SAFA Skysailor Magazine

28 SKY SAILOR May | June 2024 Apart from the odd pilot overshooting the inflatable water landing and taking an unplanned dip into the autumnal waters of Lake Wanaka, the debut of New Zealand’s newest festival, Magic Land – Adventure Sports Festival, was an undeniable success. Incidentally, those who missed the pontoon were the most cheered participants. Organisers Vicki Zadrozny and Dan Pugsley felt the love, not only by the Central Otago sunshine and perfect flying conditions that blessed the week of festivities, but from everyone who attended and supported the event, born as a crazy idea between the couple after returning from similar festivals in Europe. It took both their dogged determination, hard work and unwavering belief to bring this festival to fruition. With encouragement and support from Alan Swann, organiser of flying events like the UK’s Buttermere Bash, he helped bring the vision to life, along with an endless list of people who believed in the concept. Without Swanny’s efforts and advice on flying safety, the festival would not have been the incident-free success it was. A major accreditation to the whole team involved. Those who took a punt on being part of this fledgling festival scene, started arriving at the exlusive Glendhu Bay location and spend the week surrounded by some of NZ’s best talent in various sky-based adventure sports. Paragliders, speed flyers and paramotors – with their very own Candy Man releasing parachutes of lollies from the sky for the kids to catch – and a mixture of BASE, wing- and tracking suit exits in the ‘Skytek Expression Session’ were definite favourites of festival goers, soaking up the sun at Lake Wanaka. Magic Land Festival – Wanaka, NZ by Vicki Zadrozny and Dan Pugsley