NZ Southern Fun 2021 Par T
he Christmas New Year period is a busy time for Louis Tapper and I as our, what’s becoming a ‘must do’ on the paragliding comps calendar, the NZ Southern Fun Paragliding Competition, has just been successfully completed.
We were greatly assisted by Doug Patterson who had been working hard to keep the sites in order and the landowners and other airspace users informed and this year, in order to accrue maximum points we elected for a 4 day competition from the 27th December and the ‘weather – gods’ played ball too after a bit of an ‘iffy’ forecast. COVID protocols complicated the organisation somewhat especially after the ‘traffic-light’ system was introduced in early December. It was decided to keep the competition open for all members and we were ably assisted by the hang gliding fraternity who put a Covid operation template together that we could copy. Quite a stressful time. The first safety brief was organised to be held outside and on the evening of the 26th it became apparent that Coronet Peak was offering the best chance of a first task and even that was a bit ‘iffy’, so everyone met outdoors, at the Flight Park, on Malaghans Road. This brief was preceded by a smaller presentation to the novice pilots so that they were able to get a heads-up on how to conduct a competition and especially to ensure they were able to load and program their instruments. Even though cloud hung low over the Peak it was decided that we should all go to Rocky Gully for a brief and wait to see how the forecast clearing weather would develop. It was a slow start. Sort of nice really. To alleviate crowding, pilots were permitted to walk up the ski-lift track if they so chose. We didn’t expect them to go so far!
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A task was set and a brief conducted (with a radio as well and a photo of the task board sent out) but the conditions were such that if you took off early it really looked like you’d pretty much do a ‘sleddy’. We waited. A local free-flyer pilot, Ben Kellett, showed us what could be done. The start race time was set for 3pm and most pilots got airborne within a short time before that. The air was surprisingly buoyant
and the race was on with a whole bunch of ‘Forestry block’ Trig and back to the access road ‘zig-zags’ passes with a few ‘out-to-Malaghans Road’ challenges to keep us busy. In all 43 pilots and 25km. Everyone safe and sound. What a great a day after such a grey start. Competitions often ensure you fly on days that one normally wouldn’t think were flyable. Task 2 was at Treble Cone. It was
Above; Flying towards Hawea Photo; Elizabete Varava
Right; Hawea corner peak aerial Photo; Doug Patterson
Below; Safety briefing at Coronet Peak Photo; by Chris Connolly
