Hang Gliding and Paragliding Volume 44 / Issue 1: January 2014 | Page 49

“Pilots were
considering different
possibilities and the
best strategies, all of
which were unknown
territory for them. ”

$10,000 total prize money from Flytec USA, but the day
winners took home some cash, too.
The second edition of the ROC was held May 24-26,
2013, right after the Flytec Championship in Americus,
Georgia. Six years had gone by since the last competition
because it had been too complicated to orchestrate ROC in
conjunction with Flytec’s Race and Rally.
The 2013 format was different from the previous
competition. And every following edition will be altered
in some way, because the organizers aim to “allow pilots
to fly in new and interesting formats.” In 2013, the race
consisted of two-pilot teams. No restrictions were given for
how to team up or with whom; there was no need for pilots
to be from the same country or brand. In other words, the
organization did not interfere in this process. Also, top
pilots from around the world were invited, even if they

had not participated in the competition the week before.
If spots remained, they would be given to the top competitors. As for the administration of the race, the score to
be taken into consideration would be that of the slowest
pilot on the team, a format suggested by Filippo Oppici.
(Unfortunately, he was called back to Boston and couldn’t
compete.) This resulted in pilots’ realizing how important it
would be to fly as a team.
Launch order was determined by luck: Each team drew
their positions from a hat. One team member launched
with the first group of 12 pilots, the other pilot went with
the second. The teams could choose which member went
first. Once in the air, they regrouped. It was a single airstart race; there was no second chance to get in a better
position, wait for the next start gate, or chase pilots who
had gone in an earlier one.

HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE

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