Paragliding adventure on Takaka Hill, NZ

This was my second time flying on this spectacular site. I came to the take-off at 10:30 AM for the first flight, wind direction and speed were just perfect for the take off. Although it was too early for the thermals, the flight was joyful but short. After landing I hitched back up on the hill with a truck driver (thank you Robbie). Take-off started to be a bit busy with all the locals gathering and getting ready for their fights. But the wind totally stopped. We were waiting about 1,5 hours for a better launching intervals. At 1:30 PM it started to be just fine and all of us jumped into it. At the first stage of this flight I managed to use thermals just above the road, but for me it was a bit scary to be so close to the rocks, so I flew away, lost altitude and was scatching weak thermals above the hill close to the landing. But after 40 minutes of flight I caught amazingly strong thermal which lifted me above the ridge (this stage is unfortunately not on the video, because my gopro's battery died - guess it felt too cold). Paradise has just started, bumpy thermals full of fun all along the ridge. After a few kilometres I started to feel cold and airsick, so I just returned back and extended the flight along the valley.
In the end it was my best flight in New Zealand so far!

Location: Takaka Hill, New Zealand
Date: 08.06.2025
Flight time 1: 0:13
XContest 1: https://www.xcontest.org/world/en/fli...
Flight time 2: 1:42
XContest 2: https://www.xcontest.org/world/en/fli...