Applegate Open 2024

Here’s a short update on Applegate Open, June 13-20, 2020.

The sanctioning application was submitted on September 24th.  Things are moving along smoothly.  I’m happy to report that Eric Reed and John Russell are planning on returning as Meet Director and Safety Director.  Kari Castle is also planning on returning for the SuperClinic and we are expecting Ken Hudonjorgenson to join her.

One big change this year is that the event will have a new Event Organizer. Terri Stewart, RVHPA’s president, will be taking over for Dan and her husband Bon (yes Bon-its not a typo) will be taking over for Mary Beth as volunteer coordinator. .  This is something that Mary Beth and I have been wanting—Some well qualified people taking over the event that are young enough to keep it going long term. Maybe they can break the Haley’s record run of 15 years with the Rat Race.

We’ll still be around helping out in this transition year and beyond.   Dan will be handling most of the admin work leading up to the event and Mary Beth will be recruiting volunteers.  Entering our 70’s we want more time for flying, a new grandchild, and traveling than we were able to do for the last couple of years.  This change will make that possible. 

There are still some details to work out with LongSword Vineyards and we will be looking at the number of fields planned to be going into CBD Hemp cultivation in 2020 later this fall.  More CBD hemp fields and lack of landing areas that could threaten the event. 

But for now all in all things are looking good for Applegate Open 2020.

Dan and Mary Beth Wells

Just a short update and thank you….

Thanks to all who participated in the event this year. 

It was a lot of work with 172 pilots competing in the races or attending the clinic plus another 35 or more volunteers helping.   Mary Beth and I were very happy with the way things went overall .  Eight days of flying.  Generally fast retrieves for the pilots.  And best of all, no serious injuries.  Now if we could just do something about all those pesky CBD hemp grows and all the dirt blowing at the HQ tent.

Believe it or not we are already looking at 2020.  We plan on submitting a sanctioning application to USHPA for June 13-20, 2020.  So mark your calendars.

Hopefully we will see many of you back next year.

Dan and Mary Beth Wells

Happy Memorial Day everyone and thanks to those of you who have served.

Just three weeks till the first day of racing. Over the last month there have been a few additions and a few subtractions but overall the Open and Sprint races have stayed pretty much on target of 160 pilots total for both races.  The SuperClinic is now full with 20 participants.  Pilot ID numbers have been assigned for those who have confirmed their registration with a payment.

I’m still holding spots for foreign pilots and we could probably take a few more U.S. pilots in the Sprint and Open races. Check out the pilot pages to see your pilot ID number who your competition is.

Cheers,

Dan Wells
Event Organizer

Hi Pilots,

Just in case you have looked at the registrations and given up…

We’ve had a number of pilots on the waiting lists since we hit our initial target of 160 pilots total confirmed for the Sprint and Open races a while back.  As a result we have decided to allow a few more pilots to enter the races. 

The pilots on the waiting list have been notified and given a chance to confirm a slot with a payment so now I’m announcing the availability to all.  Here’s the link to see who’s flying in the events and slots still available: https://wingsoverapplegate.org/pilots/  You can use the pull down to see the individual events.

If you have applied and are on the waiting list or you have not applied and are now thinking about it you still have a chance.  Just follow the menus to apply and/or pay. 

If you are thinking about it don’t delay.  Late registration starts and fees go up May 4.

Cheers,
Dan

It looks like we are going to fill up this year.

I have adjusted the split between the Open and Sprint races based on the relative number of applicants.  We will keep the total of both races at 160 pilots to make sure we can get everyone off the hill when conditions are less than ideal.

So far:

The Sprint Race has 59 pilots confirmed out of 74 who have applied for the  65 available slots.  6 more payment confirmations and the race is full. 

The Open Race has  90 pilots confirmed out of the 104 who have applied for the 95 available slots. Because of FAI sanctioning requirements we can only confirm foreign pilots for those last 5 slots until the end of May. U.S.  pilots who apply are being put on a waiting list.  If there are any slots left after May 31 they will go to the first pilots who confirm with a payment.

The SuperClinic has 6 of the 14 pilots who applied confirmed for the 20 available slots.

I’ve ordered a bigger tent!

Dan

I have just released the last available slots for the Open Race for U.S. pilots.  There are still spots for foreign and Canadian pilots, however.

When those U.S. Pilot slots are taken there will be no Open Race slots available unless you are a foreign pilot per your CIVL registration.   

All that said I do have some Open Race slots that I am holding back for nationally ranked U.S. pilots who have not yet applied and been confirmed with a payment.  If you fit in that category please email me after you apply and I will give you payment instructions if you qualify.

If not all the foreign pilot slots are filled by May 31, there is a chance a few more unranked  U.S. pilots to enter the Open Race.

We still have plenty of slots available for the Sprint Race and the SuperClinic.

Dan Wells

 Event Organizer

 pdx.dbw@gmail.com

We currently have 143 pilots who have signed up for the three events and 110 pilots who have confirmed their attendance with a payment.

The Sprint Race and the SuperClinic have plenty of positions open.  The Open Race, however, is bumping the limit even with 10 positions recently approved to be added.

The Open race is still accepting applications but only waiting list payments are allowed for U.S. pilots as we are required to hold slots open for foreign pilots till June 1.  Pilots on the waiting list will be notified when/if they are accepted or given a full refund. 

Canadian and foreign pilots still have slots available to confirm with a payment in all events. I’ll send an update as the status changes.

Dan Wells

Event Organizer

Thanks for your support in the first two weeks of registrations.

We currently have 137 pilots who have signed up for the three events and 107 pilots who have confirmed their attendance with a payment.

The Open race is still accepting applications but no confirmation payments are allowed for U.S. pilots as we are required to hold slots open for foreign pilots till June 1.  Canadian and foreign pilots still have slots available to confirm. I’ll send an update as the status changes.

Still plenty of openings in the Sprint Race and SuperClinic . 

I think I may need to order a larger tent for HQ. 

Dan Wells

Event Organizer

Only a few days to go till registration opens…

The Open Race has 80 slots available and is sanctioned by USHPA as part of the U.S. Championship series.  So you can expect to be flying with some of the top pilots in the U.S.  The Open race also sanctioned by FAI with 20 of the 80 total slots reserved for foreign pilots until two weeks before the event.  So you may not want to delay registering and confirming you spot with a payment.

The Sprint Race has 80 slots available.  The tasks are a bit shorter in this race but this fun competition can be intense  at times with lots of experienced pilots flying wings with similar performance. Its a great way to learn racing in a bit less demanding environment than the Open Race

The SuperClinic has 20 slots available with world class instruction from Kari Castle and Ken Hudonjorgensen.  Pilots in this clinic flying in this event can often get more airtime than those flying in the race events while improving their thermalling and XC skills.

Something new this year will be Applegate  Open Demo Days scheduled for  June 12-14.  Running for three days ahead of the Applegate Open it will give pilots a chance to get some hands on experience with a large number of products.  As I write this we are expecting at least 6 exhibitors with the following brands represented: Ozone, Gin, Advance, UP, Niviuk, Nova, Phi, Level, Flow, Kortel, Woody Valley, Flymaster, and High Adventure.  More to come with updates on the website.

Dan Wells

The Competition Committee at USHPA has approved our application for 2019.   So mark you calendars for June 15-22.

Registration opens February 2, 2019
Registration fees are lower this year for the Open and Sprint Races:

-$495 for Open and Sprint race pilots (includes club membership)
-$695 for SuperClinic pilots (includes club membership)
-Returning pilots from the 2018 event are eligible for a $50 discount coupon.

We are also planning a trade fair and a chance to demo gliders and other equipment ahead of the competition.  More on that later as the plans develop.

Dan Wells
Event Organizer