Paper plane maker qualifies second in world for champs

Dunedin university student Josh Stewart has qualified second in the world for this year's paper...
Dunedin university student Josh Stewart has qualified second in the world for this year's paper plane championships in Austria. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Dunedin paper plane champion Josh Stewart knew he was among the top competitors in New Zealand, but was shocked to discover he is ranked second in the world.

The third-year University of Otago genetics student has secured a place in the 2012 world paper plane championships, to be held in Salzburg, Austria, on May 4 and 5.

Mr Stewart's trip to Europe will be funded by contest organiser Red Bull and, as the winner of a qualifying round, he has already been awarded a fridge and a year's supply of the energy drink.

Representatives from 84 countries are participating in the event, for which eight New Zealand universities registered to host qualifying rounds.

On Wednesday, Mr Stewart competed in the Otago University qualifier at the Alhambra-Union Rugby Football Club.

His throw of 30.1m was a record despite his plane hitting the end wall mid-flight.

Organisers took Mr Stewart to the Edgar Centre yesterday, where he threw a dart 43.6m.

Mr Stewart was yesterday contemplating how to better his technique, which centred on using a thin, narrow plane.

"I'll talk to the physics students at uni," he said.

Although the contest will be Mr Stewart's first international championship of any kind, he is fairly relaxed about it.

"It's not the sort of thing you get really serious about, but a week in Austria's pretty mean and one of the things you are happy to skip uni for."

- rosie.manins@odt.co.nz

 

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