For many, the idea of being suspended at 7,000 feet is daunting, but for a number of hang gliding enthusiasts, it’s the thrill they eagerly seek year after year.

It’s all part of “Big K Week”, a competition that draws participants to the Mallee for a week of hang gliding — aimed at developing their skills and achieving personal bests.

Thirty-six hang gliders, both beginners and experienced, took part in the competition’s fourteenth year which was held from November 30 to December 6.

A Lifelong Passion
Neil Hooke first learnt to hang glide at 19 years of age and enjoys taking in the varying sights of the Mallee and the challenges that the sport presents.  

“Every day is a different kind of challenge,” Neil said.

“Some days we reach speeds of over 100 km/h, while other days we travel at 60 km/h, but it’s always hard work trying to find the lift,” he said. 

Even after 35 years of flying, Neil admits that he still gets nervous before launch. 

“No-one can hear you scream from 8,000 feet,” he joked. 

Mecca
The Mallee region is considered a “Mecca” for hang gliding, offering vast open spaces that minimise the risk of dangerous landings.

A well-connected road network also makes it easy for vehicles to retrieve gliders who fly long distances while chasing personal bests.

Gliders can also choose to follow a scenic route, launching from Jil Jil and across to Lake Tyrell, then to the Culgoa silos, before returning to their starting point at Jil Jil.

World Championships
Vic Hare has been competing seriously in hang gliding for the past fifteen years, having also been a fighter pilot trainer during that time.  

In July, he travelled to Spain to take part in the Pre-Worlds hang gliding competition with the Australian hang gliding team. He hopes to compete in the World Championships held in Italy in 2025. 

“The Australian team takes six people but there are nine of us training really hard, so I hope I make the cut,” Vic said. 

Social Connections
Big K Week is more than just an opportunity to fly. It’s also a chance for participants to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.

Throughout the week, the hang gliders camped at Tchum Lake, supporting local businesses and enjoying the warm hospitality of Birchip. 

Flatter than Flatlands 
The hang gliders will return to Birchip on the Easter long weekend for the “Flatter than Flatlands” hang gliding competition.

Whether it’s honing their skills, chasing personal records, or building lasting connections, hang gliding in the Mallee offers both adventure and camaraderie, drawing a range of skill levels back year after year.