Hang Gliding and Paragliding Volume 44 / Issue 3: March 2014 | Page 46

One of the most vital
pieces to the longevity
and growth of a pilot
is a strong community
of mentors within a
sharing- and learningbased environment.

style, keeping them shorter and achievable, but with some
challenges to keep participants on their toes. The longest
task, 21 km, was given in August and won by Ric LeBlanc
in a time of 58:52, while the shortest task was called in

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HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE

July at 10.1 km, won by Neil McGarry in 20:51. The
quickest task was the first, in May, with Neil McGarry
finishing the 11.6 km in 15:58. On average, there were 10
turnpoints to a task, which sent pilots dashing back and
forth across the sky, hoping the ridge lift was still working
well out into the valley and showing us how amazing the
flying is at the Point of the Mountain. 
To encou rage participation, there was no entry fee, although membership in the UHGPGA was required. The
UHGPGA generously donated $600 to the event, to be
divided as prize money; contributors donated all time.
When the series wrapped up at the end of September,
the winners selflessly donated their winnings to throw a
giant BBQ and party at the hill to honor all participants,
organizers, supporters and the UHGPGA. Chris Hunlow
went all out—cooking salmon, steak and chicken tacos.
And, of course, beer and all the other party accoutrements
were plentiful. In all, 18 participants with varying levels of
experience and glider types competed, and everyone came
away with greater knowledge, new boundaries and closer
friends. The overall winner was creator Neil McGarry,
who was able to complete the task multiple times each
month, flying his Advance Sigma 8.
Throughout the event, lessons were learned by the
organization resulting in some rules being created and/
or clarified. All participants were expected to follow FAA
regulations, the main issue being landing after official
sunset. It was also determined necessary to make an
official rule to limit pilots to a single, designated launch.
It is not the same race if you come into the ridge from a
mountain flight 4000' AGL and tag all the waypoints.
This is also the case in any competitive XC event; all pilots
must launch from the same starting place.