HGFA Skysailor Magazine

SKY SAILOR 23 January | February 2019 tip trucks to carry all the pilots and their gliders. Most of the competition tasks track along easy retrievable main roads, so it shapes as a very unique and fun Central Asian experience. Organisers can arrange accommodation for US$40 per week or US$30 for camping, while you’ll pay about US$8 per day for food. Beer and other essential daily costs are minimal. The whole experience is extremely cheap. Obviously, the main issue with any international hang gliding adventure is getting your glider there. I was told that some European airlines would take a glider for an extra 300 Euros one-way, maybe less. But if you’re happy to fly a different wing, there are many affordable gliders available for rent from locals or other Russian pilots who will attend. I know the local pilots would really appreciate the ability to fly with and learn off some of our experienced XC competition pilots, especially considering a lot of them don’t have the same international opportunitoes as we do. I sound like a corny TV commercial saying this, but there’s something in Almaty for everyone: ➲➲ Incredible nature – forests, desert canyons, lakes, snowy mountains, natural hot springs. ➲➲ Modern city centre – night clubs, bars, restaurants, shopping malls. ➲➲ History & Culture – Central Asian food, nomadic lifestyle, the Soviet influence, Genghis Khan’s legacy and horseback sports like buzkashi. All that and we haven’t even skimmed the surface on the flying. I hope my experience convinces other pilots to travel to Kazakhstan. I genuinely feel like I’ve stumbled across a gold mine off the beaten track. Almaty (above) and Lake Kaindy (right) Competition mass transport