While airspace restrictions in our flying area hasn’t changed much over the years there is an increased awareness, both of pilots and outside groups, of that airspace and any potential violations. These violations are increasingly brought to the attention of the Canadian government and can cause problems for the pilot, our flying site, and our flying community as a whole. As a result, If we are made aware of any flights that break airspace, (through XContest, Leonardo, any authorities etc) that flight will be not be scored in our competition and repeat offenders may be disqualified altogether.

We are working on maps that highlight airspace and its implications for pilots with and without Hagar but ultimately it is solely the pilots responsibility to ensure they are flying in a legal manor. Please see “Hagar” for related info and “Scoring” for info on how flights will be scored.

Hagar is a rating administered by the Canadian Government that provides a legal framework to allow hang gliding and paragliding pilots to fly in Class E airspace. As there are multiple areas of class E airspace in and around the Columbia Valley we strongly encourage all pilots to get this rating. For those that don’t have Hagar however, there is still great flying to be had!

Please note for those that have a private or commercial pilots license (issued by any country) Hagar is redundant and not required.

In short points are awarded (1 point per km) for distance flown with a multiplier for an out-and-return flight or a triangle. Your 3 best flights during the competition are tallied and become your overall score for the competition. 

We can calculate this distance in multiple ways. While typically a score on XContest will provide a higher score and is most peoples preferred method we realize that not everyone wants to have an online presence and there are other alternatives such as using an inReach/Spot OK pin or the live track from the day. 

We encourage the use of XContest online scoring in order to...

• Encourage use of the online contest site.

• Facilitate information sharing and learning about XC flying amongst pilots.

• Standardize flight scoring and verification.

• Encourage creativity in flight planning - the XContest system automatically checks for O&R and FAI Triangle qualified flights, and provides bonuses (1.2 points/km for O&R, 1.4 points/km for Triangles).

To use the XCanada/XContest World flight verification method, you must be registered at http://www.xcontest.org/canada. Pilots already registered for the 2024 contest are ready to go. If you are registered for the XContest World, please add yourself to the XCanada list by going to http://www.xcontest.org/national/, and choosing the Canada contest to register. This is important because we will use XCanada rules.

Registration can be completed on-line and payment is required to be considered fully registered. Please be sure you are fully registered for the competition and have checked in at meet headquarters before you go flying. We will not accept flight claims for your flights unless you have done so, or made specific arrangements with either the Meet Director or Safety Director.

If you need to cancel your registration, please let us know via email to flyfar@thewilli.com. Until June 15, any registration fees you have paid will be refunded. After June 15, we reserve the right to withhold any or all fees paid.

Each pilot will be assigned to a Pilot Class at the beginning of the meet with the goal of encouraging healthy competition and in consultation with the pilots involved. Final decisions regarding pilot classification will be made by the Meet Director and Safety Director.

The Willi Team reserves the right to collapse or combine classifications appropriately where we deem a classification has too few pilots for reasonable competition.

Pilots may launch from the Lookout (drive to) or Upper launches (hike in) on Mount 7 in Golden, unless a decision is made by the Meet Committee to designate an alternative launch. Please mark your start point on your GPS prior to flying.

There will be a pilot briefing at the Willi tent each morning at approximately 9:30 AM. Please plan to attend (door prizes drawn for all registrants in attendance), or check with someone who did. Standings and weather will be discussed. Please check with the locals if you have concerns about the weather. Contact information for meet officials will be provided to all registered pilots prior to the event.

At all times, your decision to fly is your own. In the case of inclement weather or poor flying conditions, the Meet Director or Safety Director may decide to delay, suspend or cancel competition. These decisions will be made with the best information available, and to ensure a fair and safe meet for all competitors. However, with or without a decision by the Meet Director or anyone else involved with the meet, you must still decide personally whether it is safe for you to fly. Do not take any decision or lack of decision on our part as either endorsement of the flying conditions, or recommendation that you fly.

You are required to fly at all times with a GPS tracking device (SPOT, Delorme InReach, or acceptable equivalent) actively tracking your flight and recording to the Willi tracking site. More info will be provided at tech sign up.

Given the size of our flying area and nature of the competition, it is not feasible economically to include retrieves as part of the meet fee. The good news though is that on those great XC days there are generally vehicles, including meet vehicles, along the valley chasing pilots. Pilots are encouraged to make arrangements for their own retrieval before flying where possible, and to compensate their drivers directly. Retrieval communication and procedures will also be discussed at pilot meetings. Our goal is to get everyone home safely each flying day.

Please be sure to check in each day as soon as possible after your flight. Check in procedures will be clarified at the pilot meetings. You must complete a landing form for all flights in order to ensure they are scored.

Landing forms can be completed in-person at headquarters or on-line. Please be sure you have your landing forms in by the end of the pilot meeting the following morning in order to be counted toward your points.

To encourage use of Upper launch, flights launched from Upper will receive a 5-point bonus if unwitnessed, and a 10-point bonus if witnessed by an on-launch observer. Please provide witness name and contact info when claiming this bonus.)

Any flight successfully landed (i.e. without injury or incident as determined by a majority of your peers observing the landing) at the LZ will be given a 10 point bonus. For example: a sled run with a successful landing at the LZ will be worth 15 points – 5 distance points plus the 10-point landing bonus.

You will receive a zero score for any flight that violates local site rules, enters restricted airspace, lands in a restricted area (including identified no-land areas in the National Parks), or results in an unresolved conflict with a land owner. Restricted airspace and landing areas will be provided and discussed at Pilot Meetings each morning. If you are unsure, please ask us for more information before you go flying .

P2/H2 pilots can compete in two ways…

• Without a GPS (Super Sledders) – winner is the Novice with the most, safe take-offs and landings at the designated LZ.

• With a GPS – winner is the pilot who accumulates the most points on 3 flights flown in accordance with the rules.

Unless otherwise announced, final standings will be posted and prizes distributed after flying on Sunday, August 4. Winners (except Super Sledder) will be the registered pilot in each class with the highest total points for 3 flights over the course of the competition.