Tom Kellner, on his competition Aeros Combat hang glider, says reading the sky is the hardest part of the sport. Photo / Wendy Roberts
Tom Kellner, on his competition Aeros Combat hang glider, says reading the sky is the hardest part of the sport. Photo / Wendy Roberts
Reading the sky and looking for thermals is the most challenging thing about being a successful hang glider, according to Northlander Tom Kellner.
The Kāeo man won the New Zealand Hang Gliding Championship open division for the second year running.
The competition, in Murchison in January, involved more than20 top New Zealand pilots and a handful of international competitors.
The event has been held in Murchison for the past nine years. However, Kellner said this year’s conditions were challenging, with the cold and wet weather on the ground resulting in unstable thermals.
Kellner said consistency over the six days was the key to success, rather than simply winning on one day.
His success in winning the 2026 National Open Class qualified him to compete in the Hang Gliding Worlds in Italy in June 2027.
Northlander Tom Kellner (centre) won the 2026 National Open Class, followed by Abe Kemp (left) and Matt Barlow, both from Christchurch. Photo / Maree McNabb
Kellner represented New Zealand at the World Championships in Italy in 2019 and also qualified last year, but was unable to attend.
He hoped to find sponsorship to compete as part of the New Zealand team next year, as well as to attend a pre-worlds event in the same location this year, to help learn the conditions.
