Organisers of the New Zealand Paragliding Open (NZPO) couldn’t be happier to have chosen Wānaka for last week’s competition, and neither could the locally-based overall competition winner who got the satisfaction of winning on his home turf. 

The annual paragliding competition - which is held in a handful of locations around New Zealand - ran for seven days ending on January 14, in what NZPO media representative Kylie Parkes said were “some of the best paragliding landscapes in the world”. 

Between the location, weather and excellent turnout of 70 competitors from all over the world “it was non-stop smiles and excitement for seven days,” she said.

“Close communication and a huge amount of access and cooperation from local landowners, airport users and local heli operators also massively contributed to our successful event.”

Local paraglider and NZPO 2023 national champion Mark Hardman receiving his trophy.

Each day competitors took on a new and challenging ‘task’ or competition event.

“The biggest and most challenging was the task from Coronet Peak up over the Motutapu/Matukituki Valleys and landing in Wānaka,” Kylie said. 

“It was an excellent challenging line over the mountains for those who have never flown it, with a potential long hike out for anyone landing short.”

After five tasks Wānaka’s Mark Hardman earned the top spot as the overall winner for 2023.

The highly experienced paragliding instructor recently took some time out from teaching to devote more time to his own flying, which paid off at the competition.

The NZPO’s tasks had paragliders competing high above the local landscape.

“He is an incredibly calculated pilot who can sneak up from behind ridgeline tussocks and glide past seemingly effortlessly, as if he has hydrogen boosters,” Kylie said. 

“Mark is known for his precision, both in his teaching and in his flying - he pilots his wing so precisely it is like watching a flawless ballet.”

Mark, who Kylie also described as “forever helpful” and a huge contributor to the sport, celebrated his success at last weekend’s prizegiving alongside second and third place overall winners Jorgen Andersen (France) and Phil Hystek (Australia). 

The women’s overall winner was Julia Jauss (Germany), while Laetitia Bottolier (France) took second and Jessica Green (USA) earned third place. 

Seventy competitors from all over the world took part in this year’s competition.

Kylie thanked everyone who made this year’s event a success.

PHOTOS: NZPO