Hang Gliding and Paragliding Volume 44 / Issue 1: January 2014 | Page 48

Race of
Champions
Champions

A New Perspective on XC Racing
by

T

here are many different types of hang gliding
competitions, such as aerobatics, speed gliding, ridge racing, dune contests, and race and
rallies. But the most common is cross-country.
One of the companies in the United States, Flytec, has
organized an ever-developing competition, the Race of
Champions, at the direction of Jamie Shelden and Steve
Kroop. The most recent ROC was held in May 2013,
right after their Flytec Championships.
The Race of Champions is basically a three-day,
invitation-only, race that at its inception followed a full
week of regular XC flying, allowing pilots to be in top

C L A U DI A M E J I A

shape as they attempted to win the title, plus a juicy
jackpot. Jamie explained that it is by invitation because “we
want the best of the best; we want aggressive racing tasks
with a high percentage of pilots in goal.” The first edition
was held in 2007 at Quest Air, with the top 30 pilots from
the Flytec Championship competing. That year it was an
elimination race, excluding the bottom pilots after each of
the first two tasks and retaining the best 10 pilots for the
final round. Spectators report being thrilled at the sight of
Phil Bloom chasing Jonny Durand and managing to beat
him into goal. Brazilians Nenê Rotor and Leo Dabbur tied
for third place. These pilots won the largest amount of the

ABOVE Staging line, ready to race. OPPOSITE Mike Bilyk and Florian Gostner, aka team Young Guns.

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