Comps and Events, News

Wanaka Hike-and-Fly Race Roundup

28 February, 2024

The Wanaka Hike & Fly 2024 was blessed with great weather for three flyable days. Organiser Kinga Masztalerz reports on the fourth edition of this “exceptional” adventure race.

The event took place 16-18 February 2024 in Wanaka, New Zealand. It saw more overseas pilots than ever – and a handful of locals – exploring the spectacular backcountry of the Southern Alps.

The race is focused on adventure and challenges pilots of any level. Pilots must bag as many turnpoints as possible over three days: but they can choose which turnpoints they want to tag and in what order. Easier turnpoints score one point with further, technical turnpoints scoring two or more.

The pilots can stay close or go far, but they need to be careful: there is a 10-point penalty if they don’t arrive at the finish line before the end of the race.

To increase the fun factor and camaraderie – and to encourage pilots to go for adventures – there were two Night Turnpoints which carried a five point bonus for spending a night there. New this year was the Bivvy Bonus with Social Twist: one point for camping alone, with an extra point if with another competitor.

The terrain around Wanaka and its lack of roads means there are some areas where pilots have to continue unsupported, creating a unique format of competitive bivvy flying.

The Race

Day one started out inverted but developed into a stunning, fast-flying day with light, westerly winds and cloudbase up to almost 2,700m. Most pilots headed towards the Harris Range, Shotover and Richardson Mountains – as far as Lochnagar, Rob Roy Glacier and East Matukituki. Some flew further than ever before, deep into the mountains.

At the end of the day the Hidden Lakes Night Turnpoint hosted seven happy campers with comments like “unreal flying” and “one of the best flying days ever”.

Pilot position at the end of the first day proved crucial. The following day was a little windier in Shotover but better further to the east. Because of this, most pilots flew around Matukituki and Mt Maude, to spend a night in another Night Turnpoint: Pakituhi Hut.

The last day was flyable until early afternoon when the wind finally arrived. Most pilots took a more conservative line to ensure they made the finish before the 5pm deadline and nearly everyone made it in to goal.

Wanaka Hike-and-fly Podium — The podium: Johannes Marburger 1st (centre), Charles de Beaufort 2nd (left) and Emlyn Revell-Nash 3rd (right)

Top three

Johannes Marburger, 21, the youngest pilot in the race, won with a score of 45 points. He flew a great and very smart line on his first day and was the only pilot to tag the Rob Roy Glacier turnpoint as well as both Night Turnpoints.

Charles de Beaufort (FR) flew a bold, consistent race. He put himself deep, hiked like a machine and pushing forward relentlessly. On the first day he was the first in the air and led the front gaggle. Later, he landed deep in Devil’s Creek but somehow managed to fly out, using the shaded east faces at 6pm, and make it all the way to Hawea Flats. He hiked like a beast and flew a few wild flights all the way to Mt Saint Mary and back to Grand View. His impressive, adventurous and unapologetic flying earned him second place and the Best Flying Award.

Emlyn Revell-Nash, a Kiwi pilot living on the North Island, came to Wanaka a few weeks earlier to fly the area. His strategy of tagging high-value turnpoints without risking Night Turnpoints paid off and earned him third place.

The traditional Adventure of the Year award went to Jakub Rott. He landed at the very end of Shotover Valley and spent another day getting out of there through thick bush, deep gorges, boulders, rivers and waterfalls. Welcome to New Zealand backcountry, Jakub!

The MT Outdoors Mad Hiker title was awarded to Chris Adams. Chris finished his last flight of day two, 33km and +1,000m away from the Pakituhi Night turnpoint. Despite this, he still made it to the hut just three minutes before the night cut-off time!

The Fourth Edition

The Wanaka Hike & Fly has developed into an exceptional event. It not only provides support for newer pilots who want to give bivouac flying and racing a go, but is also an interesting race for more seasoned pilots. As Race Director, I hope we will have some female pilots participating next year.

Wanaka Hike & Fly first timer Josef Kral – one of our lower airtime pilots – won the Sportsmanship Award for showing great restraint in the face of competition when deciding not to fly. He said: “Join the race and enjoy the ride no matter how many hours you have flown or what gear you have.” He recommended making a Night Turnpoint a goal for the end of the day as they are “so much fun” and a chance to meet like-minded people. He said it’s a chance to learn something about yourself, have a unique experience, and create great stories.