Weird, wonderful set for take-off

Pania Sigley and Maryanne Hooson were the Supreme Birdmen of last year's Russell Birdman Festival, the event is back for another year. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Brave birdmen will be taking a leap of faith with bizarre outfits and flying contraptions.

The annual Russell Birdman Festival is back this weekend bringing winter-time fun to Northland as birdmen, with their wacky flying machines, launch themselves off the Russell Wharf.

Event organiser Pania Sigley said the idea for the festival started over a couple of beers.

"Toni and Phil Ball owned the i-SITE and he set up the Queenstown Birdman and we thought about having something of the same premise here. Now it's huge," she said.

The first festival, in 2007, exceeded Ms Sigley's expectations. She said she expected 600 people to attend but the number reached the thousands.

The eighth annual festival begins today and runs until Sunday with the birdman event taking place tomorrow. Competitors have three minutes take-off time to launch themselves off the wharf and see how far they can fly.

"So the prize money this year is $2000 because it jackpots if it wasn't won the year before. You must travel at least 7m to win the prize money, it's not easy," Ms Sigley said.

Last year Ms Sigley won the Supreme Birdman title and said she would be returning to defend the title.

The birdman event is not the only competition, there is also a spaghetti eating contest.

Ms Sigley said children as young as 5 through to adults have a go at the pasta competition.

Other fun events include mural painting, The Drag Race - where men race dressed in their finest frocks, the Elvis Ball and the Wharf Restaurant Wok Cook Off.

For more information, including a programme, visit russellbirdman.co.nz.

Brace for icy plunge into Taipa Bay water

If you're brave enough to dive into Northland waters in winter conditions, the Crazy Northland Mid-Winter Swim is for you.

If you would rather stay bundled up in layers of clothing - you can still head along and enjoy watching others suffer.

The event at Reia Taipa Beach Resort this Sunday is fancy dress so punters are encouraged to dig out costumes and head along.

There will be food, live music, mulled wine and free hot chocolate for the kids.

Groove Syndicate will be playing from 11am to 3pm. The swim, for those brave enough, kicks off at 10.30am and whoever has the best mid-winter swim costume will be awarded a free lunch.

•For more information click here.