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Freefalling over Motueka - Good Vibes 2009

Monday 17 August 2009, 12:43PM

By 100% Pure New Zealand

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MOTUEKA

Freefall fanatics from around the world are preparing to descend on Motueka - in the northern South Island - for New Zealand’s largest skydiving event.

For nine days (15 - 23 August), the Good Vibes 2009 festival will fill the skies above the Nelson Tasman region with a buzz of exhilarating aerial activity as 150 skydivers jump into action.

An international line-up of sports skydivers from Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the UK, and Australia, will join a large contingent of local talent in a diverse range of events.

Skydiving records
The Good Vibes 2009 programme will include all levels of skydiving skills and disciplines from flat to vertical flying, small and large formations, to canopy competitions.

The organisers also hope to set some New Zealand skydiving records.

Skydiving activities will include ‘big ways’ with up to 24 participants, RW, POPs, VRW, atmo, tracking, hybrids, wingsuit, swoop & chug, beach jumps, scrambles, speedstar, accuracy & swoop.

A novelty jump, celebrating a local woman’s 1000th jump, is scheduled to include a bevy of lingerie-clad female skydivers. Spare seats in the plane will be raffled off - in aid of charity - to keen males willing to the pay the price.

Skill development
Coaching opportunities and skill sharing opportunities are a major draw card for the event.

Skydiving coaches and organisers from New Zealand and Australia will offer skill development for all levels and disciplines.

Skydive Abel Tasman
Good Vibes was launched in 2003 as a two-day event designed to bring New Zealand’s relatively small skydiving community together.

Good Vibes is hosted by Skydive Abel Tasman, in Motueka.

Background: Skydiving in New Zealand

Most New Zealand towns have an airstrip or helipad so flight-based activities with breath-taking views are easily accessed.

Many drop zones have a choice of experienced operators offering flight-seeing, skydiving, and hang-gliding.

Some skydive operators and clubs offer static-line jumps, but most novice jumpers opt for a tandem skydive. In a tandem jump, the learner is linked in a double harness to the instructor who has control of the parachute.

After instruction, tandem skydivers are taken to 2500 - 4000m before leaping out together and experiencing up to 45 seconds of freefall.

The Southern Alps and Fiordland (both in the South Island) are popular jumping grounds, and Taupo in the central North Island is another reliable venue.

Background: Nelson Tasman region

Nelson Tasman region, at the ‘top’ of the South Island, is New Zealand’s geographical centre.

With access to three national parks (Kahurangi, Nelson Lakes and Abel Tasman), Golden Bay, sandy beaches, vineyards and abundant sunshine hours, the Nelson region is a popular holiday destination.

Nelson Tasman - with over 40 walks available within 16km of Nelson city - is known as the walkway capital of New Zealand. For serious trampers, the national parks offer multi-day trips. Other activities include day cruises and short easy walks throughout Abel Tasman national park.

The Nelson region's calm, warm waters offer many safe swimming spots, and great sea kayaking. The mild climate (15C - 25C year-round) offers near perfect conditions for water activities.

Nelson is renowned for an energetic arts and crafts scene. The creative local culture is found in small boutiques and well established galleries, such as the Suter. Creative Tourism runs art workshops where visitors can try bone carving, weaving flax, glass blowing, and cooking.