Ross Hunter always wanted to fly.
“When I was little I’d be jumping off the back of the couch and my dad would catch me,” he said.
After graduating from Max Cameron Secondary School in Powell River and completing school at BCIT as an instrument technician, Hunter moved to Calgary, where he was finally able to pursue his dream of being airborne.
“I saw an ad in the community newspaper,” he said. “There were courses for pottery, small engine repair, square dancing and hang gliding. I started hang gliding about 30 years ago and I’ve gotten okay-ish at it.”
“Okay-ish” is an understatement. Hunter is the current national hang gliding champion, holding the Canadian open-distance record with a 400-kilometre flight.
During his winning flight he travelled across Saskatchewan, stopping about 60 kilometres short of the North Dakota border at speeds averaging 80 to 90 kilometres per hour. In such competitions, a course is determined that participants will attempt to fly that day. Typically only about one third of the pilots complete the course, said Hunter, and of those who do complete it, points are determined based on speed.
“When we fly, getting up to 12,000 feet is quite common and 100-mile flights are not uncommon,” he said.
Nowadays, GPS and other technology is readily available to track a hang glider’s speed, distance and whereabouts. When Ross started in the sport in the mid-1980s, it was very different scenario.
“We used to land by a farmer’s house and hope somebody was home to use their phone,” he said. “We’d then phone a friend to come to the farm and pick us up. It was quite an ordeal.”
While Hunter was competing in his 400-kilometre flight, his wife and friends followed in a vehicle. As his waypoints were published online about every 10 minutes, many others were able to follow along on the internet.
“Word got out pretty quick,” he said.
Despite being the reigning champion, Hunter said he intends to sit the contest out this time.
“This year’s competition is out in Quebec and I’m not going to drive that far,” he added.
Last year, Hunter and his wife Cathie moved to Powell River. Cathie grew up in Belize and then Calgary, but was keen to make the move to Powell River with her husband.
The couple purchased Ross’ parents’ home and converted it. His parents Ron and Dorothy live upstairs and he and Cathie are downstairs.
“It’s worked out really well,” said Ross of the living situation. “We get along well and can spend some quality time together.” Since relocating to Powell River, the couple has focused much of their attention on home renovations, however, Ross returns to Alberta occasionally for work and flying. He said he has yet to find a good hang gliding site in the Powell River area.
“There are sites in the Fraser Valley and Pemberton that I know of but I always keep my eyes open when I go up in the backcountry,” said Hunter. “We have more forestry than farming so it can be a little tricky finding a landing field.”
