Page 62 - Cross Country Travel Guide 2019

NORTH AMERICAN COMPS

Applegate Open
Formerly known as the “Rat Race” in Ruch,
Oregon the Applegate Open is now operated

by the local flying club and is a US Nationals
series competition. The flying site in SW
Oregon is not far from the Pacific coast, is
surrounded by some of the more famous
whitewater rivers in the country and is well
protected from wind that often makes flying
in the US west tricky.
It is not unusual to have a task every day
of the comp but what makes the Applegate
Open special is that it is designed for pilots
new to comps. There are three categories: the
“Race” for experienced pilots, the “Sprint” for

intermediate pilots who don’t feel like they are
ready for aggressive gaggles or comp wings
and the “Clinic” designed for very low hour
pilots. Daily talks are given before launch by
the most experience pilots and the club is
terrific at organising fun events at wineries
around the valley.
15-22 June 2019, wingsoverapplegate.org
Photo: Nick Greece / Text: Gavin McClurg

US PG Open, Chelan

Chelan is the most-anticipated race of the
season in the Americas. The reasons are
many. Reliable conditions make most days
taskable and the route choices are endless.
The Chelan Butte launch can be hot and
intimidating, but once you are away lake
Chelan stretches 70km up into spectacular
Cascade Mountain tiger country to the
west, the mighty Colombia River churns

below and the “Flats” stretch out all the way
to neighboring Idaho across the dazzling
Palouse to the east.
Big FAI triangles will take you through
a dust devil maze over Mars-like terrain,
monster downwinders reward patience
(over 60 pilots made goal here in the longest
task in paragliding history in 2016 with a

226km race to goal), and super technical and
interesting routes into the mountains are all
possibilities. The Pre-PWC in Chelan in 2017
sold out in 18 hours so mark your calendar!
6-13 July 2019, www.300peaks.com
Photos: Nick Greece / Text: Gavin McClurg

62 CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL GUIDE 2019 NORTH AMERICA