"It's a different sport ... but a lot of fun."
The Balclutha teenager this week returned from Narrandera, New South Wales, where she competed in the Australian Free Flight Society championships.
Michaela placed first in the junior F1A section, claiming the free flight junior title, sixth overall in the F1A, and placing third overall in the F1H section.
There she broke the New Zealand junior record for the F1A model section with her glider's flight of 1019 seconds, beating the previous record of 993 seconds set in 2003.
The record and the number of points Michaela accrued during the calendar year make the teenager eligible for the 2013 world championships run by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), in France.
However, while her scores have been submitted for eligibility, Michaela does not expect to take part unless she and her family start a major fundraising drive.
"I'd love to go to France. My sister is in Europe, too."
Both mother Lynne and father Antony said while competing in France would be an amazing opportunity for Michaela, the trip was expensive.
The 13-year-old follows in the footsteps of her parents, brothers, and sisters who have all won national titles.
Her father Antony Groenewegen said Michaela worked hard for her titles.
"It's hard work, running on uneven ground. Michaela is very good at knowing when to launch: she is picking up the skill of finding air currents."
Michaela agreed, and added it was easy to trip, especially while trying to launch the glider.
With a wingspan of 2m, the aircraft dwarfs Michaela's height of 155cm (rough estimate).
The gliders Michaela uses are "free flight" and are tow-launched using a 50m-long cable or rope. The glider is released when the modeller finds thermal or air currents.
Michaela practises most weekends at Adams Flat Rd, near Milton, focusing on her launching technique.
Mr Groenewegen, who accompanied Michaela to Australia, said they took four aircraft to the competition, reassembling them once they arrived.
In 2009, after only a year of competing in the sport, Michaela won the free flight junior, ladies' champion and junior champion modeller sections of the 2008-09 national championship.
She was 9 years old at the time.
