim Email: evans.r@xtra.co.nz Pres, Airsp: Jason Gluer.............021 0824 7543 Sec/Treas: Richard Evans..............021 648 783 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

CANTERBURY H.G.P.C. Inc. C/- Mike Lowe 4 Meredith Street, Addington, Christchurch Email: mike.j.lowe@gmail.com www.chgpc.org.nz Pres: Dan Campbell.......................021 980 635 Sec/Treas; Mike Lowe....................03 339 8176 PGSO; Robert Kennedy.................03 329 3339 HGSO; Eddie Pearson..................021 280 0599 Sites HG; Reece Fisher..................021 806 390 Airsp; Peter Taylor..........................03 338 6287 Website; Stephen O’Shaughnessy.03 326 7373 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 PO Box 1122, Queenstown Email: admin@southernclub.co.nz www.southernclub.co.nz Pres, Mark Hardman......................021 809 275 Sec: Melanie Heather...................021 204 0163 Treas: Kat Cerna.................................................

PGSO: Blake Round.....................027 367 7679 HGSO: Ian Clark.............................03 442 3992 Sites: Cathal McLoughlin...........021 024 00350 Events: Dan Pugsley..........................................

IT/Web: Jim Rooney...................020 4010 1926 Airsp: Keri Mapperson....................021 530 950 Craig Smith...................................027 343 3537 Derek Divers...................................03 443 7190 Helen Jeffery................................03 3409 8328 James Mitchell...........................021 0244 7875 Coronet Peak Tandem PG & HG..0800 467 325 Skytrek Hang Gliding & Paragliding.0800 759 873 Elevation Paragliding....................0800 359 444 Extreme Air............................ 0800 PARAGLIDE Infinity Paragliding School..........021 0228 2939 Paraventures Paragliding.............0800 809 275

Photo; Melanie Heather

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

WELLINGTON H.G.P.C. PO Box 9824 Marion Square Wellington 6141 www.whgpc.nz Email: info@whgpc.org.nz Pres: Chris Connolly ....................022 676 5599 Past Pres: Kris Ericksen...............021 116 4558 Sec/Treas: Grant Firth................... 021 422 698 PGSO: Adrian Watts.......................021 981 855 HGSO: Grant Tatham...................027 636 3491 Airsp: Ian Miller ............................022 176 8205 Communications; Vincent Audebert .....................................................022 186 8452 Oceania Paragliding School.........022 676 5599

TASMAN H.G.P.C. C/- Annett Teichner 1137 Motueka Valley Highway, RD1, Motueka 7196 Email: thgpgclub@gmail.com Pres; Josh Benjamin ....................021 136 5405 Sec; Annett Teichner..................021 0231 0755 Treas; Brian Erasmus .....................03 545 1003 PGSO; Greg Benjamin....................03 545 1543 PGSO; Pete Polansky ...................03 528 7374 HGSO; John King..........................03 548 8263 Site Owners; Tim Percival .............03 548 7397 Site Maintenance; Frog Twissell ....03 538 0339 Airsp; Claus Petry.........................021 250 4836 Nelson Paragliding.........................03 544 1182 Adventure Paragliding....................021 762 769 Hang Gliding NZ.............................03 540 2183 Tasman Sky Adventures...............027 229 9693

Looking At Treble Cone Launch During The Southern Club Xc Meet

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

ISSN 1170-9928

printed on recycled paper

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

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Ewen Tonar, 23A Brookview Court, Hamilton. 07 855 3969, 021 041 1418, ejtonar069@gmail.com Hang Gliding Competition Committee

Mark Alton, 167 Mahoenui Road, Coatesville, Auckland 0793, 022 195 5746, markalton@yahoo.com Dennis Thorpe, dennis_thorpe@hotmail.com Max Gebhardt, 03 312 7899, 022 159 6101, aerosm@gmail.com Paragliding Competition Committee

Johnny Hopper (chair), 021 056 2275, nzhgpapcc@googlegroups.com Tim Brown, 03 442 5319, 021 182 4243, nzhgpapcc@googlegroups.com Cameron Kennedy 09 813 3610, nzhgpapcc@googlegroups.com

In This Issue...

NZ Overseas XC Paragliding Record.........................................4 Forbes Flatlands Hang Glider Tow Meet....................................8 Southern Club Cross Country Meet.........................................12 Canungra Cup 2016....................................................................18 South Island Instructor’s Seminar............................................22 Safety Checks.............................................................................22 Events..........................................................................................24 Cross Country Champs Scoreboards............ 26, 28 Paragliding Competition Committee Write-up.............................................29 Classified Advertisements.........................................................30 Paragliding Competition Ladder...............................................31 FRONT COVER: Enzo 2 in front of launch at Quixada, Brazil. Photo; James Oroc Johnston

Next issue deadline: 1 April 2017 A

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Into the Vortex:

by James Oroc Johnston, Editor-at-Large for Cross Country Magazine and Ozone Team Pilot

A New Zealand Open Distance record (318 km) in Brazil

“

They are flying over 400 there today.” When Nick Greece’s instant-message appeared while I was checking my equipment in the living room of my house in New Orleans, I flinched involuntarily, the sickening sensation that an experienced XC pilot feels when he hears that conditions have turned on and he has not yet arrived.

‘There’ being in this case arguably the most legendary cross-country site on the planet, Quixada in northern Brazil, the very destination for which I was at that moment packing, while ‘400’ meant 400 kilometers – an unusual unit of measurement for a conversation between US based paraglider pilots, but the current standard for bragging rights in big-league XC paragliding (Unless you’re Brazilian!).

Thanks to Nick and the marvels of twenty-first century technology – specifically smart phones, the internet, and live tracking devices, innovations scarcely imaginable at the birth of paragliding 30 years ago – I was now acutely aware that Alexander Robé was in the air setting an Austrian Open record flight of 462 km on his new Ozone Zeno, and then again two days later – November 3rd to be exact – excruciatingly so, as I sat in the rain in my hotel in Rio de Janeiro and watched as a Brazilian pilot, Leandro Pauda, broke the fouryear old site record with a flight of 483 km on his Ozone Enzo 2, and Jose Rebelo (Enzo 2), one of a trio of mileage-hungry Portuguese pilots who had been racking up numerous long flights over their 2 week campaign (over 6000 km accumulatively!) flew 471 km, breaking Alexander Robé’s short tenure as the longest flight by a European pilot.

There was no doubt that they were flying “over 400 there” on these 2 days – 11 pilots recorded flights over 400km on XContest during the best three-day period in foot-launch history – but the main question in my mind as I muttered nervous mantras to the dark Weather God’s in Rio, was if

Above; The Quixada shuffle... they would they still be flying 400 when I finally made it to Quixada.

The potential of the dry flatlands of the State of Ceara in Northern Brazil for XC flying was recognized early on by Brazilian pilots, who first flew at Sobral, and then later discovered Quixada as they searched eastwards for take-offs from which they could fly further in the dry serataõ – Brazilian-Portuguese for ‘wasteland’ or ‘outback’ – before running into the barrier of the Amazon jungle.

And while this same group of pioneering Brazilian pilots have now been responsible for developing Tacima/

Left; Cloud uh... street

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Araruna, the notoriously-fickle launch even further east of Quixada from which (as a team) they brought the paragliding world record back to Brazil from Australia with flights of 513km in 2015 (Brown, Lemos, Prieto), and the new world record of 564 km (Lemos, Saladini, and Naciemento) just a month earlier in October of 2016, it is Quixada that is currently the site to which avid cross-country pilots from around-the-world now come each October and November aiming to fly personal bests over three-hundred-kilometers, and to have a crack at the still exclusive Four Hundred Kilometer Club. Thanks to Quixada’s generally consistent conditions, an average of six 400+ km flights had occurred each year since 2012, making it statistically the best foot-launched long-distance XC site in the world.

I had been hearing about the flying in Ceara for over 15 years now, maybe longer, the first firsthand reports being from an old PWC buddy from the late 90’s, Phillipe Karam from Mexico, who had put a number of big flights up there in the early 2000’s and told me stories of the XC competitions where they had legendarily retrieved competitors

“Hey man, are you ready to join the 400 club?”

- Paulo Rocha Filho, Via Sertao

from long flights with a small plane, and as I had struggled mightily on my own long path to my first 100 mile flight, numerous experienced cross-country pilots had told that a quick trip to Brazil in October or November would put me out of my misery.

“Just go to Ceara,” they had said. “It’s easy to fly 100 miles there.”

Thus the idea that Ceara was somewhere you flew far was imprinted in my brain early on, and Quixada was a site that I had long wanted to fly.

But the logistics had always seemed uncertain and daunting, which along with stories of how wild the launch was, had kept me from ever turning that dream into a reality. The opportunity to actually go to northern Brazil had arisen rather unexpectedly, when just a couple of weeks earlier I had found out that three of the United States most experienced cross-country pilots – Josh Cohn, Nick Greece, and Jon Hunt – were going to Ceara in early November, and since I knew all three of them well, for around US$100 a day for the hotel and retrieve that Nick had organized, I was welcome to tag along.

Somewhat unfortunately for us, we arrived on the 4th of November and experienced 4 days of waning conditions, and then a week of strong wind unlike anything anyone could remember before that challenged our flying to the core. Quixada, as it turned out, had no intention of going easy on us.

Having always heard Ceara described as flatland flying, I was unprepared for the raw beauty of the place, the monoliths that were clearly visible from our hotel reminding me of some areas of the South-West United States, or of the Linzhou region in China (where they had the memorable 2010 Paragliding World Cup), one of those strange alien landscapes straight out of a spaghetti Western movie. Our guide and retrieve master Paulo Rocha explained to me when I asked that Quixada meant ‘corral’ in Brazilian, with the ring of monolith mountains that surround the town being

Above; Underneath the monsters Left; The 9am thermal...

believed by the Brazilian New Agers to create a powerful vortex, and that UFO sightings – one of the drivers had a fine tale of a UFO interrupting a soccer game when he was a child that Paulo had him tell – were common.

“They took one guy from town, you know, the aliens”, Paulo explained to me, punctuating the sentence with his demented laugh that exploded like a grenade out of no-where, “and when he came back he was not the same. He was like, how do you say, the village idiot! Hahahahaha!”

The Village Idiot. Something I found myself sincerely hoping I wasn’t going to look like in a few minutes while attempting to launch in the already-howling early morning wind.

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Left; The reward if you survive the first 4 hours/120 km...

The pioneering group of Brazilian pilots that developed the flying in Ceara, (led by the 7x World tandem record holder Andre Fleury and Marceleo Prieto) made a paradigm-shifting break-through in XC flying in 2006 when they recognized that they could utilize the adiabatic gradient of the bone-dry serataõ, and began launching at Quixada at 7am instead of 10:30am.

By flying as a team through the difficult barelythermic conditions of these early hours, the talented Brazilian trio of Prieto, Frank Brown, and Rafael Saladini, had smashed the World Open Distance Paragliding record with their flights of 461 km in 2007, bringing Quixada into world-wide prominence. (The Brazilians – who then shifted their efforts to Tacima after 2007 – fly together all day as a team and land together). Hence the required 5am wake up call, (which arrived mighty quick each morning), and fifteen minutes after breakfast at the hotel you have driven up the paved road to the launch, on a rocky spine below a monastery on one of the distinctive granite, mostly tree covered, ‘monoliths’ just outside of town.

The actual launch itself is a wide steep swath cleared off the side of mountain, with a few pieces of carpet nailed to the ground down low in the center, which one glider at a time occupies. (They

tried two side-by-side and that didn’t work so good – the result is on YouTube!) After waddling down to this carpet ramp, and three Brazilian helpers pull your glider out in the wind – which at 6:30am was already whipping stronger than anything I could remember ever launching in – and hold it down at each end and the center for you while you take the position. A spotter standing above you on the ridge stands bent over at the waist and staring down the mountain with his hand shading his eyes – watching the movement of the trees in front that act to slow the wind we decided – and then when he spots a lull he shouts ‘now!’ and you pray that he is right and pull the glider up and go.

This is hands-down the most exciting launch in paragliding that I have ever experienced; if you got it right, it was relatively clean, and once off the ground it was clear you could penetrate away from the mountain, but if you get it wrong, things can get ugly quickly, and made no less the more nerve wracking by the fact that there was 30 or so of the world’s most die-hard cross-country pilots sitting watching you! (The crowd was actually remarkably sympathetic; I think everyone there knew it could be them next!)

Adapting immediately to the alien conditions, Nick Greece showed his versatility as a pilot and experience in the vast and intimidating crosscountry landscapes of the USA from his first flight at Quixada, with a flight of 388km on his inaugural flight on his new Ozone Zeno, on a day that José Rebelo (PT) put up the only +400 km fight of the day at 406 km on his Enzo 2. Two days later I had the longest flight of my 25 year flying career – 318 km, or 198.5 miles, tantalizingly close to the magic 200 miles that was my personal goal for the trip.

A flight which I discovered from a congratulatory email from Matt Senior, meant that I now had the NZ Open Record, and was the first Kiwi pilot to break 300 km! (And apparently I had also broken the Declared-Goal record earlier in the year in the US Nationals in Lake Chelan, Washington!)

Perhaps this was my good karma for just having made a trip ‘home’ to Timaru in the South Island to see my family, and it came as a great surprise since I know New Zealand has some great pilots

Left; Checking the wind on launch – gusting 50 kmph at 6:30am Right: Quixada is a popular site for UFO spotting...

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and Australia is nearby, but some 28 years after my introductory lessons in Wanaka, I will take it!

The greatest irony perhaps is that after I left for Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 1987, and having flown all over the world, I am still to fly a mile of true XC in New Zealand mostly due to bad luck with weather! Something I sincerely need to change some day.

While 200 miles had been my ‘reasonable’ goal for myself for this trip to Brazil, after nearly flying that far after a later start (8am – I barely got off due to the strengthening wind) due to having to return to the (convenient) hotel to replace a Camelback, and on a day that everyone kept telling me was less-than-average (around 350 km was the longest flight of the day), suddenly 400 kilometers – which had seemed an impossible distance to comprehend before – now seemed very doable! Surely another week of flying here and we would all see 400 kilometers! Conditions unfortunately then deteriorated significantly, and while we had no idea of it at the time, the next 400+ km flight in Quixada would not come for a full week.

Undaunted, the two US pilots, who were using this trip as training for the 2017 spring in Zapata, Texas, continued to press on, with Josh Cohn opening the window each day in strong gusty conditions gusting up to thirty miles an hour!

(Several pilots, including myself, were blown over-the-back of launch during these days – mine due to a broken speed-bar link) Their persistence finally rewarded Nick Greece again on the thirdto-last day of our trip, when he became the first American to record a 400 km flight outside-ofthe-USA with a flight of 420 km on the Zeno in difficult conditions, a mere 30 km short of the Declared-Goal of the town of Amarante. (Nick’s was the only flight over 400 kilometers for the week while many talented pilots were trying).

Josh Cohn, who led out each day and whose vast experience in competition flying perhaps worked slightly against him in the shifty-Brazilian conditions, recorded his best personal flight of 360 km the following day on his Ozone Zeno,

Right; Tricky terrain for landing

flying much of the day with the freshly arrived English/Colombian pilot Juan Sebastian Ospina.

(I have a feeling that if conditions line up in Texas next Spring, Josh is due a monster flight – Brazil undoubtedly left him wanting more, and I would not be surprised to see the World Record return to the USA).

Paragliding in Quixada in utterly unique; it has a reputation of being an ‘easy’ place to fly distance, but in my opinion there is nothing easy about it, it’s one of those rare places where you rip up the rule book and start to relearn all over again. Launching as early as 6:30am (eager to be early on launch, our group had a meeting when we started rising at 4:30am and even the hotel restaurant wasn’t open; Josh suggested that perhaps we could start a little later so we started getting up at 5am instead!) and flying in the super-light conditions produced by the adiabatic gradient of the bonedry sertão (Brazilian for ‘outback’), for the first 120 kilometers you just survive together as a pack the best you can – going it alone is virtual suicide, and even with a group the best can go down.

As you fly west, you step up on a series of plateaus, needing to gain height each time to make a solid transition, and then by late morning tantalizing cloud streets have begun to appear ahead of you. However there is a wicked Noon pause (which I have become acutely aware of since flying in the tropical convergence zones – Colombia experiences the same lull between 11:45 and 12:15 each day) which took out more

than one good pilot thinking they were charging on to 400, and then you also have the far-fromsimple task of navigating across such enormous distances of inhospitable terrain. You need to be a fairly experienced XC pilot to even want to come to Quixada in my opinion, one who is used to launching in difficult conditions and landing going backward, who knows how to navigate, and who, probably most importantly, is organized and well-prepared. But if everything manages to line up with just an average amount of luck – as it did for me on one of my ten days there – then you will have the flight of your life, pretty much guaranteed.

Our group left after 10 days with one flight over 400 km and numerous personal bests, feeling as if we had not experienced Quixada at anything close to its full potential.

I certainly hope to come back here again, since along with being the

Left; The new Ozone Zeno, current XC weapon of choice

correspondent for this trip, I had picked up the unexpected bonus of a New Zealand Open record with my flight of 318 km on my beloved Ozone LM6, on what I was consistently told was a sub-par day! The mind boggles at what could be accomplished on a good day, and after our group departed, conditions did improve again; Ospina (Ozone Zeno) flew 400.3 km on November 22nd, the Venezuelan pilot Joanna Di Grigoli (Gin Boom 10) flew 400.4 km on November 25th, while the Swiss pilot (and current XC Contest leader) Kevin Phillips (Ozone Zeno) broke the Swiss Open Record with a flight of 414 km on November 27th after a month long campaign.

In total there were 18 flights over 400 km this November in Quixada, and one in October, compared to the season average of only six 400+ km flights between 2012 and 2015. After a XC season like this one, Quixada’s reputation can only increase as the premier long-distance XC site in the world, while the astonishing hospitality of the people of the serataõ – some of the friendliest people I have ever met anywhere in the word - is in itself enough reason enough to return. Many thanks to Ozone paragliders for their continuing support, Paulo Rocha (or the Mayor of Quixada as I like to call him) for his wisdom and guidance, Brett Zaenglein for his invaluable advice, and to all the Via Sertão retrieval drivers who were putting in 18 hours a day to get us home! See you all next year, and now that I have an idea what to expect, I will make sure to come for a month this time!

Anyone interested in contacting Paulo about the paragliding in Ceara can check out: www.facebook.com/VIA-SERTÃO-Esporte-e-Turismo-deAventura-1479538755681855/?pnref=lhc

Below; My welcome committee at the 318 km mark

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Forbes Flatlands 2017 A story in Photos

by Vicki Cain

Jonny on tow Photo by Peak Pictures

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Behind the Scenes It all quietly happens behind the scenes, many individuals making this competition as good as it can be.

Welcome to the 11th consecutive Forbes Flatlands Hang Gliding Championships hosted by the Sydney Hang Gliding Club and Moyes Delta Gliders.

At right the crew relax in the hangar. Photo by Peak Pictures

Jonas Lobitz on tow by Peak Pictures

Exciting tow by Peak Pictures

Launch Thank you to the weather gods for the tremendous launching conditions on 6 tasks at this event.

69 Open Class pilots, 7 Sport Class Pilots all from 17 different countries, 6 Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly’s, 6 awesome tug pilots, over 500 tows.

Gerolf launching by Peak Pictures

The Launch Paddock by Anita Redfern

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Sport Class Task 1; Eugowra 38.9 km.

Day winner Fu Yu Shan flying Moyes Gecko. New Personal Best, 2 pilots in goal.

Task 2; Alectown 58.8 km.

Day winner Peter Garrone Moyes Gecko. 5 pilots in goal.

Task 3; Milby 76 km Day winner Richard Hughes Airborne Sting. 44 kms.

Task 4; Ungari 91.8 km Day winner Emma Martin Moyes Malibu 2 188. New PB 79.3 km.

Task 5; Westpa-Yarrabandi 48 km.

Day winner Fu Yu Shan Moyes Gecko. New PB, 3 pilots in goal.

Task 6; Tullibigeal 109.6 km.

Day winner Richard Hughes Airborne Sting.

Overall winners in the Sport Class 1st Emma Martin Australia Moyes Malibu 2 188 2nd Richard Hughes Australia Airborne Sting 3rd Peter Garrone Australia Moyes Gecko

Above; Fu Yu Launch Photo by Peak Pictures Left; Emma on tow by Peak Pictures

Forbes Council Encouragement Award We were excited to welcome our very first team from China.

One of the new young pilots, Fu Yu Shan flying his Gecko won the first task of 38.9 km on his first ever cross country flight! He went on to make 2 more goals; Task 5 48 kms and Task 6 109.6 km. On task 6 Fu Yu arrived at goal and decided to fly a further 46 km setting himself a new PB of 156 km, unfortunately his GPS failed and he was scored a zero!

Fu Yu Shan was awarded the Forbes council Encouragement Award

Sponsors and Winners Thanks to our sponsors without which this event would not be possible: Forbes Shire Council www.forbes.nsw.gov.au New South Wales Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association www.nswhpa.org Moyes Delta Gliders Pty Ltd www.moyes.com.au Liteflite Pty Ltd aka Bill Moyes International Airport aka Bill’s Paddock Wattyl Café Forbes Woolerina www.woolerina.com.au Longridge Extra Virgin Olive Oil www.longridgeolives.com.au/ The Nevins Family Innovative Lighting and Sound www.innovative.net.au Harrison Rowntree from South Australia donated 8 casks of his family’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The Olive Oil was to be presented to the pilot with the slipperiest story.

On task 4 we presented 2 casks to Tam (Kenny) Chi from Melbourne and tug pilot Bruce Crerar.

Kenny was on tow when they encountered a strong thermal over the tow paddock. The Dragonfly was pitched up and Kenny tumbled at 1400’. Kenny was unable to release so Bruce gave him the rope.

Kenny’s Airborne Sting righted itself after 2 rotations and he was able to fly back to the tow paddock (rope still attached) and land in front of the hangar!

He found that all of his lufflines had been torn from the sail and were dangling in the breeze!

We were all thankful for our two very lucky pilots. They both received the ‘slippery’ award!

And it was Kenny’s birthday to boot!

Above; Mike Jackson with the Land owners prizewinner.

Getting the locals on side Pilots were given entry forms to a raffle for prizes for both land owner and pilot to enter for each landing on their property. A great way to make friends with the locals.

Below; Attila launching. Photo by Peak Pictures

10 A i r b o r n

Below; Kenny checks his lufflines after landing. Photo by Peak Pictures

Open Class Task 1; Wellington 138.9 km.

Day winner Tyler Borradaile Moyes RX 3.5 Pro. 32 pilots in goal.

Tyler Borradaile from Canada, made his first XC flight on his new Moyes RX 3.5 Pro a winner, taking out the day win from an impressive line up of top International pilots Ta s k 2 ; To o g o n g - To m i n g l y Alectown 163 km.

Day winner Mike Jackson Moyes LSS 5. No one made goal, 40 kph headwind. There were at least a dozen pilots landed in a big field about 12 kms from goal. The land owners were the eventual winners of our land owner prize!

Task 3; Milby-Tullib-Lake Cargellico 144 km.

Day winner Attila Bertok Moyes RX 5 Pro. 45 pilots in goal.

Task 4; Goolgowi 215 km.

Day winner Jonny Durand Moyes RX 3.5 Pro. 38 pilots in goal.

Task 5; Fifel-Mines-back to Bogan gate 142.4 kms.

Day winner Jonny Durand Moyes RX 3.5 Pro. 51 pilots in goal.

Task 6; Monia-Hillston 226 kms.

Day winner Gerolf Heinrichs Moyes RX 3.5 Pro. 51 pilots in goal.

Womens Class Winner Alexandra Serebrennikova Russia Moyes RX3 Pro

Above; The top 10.

Photo by Adventure Flying

Below; The Green Line Crew

Open Class # Name

Nat Glider T 1 T 2 T 3 T 4 T 5 T 6 Total 1 Jonny Durand AUS Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 860 899 973 1000 1000 921 5653 2 Gerolf Heinrichs AUT Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 840 858 858 973 876 1000 5405 3 Andre Wolf BRA Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 852 898 965 761 902 995 5373 4 Attila Bertok HUN Moyes RX 5 Pro 825 788 1000 854 901 947 5315 5 Steve Blenkinsop AUS Moyes RX 3.5 975 897 810 781 875 834 5172 6 Michael Jackson AUS Moyes LSS 5 856 900 816 851 849 891 5163 7 Tyler Borrdaile CAN Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 1000 869 723 757 880 891 5120 8 Filippo Oppici ITA Wills Wing T2C 144 842 898 816 764 901 894 5115 9 Harrison Rowntree AUS Moyes RX 3.5 806 883 723 761 874 857 4904 10 Christian Voiblet SUI Aeros Combat C 12.7 843 684 720 818 871 886 4822

12 Jonas Lobitz 38 John Smith 41 Viv Clements 58 Mark Alton 60 Derek Mckee

NZL Moyes RX 3.5 Pro NZL Moyes RS 4 NZL Icaro Laminar 14.8 NZL Moyes RS 4 NZL Moyes RS 4

985 896 299 761 877 896 4714 916 717 191 659 326 648 3457 332 763 539 384 602 571 3191 116 84 291 206 773 155 1625 332 49 357 179 222 443 1582

Above; Another good launch Left; Takeshi nails it. Photo by Peak Pictures

It’s a Wrap Over 1000 task kms, over 30 airtime hours, Many PB’s, 76 overjoyed, exhausted pilots, 18 overjoyed, exhausted crew, 6 overjoyed, exhausted tug pilots… Lots of laughs and good times! With 76 entries it’s the biggest roll up since the World’s in 2013. We hope to make next year bigger and you better so come on down!

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Southern HGPG Club

Paragliding Cross Country Competition 27th- 29th December, 2016, Wanaka

By Tim Brown Photos by Melanie Heather

I

n early December Louis Tapper came ‘round to my place and suggested we once again organize and conduct a regional paragliding crosscountry competition in the Southern Lakes region.

We had done the same last year but this year Louis wanted to have it all set up online using the website ‘Airtribune’ as it accesses a larger pilot body and is easy once it’s set up. There is a small cost to do that.

A three day competition was decided upon, with a reserve day and the dates selected, but this meant we weren’t able to obtain FAI Category 2 status due to a month’s notice being required, but that’s ok.

Louis did a great job and was assisted by Johnny Hopper in setting up Airtribune. A ‘waiver ‘ form was also digitalized and Tim got round to writing an ‘Emergency Plan’ and ‘ Competition Specific Rules’. Waypoints and Controlled Airspace files were uploaded. It was decided to introduce Wing Aspect Ratios in order to determine competition classes, which lead to the introduction of a new Class called ‘Recreation’ for the more advanced pilots on Fun class gliders.

This has recently been trialed in Australia and also Europe, notably the Ozone-Chabre competition in

12 A i r b o r n

France.

It was decided also to introduce, for the first time in a New Zealand competition, ‘Kilometre Lead Out’ (KLO) points into the scoring parameters. Lead Out Points encourage pilots to lead out and initiate moves so that competitions become faster and more dynamic (as pilots like to hang round in gaggles and wait for ‘the other guy’ to go for that next thermal or make that dash for goal). Lead Out Points were introduced into the FAI Gap scoring in 2002 to encourage early

departures and to reward pilots for leading out. Lead Out Points reward boldness and risktaking. At previous competitions in New Zealand foreign pilots have been dismayed at how slow and cumbersome our competitions are as no one ‘made a move’. In New Zealand we currently use an Australian designed “HighCloud”

scoring system that does use Lead Out Points but we haven’t been including them in our scoring.

Lead Out Points are also used in all world competitions that use

Above; Ian Douglass climbing up Niger Peak FAI Gap scoring. Lead Out Points are not without their faults, as Leonardo discussions indicate, but competition scoring is continually being modified and updated.

As so often happens in the week prior, the weather outlook for the three days of the competition was quite marginal and so we watched the forecasts diligently and, sure enough, we began to see the possibility of at-least two reasonable taskable days from Wanaka, so of course we got the typical New Zealand ‘last minute’ registrations.

In all about 40 pilots registered.

Six different nationalities were represented, including seven from the Czech Republic.

The 27th was a no brainer for a nonflyable day and so it was decided to have the competition BBQ that evening at Tim’s house in Dalefield, just outside Queenstown. The strong winds had died and the clouds had cleared by the evening and so the BBQ was a great success. Louis even managed to do a small workshop to help the new pilots set up their instruments and become familiar with how a competition, and task brief, was conducted. A great move!

On the morning of the 28th we all met at Kai’s in Wanaka for the

compulsory first brief at 8am. It was well attended and a few more pilots registered. The day was sunny but the winds aloft were a little strong from the south-west. It was decided to go to Treble Cone. It looked like it would probably be taskable.

A task was set starting at 1pm from a 1km radius at Pub Corner to an 8km cylinder in any direction then back to a 400m cylinder at Pub Corner again, then off towards Wanaka with a turn point out to the east of Hawea by the lake and back to Albert Town; a total distance of 61km.

It was dynamic (read ‘rough’) flying at around 1700m about the top of the ridge as the westerly flow mixed with the prevailing valley wind but it was certainly manageable and a great introduction for the newer pilots to competition flying. Thirty three pilots flew the task and it was agreed by all at the end of the day as to what a great days flying was had.

It was challenging and spectacular.

Several pilots did personal bests.

Grant Middendorf won the day on a Gin GTO2 with a time of 3:32.

Helen Jeffrey excelled and topped the ladies by flying to just past the last turnpoint and landing on the Hawea Flats.

The Thursday forecast was for an

epic day with light southerly winds.

Louis was chomping at the bit to send the pilots towards Lake Ohau by having a goal near Lake Hawea but with the possibility to overfly for those that chose to. It was not to be as a pretty heavy cloud cover hung over the valley.

Johnny and Kyla had now arrived from Auckland and several more pilots joined the fray. The cloud all but cleared by 1pm and a task was set to fly out to the west Matukituki near Raspberry Flat then back to Glendhu Bay and out towards Albert Town again. The total distance was 65km. Once again thirty-three pilots launched and headed west. They had a choice of staying south of the river on the return from Raspberry Flat or

tracking north over the Buchanans to Glendhu Bay. Once again the start was at 1pm with a cloudbase near 1700m and it was pretty rough flying. Some pilots felt more so than the day before but in a different way. The wind had turned out to be stronger than forecast and it was not easy going with strong valley winds lower down. You had to stay high to win the day. Once again a most challenging flight in most spectacular scenery.

Peter Wolstenholme, a visiting pilot from the UK , had been planning a paragliding holiday to New Zealand for some months with his family.

Peter has been flying for over twelve years and has flown in many sites throughout Portugal, Spain and

Left; Aerial view of contestants at treble Cone Right; Entering tasks at the briefing

A i r b o r n 13

Europe. In his research he’d seen previous tracklogs of pilots flying out past Niger peak to the west and he’d decided that that’d be a doddle. His comment at the end of the day’s flying was that it was the most challenging and difficult flight in the most spectacular scenery that he’d ever flown. He was pretty stoked. Peter flew well coming in 5th overall.

Louis Tapper and Grant Middendorf lead the field throughout and although Grant got to goal first in a time of 3:52, Louis Tapper flew a time of 3:53 but he led out most of the way and so clinched the day on lead out points. What a great effort and a great example of how lead out points can make a difference.

Another great day’s flying was had by all. It took some time to get the scoring sorted in the evening at Kais and a special thanks goes to Johnny, Kyla and Helen for getting that done.

It is important that individual pilots learn to promptly download their own tracks then upload those tracks to ‘HighCloud’ scoring at the end of each task. The scorers’ duty is not to upload tracklogs for the pilots, but to ensure that the scoring is done effectively.

A late and short post-flight prize giving resulted in Grant Middendorf taking the overall and the Serial class prizes. Helen Jeffrey won the Women’s prize; Derek Divers took the Sport trophy; Peter Wolstenholme took the new Recreation class prize

Right; Roy Tingay prepares to fly

14 A i r b o r n

Above; Vincent Audebert on Fog Peak with Rob Roy Glacier as a backdrop

and Jenna Hughes-Games won the Fun class. Congratulations!

A special thanks must go to Chris Shaw and Farelli’s restaurant in Queenstown for sponsoring some of the prizes. Johnny Hopper’s ‘Hopper’s Happy Hens’ also sponsored a few prizes in the form of a few boxes of eggs! A special thanks also goes to Louis Tapper and Tim Brown for getting this competition organized and conducted. By all accounts a great two days flying in the Southern Lakes.

We look forward to seeing you again at the Nationals in Rotorua in late February. Be there.

I write this on New Years Eve. Happy New Year!

Right; Hoppers Happy Hen eggs prize

Above; Grant Middendorf dwarfed by Black Peak Below; Competitors scratching their way up Niger Peak

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Canungra Cup 2016

By Andy Maloney

I

t’s fair to say that Australia didn’t show me her best weather in 2016.

I spent most of September and early October in Western Australia cycling a long distance mountain bike trail from Albany to Perth (the Munda Biddi track) - in wind, rain and near freezing temperatures (3 degrees most nights!). Not what I expected - and I later heard it was the coldest spring in 30 years.

Flying from Perth to Brisbane, I left the clouds and rain behind, and was treated to a wonderful view of the Great Australian Bight, and then the dry red center of Australia. I was uplifted by the beauty of it, but saddened that I seemed to be the only person in the aircraft with the window blind raised!

Arriving in Brisbane on Friday October 7th, the weather was warm and sunny, the sky clear - very promising! At the registration that evening, I heard that several pilots had flown good distances that day, and local pilots told us of

Above; With the gaggle, Flying Fox Valley the epic weather they’d had over the last few weeks. Too good to be true? Well, it was. I guess we should have sacrificed a virgin to the weather gods, but they are hard to come by in Australia.

This year had brought a record Kiwi contingent to the competition - twenty five in all - mainly from the very active Auckland club - I suspect because if you live in Auckland, you really want to get as far away as possible!

The Canungra Cup is one of the best organised Australian competitions, centered on the small but pretty village of Canungra, which is well supplied with cafes, and has a large hotel which acts as the competition HQ and where many of us also stayed.

The comp entry fee includes buses for transport to the sites and retrieves - and are also useful to borrow to go sightseeing on unflyable days - which were many. Luckily, it is a good place to be based explore some of the best scenery in Australia - known

Left; Kris Ericksen launching on Mt Tamborine on the first day of the competition. Photo: Texaus

18 A i r b o r n

Photo; Andy Maloney

as the ‘Scenic Rim’ - a term that as a gay man I always find somewhat unfortunate! We did have several days to enjoy ‘rimming’ in the various rainforesty National parks such as Lamington National Park (where indeed there is a cafe that sells lamingtons), Mt Tamborine, and Mt Barney. Further afield, some of us visited Byron Bay. Nearer at hand is the Gold Coast, though the only possible attraction for going there would be anthropological curiosity.

Enough of the tourist information, and back to the flying!

The first day of the competition, Saturday, we all sat parawaiting on Mt Tamborine in gale-dangling conditions until the day was canned.

Day two was similar but at Hinchcliffes - this time a task was set, briefed, and then canned.

Light entertainment was provided

by Johnny Hopper, who juggled an apple and two chunks of dried cow shit, while eating the apple. Have you de-wormed yourself yet Johnny?

Monday brought the first day of flying, at Mt Tamborine. A task was set - 78km to Kyogle via one turn-point. Unfortunately it was a stable day, and the task direction sent us towards Mt Misery and

Above; Waiting above the start gate

Above; Johnny Hopper doing a ‘victory dance’ in the Beechmont bombout Photo; Kris Ericksen

Canungra, over the heavily racehorsed Canungra valley.

Many pilots failed to get a second thermal and ended up landing on fields belonging to unfriendly racehorse owners, which caused

much grief for the competition organisers (one farmer claimed a foal worth $8500 had broken its leg and had to be euthanased).

I was lucky, and got thermals to top up on across the valley just as well, as I never got above the 3500ft inversion. I landed at 20km, coming 47th (out of 95). Only two pilots made goal - Australians Wally Arcidlacono and Che Golus, with the top Kiwi Roy Tingay in 10th place with 49km.

Tuesday saw us at Hinchcliffes again - and this time a task was set and actually started, but canned due to rising wind strength before I got off the ground.

Wednesday, and the wind was good for Beechmont - my favourite site in the area - a big launch area, and unlike Mt Tambo, no risk of a tree landing in front of launch. A task was set 75km west to Croftby via one turn-point. Conditions were slow though, with few thermals and stable conditions again.

I spent an hour and a half ridge soaring before a thermal took me above 3000ft, enough height to go

Photo; Kris Ericksen

over the back. Thermals improved as I got over the Kerry Valley, but a strong northerly breeze developed, which meant we were fighting a headwind to the first turn-point (which was to the north west). This stymied most of those who made it away from the hill.

I made nearly 23km, coming 20th (a position I was very pleased with!).

Nobody made goal - and only Wally made it beyond the turn-point. Top Kiwi was Bruce Vickerman, who pipped me at 17th place and 24km.

Not surprisingly, the day was low scoring - a shame for me!

The next two days were blown out, and canned from the start, which gave us full free days to explore the rim in whichever way we desired, but everyone was quite disappointed not to be flying.

And so came the final day - Saturday. Finally the weather forecast was looking good - a classic Canungra day!

We piled into the vans

and disgorged at Beechmont again.

This time a big task was set - 95km west to Merivale on the far side of the Great Dividing Range, with no turn-points.

I took off early, and got a thermal which took me over the back within minutes, then had to wait an interminable hour and a half for the 8km diameter start cylinder to open - by which time I’d nearly bombed out and been drifted well past the start gate by the wind, so I had to fight headwind back when the gate opened. My partner Kris Ericksen was right at the start gate as it opened, and got lead-out points, so frustratingly beat me on points, though he took 15 minutes longer to reach goal.

After the difficult start, my flight was fun. Thermals were frequent and

Right; Hazards on launch - Oz style Photo; Andy Maloney

A

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19

good, and I stayed high (7000ft max) all the way to the Great Divide - a scary, tree covered ridge.

The only safe way over was to follow the road through Cunninghams Gap, which cuts through the 1000m high ridge at about 737m. A strong tailwind ensured that there would be lots of descending air on the far side, and there was about 3km glide to safe landings in the valley, so not a place to cross low! I was lucky, and had lots of height crossing the range, and still almost landed in the valley on the far side - getting a low save about 200m above the valley floor.

Some very good pilots were decked at this point, and Kate Baker (a talented Ozzie pilot who has recently started competing) went over the pass too low, got rotored, and threw her reserve. She landed unhurt in a tree in the middle of a vast forest of Eucalypts on a steep slope. Her SPOT device allowed the emergency services to find her quickly and winch her out of the tree (a good reason to invest in one!) but her glider is gone for good - Tiger country is a term far too tame to describe where she landed.

Meanwhile, after working the low save like my life depended on it, it eventually organised and shot me skyward. Being a not very competitive pilot, I didn’t leave it and race to goal when I should have, but got far too high and flew over the goal paddock at 6000ft! I may as well make 100km, I thought, and headed in a straight line westward.

Such a shame I needed to catch the retrieve bus back - I flew through so many good thermals as I followed the road westward into the flatlands, landing 10km further on (at 105km), for my second ever 100km flight.

I was elated! But I still only managed to come equal last in goal (with Robbo Robinson and an Oz pilot) on a day when 48 pilots made goal! Ashley McMillan (Oz) got the top score, arriving with a time of 2

Below; Climbing at Beechmont Photo: Kris Ericksen

Lower right; Some of the Kiwi team Photo: Kris Ericksen

20 A i r b o r n

hours 19 mins (compared to my 4 hours 5 mins!). Top Kiwi was Reuben Muir in 19th place.

We were very lucky to have such a good final day - as this is the day that is always remembered, and I can look back and say I had a great week!

Overall, Wally won the competition, top Kiwi was Reuben in 16th place.

Surprisingly, I came 3rd in Fun class (though only 42nd overall) and Eva Keim came 3rd in the Womens class.

The final scores are at http:// highcloud.net/xc/comp_result. php?comPk=198 Thanks to the Canungra Cup organisers - Comp director Linda Hipper, launch marshal Col Hojtshoi, and everyone else that put hard work into making the comp happen - I’ll be there again next year!

Right; At cloudbase above Cryna Photo: Kris Ericksen Below; Thermaling near Moogarah dam Photo; Andy Maloney

W & W advt

South Island Gets a Boost in Hang Gliding Instructors N ewly appointed Hang Gliding Training Manager Grant Tatham hit the ground running and held a very successful seminar.

Instructors from all over the South Island drove to Rod and Marney’s house in Kirwee, a small town 40kms west of Christchurch. Cold wet weather made it a perfect day to hold such an event. The fire was lit, and Grant flew across Cook Straight to kick off the seminar.

A round of introductions was made and John Smith boiled some eggs.

For the majority of attendees this was a refresher course. Derek McKee and Reece Fisher were congratulated for becoming new instructors for the Canterbury Club.

NZHGPA CEO Evan Lamberton was welcomed from Auckland for a flying visit. He explained that students can now sign themselves up on the NZHGPA website for $20. He also explained how the on line accident reporting system works and encouraged us to use it. Evan confirmed that CAA does send ‘secret shoppers’ to check on instructors.

Rod Stuart reports on the South Island Hang Gliding Instructor’s Seminar held on 12 November 2016 The BBQ was lit and Marney put on an awesome lunch. This break became a great networking time for all. Grant called us to order again with a farewell and thank you to Evan.

He then chaired some interesting discussions about hang gliding training.

Ian told us they currently recruit tandem pilots from overseas and asked us to promote this job to NZ pilots. Angus explained that tandem operators attended the seminar as

part of their Part115 certification.

Creating a tandem instructor rating may be a good idea.

With many instructors facing a long drive home the seminar ended about 4pm and the beer came out. It was Alex’s 30th birthday, a few local pilots turned up and fun evening was had by all. Next morning after coffee Grant spent an hour going over hang gliding training in more detail to remaining instructors. He handed out CDs with valuable training info.

The wind meter at Allandale showed it was on and a decision was made to ‘scramble’. Nelson pilots Alex and John H joined Grant on Rod’s Falcon and were soon enjoying smooth NE ridge lift to 2000’.

It was agreed we should focus more on the nitty gritty of hang gliding instructing at the next seminar.

Everyone declared it a very successful couple of days. Thank you Grant for organising this seminar and flying south to run it.

Attendees from left to right: Anders Palmqvist, John Horgan, Bill Degen, Ian Clark, Angus Tapper, Trevor Leighton, Rod Stuart, Warren Simonsen, Kevin Rooke, Alex Crawford, Lisa Bradley, Ted, Ashley Winn, Derek McKee, Reece Fisher, Grant Tatham, Kevin McManus, Dan Campbell and John Smith. Photo: Marney Holthouse

Safety Checks Ozone Forza Paraglider Harness DHV GS-03-0390-15 Concerning the first production Forza harnesses manufactured in 2015 with the serial numbers: Forza- (size)-Q-31A- (???) to Forza- (size)Q-49E- (???)

There have been several reported cases of a reserve loop failure on the Forza harness.

In all cases, one of the loops holding the reserve pin failed completely.

There have also been some reported failures of loops that had previously passed the safety notice checks at 15kgs. For this reason we are re-issuing this safety notice with more stringent check requirements (see below).

Due to the double pin design the failure of one loop should not pose an immediate risk of accidental deployment but it is strongly recommended that your loops are properly checked by your Ozone dealer or a qualified professional before attempting to fly the harness again.

Please return your harness to your dealer, or a qualified professional to perform the checks.

22 A i r b o r n

Finsterwalder Quick-Out Carabiner Dealer check procedure: 1. Pull out the reserve pins and open the reserve pocket to access the loops.

2. Using a baggage weighing scale or similar, exert 20kgs of pressure to each loop to check the integrity of the stitching.

Repeat this process 3 times for each loop.

3. If no fail occurs, the loops are deemed to be good and the parachute can be replaced.

No further action is required.

4. If a failure occurs the harness is deemed non-airworthy and should be immediately returned to the dealer to be fixed. The dealer should contact Ozone.

It is possible to perform these checks yourself, however if you have any doubts about the procedure or find an issue, please consult with your Ozone dealer.

Remember to thoroughly check your harness and entire reserve system on a regular basis.

14.10.2016 Ozone Q Court, 3 Quality Street, Edinburgh

Manufacturer Finsterwalder GmbH has published the following safety advisory On 15 November 2016, the faulty assembly of a Quick-Out carabiner lead to its accidental opening. The pilot had dismounted both of the Quick-Out’s release buttons and later re-installed them in swapped positions.

Swapping the release buttons is dangerous to life. In our instruction manual, we point out that the release button located on the opposite side of the installation slot must not be dismounted when attaching the carabiner to the harness. It may only be removed for cleaning purposes after the carabiner had been exposed to salt water. However, to prevent swapping the release buttons, only one button at a time may be dismounted!

There are approx. 16,000 QuickOut carabiners in circulation. As unfortunately not all pilots are aware of the fact that non-compliance with instruction manuals is dangerous particularly in aviation - we would hereby like to point this out again.

The Quick-Out carabiner’s instruction manual can be downloaded anytime from the “Downloads” section of our website.

The image below marked ‘Wrong’ shows a Quick-Out carabiner with improperly installed release buttons.

14.12.2016 Finsterwalder GmbH, Pagodenburgstr.8, D-81247, Muenchen Tel.: +49 89 8116528, email: office@finsterwalder-charly.de, Web: www.finsterwalder-charly.de

Crossing NZ by Tandem

T

he latest adventure of famous mountaineer Julien Irilli will be a big one! Along with Lucie Francini he will be undertaking a vol biv trip, crossing the South Island of New Zealand by hiking and flying only.

A first, if they succeed. They plan to complete the 600 km trip and if conditions permit, even hope to fly back! During the trip they should ascend and fly over some of the country’s most iconic scenery, from Mount Cook to some of the settings for the Lord of the Rings films. For

The LED T2C

Wolfi Siess found a novel way of using the transparent ‘window’ sail of his Wills Wing T2C hang glider. Decked out with LED lighting, it’s a spectacular sight flying at night and of course he has to do some aerobatics...

Video and more at www.wolfifly.com

this adventure they will be using a new Niviuk Ikuma prototype tandem as well as a Bi Skin 2 P for flying in the high mountains.

Having secured the trip through crowd funding, they hope to begin the adventure on the 3rd January 2017.

In training for the adventure, Julien and Lucie had been hiking and flying in their local area around the HauteSavoie. - http://niviuk.com As we go to print, the attempt had been postponed due to continuous strong wind forecasts. - Ed

EVENTS Hang Gliding Events for the 2016-2017 season Date

Location

Contact

1st flyable weekend of 5/6, 12/13 or 19/20 Nov 2016

Far North XC Open Distance

Tom Kellner; tkmechanical@vodafone.co.nz

1st flyable weekend of 26/27 Nov or Dec 3/4, 10/11 2016

Kaimais League

Geoff Christophers; Geoff@tradeupjobs.co.nz

26th November 2016

Mt Murchison

Shane Mckay (03) 574 2212 Peloruseco@gmail.com

1-4 January 2017 Adv. & Int. classes

Sterling Big Sky Omarama

Max; aerosm@gmail.com

Wellington Anniversary Weekend 21-23 Jan 2017

Wellington

tathams@xtra.co.nz

18-25 February 2017 Reserve day 26 Feb 2017

NZ Nationals, Paeroas/Kaimais

markalton@yahoo.com For Nationals updates and info http://nzhgnats.blogspot.co.nz/

Sat 4 Feb to Sun 12 February 2017

Omarama XC Classic

Bill Degen; aero@xtra.co.nz

1st good weekend in March 2017

Auckland League

Les Graham graham-mackie@vodafone.co.nz

Omarama Hang Gliding Classic Cross Country Camp Saturday 4 February to Sunday 12 February 2017

O

SHOWCASING NZ FREE FLYING A film festival/competition for NZ Paragliders, Speed flyers and Hang Gliders.

Teams of any number of pilots and can be mix of styles. Any type of flying for example - Acro, XC, Vol biv, Hike & Fly, Tandem, Speed flying/riding etc.

Prizes/medals for the TOP 3 films. Films to be marked on the night of viewing by those who attend, pilots & the general public.

The general public will pay a donation for attending and all the money will go to a charity of the winning teams choice.

Show night will be in Christchurch and the exact location and date is TBA (will be in September 2017). The films will then be available to view online after the event.

How to enter Teams to register by February 25th 2017 with Team name and Team members with their NZHGPA membership numbers, visit the website. www.freedomofflightfilmfestival.com to register your team now.

Films will need to be submitted by August 25th 2017.

Prizes There will be medals for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

We have 2 x STODEUS le BipBip solar variometers up for grabs.

First Prize - le BipBip solar Variometer and all profit from the event will go to the registered charity of your choice.

The other le BipBip will be won by a draw for all the entrants - so register to be in to win!

There will be spot prizes on Show Night for those attending.

Thanks To STODEUS the NZHGPA, the NZ ACRO COMMUNITY for making this event a reality.

For all the latest on the Film Festival visit our web pagewww.freedomofflightfilmfestival.com or FB page www.facebook.com/foffilmfestival/

Flying Information for Europe Some time ago the European Hang and Paragliding Gliding Union [EHPU] began an initiative to publicise local flying rules for member countries, These are rules that are not enshrined in the ICAO Rules of the Air, an example being the UK one requiring ridge soaring pilots to overtake other pilots on the side nearest the hill. There is some - but not universal commonality in these local rules among European countries.

If you are planning to fly there, go to www.ehpu.org and click on the flags of the countries you intend to visit. The information may take a bit of finding but for most countries it is there.

Information for pilots visiting the UK can be found through the above route or at www.bhpa. co.uk/pdf/info_for_visiting_pilots.pdf - from BHPA Skywings

24 A i r b o r n

n as always during the week of Waitangi Day. Last summer’s event saw many get flights to Mt Cook and a best distance of 131kms, just 12kms short of the site record. It should be hot again this summer. At this time of year, Omarama gets the most flying days with less strong winds, turbulence and the most cross country flying opportunities.

It can still be hot, maybe windy and sometimes rough (thermals up to 3000 fpm+) but the competition format is stress free. Fly the whole week, just the weekends or only fly the best days.

Flying will be spectacular; expect to get 9 or 10,000ft and an easy 20 to over 100km depending on your skill and luck. You’ll probably beat your Personal Best; height, distance etc, and move up the XC Champs table, or maybe fly to Mt Cook!

The track up Magic Mountain is limited to 4WDs with low ratio gearing for safe descents.

Some hard labour has already been done but we also expect to have a bulldozer widen the track before the comp. starts. To help maintain the road we’ll ask everyone for a $30 donation but the competition is free.

THE MISSION; fly open distance, in any direction from the Omarama area that you choose. Enter any number of flights. Take any days off, only your best 3 flights get scored.

Flights can be entered each evening at the cottage next door to Omarama Hotel or at the camping area entry boards.

Required; Advanced rating with mountain/ XC skills. Pilots with lower skill ratings may fly only if under supervision and if conditions are suitable. Printed site briefings are available.

This is mountain high desert country so essential equipment is; a 2.5m rope for securing gliders during dust devils, radio, cellphone, maps, GPS, water, survival gear (can be over 30°C daytime with frosts at night), basebar wheels, spare uprights, glider fully checked and a repacked chute.

A satellite messenger such as a Spot is

11,000ft over Killermont looking up the Ahuriri Photo: Bill Degen

recommended for pickups as cell reception is intermittent. An extra sim card for the other phone network that you use is cheap and will get you much more coverage.

An Emergency Locator Transmitter may be wise. Airtribune is a free tracker for Android cellphones that can allow your pickup crew to follow you (within cell coverage). Note; airband radio (118.6 Mhz) is mandatory for flying North of Ohau if you want to head for Mt Cook.

Bring a brave but careful 4WD driver, and a spade is essential for clearing slips off the access road and some pickups.

Or bring your aerotow or car tow set-up.

All types of accommodation are available; free camping, cabins, caravans, motels and luxury hotels. There’s hot pools in Omarama for after flying too.

For more information, site briefings, maps etc; contact Bill Degen aero@xtra.co.nz or check www.hgpg.co.nz for updates

NZ Comp 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’.

St Arnaud Paragliding League and XC Camp 2017 (Incorporating a Tasman Regional Competition)

Dates 18-25 February 2017 FAI category 2.

Check blogspot for more info and Interislander ferry discounts http:// nzhgnats.blogspot.co.nz

Comp organiser; Mark Alton email markalton@yahoo.com Cross Country Clinic 16 & 17 February at the Paeroas Email Mark for more info or to register.

Inter-Islander Ferry Discounts for NZHGPA Members

O

n behalf of all members Nick Taber has negotiated discount rates with the Interislander Cook Strait Ferry for NZHGPA members. This is not just for the HG & PG National competitions but throughout the whole of 2017 to cover travel to and from regional competitions or simply for NZHGPA members to travel the rest of the year on holiday.

Despite the National comps being at the tail end of the peak ferry season, Interislander have offered special competition rates for a car and driver discounted down to Car $113.00, Driver $40 total = $153 to cover a week either side of the comp dates, to allow for travelling to and from over the period 10 February – 12 March 2017.

A booking is made direct by individuals with Interislander by simply quoting the NZHGPA Membership Booking reference number: FA5650 and showing their NZHGPA Membership card at the check in.

All details for booking during comp, peak and off peak rates is at http://member.nzhgpa.org. nz/resources/Documents/Interislander%20NZHGPA%20Member%20Rates%20-%20NZ%20 Hang%20Gliding%20and%20Paragliding%20Assn%20for%202017.pdf

Save the dates, the NZ PG Open will be heading to Rotorua from 26 February - 4 March 2017.

With easy access to the North Island’s premier XC sites at the Paeroas and Kaimais, as well as the multitude of non-flying activities on offer in Rotorua, it’s sure to be an epic event!

Hosted by the Auckland Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club, this will be the only round of the PG Open for 2017. Already more than half of the available places have been taken, so register now to ensure that you don’t miss out.

Registration is $160 prior to 31st December 2016, after this date it will be $200.

Pilots who are new to competition flying are strongly encouraged to enter, as this is a great opportunity to improve your XC flying in a friendly and supportive environment while also having a hell of a lot of fun!

Further information, including instructions on how to register, is available at www.airtribune. com/newzealand Win a free entry to the PG Open!!

Thanks to Macpara NZ (www.macpara.co.nz), one lucky pilot will win their full registration fee back. This prize will be drawn during the registration evening and will be open to all pilots who have registered and paid in full at this time.

XC Camp Dates: Sat, February 11 – Sun, February 19, 2017.

Fly XC without a set task and see how far you can get. Optional flight logging to find who flies the most kilometres over their best four flights.

Regional Comp. Dates: Feb 11 – 13, 2017 (Sat-Mon).

Reserve dates: Feb 17 – 19, 2017 (Fri-Sun).

Contact: Tim Percival percival@actrix.co.nz 03 548 7397 or 022 646 3864 Competition Task Format: Standard competition tasks.

First Briefing: To be advised on the forum of the NZHGPA website.

Sites: Inwoods Lookout, Mt Murchison, Mt Robert (walking access, depending on attendees), others to be advised.

Cost: $5 suggested donation per day, maximum $15.

Required for Safety: PG2 + 20 hours, reserve, back protection, GPS, UHF Radio, maps.

Transport Notes: Mt. Murchison requires 4WD vehicles so if you have one, it would be good to bring it. Vehicles used on forestry access roads must be equipped with fire extinguishers (be sure to contact Tim beforehand if you’re in need of one for your vehicle).

Additional Information St. Arnaud is an excellent place for a long weekend with a variety of accommodation available including good tenting in the DoC campground, backpackers, and holiday baches for easy rental if you are a little organised. It has a shop and an all important bar.

I am hiring a bach to serve as a base, which will be able to accommodate several other comp attendees at an economical rate.

The sites we will be using are high sites (up to 1450m ASL), so they make for some very scenic and exhilarating flying around the St. Arnaud area, which is the northern-most end of the Southern Alps.

(The site records for Inwoods Lookout, Mt Murchison and Mt Robert are 116km, 95km and 91km respectively).

Come along just for the XC Camp if you’d prefer to just fly XC without a set task and designated flying time.

Please contact me for further information on accommodation etc. if you are thinking of coming; Tim Percival 47A Brook Street, Nelson ph. 03 548 7397 or 022 646 3864 percival@actrix.co.nz

Win 12 Months Subscription XC Magazine th

th

St Arnaud PG XC Camp 11 to 19 February 2017 All participants go into the draw

Nelson Home of Mac Para NZ Proud supporters of the St Arnaud XC Camp Visit us on Facebook @macparanz www.macpara.co.nz

A

i r b o r n

25

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

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

January 1st to December 31st

T

he 2016 XC Champs is over and provisional results are in.

These results are likely final unless someone hasn’t entered their flight yet. With 30 days to enter and the weather we had last December that seems unlikely so I’ll have the title for 2016 as well as longest flight, Mark Nichols gets best Rigid wing and Aaron Darby best Skyfloater.

The 2017 XC Champs has started with some great flights from the Kaimais already. Neil Howe and Rick Hawkeswood have already exceeded their last years totals with just 2 flights each from the Kaimais and Rod Stuart is leading the South Island with his 27km flight from Cheeseman.

Airtribune Live tracking For those who want like quicker retrieves, I suggest you get the Airtribune App for your Apple or Android smartphone. It’s not power hungry but it would pay to have a backup battery as well. Airtribune will track your flight and let your retrieve driver look you up on their smartphone to see exactly where you are. It is limited to cell coverage but apparently satellite trackers like Spot work too.

You can also replay your flights later in great detail with the ability to pan and zoom around your glider. Have a look at Neil Howe’s flight on the Kaimais to see how good it is. It may take a minute or 2 to load the data, then when it’s ready, click the play button at lower right and follow Neil on his big flight. Go to; https://airtribune.com/18460/tracks__85977__3d I tried to set up Airtribune for the NZ HG XC Champs but it requires a single launch site. The IOS app can’t do personal tracking yet but Android users can register and have free tracking any time. Note that Airtribune doesn’t calculate FAI Open Distance from the 2 furtherest points of your flight. You still need a tracklog for that as explained later.

ONLINE RESULTS Latest results are posted as they come in at www.hgpg.co.nz and at www.nzhgpa.org.nz/competitions/hg-competitions/ hang-gliding-cross-country-championships (but check if it’s been recently updated).

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 I’ll copy the data to the NZ HG XC Champs. It will have 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. Best is a kml file processed by GPSDump.

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

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

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

26 A i r b o r n

The 2016 Cross-Country Championships Table

Name Bill Degen

Flight 1 131.6

Flight 2 93.4

Flight 3 90.7

Flight 4 77.2

Total kms 392.8

Warren Simonsen 86.6 81.2 75.4 55.9 299.0 Mark Alton 75.0 68.0 54.5 50.6 248.1 Mark Nichols

** 88.9 73.3 42.4 36.9 241.5

Cris Lawry 55.0 45.0 42.0 19.0 161.0 Neil Howe 61.0 37.8 18.3 13.2 130.2 Niall Mueller 75.0 38.5 113.5 Kevin McManus 37.0 22.1 22.0 81.1 Rod Stuart 27.4 21.0 16.5 16.0 80.9 Guy Williams 20.7 20.7 20.7 18.7 80.8 Adriel Kind 20.8 16.2 16.2 8.8 62.0 Rick Hawkeswood Aaron Darby

61.5

61.5

* 15.3 14.6 14.6 8.7 53.1

Gary Turner

48.8

48.8

Andrew Blair 16.0 15.0 8.3 1.0 40.3 Shaun Ryan

18.0

8.3

26.3

Marshall Scrivenor

16.0

8.3

24.3

Marty Smith

15.1

8.5

23.6

Morgan Knoessen

12.7

4.6

17.3

Julian Sands

8.5

8.5

Quentin Doig

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

7.5

The 2017 Cross-Country Championships Table so far...

Name Neil Howe

Flight 1 109.2

Flight 2 69.2

Flight 3 26.3

Flight 4 25.2

Total kms 229.9

Rick Hawkeswood

106.5

48.6

155.1

Leslie Graham

81.7

81.7

David Martin

* 15.1 12.8 27.9

Rod Stuart

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

out if the flight fits any other FAI criteria such as out and return, triangle etc. You can export it for viewing in Google Earth in 3D. 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.

27.4

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 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.

Let me know if your flight is a site record too.

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 each years XC Champs must be flown between 1 January and 31st December and entered within 30 days. This ends one contest while pilots have good weather and starts the next the contest while everyone’s still keen.

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

N Z H G PA 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;

Ewen Tonar 23A Brookview Court Chartwell Hamilton Phone 07 855 3969 ejtonar069@gmail.com

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 Kiwi-Air Mike & Aniko Phone: 07 929 5807, 021 104 6208 Web: http://kiwi-air.co.nz Mount Paragliding Darrell Packe Phone: 027 249 2702 Email:darrellpacke@gmail.com MANAWATU HANG GLIDING SkyVenture (Manawatu HG & PG Inc. Club School) CFI: Ross Gray Phone: 06 357 8996, 021 126 0892 Email: rosscoe@e3.net.nz WELLINGTON/WAIRARAPA HANG GLIDING Wellington Hang Gliding & PG Club Grant Tatham Phone: 06 379 7322, 027 636 3491 Email: tathams@xtra.co.nz Oceania Paragliding School Chris Connolly, Phone: 022 676 5599 Email; school@oceaniaparagliding.co.nz Web; oceaniaparagliding.co.nz NELSON/TASMAN HANG GLIDING Hang Gliding NZ Ltd Kevin Rooke, Phone: 03 540 2183, 0800 212 359, 021 762 769 Email: rooke@slingshot.co.nz Web: www.hanggliding.co.nz Nelson Hang Gliding Adventures Glenn Meadows Phone: 03 548 9151, 027 275 1022 Email: gmeadows@clear.net.nz Web: www.flynelson.co.nz Tasman Sky Adventures Trevor Leighton, Phone: 027 229 9693 Email: info@skyadventures.co.nz Web: www.skyadventures.co.nz

PARAGLIDING Adventure Paragliding & Kiteboarding Kevin Rooke, Phone: 03 540 2183, 021 762 769 Email: info@skyout.co.nz Web: www.skyout.co.nz Nelson Paragliding Stew and Zanna Karstens Phone: 03 544 1182, 027 446 3930 Email: paragliding@xtra.co.nz Web: www.nelsonparagliding.co.nz MARLBOROUGH PARAGLIDING High Adventure New Zealand Russell Read, Phone: 027 448 0888 Email: russread@ihug.co.nz CHRISTCHURCH HANG GLIDING Canterbury Hang Gliding School Bill Degen Phone: 03 326 6411, 021 247 2676 Email: aero@xtra.co.nz Web: www.hgpg.co.nz PARAGLIDING ParaPro (Paragliding & Powered Paragliding) Dave Dennis Phone: 03 328 8255, 0508 548 323 Email: info@parapro.co.nz Web: www.parapro.co.nz WANAKA PARAGLIDING Lucky Montana’s Flying Circus Advanced over water manoeuvres (SIV) instruction Rob Darby Phone: 03 443 1680, 027 220 1185 Email: lucky_montana@hotmail.com QUEENSTOWN PARAGLIDING Elevation Paragliding School Shai Lanuel Phone: 0800 359 444, 027 224 2121 Email: elevationpg@xtra.co.nz Web: www.elevation.co.nz Infinity Paragliding School Alan Swann & Blake Round Phone: 021 0228 2939 or 027 367 7679 Email: info@infinityparagliding.co.nz Web: www.infinityparagliding.co.nz Neverland Paragliding Dominic Eller, Phone: 021 314 730 Email: neverlandpg@hotmail.com Paraventures Paragliding School Mark Hardman Phone: 0800 FLYSOLO (0800 359 765), 021 809 275 Email: info@paraventures.co.nz Extreme Air Tandem Hang Gliding & Paragliding Lisa Bradley Phone: 021 156 3256 Email: lisa@extremeair.co.nz Web: www.extremeair.co.nz Queenstown Paragliding School Lisa Bradley Phone: 021 156 3256 Email: info@extremeair.co.nz Web: www.extremeair.co.nz Queenstown Hang Gliding School Lisa Bradley Phone: 021 156 3256 Email: info@extremeair.co.nz Web: www.extremeair.co.nz DUNEDIN PARAGLIDING Dunedin Paragliding & Hang Gliding School Lisa Bradley Phone: 021 156 3256 Email: lisa@extremeair.co.nz Web: www.extremeair.co.nz

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Photos: Neil Brown, Ross Gray

N Z H G PA

BOOKROOM

Learn to Fly

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

April 1st 2016 to March 31st 2017 2016-2017 XC Scores on Leonardo Best 3 flights Pilot Nick Neynens David Watson Bryan Moore Yakernz Glen Stevens Michal Karnik Stew Karstens Nick Taber Mark Hardman Pete Groves Michal Talavasek Derek Divers Matt Senior Martin Kraemer Jean Brossard Dylan Vickerman Aaron Ford Rory Devine Bruce Vickerman Gert Van Maren Jeff Ripley Doug Patterson Rob Boyle Helen Jeffery Kat West Rhys Akers Mark Macdonald Rob Gillard Benjamin Kellett Ian Douglass Elliot Revell-Nash Steven Christophers Dean Straker Blake Round Andrew Cavaney Pete Martin Wayne Rohrs Tim Heather Jakub Leder Matt Stanford Paul McGinley Mike Ferguson

Total points 775.37 652.26 583.9 565.59 523.74 474.75 373.33 367.73 359.63 352.66 343.33 322.56 306.76 302.4 293.5 292.17 264.43 262.3 255.53 249.16 247.82 246.36 229.95 222.39 221.4 206.41 204.12 196.64 196.13 192.64 152.08 152.07 150.91 146.92 139.26 133.86 132.25 128.98 125.7 116.84 115.18 108.88

flight 1 flight 2 flight 3 306.55 298.85 169.97 251.2 243.23 157.84 214.84 204.78 164.28 210.15 210.13 145.31 199.34 186.48 137.92 202.64 145.26 126.85 161.5 111.23 100.6 179.3 102.07 86.36 172.21 99.57 87.85 167.8 107.08 77.78 173.07 91.02 79.24 112.37 105.37 104.82 160.31 146.45 138.65 89.38 74.37 109.42 94.06 90.02 174.98 79.04 38.15 146.19 78.58 39.65 109.38 108.4 44.51 111.77 90.78 52.98 101.89 77.11 70.16 116.08 71.54 60.2 98.57 75.4 72.4 92.66 69.67 67.62 94.94 85.38 42.07 86.3 84.65 50.45 119.07 50.42 36.92 83.78 73.49 46.85 93.39 51.94 51.31 75.81 74.58 45.73 65.95 65.46 61.23 58.09 47.36 46.63 152.07 - 150.91 - 69.55 50.01 27.36 51.52 49.23 38.51 56.5 50.6 26.76 58.73 47.81 25.72 53.56 47.47 27.95 49.48 45.4 30.81 74.03 40.09 2.72 46.81 45.65 22.73 59.15 28.85 20.89

Regional Flight Focus

Entries as at 15/1/2017

Pilot Josh Benjamin Peter Jones Kat Cerna Lloyd Greenfield Graham Surrey Kyla Macdonald Robbie Kerr Kapua Turanga Andy Spierer Johnny Hopper Glenn Doggit Roy Tingay Joe Ward Barry Sayer Greg Benjamin Daniel Jones Shaun Gilbert Richard Sidey Alexander Ianovski Andrew Ross Matt Kyhnn Joel Hanlon Mal Haskins Emlyn Revell-Nash Anand Srinivasan Nick Buhaets Gene Dower Leighton Joll Gareth Gore Chris Shaw Guillaume Mora Vincent Audebert Kris Ericksen Andrew Edgar Rodger Kerr Rob Hughes-Games Eva Keim Stefan Sebregts Henry Dumbleton Brian Erasmus Simon Craddock Dominique Washer-Le Sellin

Total points 107.54 105.11 104.36 100.9 90.7 86.92 85.77 82.94 82.77 77.61 75.86 70.66 70.62 70.61 68.31 67.37 62.85 58.04 52.93 51.45 51 47.81 45.71 44.75 44.08 41.05 38.27 37.99 37.72 37.59 32.1 28.83 28.81 27.85 26.76 19.62 19.24 17.82 17.22 16.4 16.11 11.45

flight 1 47.08 49.36 40.92 59.38 34.73 41.48 48.58 37.4 82.77 49.49 30.35 70.66 45.17 43.14 28.14 43.83 48.78 24.31 23.93 28.56 21.37 30.69 45.71 44.75 44.08 41.05 38.27 37.99 37.72 16.1 32.1 28.83 12.17 15.62 26.76 11.48 19.24 17.82 17.22 16.4 12.43 11.45

flight 2 30.74 35.97 40.17 41.51 31.72 25.32 28.86 27.38 - 28.11 24.75 - 19.38 27.47 26.41 23.53 14.07 17.34 15.53 13.39 16.31 17.12 - - - - - - - 10.88 - - 10.65 12.23 - 8.14 - - - - 3.68 -

flight 3 29.72 19.78 23.27 24.26 20.12 8.33 18.15 20.76 6.06 13.76 16.39 13.47 9.5 13.32 10.61 6 -

By Tim Percival

The Past: The ten longest open distance flights of Canterbury-West Coast Site

Pilot

Dist.(km)

Sealy Tarns

Grant Middendorf

157.3

13/02/2015

Mt Potts

Nick Neynens

143.8

3/01/2015

Sealy Tarns

Bryan Moore

140.7

9/02/2014

Ball Spur

Bryan Moore

136.8

11/02/2015

Kamilas Hill

Nick Neynens

134.1

1/01/2016

Irishman Stream

Bryan Moore

112.4

12/11/2015

Cheeseman

Jan Zimmermann

109.4

30/12/2016

Burnett

Nick Neynens

101.1

23/12/2015

Cheeseman

Jan Zimmermann

90.0

23/12/2015

Cheeseman

Jean Brossard

88.3

For detailed Paragliding XC Champs flight information, see the 2016-17 PG XC Champs Table at Leonardo (Leonardo season name: “2016”) www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/league/world/season2016/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, while a flight submitted more than 30 days after the day of the flight is incorrectly included). Check out the test version of XContest at www.xcontest.org/newzealand

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Photo: Ross Gray

Date 3/01/2015

The PCC Write up PG Open sets new record The upcoming PG Open in Rotorua appears to be the largest PG Open ever held on home soil, with 80 competitors confirmed. Unofficially, this could well be the largest gathering of New Zealand paraglider pilots ever.

The PG Open will probably be underway or finished by the time you read this. Next season we will hopefully have two rounds, so please get your bids to the PCC if you would like to organise one.

Lead out points are go!

We have activated “KLO” which is an Australian invention and judged by many to be the most effective implementation of “Lead Out Points’. Details of exactly how they work will be in the next rule book. These can be activated on a task-by-task basis at competitions.

Australia sets aside a huge 25% of all task points to be awarded as KLO points – this encourages extremely competitive racing and risk taking. The NZ implementation will initially use 10%. This means KLO will have less of an impact, but will reward the pilots who fly first along the task line.

A great example of this working has already occurred at the Southern Regional Paragliding Competition. Grant Middendorf was first into goal on task 2, but Louis Tapper won the task thanks to lead out points that he gained from leading out for most of the task.

XContest to replace Leonardo as the platform for the National XC Competition On the 1st of April 2017 the PCC will be officially launching xcontest.org/newzealand as the new platform for the New Zealand Cross Country Paragliding Championship.

Leonardo has been a great platform for many years but, for a multitude of reasons, it is time to move to XContest.

Elite Athletes Announced for Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Who will be at the start line of the world’s toughest adventure race?

The Red Bull X-Alps race committee grants entry to 30 applicants from 20 countries. Picked from the most talented and fittest athletes in the world, they are now set to make the eighth edition of the epic para-trekking race starting on July 2, 2017. During the race, athletes must hike or fly a straight-line distance of more than 1,000km across the Alps as fast as possible via a currently undisclosed number of turnpoints.

Given the lofty requirements for entry, Red Bull X-Alps historically sees many returning participants – and this year is no different, with 20 former competitors returning to the start line once again. The race will see familiar names like Aaron Durogati (ITA), Tom de Dorlodot (BEL) , Paul Guschlbauer (AUT) and of course, Competitor at Graubuenden, Switzerland. Photo; Felix Woelk four-time race winner Christian ‘Chrigel’ Red Bull Content Pool Maurer from Switzerland. The 2017 edition will furthermore feature 10 new athletes – among them Krischa Berlinger (SUI) who took part as a supporter during the 2015 race.

Other notable athletes include Toma Coconea (ROU), now back for his 8th Red Bull X-Alps, and the only athlete to have participated in every single Red Bull X-Alps race, Antoine Girard, the Frenchman who recently set the record for the highest paragliding flight ever, at over 8,000m over Broad Peak in the Karakoram, and Gavin McClurg, USA, who this year completed a challenging and treacherous cross-country traverse of the Alaska Range.

While it may seem early to announce the participants of a race that’s happening next summer, it’s important to some people: the athletes, they’ll have to step up training immediately to get into the physical and mental place they need to be in to participate in the world’s toughest adventure race – not to mention, they’ll need to be ready to explore their personal limits while staying highly focused for an extensive period of time.

Stay up-to-date with the Red Bull X-Alps athletes and their intensive training through redbullxalps. com and facebook.com/redbullxalps.

LIST OF ATHLETES Claudio Heidel Schemberger Che Golus* Paul Guschlbauer Stephan Gruber Pascal Purin Simon Oberrauner* Tom de Dorlodot Richard Brezina* Stanislav Mayer Antoine Girard Gaspard Petiot Nelson de Freyman Benoit Outters* Sebastian Huber Manuel Nuebel

Currently, Glen Stevens has the best flight on XContest. His 120.79km open distance flight, on his Skywalk Spice, has scored him 150.99 points)

Among the various changes, it is important to note that difference in how scoring works. There are four categories of flight that can be scored. Each of these carries a different points weighting.

The system will automatically decide which category your flight fits into, to optimise your points.

Free Flight (distance over 3 turn points) = 1 point per Km Open Distance (distance between two points) = 1.25 points per Km Flat Triangle (distance over 2 turn points, with a closure) = 1.5 points per Km FAI Triangle (as per FAI definition) = 2 points per Km The XC Championship is based on your best three highest scoring flights – that’s unchanged.

Another change to watch out for is that flights need to be submitted within 30 days of the flight itself – this has always been a rule but was never actively enforced.

The NZ paragliding rules will be updated, at the same time as the cutover, to reflect these changes.

You will also notice some new categories of competition, which are just for fun. These are: The Wandering Kiwi – this includes flights not in New Zealand The Club Competition – based on the best three flights from the highest scoring 5 pilots per club.

The Open Distance category is merely a different display, showing all the flights based on their Open Distance Kms. We also have categories for only Women’s and Tandem flights Before you submit your first flight to the NZ Competition (and we appreciate you doing this before the cutover – it helps us test) then you need to register. This is a painless process but contact the PCC if you have any trouble. When you submit the flight, ensure that the tick box is checked so that it is submitted to the NZ competition, and not only the World version of XContest.

Hang glider pilots are also very welcome to use xcontest.org/newzealand Any flights submitted before the end of March 2017 will enter the pilot into a draw to win a Spot Tracker, donated by MacPara New Zealand. You are still welcome to continue using Leonardo, if you like, but only flights on XContest will be counted towards the XC Championships.

Finally – thanks to our sponsors, MacPara, Paraventures and Infinity. Please click one of their adverts on the site.

We hope you enjoy the new platform – and we welcome your constructive feedback via nzhgpapcc@googlegroups.com See you in the bomb out.

- Johnny Hopper and Tim and Cameron of the PCC (The PG Comp ladder is on page 31)

Argentina Australia Austria Austria Austria Austria Belgium Canada Czech Republic France France France France Germany Germany

Pal Takats Aaron Durogati Tobias Grossrubatscher* David Liano Gonzalez* Ferdinand van Schelven Nick Neynens Michal Gierlach* Toma Coconea Evgenii Griaznov Duncan Kotze* Chikyong Ha Christian ‘Chrigel’ Maurer Krischa Berlinger* Gavin McClurg Jesse Williams*

Hungary Italy Italy Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Poland Romania Russia South Africa South Korea Switzerland Switzerland USA USA

* First-time competitors The 2015 edition saw 19 of the 32 competing athletes make the goal – a record number since the first race in 2003. Incredibly, 12 rookies crossed the finish line, including athletes from the USA, Korea, New Zealand and elsewhere for the first time in history.

TWO Wildcard Athletes added The line-up for Red Bull X-Alps 2017 just got even more interesting. The race committee has announced two wildcard athletes to join the world’s toughest adventure race. Spanish adventurer Jose Ignacio Arévalo Guede and Mitch Riley from the USA will be added to the line-up of the race that challenges athletes to hike or fly a straight-line distance of more than 1000km across the Alps.

The first wildcard goes to Mitch Riley from the USA, a 32-year-old paragliding Gavin McClurg USA2. Photo; Vitek Ludvik, Red Bull Content Pool instructor with a strong background in mountaineering and climbing. It might be his first Red Bull X-Alps, but he’s certainly no stranger to competition. With an impressive portfolio of contest victories, including two US national championships, Riley has hiked and flown all around the world.

The second wildcard athlete is Jose Ignacio Arévalo Guede; a firefighter by profession and the only Spaniard in this year’s race. He too has had an impressive few years on the contest circuit, with several wins at Spanish national competitions as well as further afield. His trekking, canyoning and rock climbing experience, combined with his familiarity of the Alps could give him an edge in the upcoming race.

The Prologue will return in 2017! The first three athletes each gain an additional Led Lenser Nightpass and a five-minute head start on the main race start. In 2015, Paul Guschlbauer (AUT) won the Prologue in 2 hours 21 mins.

Swiss athlete Christian Maurer, however, won the Red Bull X-Alps 2015 race in the time of 8 days, 4 hours and 37 minutes. It was his fourth successive win – and a new record. Could 2017 see athletes like Sebastian Huber or Paul Guschlbauer end Maurer’s reign as Red Bull X-Alps champion? Only one thing is certain – anything could happen!

Of course NZ will be watching Nick Neynens who made such a strong showing in the last event.

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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 ■

MOTOR Paragliding BLACKBIRD Paramotor. NZ designed and made. High performance comfort.

Intro pricing $9350 email: paradynamics@xtra.co.nz www.paradynamics.co.nz Ph. 03 325 4540.

PARAMOTORING - exclusive Miniplane and PAP motors - SkyWings for courses and equipment - www.skywings.co.nz or phone Alan 09 570 5757 HANG GLIDERS WANTED Wills Wing Sport2 155, Sting 3 154 or similar for 65-67kg pilot. Also harness & chute for height 174cm. Contact Stephen phone 027 223-8459, email fergusonlandscape@outlook.com ENTERPRISE Wings Desire 151; Has WoF from last year and happy to gain one this year if I find a buyer. Good condition for age and well looked after, includes manual and wheels on base bar. Two spare uprights $600 ono. Phone 021 806 390 Reece, or email Reece Fisher r_fisher33@Hotmail.com WILLS Wing U2 160 Excellent condition glider. Great handling and performing intermediate/advanced wing. Has had one careful owner, flown approx 150 hours since purchased new in 2012. Recent WOF. Dacron sail with Hydranet trailing edge, sail is tight and flying in perfect trim. Well looked after, sail is still crispy with UV/weather coating application, Phone 027 670 8301 email skyriderag@gmail.com SKYFLOATERS; New and used sales; Fun, Falcon, fully strip checked, test flown and trimmed, trade-ins considered, contact Bill at 03 326-6411 or aero@xtra. co.nz for more info.

LITESPEED 4 and 4S parts. All in very good thru to near new/excellent condition. 1 Litespeed 4 mylar sail. 1 set carbon outboard leading edges. (to fit 4 or 4S) 1 set 4S carbon inboard sprogs and cables. 1 set 4S alloy outboard sprogs and cables. Other stuff; Miscellaneous LS4 alloy battens (with spring tips), Alloy inboard leading edges (condition to be confirmed) Phone for details/prices/ availability Guy 027 242 8328 Kiwi Flyer complete apart from 2 damaged leading edges. Everything else in good condition. To sell for spare parts. Make an offer. Phone 03 326-6411 or 021 247 2676 or email aero@xtra.co.nz.

INSTRUMENTS BRAUNIGER IQ One Plus $320, comes with paragliding leg mount. Contact Rick 021 682 766 rick.hawkeswood@ihug.co.nz Flytec/Brauniger, Digifly, Aircotec, Oudie flight instruments, basic varios to full GPS flight computers. Large range and new models in stock now. Phone or txt 021 247 2676, email aero@xtra.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

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MOTOR HANG Gliding MOSQUITO NRG motorharness, very tidy with very low airtime, all the usual features such as electric start, plus folding carbon propellor, stainless auto carabiner, extra fuel tank, and reserve parachute if required. Phone 021 247 2676, email aero@xtra.co.nz AIRTIME motor harness, late model, fit larger pilot, 8 hours airtime, Folding prop, Tiny tac, Tuning lights, 2 owners, contact 03 326-6411 or email aero@ xtra.co.nz for info.

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 EMPLOYMENT TANDEM Pilots wanted for 115 Operation. PGTC preferred. Professionals only please. CV2 wanakaparagliding@gmail.com.

CORONET Peak Tandems Ltd, Queenstown, are looking for tandem hang gliding and paragliding pilots. Call 021 220 5932 INSTRUCTION NELSON Hang Gliding Adventures HG training course Beginner and Novice rating. Call Glenn to register interest. 03 548 9151 or 027 275 1022, gmeadows@ clear.net.nz HANG Gliding/Skyfloating. Experienced instruction in Christchurch using the latest skyfloater hang gliders and equipment, Phone Bill 021 247 2676, 03 326 6411 a.h., email aero@xtra.co.nz and www.hgpg.co.nz Lost & found AIRCOTEC XC-Trainer Easy vario/GPS, serial number 1473. Went missing from the Blenheim area approx two years ago. Phone 03 577 8886 or email john. urlich@nzdf.mil.nz

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

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PARAGLIDERS INDEPENDENCE Dragon 2, DHV 1/2, size medium (85-105kg). Very good condition and very low hours. New WOF. Ideal first glider. $900. Phone 027 530 7017 steve_nz@hotmail.com PARAMOTOR wings - Macpara has it covered from multipurpose free flight wings Muse and Eden 6, to dedicated reflex paramotoring with The Charger, Blaze GT and Paradox Racer. Tandem Pasha 5. Trike flying T-Ride. For info on your next paramotor wing contact nick@macpara.co.nz tel: 03 545 0766 mobile: 021 420 742 NOVA Phantom - www.nova.eu/en/gliders/phantom/- a new class in paragliding - top end Triton 2 performance with low B safety - 99 cells - very expensive, very special - phone Alan 09 570 5757 OZONE Paragliders www.flyozone.com - awesome new models - 25 years bringing you the best wings - email alan@skywings.co.nz NOVA Paragliders - www.nova.eu - 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 at 09 570 5757 ADVANCE paragliders by Infinity Paragliding. Check out the new Advance Epsilon 8 - mid range EN-B, the Iota - high performance ENB, and the new PI 2 and Easiness 2 lightweight mountain kit. 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

NZ Paragliding Ladder Top Places Apologies for those further down the table, we ran out of space;- Ed.

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www.skywings.co.nz

www.nova-wings.com

www.flyozone.com

Phantom New class

99 cells low B Ion 4 safety Triton 2 performance https://www.nova.eu/ en/gliders/phantom/ low EN B As much performance and handling as you can get in a first glider. The perfect beginner intermediate glider.

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. This is the new performance reference for high B gliders

PPG - EN C

Lightweight Zero 2

EN low 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.

PARAMOTORING SPECIALISTS 24 years motoring & teaching Our level of experience means everything when you learn to motor www.papteam.com www.miniplane.net

HARNESSES Exclusive importers of Nova & Ozone Paragliders and Sup’Air and Ozone harnesses like the Ozone Ozium - 2.5kgs

MINI WINGS

Miniplane - under 20kgs NZ’s most popular motor

Twice the fun, twice the flying, half the price! Perfect your groundhandling skills. Huge fun for soaring and strong day thermalling. We are the Ph: 09 570 5757 Cell: 0274 98 2345 email: alan@skywings.co.nz specialists with 20 years on the smallest wings wings. www.skywings.co.nz