Blog | 2022 Wilotree Park Nationals

Blog
Summary
Details
Pilots
Results
Registration

39 Pilots Confirmed
39 Pilots total registered
375 USD Entry fee

Go to Pilot List

75 Pilots max allowed
6 Countries presented
🏆 FAI Status = CAT 2 🏅

left before start of event

Registration will open on
20/11 00:00 (US/Eastern)

Safety

🛰️

The organiser will supply Live trackers to you, for safety and scoring

Live trackers supplied
📱

The region generally has good phone coverage

Good phone coverage
🛰️

Live Tracking is MANDATORY in this event to score. The organiser will provide the trackers.

Live trackers mandatory

Organisation

📢

The organisers are using Airtribune for registration, tracking, blogging and to publish scores

Airtribune blogging

Benefits

⚡

The organisers will have free WiFi available at HQ

Free WiFi
🍕

There will be a social evening with food

Food
🎉

There will be an organised party during or after the event

Party
👕

You will receive a tshirt or other welcome gift

Free gift

Prize funds and scoring categories

Sport Class
Rigid Wings
Open Class

Contacts

Meet Organizer / Director
- Stephan Mentler
- team@hgrac.com
Safety Organizer
- Eric Williams
- hangglidemiami@gmail.com

Event info

The Wilotree Park Nationals competition is a flatland aerotow competition and part of the U.S. National Hang Gliding Championship Series. The competition is held in Groveland, Florida for Open, Sport, Swift, and Rigid wing classes. The competition will be USHPA and CIVL Category 2 sanctioned. USHPA NTSS and CIVL WPRS points will be awarded. Check-in is on Sunday, May 1st. Task days are May 2nd to May 7th (six task days).

Local rules will be posted 60 days prior to the competition's start. NOTE that to be eligible to compete, pilots (Sport and Open) must have a USHPA Hang 3 or foreign equivalent rating, at minimum. In addition, pilots must have an aerotow rating or provide evidence of extensive aerotowing experience. Lastly, pilots must have turbulence (TURB) and cross country (XC) sign offs. A USHPA membership is also required (temporary 30-day memberships will be availlable at minimal cost on site for foreign pilots).

Maximum 75 pilots.
• Daily Prizes
• Event Tee-shirt
• Food and drink Saturday evening
• Weaklinks
• On-line Turnpoint Coordinates
• On-line airspace files
• On-line task maps
• Free WiFi
• Evening Parties and Entertainment
• Weather Briefing on Pilots’ Phones
• Task Sent to Pilots’ Phones
• Access to Professional Retrieval Coordinators (Retrieval Goddess’s Retrieval Service)
• Wilotree Park (includes access to clubhouse and amenities - e.g. swimming pool, kitchen, pool table, etc.)
• Camping available

Flying site

Wilotree Park (Sheets airfield) is located one mile south of Groveland in Florida, United States. Groveland itself is situated in Lake County, in the center of the state. The surrounding area is dominated by pasture lands intermixed with treed swamps and some residential areas. Flatlands at about 100 ft MSL.

The airfield is a grass runway field with north/south and east/west runways. One can easily find it on the east side of State Hwy 33 two miles south of the intersection with state highway 50.

The field is surrounded by trees. Plenty of extra landings areas in all directions off the runway especially to the north. Take-off and landing will be in generally the same location, whatever is appropriate for the winds at that time.

Paradise Airsports is a year-round hang gliding flight park located at Wilotree Park.

The flying season is best in April and May or September and October. Quite flyable in summer, but rain in the afternoon. Some flying from November through March.

Average weather forecast for May: Low 65 degrees, high 89 degrees, rain: 3.1 inches. Software edged thermals, 300 – 500 fpm. Spaced a few miles apart. Cloud base from 3,000’ to 8,000’. Average around 4,000’ – 5,000’. Wind direction varies considerably.

The record distance made from Wilotree Park 283 miles, the East coast record, held jointly by Jonny Durand, Jr and Dustin Martin. First 200+ mile flight on the east coast was made by Davis Straub, 212 miles. Numerous 100+ mile flights to the north and south are made there, for example, 125 miles to the Florida Ridge flight park.

Take off Wilotree field
GPS (Degrees): Lat: 28° 31' 58.320'', Lng: -81° 50' 48.180''

East/west runway: Length: 1780 ft, Width: 155 ft
North/south runway: Length: 2000 ft, Width: 115 ft
Launch method: Dragonfly aerotowing.

Selection and entry fee

Pay Entry Fee Here: $375 (includes Wilotree Park Fee). Note entry fees increase to $475 after March 25th, 2022. NOTE that entry fees DO NOT include tow fees. Follow this link to pay entry fee - https://hang-glider-racing-association.company.site

Aerotowing fee - $375 (If paid by PayPal there is an additional fee). Fee includes a free tow on check-in day.

Aerotowing before the check-in day is additional.

Non-US pilots can register at any time, and we allow up to 100% non-US pilots.

After the registration, please follow your status on the Pilots tab. Here is an explanation of statuses:

Waiting for payment – Registered but we have not received entry fee payment.

Confirmed – Registered and received payment.

Waiting list - (this is the default that Airtribune sets automatically when you register) probably we haven't yet set you as "Waiting for Payment," which we do unless we see that you have paid while you register. But, while we've never had a Waiting List before, who knows, we may have one in the future, and you may be on it.

Cancellation Policy

Receive full refund minus $12 (USD) for withdrawal up to March 25th, 2022. Receive 50% refund for withdrawal after March 1st till April 1st. Refunds for withdrawals after April 1st are at the discretion of the Organizer and Wilotree Park, but not likely as we will have secured aircraft, the grounds, and other tangibles.

Prize fund and scoring categories

Trophies and prizes will be awarded to the top three Open Class and Sport Class competitors.

Day prizes will be given as available and determined by the organizer.

General schedule

Unofficial Training Days: Wilotree Park provides year round instruction and opportunities to fly cross country and learn the region.

Check-in is on Sunday May 1st, Check-in 1000 to 1200 and 1300 PM to 1600
Check-in location will be outside near club house
A welcome event will be help around clubhouse around 1900 on the 24th.
Monday, May 2nd, 9 AM: Initial Task and Safety Committee meetings
Monday, May 2nd, 10 AM: first pilot with initial safety briefing

Note that times are subject to change.

Daily schedule

10 AM: Task and Safety Committee meetings
11 AM: Pilot briefing /Task briefing
12:30 PM: Take-off window opens:
10 PM: Provisional results

Accommodation and Activities

Lodging is available at the flight park (rooms fill up fast so make reservations early), RV hook-ups, and plenty of shaded tent camping, first come first served. Goto https://www.wilotreepark.com for rates and to make reservations.

We will have group rates available at the Holiday Inn Express and Hampton in Claremont. Contact the hotels directly;
Holiday Inn Express - https://www.guestreservations.com/holiday-inn-express-clermont/booking?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzNiYsKzX7gIVTvDjBx0IXwHGEAAYASAAEgLDb_D_BwE

Hampton Inn - https://www.guestreservations.com/hampton-inn-and-suites-clermont/booking?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp5q8pK3X7gIVv_zjBx0cDgASEAAYASAAEgLmNvD_BwE

http://ozreport.com/accommodationsquest.php

How to get here

Wilotree Park/Sheets airfield is about one and a half mile south of Groveland, Florida, on State Highway 33. It is a left turn at a busy bend in the road (be careful). Headquarters is the club house, first building on the right.

Groveland, Florida United States