The Nelson Mail recently published an article about Sam who has competed in the NZ Paragliding Nationals.

One of the country's youngest flyers will take to the skies for the New Zealand Paragliding Nationals in Nelson. 

Sixteen-year-old Nelson teenager Sam Hamill is one of 80 competitors who will be racing at sites all around the Nelson region for a week from Sunday.

Hamill is by far the youngest competitor in the tournament, which includes pilots from around New Zealand and overseas.

The tournament runs from February 3-9, with flying sites including Barnicoat, Takaka Hill, and Mt Murchison. 

The nationals will be the first competitive outing for Hamill, who has been paragliding since he was 13 years old. 

"[Competitive flying] is completely different, I've had to change my flying style quite a bit, it's not just boating around Barnicoat on my own.

"You actually have to set goals and aim to fly to places – you have turn points which you have to make, and the course gets progressively harder the further you get on."

Competition director Hamish Barker said the style of racing was similar to yacht racing, with gliders having to round a series of markers identified by GPS locations.

Hamill said the weather played a huge part as well.

While some days flights take a downward turn from the beginning, with the right weather he has managed to fly for nearly 70km.

"It's about climb and glide, you've got to climb so you can go further."

Identifying and catching thermals (warm rising columns of air) is the key for paragliders to extend their flight times.

During the competition the racers will climb to a maximum height of about 5000 feet (provided there is good visibility and no clouds), and then while gliding getting up to speeds of about 60kmh.

"It's about clouds and geography. If you've got a big valley and cumulus above it, you know you're probably going to get a thermal."

To keep track of the course the pilots have their own "flight deck" attached to their harness above the waist, where they can put phones, GPS, or other instruments which give them information about moving maps, speed, altitude and glide distance.

With about 250 flight hours, Hamill may be the youngest competitor this year, but he is by no means the least experienced.

"I just want to do my best really – I'm sure I won't come last but I'm sure I won't come first either.

"I'm happy it's in my home ground, I've got a bit of an advantage there, but it's going to be a big learning curve."

Hamill said the mental aspect of flying was the most important to master, particularly having the patience to find the right flying zones.

But above all, paragliding gives a sense freedom like few other sports.

"You fly your own game, you do what you want.

"It's you fault if you stuff up, but it's also your fault if you make it to your goal when no-one else does – when that happen's it's a cool feeling."