Blog | 5th BGD Weightless, 2022

Blog
Summary
Details
Pilots
Results
Registration

47 Pilots Confirmed
47 Pilots total registered
280 EUR Entry fee

Go to Pilot List

50 Pilots max allowed
15 Countries presented
✅ EN-D & below allowed
❌ CCC wings prohibited
🏆 FAI Status = CAT 2 🏅

left before start of event

Registration will open on
05/03 18:00 (Europe/Madrid)

Safety

🛰️

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

Live trackers supplied
🚁

The region supports helicopter rescues

Helicopter rescue
⚕️

There will be medical rescue services at launch

Medic on takeoff
📱

The region generally has good phone coverage

Good phone coverage
📻

We will be monitoring radios for your safety whilst you fly

Radio coverage
🛰️

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

Live trackers mandatory

Organisation

🚐

There will be vehicles supplied to take you to launch

Launch Transport
🥾

There will be retrieve vehicles available to return pilots to HQ

Retrieve included
🛰

The organisers will download the tracklogs at HQ for scoring

Tracklogs managed
📢

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

Airtribune blogging

Benefits

💳

The organisers will give you an ID card with all the essential items listed

ID Cards
🍕

There will be a social evening with food

Food
🎉

There will be an organised party during or after the event

Party
🎵

There will be live music or a DJ at the event

Live music
👕

You will receive a tshirt or other welcome gift

Free gift

Environment

🌲

The organisers have commmitted to Carbon Offset the event and/or Plant a Tree for each competitor

Carbon offset / Plant a Tree
♻️

The organisers support reducing the use of unnecessary plastic at the event. This includes NOT giving disposable water bottles

Plastic reduction

Prize funds and scoring categories

SPORT Class (EN-C & below)
LEISURE Class (EN-B & below)
FEMALE class
OVERALL Class

Contacts

Event Organisers
- FlyEvent
- +38631404688
- brett@flyevent.org

Event info

For 2022 we are going to take you to… Spain! To one of the most famous paragliding sites – Piedrahita.

A few words about the BGD Weightless:
The BGD Weightless is a new concept for a paragliding competition. An annual event, it is based on weight as the theme. It is still an FAI Category 2 competition, flying by FAI rules however.... up to now flying heavy has always been an advantage. This has resulted in heavy equipment and ballast for competitions. BGD would like to change all this and encourage people to fly with lighter equipment by offering some small changes through the scoring system, allowing you to fly at a weight more suited to you.

The BGD weightless is aimed at pilots looking for a sense of adventure, seeking to improve their Cross Country and/or competition experience or just enjoy a unique experience hanging out with some of the best pilots in the world.

Leading the event will be Bruce Goldsmith., and he will have a world class team behind him to present one of the most advanced events in the world. The event is particularly suited to leisure pilots that have flown at least some small XC's (20km+) and have flown in one or two fun competitions, but it will not exclude more advanced pilots, who will also benefit from participation in this fantastic setting in Spain.

As always, we will be giving away lots of prizes throughout, and at the end, all through our famous 'names in a hat' competition. There will be a brand new BGD glider of your choice and more. But you have to be there to win.

As well as the BGD Weightless there will also be the Belgian Open the week before. If you are aspiring comp pilot you may be interested to fly both competitions You will find the Belgium event stretches you a little more than the BGD event, but helping you towards consistent goals by the last week.

We look forward to flying with you!

Flying site

Piedrahíta is a flying site located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain. It is one of the best place in Europe to make long distance flights.
The flying site is a mixture of mountain and flatland zones. The area is famous for its convergence, high altitude and easy XC and soaring conditions for both low airtime and expert alike. Flying season April to October – with epic skies in the spring and midsummer. Conditions permitting to fly three times each day. This gives opportunities to those looking to get to grips with their first thermals during the morning and evening flights, as well as to those chasing their XC personal bests during the stronger convective part of the afternoon.
Average cloudbase 3200m. Good thermal conditions with little breeze in the open flatlands, though generally stronger at the pass some 20 km from launch. Base in August is generally above 3,000m, and often in excess of 4,000 m. You need to be in the air by 1.30 pm as the thermal breeze at launch can become very strong by mid-afternoon. Normally reliable thermals start from 11.30 am, later in August. April to October offer good thermal flying and XC potential. May to September for epic cu-filled skies. August tends to be bluer and hotter but reliably flyable.
As for the distances - 200 km flights are already made on every direction from take off and every year we can see even +300 km record flights.
One can get unforgettable experience experience while flying among huge gaggles of migrating storks in July.
Precautions: With strong easterly winds the take-off is sheltered, but winds further out can be strong and turbulent. With a westerly the wind will be stronger at the pass and in the next (Ambles) valley. For both strong east and west winds the safest area to land is in the flatlands near to Piedrahita. The winds increase as you move towards the pass with a westerly, and beyond the Col at Santiago de Collado with an easterly.

Flying site videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSRNSfYynyU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsnSkSrmshA
http://vimeo.com/33908879

Flying site presentation on XCmag: http://www.xcmag.com/2014/02/guide-to-piedrahita-spain/

Take off Peña Negra:
Coordinates: N 40º 25.323′ - W 05º18.037′
Altitude: 1909m..
Orientation: N, NE, NW
A tarmac road to a groomed launch above a town. Easy access of hanggliders. There’s a large car park right next to the rigging area.

More info on take offs - http://www.flypiedrahita.com/flypiedrahita/flyingTakeOffs
Flying maps and useful navigation http://www.flypiedrahita.com/flypiedrahita/flyingMapsAndNav

Hotels and hostels info:
http://www.aytopiedrahita.com/esp/directorio_categoria.asp?seccion=HOSTALES
http://www.aytopiedrahita.com/esp/directorio_categoria.asp?seccion=CASAS+RURALES
http://www.aytopiedrahita.com/esp/servicos_municipales.htm

Selection and entry fee

The event is open to all pilots, however, a strict selection process may be applied to participants and a place is not assured.

The organisers will select from the registered pilots and offer places at their discretion. Registering does not assure you of a place. Places will not be offered in the order of registration, nor according to WPRS ranking, but instead will be decided on a criteria set by the organisers.

The entry fee will be €290 euro and details of how to pay will be sent to the selected pilots.

All Pilots must hold the following:
- An FAI IPPI-4 licence
- An FAI Sporting Licence
- Medical insurance (including rescue and repatriation)
- Third party liability insurance

All the above will be checked at registration

Also:
- SMS text phone
- Recently repacked reserve parachute
- Certified helmet
- Harness with certified back protection
- 2M Radio capable of 143.900 Mhz FM

If you do not have ALL of the above you will NOT be permitted to participate.

The event will have weight limitations set accordingly:

Equipment weight maximum - 22kg*
Ballast maximum** - 3kg*

* Exceptions will be given where more weight is required for safety, ie being underweight for the wing
** Ballast is considered as any additional weight you carry exclusively to increase the wing loading, including but not limited to Water

The organisation will be providing GPS trackers at the venue for your safety and convenience.

Documents required at registration

Issued by your local NAC on behalf of the FAI. You cannot normally compete in an FAI event without one. Contact your National Association (NAC)

FAI Sporting Licence
The FAI IPPI card is an International card that states your skill level. It is issued by your National Association and matches the level or your flying Licence

FAI IPPI Card
The organiser requires you to present your National flying licence.

National Licence
You will need to sign an applicaton form at the venue. Usually the organiser will provide it on arrival.

Signed Application form
You will need to sign a waiver or release document to show you understand the risks. Usually the organiser will provide it on arrival.

Signed Waiver/Release form
You must provide the organiser with a copy of your liability (3rd party) insurance documents

Liability Insurance
You must provide the organiser with a copy of your medical, rescue and repatriation insurance. You can purchase Global Rescue cover from Airtribune

Rescue/Medical Insurance

Cancellation Policy

We do not anticipate cancellation of the event however, Pilots should note our cancellation policies, in keeping with all major events and adapted to allow for the current Covid situation;

Any pilots who cancels their registration will be given refunds as follows:
- Cancellation within 7 days of paying* = Refund less 10€ of the amount paid
or
- Cancellation more than 30 days before competition start date = 75% refund of entry price.
- Cancellation 30 days or less before comp start date = 0% refund of entry price

ˣ Payments made less than 7 days before the event are excluded

Cancellations must be informed by email and the date at which the email is received will be used to calculate your refund.
Please be aware, refunds, if due, are not immediate. If we are busy in the main flying season then we only do admin 1 day per month. Your deposit and/or payment is NOT transferable. There is a strict selection process and you cannot bypass this by passing your payment to another pilot.

Cancellation of a Competition by the Organization ie Covid19 interference etc
In the event the organizers deem it necessary to cancel, relocate, or reschedule the competition you will be entitled to transfer your entry to another FlyEvent contest, or to carry it over to the 2023 season. You will not lose any of your entry fee.

The organizers will not be liable for any costs incurred by anyone attending, or intending to attend the event, or any consequential losses arising from the cancellation, relocation, or rescheduling of the event.

Please ensure you have adequate holiday travel insurance to cover any losses if you later find you are unable to participate!
ENTRY FEE ADMINISTRATION
All competition Payments are being handled by FlyEvent, on behalf of the competition and local organisers.

Prize fund and scoring categories

We will give further details of the scoring categories in the coming weeks. Typically, we expect:

- Overall Class
- Leisure Class
- Ladies Class

There will be NO prizes for winning the competition. We will however be offering several prizes by way of a prize draw/lottery, which will include a brand new BGD glider and more

General schedule

Saturday 20th August
The Town hall will offering a catering on Saturday night that will be the close ceremony for the Belgian and the open for BGD

Sunday 21th August
Registration at the venue.
15:00 to 19:00

Monday 22nd August
First task
Daily briefing being at 9am

Saturday 27st August
Last task, followed by awards and prizes

There will be daily talks from Bruce Goldsmith and his highly experienced team.

Daily schedule

On competition days:

09h30: Headquarters open
10h00: Morning briefing @ HQ
10h30: Transportation to take off
11h15: Task and Safety Committee meetings
12h15: Pilot briefing/Task briefing
12h30: Take-off window opens (depending on the actual weather conditions)
17h00: Scoring office opens
20h00: Provisional results (depending on the last pilot being retrieved)

The daily schedule is subject to change. Any changes to the schedule will be posted on the whiteboard in HQ. Changes will be announced by the Meet Director at the Daily briefing.

Accommodation and Activities

For accommodations you can found the following hotels and rural places:
Hostal Goya: https://hostaldegoya.com/
Hostal Conde Duque: https://hostalgranduque.net/
Hote Rural Cayetana: https://www.hotelruralcayetana.com/
Rural Houses: https://www.escapadarural.com/casas-rurales/piedrahita_avila
https://www.clubrural.com/casas-rurales/avila/piedrahita
https://www.casasrurales.net/casas-rurales/avila/piedrahita

How to get here

25691 Àger, Lleida, Spain
Piedrahita Spain

Plane

The nearest international airport is Madrid (Barajas) which is 200 km away.
You can get to Madrid center from airport by metro. The metro in Madrid is cheap and efficient, and it takes you pretty much everywhere. There is a subway station inside the bus station and it's name is Mendez Alvaro. From the Airport to Mendez Alvaro will take you about 45 minutes. First take line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios. Once there take line 6 to Mendez Alvaro. At the bus station, go upstairs to get your ticket. The ticket office for Cevesa is at the far end of the hall lookng from the cafe area.

Bus

La empresa de autobuses que da servicio a Piedrahita se llama CEVESA.

Desde Madrid:
Estación de Sur de Autobuses. Méndez Álvaro 83. Madrid 28045.
Teléfono: 91 468 42 00.
e-mail: info@estaciondeautobuses.com

Madrid – Piedrahíta
HORARIOS:
De lunes a sábado
Laborables: 8:15 – 16:10
Viernes: 8:30-15:15—16:10*-20:30
* (Del 1 de Julio al 15 de Septiembre)
Domingos: 8:30-20:30

Desde Ávila:
Estación de Autobuses. Avenida de Madrid, 2.
Teléfono:.920 22 01 54
Ávila – Piedrahíta
HORARIOS:
De lunes a sábado
Laborables: 9:45-13:00-17:30
Domingos: 9:45-21:45

Desde Salamanca:
Estación de autobuses. Avenida Filiberto Villalobos, 71.
Teléfono: 923 23 67 17. Take the metro from the airport to La Estacion Sur de Autobuses – the metro stop is called Mendez Alvaro.

You can get to Piedrahita by coach, which leaves the Estacion Sur de Autobuses in Madrid and brings you to Piedrahita in approximately two hours at the cost of €12.66. The bus company is called Cevesa.
The buses run from Madrid at the following times:
Madrid-Piedrahita: Morning: 8:30am every day. Afternoon: 16:10 every day except Sundays, when it leaves in the evening at 20:30 There is an extra one on Fridays at 20:30
The return trip can be made at these times: Piedrahita-Madrid: 8:15, 8:25, 10:40, 16:25 every day except Sundays when they leave at 17:15 and 20:25
http://www.cevesa.es/

Train

Estación de Atocha. Glorieta Carlos V s/n. 91 328 90 20
Estación de Chamartin. Agustín de Foxa, s/n. 91 323 15 15
Otra posibilidad es el tren para llegar a Piedrahíta.
Los trenes parten desde la estación de Chamartín o Atocha, dependiendo del tren que escojamos tardaremos entre una hora o dos. El viaje termina en la estación Renfe de Ávila.
Tendremos que enlazar nuestro viaje con un autobús directo que nos dejará en Piedrahíta.
Informaciones más completas, directamente en la página de RENFE

The closest train station to Piedrahita is Avila. It is still 58 km away, and the only buses are the same as those coming from Madrid, which are better caught there.
A taxi from Avila to Piedrahita costs around €50. There regular trains from Madrid to Avila, almost every hour in the peak times, and prices vary, depending on the speed of the train. There are several stations in Madrid, but the one that links with Avila is Chamartín. Again, there is a metro stop inside the station (also called Chamartín) we have highlighted it on the metro map above.
For trains information see: Renfe - Timetables and Prices http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/horarios.html

Car

Desde Madrid: Autopista A6 Madrid – Ávila.
ITINERARIO:
• A6 - Majadahonda, Las Rozas de Madrid, Villacastin, 110 Km. 1 h. 8 min.
• N-110. Ávila – Plasencia. 60 km hasta Piedrahíta. 40 min.

By car Piedrahita lies on the National highway N-110, some 50km east of Avila. Hitchhiking in central Spain is uncommon and takes time!

Taxi

To get to the bus station you can get a taxi from the airport, but careful not to be overcharged. The ride shouldn't cost much than €40. If you are charged significantly more, ask for a receipt and take the details of the taxi driver, license number, etc.