Well another PG Season has past us by. After Bright and Corryong The Niviuk AU Team came up trumps.
With three of us with the new Aussie colour gliders Wesley, Che and Andrew with the other two Gareth and Dave going for the Niviuk Cobolt colour scheme .

All Photos were taken by Heidi Krueger

Che Launching from Ray's at the Pines

Bright being a AAA HGFA Sanctioned, FAI Cat 2 competition started at the Pines launch North of Bright. The task took us weaving through CTAF and Albury approach airspace out to the north west to a small area called Rowen Lake out at 63 kms. Andrew came in second for the day while Che and then Gareth came later into goal.

Andrew Launching at Ray's with his Niviuk Drifter Harness

The second Task was from Mystic Hill in Bright and was an interesting task being different from the usual with Che Golus's influence on the Task Committee. We has a multiple Turn point task using most of the valleys in close to Bright and returning back to the Porpunkah Airport with a distance of 53 kms. The day ended up with changing leaders and different tracks being explored. Che was out front with other pilots as Andrew and Gareth caught up over Clearspot as we then attempted to get over to the other side of the valley. We experienced a localised valley convergence coming up to the  second turn point up the valley when we all started getting low, really low. We managed to get back up after dropping off some competitors and after another two turn points we made it in. Gareth in 1st then Che in 2nd and soon after Andrew in 5th place.

Che checking out the under carriage of the competition

Task three we headed off to Gundowring, a launch in the Keiwa Valley. The day was a late one as we held off at Bright for some time. So when we got there there was a two turn point task down the valley to Mt Beauty airstrip. The day was not looking to good but once we got up above the hill it was a day of increadiable lift. We experienced wave lift on coarse and many pilots has difficulty staying under the height limit of 8500 ft. There were many occasions where there were pilots spiralling to stay under. The team had mixed results as Andrew was found to of broken the height limit even after spiralling strongly while Gareth and Che both made it through. We all made goal but only two scored, Gareth in 1st, Che in 2nd and Dave and Andrew made it to goal but scored 0!

Gareth 1st Che 2nd in Bright 2013

Overalls came in with Gareth in 1st, Che in 2nd, Andrew 12th and Dave in 34th. Wesley couldn't make it to the comp but sent his congratulations through to us all. Full results can be found at http://www.highcloud.net/xc/comp_result.php?comPk=82

Che and Andrew competing for room at Mt Elliott, Corryong

Corryong being a AAA HGFA sanctioned FAI Cat II competition was run the next week after Bright. With only one day for travel and then back into competition mode everyone was keen to hit it hard. They were not disappointed as we went up to Mt. Elliott and it was looking like a great day. A 79 km task was set from the launch to a turn point to the south, back over launch then onto a point with a large turn point to the north and back to the Khancoban Airstrip after an end of speed section just before goal. This end of speed section allows pilots to speed into a point with altitude thus allowing a greater window of safety, you still need to get to the goal to achieve the task!  Gareth was in 2nd, Andrew in 5th, Che just dropped short of the goal after getting the end of speed section but got a respectable 18th while not having a great day, Dave equal 37. Another Icepeak 6 Pilot came in first showing the dominance of the IP 6's. Well done Brian Webb.

Andrew has the Full Niviuk Package!

The second Task at Corryong was called and as everyone was setting up and the safety committee was watching the skies the day was cancelled due to rain on cause after the window was opened.

The third task was set. A 95 km triangle was set as there was not much wind. The team was pumped a ready for a big day. Che was in the task committee and was keen to push the pilots and the team for a good result. The task had an end of speed at the fourth turn point being the same as the first turn point and then a 9 km flight from end of speed to get to the goal at the Corryong Airstrip. A very challenging task!! Well the team were in good positions for the start and were off and racing straight away. The glides and speed of the Icepeak 6 gliders and the stability of the gliders at speed was a benefit with thermic conditions all the way.
Che and Andrew were out in front until just before the third turn point where Andrew got low and had to go off cause to get another low climb. While Che and Gareth hit the third turn point Andrew managed to get back up to 1800m. Then Che and Gareth glided over to the Mittamatight mountain as Andrew got the turn point and placed the hand brake on to ensure he got to goal. Che just got the End or Speed before Gareth by 2 minutes and both made the goal easily. Andrew came in 5th overall make it a great reward for being patient. Dave coming in at 60kms but not scoring for height violations like many other pilots.

Andrew dealing with a cross wind

Corryong was putting it on well for the pilots attending. there were a lot of smiles around on pilot faces and there was more to come. Task 4 was called from Mt. Elliott again and then off to the second turn point from the previous day at a road junction on the Murray Valley Highway to the south of the valley that Corryong is situated then back over launch to the end of speed being the same as the first task and then onto the Khancoban Airstrip, a 57 km out and return. The team discussed alternatives and decided it was prudent to go in the same direction that the majority of the field were going as it was expected to be slow to start. The main group went straight up the valley to the turn point. The team kept an eye on a rouge Kiwi pilot ahead and after a few glides noticed that the climbs were getting stronger so we started gliding more aggressively until we reached a climb just before the first turn point. we managed to overtake the other pilots here and Che and Gareth headed off ahead past the first onwards back towards the launch.

Boxing Kangaroo Niviuk AU Team Colours

 We all new that if can get back to Launch and get the climb there we were in goal so that became our target. With the advantage of seeing the climbs and glides that Che and Gareth were getting ahead Andrew decided to glide through some climbs to catch-up some distance. This paid off and all three of us got to the launch hill and climbed up. It was a little cat and mouse decision time and Che managed to get the jump on Gareth and Andrew. Andrew with a larger Icepeak 6 and a Drifter Harness as his weapons of choice was able to go a little faster and was braver keeping his speed on through strong rough lift over the back to get the end of speed first before Che, second by 13 seconds followed by Gareth 36 seconds behind Andrew. Another mention is that of Brian Webb flying an Icepeak 6 was in 3rd place by 19 seconds. So a great race in by the Niviuk Icepeaks!

Gareth 1st Andrew 2 nd Corryong 2013

Overalls for the Niviuk AU Team are in with Gareth in 1st, Andrew in 2nd, Che in 6th and Dave in 29th. Wesley again was not able to attend this competition. Full competition resulta are at :-
 http://www.highcloud.net/xc/comp_result.php?comPk=83

After the top Australian comps Che went to Manilla and has place first in the Manilla XC Camp a long distance comp. Che flew 1100 kms in five days and some of the team came along and flew with him on his epic week. Andrew Horchner and Andy Mc Murry flew with Che over three and four days supporting him to get to his outright win, finishing the comp with a new site record for Out and Return of approximately 140kms?.

Well done Team AU Niviuk a great season for Niviuk in Australia!!