Cowra’s Guy Hubbard has booked a ticket on the plane to Brazil for this year’s Hang Gliding World Championships in August.
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Hubbard qualified for the national team as one of Australia’s top six pilots following the Dalby Big Air tournament in early April – the final competition for pilots to accumulate points.
Ranked sixth ahead of the tournament, Hubbard faced some nervous moments after failing to make goal on the opening morning, crashing about five kilometres from start in a task almost 100 kilometres.
He regrouped for the remaining four tasks and finished in the top five in each, securing his spot in the top six and a place in the Australian team.
“There was two young blokes right on my tail. I was at the bottom of the six to go to Brazil and I stuffed up on the first day which left the door wide open for them,” Hubbard said.
“If I had an average day on day one I would have won the competition. I only made it five kilometres from the start. I shot out early and ended up decking it.
“I was in the six but it all depended on this last competition. I should have been a bit more patient but I was too keen.”
Nevertheless, Hubbard secured his spot alongside world number one Jonny Durand, Josh Woods, Michael Jackson, Steve Blenkinsop and Glen MacFarland.
The Australian side is ranked second in the world behind Brazil, coming off a bronze medal at the 2015 world championships at Mexico.
Hubbard is confident the Aussies can go better at Brazil in August, having competed at the location in the pre-World Championships – Hubbard, Durand and Woods were all part of this squad.
“We’re looking to make the podium at least. We came third at Mexico in the last worlds and third in the pre-worlds. The Brazilians will be hard to beat though, but we’ll give them a run,” he said.
At the Dalby Big Air tournament, Hubbard finished ninth overall after tallying 3591 points - 739 points from champion Josh Woods.
After scoring just 32 on day one he averaged roughly 889 points.
Points are allocated for a number of different recordings each flight – distance points, lead out points, time points and arrival points – and pilots are given the choice of taking off at either the first or second start gate.
”Everyone who makes goal gets the maximum distance points. Lead points shows who was out in front having a go. Time points works on the pilots lapse time to complete the task. Also arrival points are awarded for pilots who get to goal first. If you take the second start gate you might have a quicker time but it’s advantageous to go the first start gate and get their first,” Hubbard explained.
In the lead up to August’s world championships, Hubbard won’t have much opportunity to practice flying but will travel to Brazil 10 days early to get some flights in. The team of six will joined by a manager and two pilot reserves.
