NZ Champions 2010 - Wings & Waves takes the titles
Submitted by eva on Tue, 02/03/2010 - 11:09.
NZ Champions 2010: from left: Reuben Muir 2nd, Jeff Ripley 1st, Eva Walton 1st woman, Mark Hardman 3rd
The 2010 NZ Championships Paragliding were a great success: 7 days flying, 6 valid tasks, great flying. This was one of the best competitions we have ever had in NZ. Check out some photos!
Wings & Waves' Jeff Ripley is new (and old) NZ Champion 2010 on his GIN Boomerang 5, Wings & Waves' Reuben Muir is 2nd on the impressive GIN GTO prototype (2-3), Mark Hardman from QT is 3rd on his UP Proto. W&W's Eva Walton is NZ Woman Champion on her Swing Astral 6.24. Nick Stead on his Swing Astral 6.26 has won the NZ Champion Title for the sportsclass, which includes gliders up to LFT 2. Lisa Tobler won the LFT 1-2 class on her Swing Arcus. Is she a Swiss Champion in the making? But really, Kim Woodgate on his GIN Rebel blew us all away with a flight into goal on his first competition task ever. That was impressive and won him a special price.
Out of the 6 tasks, 5 of them were run from the Paoroa Range near Rotorua, one was from "Hickie's Bluff" nearby. The conditions varied every day, from rather strong Northerly wind, to light Southerlies coming over the back, which kept the competition interesting and challenging.
Reuben and Jeff being the most experienced competition pilots at the competition, were task setters and did an outstanding job setting interesting and safe tasks every day, so that we never felt we are doing the same thing. The tasks ranged from 22 km to 48km, with people in goal most days.
Typically, a lead gaggle of Jeff, Reuben, Abe Laguna, Sergey from Russia and Mark Hardman raced off ahead of the field. On some days, Evan or Derek could keep up with them. These pilots had turns winning the different tasks and were to fast for the rest of the field to stick with.
Reuben and Eva enjoyed the entire event hugely! For one, because we never get to fly XC ourselves during the season as we are usually busy teaching, so to pitch up, not having to organise anything and to fly 7 days in a row is an absolute treat for us. Reuben went into the competition with 1 day thermalling under his belt this season, Eva with 4 flights. More over, we were thrilled to see all our ex-students keen and skilled on different levels in this competition. While we don't take credit for all their skill, we still feel that our efforts teaching and trying to open doors and horizons for them during our courses and creating an environment which motivates may be paying off. It will motivate Reuben and Eva next time we are at the training hill teaching beginners how to launch! THANK you to organisers and all W&W pilots!
NZ Champions 2010 winners: from left Nick Stead, Jeff Ripley, Eva Walton-Keim, Lisa Tobler, Anand Srinivasan
Open Class Rotorua Open:
1. Jeff Ripley, GIN Boomerang 5
2. Reuben Muir, GIN GTO proto
3. Mark Harman, UP Proto
2010 NZ Championships after Nelson and Rotorua: 1. Jeff Ripley, GIN Boom 5
1. Woman Rotorua Open, Nelson Open and NZ Championships:
1. Eva Walton-Keim, SWING Astral 6
Sports Class NZ Championships:
1. Nick Francis-Stead, SWING Astral 6
As soon as I have the full result lists available, I will post them here, as well as a gallery of photos from the competition. Watch this spot.