NZ women paraglider pilots fly high

NZ women paraglider pilots fly high

11 March 2007

New Zealand’s top woman paraglider, Harmony Gaw, took third place in the female rankings of the Paragliding World Championships, which were held in New South Wales. Vivian Williams, formerly from Nelson, but now representing Australia, took out second position behind Petra Slivova from the Czech Republic. The world championships were contested by 150 paraglider pilots, including 32 women, from around the world.

The Kiwi team was placed 14th out of the 39 nations competing in the biennial event. Gaw, from Wanaka, placed 52nd overall, while Grant Middendorf, also from Wanaka, was 23rd, and Thomas Rold from Queenstown was 39th.

Bruce Goldsmith from Great Britain won the open event, while the Czech Republic won the top team placing.

“Tough conditions and wet weather meant fewer flying days and the days we did get were slow with low cloud base”, said Grant Middendorf commenting about the rains that had broken the drought in the area where the competition was being held. “Because of the rain the flying required loads of patience and determination”, said Harmony Gaw. The team also thanked the NZ Community Trust for providing assistance with airfares to the event.

Ewa Wisnierska, the German pilot who was sucked up to 10,000 metres in a thunderstorm three weeks ago while practicing for the world championships, was placed 96th.

Paraglider pilots catch thermals, which are rising currents of warm air, to gain height. In this competition the pilots navigated a pre-determined course using global positioning system devices, and the races resembled a three-dimensional yacht race.

ENDS