Newcastle man Simon Plint remains in a critical condition in Liverpool Hospital following a hang gliding accident at Bodangora airstrip near Wellington on Monday afternoon.
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This follows the death in August of his friend Adam Parer who crashed into a house at Bar Beach, shocking the hang-gliding community in Newcastle and around the world.
At the time, Mr Plint, 54, told the ABC how shocked and saddened he was to hear of the news.
"[It] was just an accident, accidents can happen. We'll never know exactly how it happened, it was just one of those things that Adam couldn't have foreseen," he said.
Now, as Mr Plint fights for his life, the 26 competitors from around the world are hoping he will make a recovery.
It is understood he may have spinal injuries.
"After yesterday it is a lot quieter, it takes the joy out of it in some ways. We all know Simon as a fellow pilot," director of the Wings Over Wellington competition James Thompson said.
He described Simon Plint as an experienced pilot who knew the risks involved but still loved to fly.
"That is part of the mystique of the sport," he said.
"My whole lifetime I've been flying and I do have friends who haven't made it, but it's all part of our sport."
While the competition was put on hold because of the accident, organisers decided to go ahead with Wings Over Wellington which is expected to finish by Saturday.
"We're here to fly and while this is a difficult thing, our sport is an extreme sport."
Police continue to investigate the matter, but it is understood Mr Plint may have had difficulties during take-off.
Mr Thompson said they were always conducting risk assessments and striving to reach higher standards of safety.
This competition usually takes place at Gulgong each year (called the Gulgong Classic Hang Gliding Competition), but there is a strong chance it will become an annual Wellington event, giving a boost to the economy and local tourism.
Mr Thompson said points were awarded for the distance travelled, speed and arrival back at the goal, all of which is tracked on GPS.
He said there was a real knack to using the thermals to get to your goal.
"In some ways it's the mind that controls what they are doing; it's like playing chess in the air or sailing in three dimensions."
He described the sport as addictive and unlike any other flying sport.
"You get into areas lower than GA pilots, and of course you have helicopters and gyrocopters, but with this it is silent, you can hear the dogs barking and the cows in the paddocks from 2000 feet, you are flying on the thermals with the eagles. You can go to the top of a hill, jump off and miss the ground and fly on," he said.