NZ Paragliding Open Nelson 2021
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ighty one paraglider pilots (including a small number of overseas pilots who had been trapped in paradise since the beginning of COVID-19), their partners and drivers from around New Zealand enthusiastically descended upon the Mapua Leisure Park for the 2021 New Zealand Paragliding Open. The campground, which had notoriety for being a naturist retreat in its heyday, was an inspired choice by the organisers of the competition, Peter Allison and Lyn Watkins, as the place to locate the headquarters, as it meant that most pilots based themselves there and it made for a very sociable time.
Saturday 20 Feb Registration started at the Leisure Park on the Saturday afternoon, and a couple of seminars were also run on various topics. At six a compulsory safety briefing was held for all pilots in the hall, which was decked out with a multitude of flags from around the world (but also inexplicably included a NZ Railways flag). This briefing was followed by a yummy BBQ for everyone, overlooking the Mapua Estuary. This was organised and catered for by Dave Marriott, his daughter Ellie, and partners Clare and Ramon. They also did the curry night event and the prize giving meal, which were also amazing.
Sunday 21 Feb The day kicked off with an 8:30 am briefing on the weather and the announcement that we were heading to Takaka Hill. We headed off in a convoy with the compulsory stop at the bakery in Motueka and then the inevitable parawaiting. A cats-cradle task was announced racing started at 1:15pm. Hamish Barker “jumped the gun” by a
By Sven Ericksen
whopping 73 seconds. Obviously he didn’t look behind to wonder why no one else was chasing him to the first turn point! Twenty three pilots made it to goal, with Luke Nicol taking one hour and 23 seconds to complete the speed section. Twenty five pilots, however, misjudged their glide angles or were maybe overly optimistic as to the amount of lift that they would encounter after they left the hill on the final glide towards goal, and landed short.
Monday 22 Feb An early briefing at 8:00 am was called as Mt Murchison was posited as the place to be that day, and indeed it was. We were only given a few minutes after briefing to have all our stuff ready before the convoy headed off (and this time with a compulsory stop at the Wakefield Bakery for supplies). A rendezvous was made at Rait Road, where the compulsory feeding of the sandflies occurred, and we then headed up the mountain, with some of the vehicles struggling with overheating. The task committee rapidly organised a task taking us down the Tutaki Valley, crossing the Matakitaki River at the southern end, with the goal near the Mangles Valley Road turn-off. Race start was at 1:30pm and pilots split into two groups. The main group headed directly south to follow the western side of the valley, while a smaller group headed across the valley to the eastern slopes. Both groups had members of the top ten finishers, so both strategies seemed to work. Aaron Ford was the first pilot into goal, having taken two hours, ten minutes and 18 seconds, but Louis Tapper took first place in the rankings for the day, despite being
Right; Andy Maloney launching at Takaka Photo: Sven Ericksen
Below; First briefing at Mapua Leisure Park Photo: Sven Ericksen
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almost two and half minutes later, due to his significant lead-out points.
Tuesday 23 Feb We drove up to the top of Barnicoat and huddled in groups wishing we had more layers of warm clothing as low cloud scudded closely
overhead. At the briefing that was eventually called, Peter Allison, one of the organisers, caused a bit of mirth when he repeated Sven’s observation that “a NZ record for the greatest number of paraglider pilots all at cloud base at the same
