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Name: | Geoff Wong |
| Glider: | Niviuk Icepeak 7 | |
| Flying For: | 15 years | |
| AU Rank: | 7 | |
| WPRS: | 373 |
1. Where do you mostly fly?
Bright.
2. Which pilots most influenced you?
Antje Daehler, Brian Webb, Fred Gungl, Ron McKenzie, Craig Collings and Garry Stevenson. All great pilots who have flown on the edge, at the top of their game, in their own individual ways. Antje for being my flying and life buddy for years and never-ever giving up on a day or task. Brian for always pushing hard and helping others around him improve, Fred for his awesome natural flying talent, Ron for his sheer joy of flying big, Craig for his pursuit of excellence and dominant flying and Garry because he's always keen to discover a new flying adventure.
3. Where and what was your most memorable flying experience, best flight ever?
I've had so many great flights, in different location, it's difficult to pick one.
The first was a great day in Bright, one of my early crossings of Tawonga Gap and flying north down the Kiewa valley to Tallangatta East with Antje.
The second that stands out is flying alone, vol-biv with all my Europe gear, from Castejon de Sos and over Andorra and south to Urgell. This was over some really high terrain in the Pyrenees on a strong day with consistent 8m/s climbs in terrain I'd never flown over previously.
The third was a flight from Laragne to Mens in France, another big day over terrain I'd never previously flown over, I even managed to hitch back to the camp ground in Laragne before midnight.
4. What is your favourite flying site in your State?
Bright.
5. What is your favourite site in Australia?
Bright.
6. What is your favourite site in World?
Laragne - le Chabre.
7. What is you favourite item in your flying kit and why?
SPOT - how did we ever get retrieved without these?
8. What do you believe to be your strongest flying skill?
Climbing / thermalling if I stay focussed. I know I've been able to climb with the best pilots in the world at various high level comps. Choosing the right thermals to climb in is another story....
9. What do you believe to be your weak link?
I actually like to fly for a long time and make the most of the day rather than flying fast and landing early.
10. What equipment do you use, Harness, Instruments, etc?
Icepeak 7 XS, Sup'Air Delight, Gin Yeti Reserve, Flytec 6030, XCSoar on a Kobo, SPOT, a radio, a bivvy bag, some water, sunnies, warm clothes, Nexus 4, Note 2, PlusMax helmet.
11. Best comp task you’ve flown so far, the most memorable?
First time I won a task in Bright (T3 2010) on the R09. Perhaps the most memorable was the Nordic Open (T4 2011) where I was 2nd across the line (by 2 seconds) on an R10.2 when most of the top pilots where on R11s or Boom 8s - good enough to scrape into a podium place.
12. Why do you fly?
The unforgettable feeling and challenge of navigating the awesome invisible power of the air, seeing the world from a unique perspective, meeting people who share a common passion in places you'd never travel to otherwise and having to be in the moment to fly well.
13. What are your personal flying goals?
Recapture the form I had in 2010/11, fly consistently fast rather than fast and inconsistently or consistently and slow. Fly at the top of my game for another 10 years at least.
14. What tips can you give to newcomers to the sport?
Fly a lot. Fly in different places and different terrain. Listen to and learn from people who have been in the sport for a long time.