The eight day camp gets underway on Saturday although predicted storms could potentially put a dampener on the opening couple of days.

Overall though, Manilla Paragliding chief flying instructor Godfrey Wenness said flying conditions for this year's event are looking great after extremely some extremely hot and dry weather in the region this summer, and pilots are expecting to over some epic distances later in the week.

The XC Camp events are the only high level international paragliding competitions utilising the "Open Distance" format where pilots try to fly as far as possible each of the eight days.

Over 125 pilots have registered for the camp with 16 nations represented.

That is down on last year's record attendance of 204 pilots representing 18 nations.

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Wenness believes that has a lot to do with the bushfire crises with a lot of international pilots hesitant to travel to Australia.

Last year's event also broke site flying records with Romania's Tudor Dorobantu and Australia's Airie Merlin becoming the first pilots to fly over 400km from Mt Borah.

Local Manilla and Tamworth pilots will join the international contingent.

"The pilots use rising currents of warm air called "thermals" to provide lift to heights up to 3000m (10,000ft)," Wenness explained.

"By finding a number of these thermals, long distances can be flown - all without an engine.

"Pilots could end up as far away as southern Queensland, the Hunter Valley or west of Walgett each day."

Visitors are welcome to Mt Borah during the competition with the best flying from a spectating point of view between 10am and 2pm.

The access road is OK for 2WD's.

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