Long Gully Station became the Tarras International Paragliding Airport last week, as more than 70 pilots from New Zealand and overseas made it their main launch site for the New Zealand Paragliding National Championships.
Race director Tim Brown and organising committee member Louis Tapper were delighted with the weekâşlong event, the weather and the performance of the pilots, who were able to race five tasks over distances between 63km and 95km.
They were grateful for the support of farmer Dennis Nyhon, other Upper Clutha farmers who provided access for the event, and the local aviation community, because without their tolerance the event would not have been able to take place, they said.
ââThis was the most exciting and successful competition for 10 to 20 years. We are glad about the weather,ââ Brown said.
ââWe were able to use this worldâşclass paragliding place to its fullest extent, which we havenât been able to do for a while,ââ Tapper said.
Many paragliding pilots said they rated Wanaka in the worldâs top110 places to compete and fly.
The sport is self-funded in New Zealand, with about 1500 registered pilots with the New Zealand Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association.
Winners are awarded trophies and medals rather than prize money.
ââRacers say mountain flying here is unique, they told me âboy that was tough flying but it was scenicâ,ââ Mr Brown said.
ââEveryone asks me about New Zealand and they see the photos. For many, this week made it a reality,ââ Mr Tapper said.
Most talked about by the pilots was the audacious first day flight from Queenstown to Wanaka.
The launch off the back of Coronet Peak had not been done in national competition before.
It was a last-minute change to the programme after the Department of Conservation refused permission to race off from Treble Cone.
Mr Brown said the Coronet Peak launch was intimidating because if pilots landed for some reason, they faced walking for up to seven hours to return to civilisation.
Mr Tapper said he had been thinking about adding Coronet Peak to the championships for about seven years.
Everyone returned, though one pilot landed on Branches Creek Station and had to be picked up.
Jason Turner of Australia said he had flown in Wanaka many times and the new Coronet Peak task was his favourite.
ââI would never have gone off it, if it wasnât for the task. Flying over Raspberry Flat, very much from a scenic point of view, that was the best. And Dingleburn Station â that was insane,ââ Mr Turner said.
Tim Marshall, of Sydney, was a firstâştimer and said Wanaka was a ââstunning placeââ to fly.
ââWhen the competition was announced I said, I have to come. I had heard about the gorgeous mountains, how remote it was.ââ
His friend Daniel Fleming, of Byron Bay, also a firstâştimer, said he had an ââextraordinary experienceââ.
Hawkes Bay pilot Aaron Chesterman said the competition was on the ladder of qualifying events for the world championships in France in May.
He is one of up to four New Zealand pilots who has now amassed enough points to qualify for the world championships, but only three can go.
The other contenders are Mr Tapper, Richard Castro, of Christchurch, who is injured and did not compete this week and Mark Simpson, a New Zealander who lives in the United States and was also in Wanaka for the nationals.
ââIt has been great. We havenât had a competition for quite a few years now because of the weather.
ââWhen we have had competitions, we havenât been able to get enough days in to make them valid. To do five tasks in seven days is very good.
ââI did a bunch of competitions in Europe [last year] and most got three days in, and some got up to four. Getting five is a high standard,ââ Mr Chesterman said.
