Media
World Hang Gliding Championships to be held in Forbes 2013!!
The Sydney Hang Gliding Club has been hosting hang gliding competitions at Forbes for the past 5 years consecutively.
Earlier this year we won bid to host the World Hang Gliding Championships in January 2013.
The FAI World Hang Gliding Championships takes place every two years. In 2007, Texas, USA hosted the event, in 2009 it was in Laragne, France, and in 2011 it's taking place in Monte Cucco, Italy.
Now it is Australia's turn to show the world's best pilots that Australia has a world-class site in Forbes, and is capable of putting on an incredible World Championship event!
100+ pilots from some 30 countries will compete in 2012. Each national team, comprising 4 to 6 of the country's top pilots, will participate, accompanied by a team leader, coach, and supporters.
Before the main event in 2013, Australia will hold the Pre-World's in Forbes in 2012. The Pre-World's is a mandatory competition for the World Championship. It allows the organisers to demonstrate that the site and the organisation are up to the FAI's exacting standards for Category 1 events. The FAI (Fédération Aéronautique International) is the airsports equivalent of the International Olympic Committee. A steward of the FAI will attend the Pre-Worlds and will report on the management of the event and capability to meet FAI requirements. They may make a number of minor recommendations to further improve the event for 2013.
The event will be called the FAI Hang Gliding Pre-World Forbes 2012 and takes place from 4th – 14th January, 2012.
The event starts with an official practice day (4th January, 2012), an opening ceremony (evening of the 3rd January, 2012) and 10 competition days, followed by a closing ceremony (evening 14th January, 2012) at which time the trophies and prize money will be awarded to the individual and team winners.
Each competition day the pilots will assemble at the Forbes Town Hall, the competition headquarters for a weather and task briefing. A course is set, depending on weather conditions, which may be in excess of 200km, taking in a number of 'turn points', and specifying a 'goal' landing field.
The competition will be held at the Forbes airport with the help of the Forbes Aeroclub. The pilots are aero-towed into the air by an ultra light aircraft called the Dragonfly. The Dragonfly is a purpose built ultra light for towing hang gliders. The pilots then fly the designated course which normally takes between 4-6 hours.
At the end of each day's task, pilots submit their GPS track logs to the scorers. Points are awarded for speed and distance around the course. The competition is won by the pilot and team scoring the highest cumulative score. Consistency is essential and the key to success.
Scores will be posted at the headquarters each day. Photographs, task reports and pilot reports will be posted on the website daily at www.forbesflatlands.com
Due to the hundreds of pilots and supporters descending on Forbes between late December 2011 and January 15th 2012, the demand on accommodation will be high.
In previous years, some families have decided to 'house swap' with Sydney residents, taking the opportunity to spend a few weeks at the beach!
Here are some words from Paul Bennett, who house swapped with The Moyes family from Coogee last year:
"Our family were given the opportunity to do a house swap with Greg and Vicki who live in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. We had never done anything like this before and thought if we don't do it now we never will, so we gave it a try. It turned out to be one of the best things we've ever done. Greg and Vicki had a fantastic house that was close to the beach, restaurants and shops. We spent a wonderful 2 weeks staying at their home last year.
Vicki's mother and father and some of the hang gliders stayed at our house. When we got home the house was neat and tidy and the neighbours commented that they hardly saw the hang gliders as they were out flying most of the time. House swapping is something that we would definitely do again."
Below is a testimonial from Mark Webb, a local Forbes electrician who has rented his house to Hang Gliders over the last few years:
"I really enjoyed having you guys stay in my place for your summer Hangliding Competition. I have always been happy with the condition my house has been left in. It has worked in well for me over the years, as I am a tradesperson and the building trade closes down over that Christmas- January period and obviously, the rent money helps out towards the costs of a holiday for me at the same time."
For any accommodation inquiries please contact Grace Cain at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or for any Forbes hang gliding inquiries please contact Vicki Cain at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Moyes Delta Gliders on 02 9316 4644.
Looking forward to seeing you all in January!
