This year's Australian Nationals were held at the 21st annual Bogong Cup, in Mount Beauty, Victoria.

Task 3: Launching in my Moyes Litespeed RS4 at Tawonga Gap
Photo by Lotte Barthelmes

This year’s event attracted hang gliding pilots from Austria, Germany, USA, Switzerland, Russia, Holland, Spain, Japan, and Australia.

We flew some fantastic courses that took us across the alpine region, crossing mountains and valleys, powered only by the thermals. We raced three fully valid tasks on our "3-Dimensional sail boat race" of: 119 kilometers, 124 kilometers, and 78 kilometers.

The last day ended up being the deciding day as we had some incredibly technical and turbulent air. Despite the rowdy conditions, you had to stay relaxed and composed to make tactical decisions. To add to the mind-game, I had a territorial Wedge-Tail eagle striking my right wing while I was circling up in a thermal just above the tree-tops. I gained about 1500 feet and two small holes to my mylar sail. But that final ‘low save’ got me the altitude needed to glide into goal and be one of nine to complete the course, and then win the cup.

This first-place result should strengthen my position for the Australian hang gliding team (thank goodness!), where the five top-Aussies travel to France in June for the World Hang Gliding Championships. I didn't have a good finish at the Forbes comp so I was glad to get back on track. I had a million excuses but I wasn't planning on blogging those!

Winning or losing, it's great to be flying the hang gliding competitions again. As always, it's great flying with friends, and meeting new ones. -It's a perfect way to discover the world.

The Dalby Big Air Competition in Queensland is the last of the qualifying comps coming up this March.

Until then, I'll continue instructing hang gliding here at Stanwell Park (Sydney) and try to sneak some free flying in when I can. Davis, Gerolf, and I have some dune gooning planned at Hill 60, Wollongong, for tomorrow.