|
|
Sport
Gasping
for air
Army paragliding champ looks for
all the help he can get
 |
|
Cpl
Ky Wittich, 4RAR, has been invited to the World Paragliding
Championships in India.
Photo by Cpl Belinda Mepham, Army newspaper.
|
| |
 |
|
Cpl
Ky Wittich, 4RAR, has been invited to the World Paragliding
Championships in India.
Photo by Cpl Belinda Mepham, Army newspaper.
|
By
Cpl Belinda Mepham
ONE man’s dream needs some help from our readers – Cpl
Ky Wittich, 4RAR, is a cross country paragliding champion and
he is going to the invitation-only Pre Paragliding World Cup in
Bir-Billing, India, during November.
Paragliding uses a specially designed non-powered parachute, with
which a pilot can use both thermic lift and ridge lift to fly
as far as possible.
Cpl Wittich said pilots unfold their wing on a hill and then run
off when the wind speed and direction is suitable.
“The adrenalin is pumping and height gains of 3300m (12000feet)
and distances of 100km are common,” he said.
On a competition day, a goal of anywhere between 40km and 300km
is decided upon. The competitors are allotted a start time and
it is a race to the goal. This requires skill in weather analysis,
piloting and snap decision making.
Cpl Wittich has been competing for a year and flying for two.
He is currently sponsored by Advance Paragliders and Adidas eyewear,
but they are not a pot of gold and Cpl Wittich still needs some
equipment to get him to India.
-
A
lightweight two-man tent.
-
A four-season sleeping bag.
-
A pair of expedition-weight gloves.
-
A set of thermal underwear.
-
A pair of hiking boots.
-
A cold weather jacket and pants.
-
A pack, about 80-90 litres.
-
Two pairs of expedition socks.
“Given
the expense of flying equipment and overseas travel, I am in a financial
predicament and am not kitted out sufficiently for extreme Himalayan
conditions,” he said.
“This list is fairly extensive, but not exhaustive. Any assistance
with any of these products, or any others would be greatly appreciated.”
His achievements to date included a spectacular fifth place in National
Cross Country League as a novice pilot and the Best Intermediate
in the Canungra Paragliding cup as a novice during 2003.
2004 has been a very competitive year so far, with Cpl Wittich achieving
Fourth in the National Cross Country League, setting the ACT State
record at 146kms, 14th place in Australian National Paragliding
Championships, Best Intermediate in the Australian National Paragliding
Championships and he is currently 11th on the final 2004 Australian
Ladder.
All offers of sponsorship or support can be directed to Cpl Wittich
on 0407 932 724 or e-mail ky.wittich@defence.gov.au.
|
| |
|
|
.
|
|
