The origin of the Masters of Freestyle

Aerobatic or Freestyle hang gliding contests have been held at various locations throughout the world since 1981. Traditionally, these contests were staged from a mountain top to achieve the altitude needed to perform the maneuvers. As beautiful as the mountain sites are, often organizers had to deal with ever-changing high altitude flight conditions and the challenges of establishing an administration for the sport. Few spectators ever had a chance to see the exciting and elegant spectacle that is a Freestyle hang gliding contest.

In 1996, a group of pilots, judges and supporters came together to create a new concept in Freestyle competition. Their vision was to bring the action down from the mountains and right to the public at a sea side resort. The flying conditions on the coast were perfect for Freestyle flying and the spectators have better access to the venue. Their goals were to present the most valid, most visible and the most enjoyable contest possible for everyone involved, and this new contest would be dubbed “The Masters of Freestyle”.

The concept was to try a different method of getting the competitors to altitude. They would use a system called “Aero towing “which employs a powered ultralight to tow the gliders into the sky.

Click here for more about Aero Towing

The inspiration for holding the contest at a large public event came from hang gildings beginnings.

30 years ago, two Australian men, Bill Moyes and Bill Bennet, traveled the world demonstrating the then new sport of hang gliding. They launched their primitive kite-like aircraft by being towed aloft by boats and various other vehicles. They performed gentle flight maneuvers in their very basic “Rogallo wings” and were seen by millions of people. The impact of their appearances left an indelible impression on our collective consciousness and introduced hang gliding to the world.
The Masters contest was held in September 1996, '97 & '98, at the beautiful Rosarito Hotel and Spa, in Rosarito, Mexico. The hotel owner, Mr. Hugo Torres, graciously welcomed our group to this superb resort facility. For three years running an entire “Light Airshow” along with the Masters contest was presented by a variety of unusual light aircraft. The little air show including Skydivers, Paramotors, and Ultralights performing a variety of entertaining stunts to provide a fantastic show between the contest rounds. In 1999, the Masters contest was hosted by the City of Lake Elsinore, California at their lakeside park and was a big success.

The 2000 contest was held in Mission Bay Park at San Diego's 35th annual Bayfair event. This fantastic event attracts more than 200,000 spectators and is host to the World Series of Power Boat Racing. This event was the perfect venue for the Masters, so we have returned and presented the contest there in 2001 and 2002.

The Master's competition has continued the standardization process of the rules used for judging and scoring Freestyle maneuvers. We have insisted on using the most qualified judges available, some of our judges are expert Freestyle pilots as well.

For more on judging a freestyle contest click here.

We have taken the best aspects from Freestyle hang gliding's past and coupled those with new methods. Now, Aero Events soars on to present its best effort yet with the 2003 Masters of Freestyle Hang Gliding. Contest at the San Diego Thunderboats Regatta!