Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999

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Press Release - For Immediate Release

Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999 Report - Day Eight 30th October 1999

Joel Rebbechi Wins National Hang Gliding Competition

After convincingly taking out the Brazil Nationals just three weeks ago, Joel Rebbechi of Sydney dominated this years Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic Hang Gliding Competition. Joel won 3 of the 7 tasks and was in the top five each day.

Second place went to the current National champion and flying buddy, Kraig Coomber, also of Sydney.

Last year's winner, Rohan Holtkamp of Ballarat, came third. Kraig, Joel and Rohan were all flying the recently released Australian glider, the Moyes Litespeed.

Local pilots, Bernard "Speedy" Gonsalves, and Tony Knight dominated the "Race" class of glider. The "Race" class does not feature all the latest innovations of the developmental "Open" class.

The final presentation was held at the end of the day, in the convention rooms at major sponsor Conrad Jupiters in Broadbeach.

For day results, please click here.

Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999 Report - Day Seven 29th October 1999

Hang Gliders Fly Across the Border

The task today was for the 83 hang glider pilots entered in the Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999, to fly across the Lamington National Park, along the Border Ranges separating NSW and Qld, past Mt Lindsay on the Mt Lindsay Highway, and down into Woodenbong in NSW. The views were spectacular with many of the waterfalls along the escarpment in full flow after the recent rains. Only five of the gliders made it all the way to the goal at Woodenbong, with another four getting across the border but landing short of Woodenbong.

Veteran Steve Moyes, won the day with a time of two hours and three minutes. All five pilots to make goal have represented Australia in world championship team events in the past, except for newcomer, Jon Durand jnr of Beechmont who is only 18 years of age, and is showing tremendous talent in this competition.

The result is also a tribute to the success of the Australian manufacturer, Moyes Gliders, with four of the gliders in goal being their recently released Moyes Litespeed glider, and the fifth their previous model, the Moyes CSX, flown by Mike Zupanc of Southport.

Joel Rebbechi continues to lead the competition, having stayed in the lead since day one.

For day results, please click here.

Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999 Report - Day Six 28th October 1999

Competitors Surf Convergence Cloud for 50 km

A rare weather phenomenen today provided a lucky handful of pilots with a spectacular ride for over 50 km. At 1:30 pm, a sea breeze convergence front pushed its way inland. A "gaggle" of 16 hang glider pilots who were soaring above Beechmont at the time, were able to "catch" the wave of cloud and ride it inland, all the way to Boonah. As the front pushed through, pillars of cloud would form to the the west, and the hang gliders would fly west to stay above and in front of the wave. The 50 km journey took about two hours.

Today's race saw the return to form of the National Champion Kraig Coomber, 23 of Sydney. Kraig was first into goal with second place getter, Michael Jackson, 26 of Canungra only five seconds behind. Third place getter was fellow Canungra pilot, Dave Redman, age 36. Joel Rebbechi is still the overall leader.

For day results, please click here.

Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999 Report - Day Five 27th October 1999

Rain and Storms Make Flying Unsafe

The weather forecast was for unstable conditions which can produce excellent flying. However, the conditions were too unstable, and the thermal activity was so intense that large rain and thunder storms developed. The competition safety committee convened and requested the day be cancelled to ensure the safety of all competing pilots. Not long after the cancellation the launch was engulfed by heavy rain and thunder.

The 85 pilots from around Australia went back to Canungra and put on a show of entertainment acts to the great amusement of the local population. The Red Faces show was performed at the Moriarty Community Hall. It is a regular feature of the Canungra Classic, and each year the acts show great ingenuity, great entertainment and very little talent.

Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999 Report - Day Four 26th October 1999

Veteran Pilot Shows His Style at Hang Gliding Competition

Steve Moyes, 46 of Sydney, showed his natural talent at today's National hang gliding championships in South East Queensland. In a surprise move, Steve Moyes offered to swap gliders for today's race with struggling local competitor, Glen Macleod, who is currently ranked 14th in Australia. With the brilliance that won him the 1983 world championships, Steve beat the entire field including National Champion Kraig Coomber 23 of Sydney, and World Record holder Rohan Holtkamp 35 of Ballarat.

Today's task was to fly 58km from Mt Tamborine to Rathdowney and back to the airstrip at the Kooralbyn hotel and residential resort. The lighter winds made the flying easier, but high level cirrus clouds prevented the full heat of the sun from producing strong thermals, and a layer of hot air at the 1200 m altitude limited the height of the thermals. Steve landed about 10 km short of the day's goal.

For day results, please click here.

Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999 Report - Day Three 25th October 1999

Strong westerly winds proved very challenging for the 83 pilots competing in todays round of the Classic. The course was around 45 km, finishing at Hope Island on the Gold Coast. 25 pilots completed the course with another 10 landing just short. This was the first time pilots have been able to head east from Mt Tamborine to the coast, with a corridor free of commercial air traffic maintained for the duration of the day. The winner for the day was current leader Joel Rebbechi with previous world champion Steve Moyes coming a close second.

For day results, please click here.

Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999 Report - Day Two 24th October 1999

Rain, Storms and Sun in One Day of Hang Gliding

The morning on Mount Tamborine was drenched with rain squall after rain squall. However, just as everyone was about to pack up and go home, the sun came out and a round was called. A 48 km task was set that had pilots flying up and down the Tamborine ridge and then a final leg to Hillview. Competition officials were keeping a close eye on the eight storm cells that could be seen in every direction around the course. Fortunately none developed directly over the course line.

The northerly winds were making launch conditions challenging on the west facing launch. Many pilots experienced extreme wind rotor as they attempted to leave the hill. Eventually, at 3pm, the conditions became dangerously turbulent and the officials closed the launch.

The pilots who chose to launch early in the day were the winners. Local pilot Gary Davie was so confident of his launch timing, he exercised his PUSH option on launch to force a decision from pilots ahead of him in the launch line. The strategy proved successful and he managed to launch at the optimum time, skimming the first turnpoint sector, and returning on the second leg. He landed soon after but achieved the best distance of the day (5.3 km).

Previous Australian team member Michael Zupanc of Southport was the only other pilot to make turnpoint, but he was unable to make any progress on the second leg.

There were no scores for today's round, but click here for a view behind the scenes.

Day One Winner - Joel Rebbechi

Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999 Report - Day One 23rd October 1999

Low Cloud Challenges Australia's Top Hang Glider Pilots

Better weather than forecast allowed a task to be set on the first day of the Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999 hang gliding competition. A 45 km task was set from the Flying Fox valley near the Lamington National Park, across O'Reilly's towards Rathdowney and culminating near Lake Maroon. The field of eighty-three gliders is the largest ever to assemble at Canungra, making it currently largest Australian competition. Cloud base was low, and scattered showers made conditions difficult. Only seventy-three pilots of the field were able to launch in the conditions.

Joel Rebbechi, 23 of Sydney, has entered this competition fresh from his win at the Brazilian Nationals two weeks ago. Today he narrowly beat last year's winner, Rohan Holtkamp, 35 of Ballarat. The successful pilots of the day waited for several hours on launch to pick the best time to launch which was about 3pm.

Click here for results.

Press Release 17th October 1999

National Champion to Compete in Canungra

The 1997 Canungra champion, 1998 second place getter and Australian National Champion for the past two years, Kraig Coomber, 23 of Sydney, has filed a last minute entry into the Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999. Kraig has had a break from competitive flying since the end of last summer, missing the world championships in Monte Cucco, Italy during August. However, he has decided to start competitive flying again with this year's Canungra competition. He will be flying the successful Australian designed Moyes Litespeed glider, which last week achieved first and second place at the Brazil Nationals.

However, he will be facing stiff competition from last years winner, Rohan Holtkamp, 35 of Ballarat, who will also be flying the Moyes Litespeed glider. Rohan has narrowly missed the number one position on the Australian ladder for the last three years. In the mean time he has achieved two speed and distance world records for out and return flights, flying the treachorous Great Australian Bight near Eucla.

Also contending for the Canungra crown, is the designer of the Moyes Litespeed, and last years 3rd place getter, Steve Moyes, 46 of Sydney. Steve, a previous world champion, was the highest placed Australian at the 1999 Monte Cucco world championships.

The dark horse to watch will be newcomer Jon Durand jnr, 18 of Beechmont. Jon lives close to one of the launches used during the Canungra competition and has been training extensively. Last year he narrowly missed making the Australian team, and since then his skills have continued to improve under the guidance of his father, Jon Durand snr 44, the former Australian coach. Currently, he and his father are ranked 12th and 11th respectively in Australia.

Other contenders are Joel Rebbechi, 23 of Sydney, leading pilot in the Brazil Nationals last week; Grant Heaney, 37 of Canberra, 1997 National Champion; Tove Heaney, 31 of Canberra, first woman to compete for Australia in the world championships; and James Freeman, 34 of Hobart, who has rapidly advanced to the Australian top 10.

Press Release 15th October 1999

World Class Hang Gliding Comes to Queensland

Eighty-one of the nation's pilots will compete in the Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic - one of the world's premier cross-country Hang Gliding events. The Classic is the largest competition of its kind in Australia with competitors from Holland, New Zealand and South Africa also participating this year. The majority of pilots will be flying Australian manufactured and designed gliders which have dominated the world competition scene since its inception. They will be competing against new designs from Italy and Ukraine. This event is one of the top two AAA competitions in Australia used to select the national team.

Cross-Country flying is a unique aerial competition where pilots climb up to 10,000 feet before navigating a set course in the fastest possible time.

The pilots are required to use GPS or photographic evidence to verify their flight path and turning points. The GPS verification system was developed locally and introduced at Canungra last year. It has proven so successful that within months of last years Classic, the Canungra system was used for the Australian Nationals, the US Nationals, the Canadian Nationals and the German League, as well as minor competitions in each of these countries. The FAI are rewriting their rule book to allow the system to be used at future world championships.

The competition will host Open and Women's divisions. The women are eligible and capable of taking out the Open trophies. Tove Heaney, who will be competing at Canungra, found herself in the Australian Open team at the last World Championships by ranking 7th overall on the national ladder.

Previous world champion and regular Canungra competitor, Steve Moyes from Sydney, who is the only pilot in the world to have competed in every World Championship since they began 20 years ago, is just one of the competitors hoping for success at the Classic. Also competing are current World Record holders Rohan Holtkamp of Ballarat, and Tove Heaney of Canberra, and previous World Record holder Drew Cooper of Canungra.

Conrad Jupiters Casino Betting On "The Classic"

Timed to follow on from the excitement of the Gold Coast Indy Carnival, the "Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999" will incorporate more of the fun the area has to offer. With the presentation night to be held at Jupiters on the final Saturday, Pilots will be offered special accommodation packages at the Hotel to finish off a great week of flying. Although if past nightclubing activities are followed then you probably won't need to book a room at all.

If you can only get to one comp this year then this is the one.

Entry Details

Competition Dates: 23-30 October 1999
Registration: 22 October 1999 Moriarty Hall between 10 am and 6 pm. Phone 07 5543 5868

Venue: Canungra Area, SE Queensland. (check link for accommodation facilities)

Experience Requirements:

Intermediate or Higher, Hang Gliding or Paragliding
(Mt Tamborine is rated Paragliding Intermediate with Advanced supervision)
(Mt Tamborine is rated Hang Gliding Intermediate)

GPS mandatory for full scoring potential on last day.
(Garmin or Aircotec Top Navigator).
(Rental GPS units will be available for $50.)
Databack camera backup allowed on all but last day.
Parachute recently repacked.

GPS track log evidence or unambiguous camera photographic evidence (at scorer's discretion) can be used to determine the closest position a pilot flies to the next turnpoint or goal, even if the pilot flies back to a safe position for landing.

Pilots may swap between two gliders of different classes during the competition, but they must nominate both gliders before the first flying day, and the higher performance glider will determine the class they will be scored in. Other glider changes during the week due to damage require approval as per Competitions Manual.

Cheque payable to "Canungra Classic"

Closing date: 30th September 1999

Late entries possible after this date ($30 late fee)
All entries after 31st August 1999 may be subject to a maximum entry limit.

Email Enquiries: D Tim Cummings (tim@eis.net.au)
Phone Enquiries: Glen Macleod 07 5543 5716
Postal Address: PO Box 116 Canungra 4275

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More Information

Read the GPS Users Guide

For accessories for your GPS check out Brian Sommerville's web page http://www.ozemail.com.au/~bsommer. Plugs for Garmin GPS will be available during the competition from the scorer.

Pilot List - Currently entered pilots

National Ladder Before Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic 1999

This year the Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic is rated AAA, making it one of the top two scoring competitions in Australia this season. National ladder points of up to 450 are available at this competition. All pilots from the national team will be here.

Conrad Jupiters Canungra Classic uses GAP