ALMOST 100 competitors launched from Bright's Mystic Hill on the first day of the week-long Paragliding Open on Sunday, offering a very colourful display as they took off.
While the first day of the competition was called off due to an impending thunderstorm, the event will run until Saturday, February 15, with competitors aiming for two clear days of racing.
"Bright is an excellent location," event organiser Martin Joyce said.
"There's lots of different routes we can fly in this area, which is ideal for competitions.
"Flying up and down the Kiewa Valley and Ovens Valley is a beautiful thing to behold.
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"The Open takes a lot of organising, which starts as soon as the previous event ends: around 35 percent of our pilots come from overseas and another 30 percent are from interstate.
"There’s an international database of competitions hosted all around the world, so we try to organise events here during summer when it's winter overseas.
"National events like the Bright and Corryong Opens help to find new champions and get the rankings for the Australian pilots."
The competition works like a sailing race: all 90 competitors start up in the air inside a circle, where they navigate to by GPS.
When everyone is in position, their instruments beep to mark the start of the race.
They fly past other GPS markers around a circuit and the first person to complete the circuit is the winner.
"The success of these events is very much dependent on the grace and permission of the local landowners, who remain patient when we land in their properties," president of North East Victoria Hang Gliding Club, Roger Turner, said.
"We're very mindful of paddocks that have been listed as out-of-bounds when we host events and aim for the designated landing zones at all times.
"There should be an incredible and colourful spectacle for people in the Bright area this week and we hope everyone has a great time."
Brian Jessen from Luxemburg said he was only a spectator during this tournament and looked forward to seeing other pilots' talent on display.
"I've been to a lot of tournaments with lots of talented pilots," Mr Jessen said.
"It's good to be here just as a spectator and not in the competition this year, because I went up for a flight yesterday which was absolutely beautiful."
The championship has been running for approximately 30 years, allowing competitors to get the best view of the region from the air.
The Bright Brewery is one of the main sponsors, with Icom Radios Australia and the Alpine Shire Council.
