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Registration fees go up May 7
Still thinking about attending?
Registration fees go up $100 after May 6.
We still have a few slots available for the Open and Sprint
It looks like COVID infections in Jackson county have peaked and are on their way down. We’re highly confident we will be able to have the competition June 19-26 as scheduled.
On the other hand…
If for some reason you need to cancel note that the cancellation fee goes up from $25 to $200 on May 7.
Dan Wells
AO Admin.
Mandatory Pilot Reading Materials
One thing that used to drive me crazy with the Rat Race and continuing with the Applegate Open was the Mandatory Pilots meeting and the 160 or so pilot roll call.
With COVID concerns, and how to socially distance 160 people in a tent, we had to think of something different. We are eliminating the Saturday Mandatory pilots meeting this year!
Here’s the plan…
There will be a “MANDATORY PILOT READING MATERIALS” page on the website that pilots can access. All the material we need to present to relative to local rules, scoring, “no land fields” and other things to keep you safe will be there. Pilots can read through them at their leisure at home on your computer in a comfortable chair while sipping on their favorite beverage.
To support this effort there will be two Zoom Q and A Meetings ahead of the event Pilots will have a chance ro ask any questions they might have had while reading and listening to the presentations on the web page.
Just one other thing…
PILOTS IN THE SPRINT AND OPEN RACES WILL HAVE TO CERTIFY THAT THEY HAVE READ/LISTENED TO THE MATERIALS. This will need to be done BEFORE the first day of the competition. The link to certify will be the webpage.
It will be a while before we have everything up on the website. But if you want to get a head start you can read the local rules.
Dan Wells
AO admin.
Open Race Tentative confirmations for U.S. pilots
As of today, we will not be able to ABSOLUTELY confirm additional slots for U.S. Pilots in the Open Race.
Currently we have 76 of the 100 slots available confirmed for the Open Race. We have to hold 25 slots for foreign pilots until May 5 per FAI sanctioning rules. Right now, we only have one foreign pilot registered. It is likely we will have 15-20 slots available to CONFIRM on May 6 due to the uncertainties of international travel with COVID.
To deal with this we offer the following to U.S. pilots:
Purchase your registration now and we will TENTATIVLY CONFIRM your slot. Then on May 6 we will CONFIRM those slots in the order they were paid.
If for some reason you paid, were TENTATIVELY CONFIRMED and there are no slots available, we will give you a FULL REFUND.
So if you are a U.S. pilot I would recommend that you purchase your registration fee now to have the best chance of getting a slot in the Open race in case we sell out.
Please not also that the Sprint race currently has 13 slots available with no limitations, and the Super Clinic is full.
Dan Wells
AO-Administrator
Registration is Open!
Registration for 2021 is now open!
We’ve had to raise the fees a bit this year primarily due to anticipated higher transportation costs due to COVID and some uncertainties on attendance. On a more positive note due to some new USHPA requirements your required local club membership will be good for ALL of 2021.
Here are the 2021 registration fees:
March 1- May 6, 2021 (normal registration)
Open/Sprint Race $520 plus $30 RVHPA local club membership $550 Total
SuperClinic $670plus $30 RVHPA local club membership $700 Total
Here are some key registration dates (updated 3/27/21)
Monday March 1, 2021
-Online registration opens
Tuesday March 16, 2021
-Priority registration for top 25 ranked US pilots ends
Wednesday May 5, 2021
-Priority registration for foreign pilots ends.
Thursday May 6, 2021
-Normal registration ends. Registration is $100 higher after this date.
As a reminder:
The event runs June 19-26. We have proposed a possible backup date of Aug.28-Sept. 4 if COVID surges and the June date is not feasible. But for now things are looking very good for the June event to go off as scheduled.
To register, Click here or go to the Apply tab.
Volunteers:
We need you! Click here to sign up.
Dan Wells
Applegate Open Admin.
Backup date and COVID documentation
Backup date in place for AO 2021
As we write this cases in Jackson County are declining and we hope they will be at a level where we can hold the event as scheduled June 19-26. But just in case we have set a backup date for the competition. If necessary, we have set August 28-Sepember 4 as a backup. If we end up having to use the backup date and you can’t make it then, we’ll notify everyone in time to cancel their registration without a penalty.
Proof of vaccination or negative test requirement.
When you register for this year’s competition you will have to agree to submit written documentation of completing vaccination at least 10 days prior to the sign in on June 18th or written documentation of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the sign in.
Please do not show up at sign in without one of these. Otherwise, you will not be able to compete and no refunds will be given.
Cheers,
The Applegate Open Team
COVID and AO-2021
Edited 2-9-2021
Hi Pilots,
Just a reminder to let you know that registration opens on March 1, 2021 and we are working hard on planning for the 2021 event even with all the concerns about COVID.
Nothing is final yet but here is what we are currently planning to reduce COVD risks:
- Expect COVID protocols for social distancing, face coverings, and hand washing to be in effect for protection of all. Pilots may have to sign a COVID risk waiver at sign in.
- Mandatory pilot meetings will be done online via Zoom ahead of the event. Pilots must attend one of these meetings. There will be no in-person meetings before the event.
- Pilots and volunteers will need to show proof of completed vaccination at least 10 days prior to the event or provide documentation of a negative test result within 72 hours of the sign in.
- There will be no evening “learning sessions”
- The school busses that take pilots to launch will have reduced capacity due to COVID precautions. Pilots and their gear will be transported to launch in the busses in shifts. SuperClinic first, followed by Race pilots, and finally Sprint pilots.
- Daily task briefings will be done separately for Sprint and Race pilots. Race pilots will brief on launch. Sprint pilots will brief BEFORE riding up to launch. Race pilots will meet at HQ for the ride up to launch. Sprint pilots will meet at a field adjacent to LongSword Vineyard for their task briefing and the ride up to launch.
- Waypoints must be downloaded from the internet. Scorers will not load them to your device
- Track logs will be uploaded via the internet. Scorers will not upload tracks from your device for you.
- Super Clinic retrieves will be as in previous years with dedicated retrieve crew.
- The event will offer retrieves for pilots who choose to participate. Pilots may opt out of the event organized retrieve if they have concerns about closer contact with other pilots in the retrieve vehicles.
- “Apres vol” food and drink as well as the awards dinner and presentation will be at Wells Land with some concessions to COVID and social distancing.
We’re looking forward to the event and seeing all of you. Questions or suggestions–just call or email one of us.
The Applegate Open Team
Registration open date and new venue
HI Pilots!
Applegate Open registration opens March 1, 2021.
We moved registration back a month this year just to be more certain about COVID risks and requirements and how they might affect the event. Things are looking good with vaccines coming but we want to make sure.
We will have a new headquarters this year. Wells Land will be hosting the event as Headquarters for day to day activities and the doing the awards ceremony/party. They will also serve as a goal LZ. Wells Land is located just west of Squires peak on Hamilton Rd. We’re excited about this new venue and all the event planning experience the owner, Garon Wells, brings to the event.
Plenty of room for the awards party at Wells Land
Wells Land Amphitheatre for the awards ceremony
We’ll still be using LongSword as a goal LZ and pilots will always be welcome to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer there after landing.
We’re looking forward to seeing all of you and excited about what’s going to be a great event this year.
Terri Stewart
Event Organizer
AO-2021 dates
Hi Pilots!
Save the date. June 19-26, 2021.
Our competition sanctioning application has been submitted to USHPA and we are just starting to plan Applegate Open 2021.
Like previous years there will be an Open Race, a Sprint Race, and a SuperClinic.
The event will run from June 19-26, 2021. You can see the key dates for registration under the About tab.
COVID-19 will likely still be with us so you can expect some changes from previous years. We’ll have more updates for you as the plans finalize between now and the first week in February when registration opens.
Thanks to the pilots who opted not to get a refund and have their 2020 fee applied to 2021. I show you already as confirmed for 2021. The rest of you will have to wait till March.
Fly safe and COVID free,
Terri Stewart Dan Wells
AO Organizer AO Admin
AO 2020 cancelled
Pilots,
After careful consideration (and heavy heart), we have little choice but to cancel the 2020 Applegate Open event.
This may not come as a surprise to many of you. We reviewed the Opening Oregon draft Plan from the Governor’s Office and weighed it against a few critical components including non-essential travel abilities both in the US and abroad, the ability to uphold physical distancing, and meet mass gathering requirements in addition to other elements. With many of the flying sites currently shut down, the lack of flying and teaching currency also played a role in the decision for both race and especially SuperClinic pilots. With all the uncertainties, rather than waiting two more weeks hoping the pandemic would disappear we chose to cancel.
For those of you who have confirmed your attendance with a payment we have some options for you:
- We will apply your 2020 payment towards the 2021 AO.
- We will refund your payment less the bank fee.
- You also have the option to donate a portion, or all of your paid fees, to a fund we have created to give back and provide support to individuals, businesses and/or projects in the Applegate Valley who will suffer economically from the loss of this event.
A form will be sent in a separate email with those details for you to choose your option.
For the rest of you who have registered but not paid, if you would like to make a donation to a fund mentioned above, here is the link to do so.
https://wingsoverapplegate.org/product/applegate-valley-relief-fund/
I want to thank the team of dedicated folks that have relentlessly supported this event including pilots, staff, and volunteers. The decision to cancel was not easy, but necessary in ensuring you and your loved ones some planning opportunity. We each must do our part to help stop the spread of COVID-19. We encourage you to visit Woodrat once it has been deemed safe and watch for updates on smaller organized events including the September Star thistle Fly-in.
Stay healthy, call a family member or friend and check in on them, pick up some extra groceries for a neighbor who may need to stay home more than you due to medical conditions, support a local store or restaurant by purchasing a gift card or other item, and thank an essential employee; that includes the grocery store clerk.
See you in 2021. Thank you!
Terri
Terri Stewart
President, RVHPA
Organizer, Applegate Open 2020
AO-organizer@rvhpa.org