Australia

Banish the northern winter blues and give your year the perfect kickstart at one of Australia's best and most accessible flying sites

We devote this issue's Gallery to the photography from this brilliant high-level competition

Manfred Ruhmer has become Hang Gliding World Champion for the fourth time after winning the World Championships in Australia.

The 19th Hang Gliding World Championships starts 7 January 2013 and promises nearly two weeks of non-stop racing in the skies above Forbes, Australia.

In the run-up to the Hang Gliding World Championships 2013, which start in Australia on 7 January 2013, Grace Cain interviews some of the key pilots from the competition. Today, multiple World Champion, Manfred Ruhmer from Austria

In the run-up to the Hang Gliding World Championships 2013, which start in Australia on 7 January 2013, Grace Cain interviews some of the key pilots from the competition. Today, Corinna Schwiegershausen from Germany

In the run-up to the Hang Gliding World Championships 2013, which start in Australia on 7 January 2013, Grace Cain interviews some of the key pilots from the competition. Today, longtime competitor and 2007 World Champion Attila Bertok from Hungary

In the run-up to the Hang Gliding World Championships 2013, which start in Australia on 7 January 2013, Grace Cain interviews some of the key pilots from the competition. Today, Alex Ploner from Italy, current World Champion.

The World Hang Gliding Championships kicks off on 7 January in Forbes, Australia and lasts for two weeks. We talk to some of the pilots involved. First up, meet director Davis Straub...