19th FAI World Hang Gliding Cross Country Championship

Forbes, Australia will be hosting the 2013 World Championships for hang gliding!
The top 6 hang glider pilots from nations around the world will be invited to compete.

The race for the World Title is held every two years at different locations around the world. In 2013, Australia will host the worlds TOP 120 hang gliding pilots.

A hang gliding race is like a 3 dimensional sail-boat race, using a GPS to follow waypoints on a course. A typical day's race takes about 3-4 hours for the winner to complete. Typical distances at the 2011 Forbes competition were 160 to 320 kilometers each day. - and that's all without a motor!

To start /launch at the Forbes Flatlands hang gliders are towed up to 1000' to 2000' above the ground, where they release and use thermals to stay aloft, similar to a sailplane. Forbes in Central West NSW has consistently provided world-class soaring conditions since the 1990's. There's an international competition held each January Forbes also hosted the 1998 Hang Gliding World Championships.

Definately check out the video bid used to assist in landing the World Champs at Forbes with the FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale - The World Air Sports Federation).