World beneath her wings

Young Christchurch glider pilot Abbey Delore takes a break from flying at the youth soaring...
Young Christchurch glider pilot Abbey Delore takes a break from flying at the youth soaring development camp at Omarama. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Abbey Delore reckons gliding is the best way to see New Zealand.

The bubbly 19-year-old should know - her father is multiple gliding world-record holder Terry Delore and she has grown up immersed in the sport.

This week, Abbey and her father, who hail from Christchurch, are in Omarama for the inaugural youth soaring development camp.

She loved the thrill of flying, the scenery viewed from the glider and the gliding community - which was like a big family.

Younger brother Max (17) flew solo before her, but he had since stopped gliding, so it was now an interest shared by father and daughter.

Abbey Delore soars above the Southern Alps. Photo by Terry Delore.
Abbey Delore soars above the Southern Alps. Photo by Terry Delore.
Abbey, who is studying to be a physical education teacher, admitted it had been good for their relationship.

She got to spend much more time with him and consequently had got to know him much better.

"I realise that he's naturally talented [at gliding]. I don't think I have that or maybe [I'm] yet to discover it," she said.

She had been "really lucky" to have the opportunity to fly with him and the pair had already had one record attempt together.

In 1984, Terry Delore was the first glider pilot to fly 1000km non-stop in New Zealand. He was pilot in command during adventurer Steve Fossett's gliding record attempts.

Last December, Delore set a world gliding record of 2500km in New Zealand, something few people had thought was possible.

Abbey said her father had never pushed her to take up the sport - it was something she had always wanted to do.

Abbey flew in the South Island regional gliding competition at Omarama last month, which was a "big learning curve", and she was in no hurry to get into competition flying.

"I'm just the wee seed in a big paddock. I've got so much to learn.

"At the moment, I just enjoy the flying. I've got to learn - that's why this week's [the camp] been really good."

She did not usually talk to her non-gliding friends about what she described as her "very unique hobby", saying they did not really understand.

"They just know I glide."

Add a Comment