Nothing makes Durand's spirits soar more than the prospect of riding hang-gliding’s ultimate wave for Red Bull Glory Glide.

In September 2008, Durand will ride the face of what’s known as the Morning Glory cloud, a rare weather phenomenon that forms over the Cape York Peninsula and sweeps west across the Gulf of Carpentaria towards Burketown in Far North Queensland.

 

“It’s like a tsunami, but up in the sky,” says Durand. “It forms in the middle of the night with different currents and then it heads across the Cape like a rolling wave in the air. So I’m going to get up there in my hang-glider and fly it.”

 

Tsumani in the sky

This vast wave stretches to up to 1000km and thunders across the sky, travelling at up to 60km per hour. It is an unpredictable and dangerous force, and Durand will ride along the leading edge, behind which is a mess of turbulence that can rip a hang-glider to shreds, and downdrafts that can send a glider plummeting.

The last battle

If anyone can do it, Durand can. And when he's conquered the Morning Glory, there will still be one great height to reach – world champion. But as he points out, “I’ve beaten the current title holder in every competition since the world championships.” So it’s only a matter of time.

Jonny Durand takes flight