Wanaka Hike & Fly By Kinga Masztalerz
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ew Zealand’s first Hike & Fly competition; Wanaka Hike & Fly, took place on the weekend of March 13-14 2021.
It took hundreds of work hours to create a fun, safe and challenging event for pilots at any skill level which would comply with all NZ regulations. Rules: the athletes can decide which turnpoints from the official list they cross and in which order. Easily accessible turnpoints give an athlete 1 point, further or more tricky ones 2 points and to make it more fun there is a 5 points bonus for sleeping at a designated Night Turnpoint. The athletes can stay close by or go for those far turnpoints but they need to be careful, there is an 8 point penalty if they don’t arrive at the finish cylinder before the end of the race! 40 spots filled quickly with a long waiting list. Finally because of travelling restrictions and other obstacles, 25 pilots participated
in the race. After a registration and main briefing in Edgewater Resort in Wanaka, Saturday greeted us with a perfect, calm and sunny morning. As we saw it was about to get more windy later in the day, we moved the race start to 8:30am, to give our pilots as much flying time as possible. From the start at Edgewater Resort, most of the athletes paced toward Waterfall Creek and Roy’s Peak with a few hiking in the opposite direction. From Roys Peak turnpoint the group spread again, some hiking the ridge toward Mt Alpha and taking off from there, others quickly gliding toward Wanaka and
Below right; Doug, Sanae and Kieran celebrating reaching the first turn point Below; elanie hiking toward Roy’s Peak turn point Photo Timmy Heather
10 A i r b o r n
Above; Pilots working lift at Treble Cone Right; The end of the first day from the Night Turnpoint photo Kinga Masztalerz
Below; Jesse and Nico on the last stretch to the finish line
