AIR SPORTS LIVE ROUND UP

LAKE WANAKA, New Zealand (January 3, 2008) - Air Sports Live, incorporating the New Zealand Air Games, heralded the start of a new era in air sports competition and TV sports technology. The two day event brought competitive air sports to the public’s attention as never before. It concentrated 10 FAI air sports over one air space, over Lake Wanaka and New Zealand’s Southern Alps, and broadcast live over the internet on www.airsportslive.com. The event will also be seen by a potential TV audience of over 400 million people.

The speed gliding event off Treble Cone saw the first New Zealand victory with renowned extreme sportsman Chuck Berry taking a comfortable lead over Geraldo Bean of Argentina who in turn was just one second ahead of current world number one, Johnny Durant (AUS), despite flying a borrowed glider.

Mathieu Rouanet (FRA) left spectators and judges in no doubt as to why he is the current world number one in paramotoring. His spectacular precision flying, aerobatics and pure showmanship with team mate Laurent Salinas (FRA) earned him first place with Laurent in second.

The hot air balloons completed two tasks early on each of the mornings. Chris Johnson from Christchurch was the clear winner coming first in both the precision task on day one and the long distance task on day two.

The PG Acro event took place over Lake Diamond near Glencorchy against the spectacular backdrop of Paradise. Antoine Montant (FRA) amazed judges with his super smooth, extreme moves doing infinity tumbles, helicopters and big dynamic wingovers. Felix Rodriguez (SPA) came an extremely close second with Jonathan Barbe (FRA) taking out third.

Seventeen of the world’s top glider pilots, fresh from the World GP Gliding Championships at Omarama flew a task that saw New Zealander Ben Flewett go from first to last after missing a GPS turn point and Russian Vladamir Panafutin land out on a nearby vineyard. World champion, Sebastian Kawa (POL) took first place, closely followed by Uli Schwenk (GER). The three German competitors then performed a fly past in memory of Herbert Weiss who was tragically killed during the world championships earlier in the month.

One of the favourite events with the crowd was the Tiger Moth Le Mans-style race. Running from the start line while donning leather flying helmets and then spin-starting their machines, the all-Kiwi line-up completed three laps at speeds of up to 170kph. First overall was Ryan Southam, closely followed by Lachlan Falconer.

One of the main objectives of Air Sports Live was to open up the different air sports to the viewing public and this was perfectly achieved with sky diving. The up-close camera footage shown live on the big screen and over the internet showed the public just what incredible athletes these extreme sportspeople are. Vincent Reffet (FRA) of Team Babylon took the honours in the pylon racing having completed the most laps around the pylon while falling at terminal velocity. Cathy Bouette (FRA), also of Team Babylon, came second while Fabian Raidel (AUT) took third.

The swoop discipline of sky diving saw the competitors jumping out of a helicopter and flying towards the landing zone as fast as possible, reaching speeds of over 100kph just centimetres above the ground. Matt Harris (AUS) came first having travelled the furthest and fastest across the ground, followed by Cameron Rolfe (NZE) and Malachi Templeton (NZE).

The experimental aircraft competition featured three amateur-built planes completing four circuits of the course with a handicap start owing to the different performance specifications. Bob Gibson (NZE) in his replica Hawker Hurricane 5/8 scale took first place, followed by Kelvin Wright (NZE) in an RV7 and Giovanni Nustrini (ITA) in a Falco.

The helicopter precision flying competition showcased just how versatile these work horses are. Not often seen in competitive circumstances, the New Zealand pilots had plenty of fun showing the public what could be achieved. Local pilot, Simon Spencer-Bower came out top, followed by fellow Wanaka pilot, Andy Clayton.

The event finished with an awards BBQ in true Kiwi style where pilots were presented with medals and a special award was made to Wendy Smith as Outstanding Sports Person of the Event for her exceptional prowess in sky diving, both filming and photography as well as in an organisational capacity.

For further information, visit www.airsportslive.com.

Photos: John McCaw