St Arnaud skies open to newcomers

Just 10 months after taking up gliding, Rudy Zondag has completed a three-hour solo flight. It took him around Lake Rotoiti and along the ridgeline on Mt Robert, so close, in fact, he could wave to hikers below, before circling back and doing the same across the St Arnaud range.

Next week, Nelson Lakes Gliding Club is giving locals the chance to experience the sport through a five-day introductory course starting 13 February. Based at Lake Station Airfield near St Arnaud, the club wel comes anyone aged 14 or older.

Rudy hopes younger people in particular will seize the opportunity. He says the club has a wealth of experience, including members from multi-generational gliding families, but the course is designed for those starting from scratch.

Spring and summer are ideal, he says, as heat from the sun boosts atmospheric energy and creates better flying conditions. At nearly 500kg, a double glider can stay airborne as long as conditions allow.

While new to gliding, Rudy has previously hang-glided and has flown micro lights and fixed wing aircraft.

“I found gliding the most challenging,” he remarked – noting that the landing can be tricky, and with no engine, it’s not like you can power up and go around for another try. But the rewards are worth it, and the best part, he says, is that anyone can do it.

Elevating

A typical launch begins with a long winch pulling the glider along the club’s 1500m strip, propelling it 500m into the air before the pilot disconnects. From there, pilots harness rising air currents such as thermals, ridge lift or mountain waves to stay aloft and explore the skies before returning to land.

Rudy says the course offers a chance for people to find out whether gliding is for them, and some may even reach the point of flying solo.

“I turned 65 just a couple of months ago,” he explained, “and … at my age, you see people around you that are falling over, and you think, ‘Man, if I want to go gliding, I have to do it soon er than later.’ And so, I’m really pleased that I made a move.”

And the views, he says, are magnificent. Pilots often take cameras on the journey. Club member Lon Kelly makes use of a 360-degree cam era, which stitches the photo together to create a single frame, and automatically removes the selfie stick, though not its shadow. sara

The club owns several gliders available for members to hire, helping make entry into the sport relatively easy.

Email [email protected] or check facebook.com/GlidingNelson for more information.