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Event info

Come join the top US and international pilots at this spectacular, big air site. Classes 1, 5 and sport will compete for the title of national champion. Plan to get high and go really far in the Colorado outback.

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Flying site

Dinosaur is a famous flying site located in Colorado (USA) in Rocky Mountains. As described by 2014 Rocky Mountain Region Site Guide it is at approximately 8,000ft MSL, 2,000ft above the primary LZ. Launches face SW, S, and SE.

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  • 100 Pilots max allowed
  • 8 Countries presented
  • 🏆 FAI Status = CAT 2 🏅
  • left before start of event

Prize funds and scoring categories

  • Class 1
  • Class 1 Sport
  • Class 5

Event info

Come join the top US and international pilots at this spectacular, big air site. Classes 1, 5 and sport will compete for the title of national champion. Plan to get high and go really far in the Colorado outback.

Flying site

Dinosaur is a famous flying site located in Colorado (USA) in Rocky Mountains. As described by 2014 Rocky Mountain Region Site Guide it is at approximately 8,000ft MSL, 2,000ft above the primary LZ. Launches face SW, S, and SE. Normally launchable in almost any wind direction as cliff creates its own weather pattern, unless winds are strong. Primarily a thermal site with some ridge soaring opportunity. Great XC potential, several competitions have been completed here. First competition to have a 100 mile goal. Very open, landable areas when going XC over the back. Try to land near a road, distances can be deceiving! Oxygen highly recommended. Primary LZ is about 1 mile from the base of the mountain, called the Snake Pit. Corral LZ is another mile further from ridge. Recommended Pilot Rating - Hang 2 for Hanglider (mornings) and P4 for Paraglider pilots (challenging air). Times to Fly - Mornings are usually light winds, suitable for experienced Hang and Paraglider pilots. Midday finds very strong thermal activity. Infrequent thunderstorms occur from May-August. Evenings occasionally glass off. One of the more popular XC sites, flown mostly by Hanglider pilots. Please check in with Mike Warden of the Hi-View Motel in Dinosaur. He offers pilot discounts on lodging and is the only local pilot. Call Mike at 970-374-2267.

TOPOGRAPHY
The area is high desert averaging 6,000'msl, punctuated with numerous peaks at approximately 8,000‘ and river valleys at 5,000‘.The terrain in the contest area varies from spectacular rocky cliffs to river valley pastures. There are expanses of level desert and various sized hills. Ranch and oilfield service roads form a network for easy pilot retrieval. Vegetation includes ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and aspen at the highest elevations and irrigated grassland and cottonwood trees at the lowest. In between are juniper, cedar and pinyon pine trees. For safe landing, open fields of desert grasses and sage brush are plentiful at all elevations. Wildlife is abundant, particularly soaring birds. Everyone will see deer, elk and antelope. Pilots can count on flying with eagles.

WEATHER
While no one would be so foolish as to guarantee the weather for any hang gliding contest, the period scheduled for this meet should yield eight straight days of outstanding flying conditions. The desert area around Dinosaur is not affected by the high mountain weather which makes many mountain sites inconsistent. While a high mountain site could have a solid week of virtually unflyable conditions, it is unlikely that there will be even a single day at Dinosaur on which a safe, valid task cannot be called. During the post-monsoon period of this meet, pilots can expect a weather pattern dominated by high pressure, with light westerly winds aloft and blue thermals/small cumulus. Climbs above l7,000'msl are normal.

Take off - (2460m ASL, 40°22.257', -109°05.171')
Takeoff will be from Cliff Ridge on the Blue Mountain Plateau, slightly west of the Colorado/Utah border, just north of Dinosaur. There are several launches facing south to southwest at 8,l00 ft msl, 2100ft above the nearest landing area at an approximate 4.6 to 1 glide (1 ft = 0.3048 m). Driving time from that landing area to launch is 45 minutes (2-wheel drive). Driving time from Dinosaur is 50 minutes, mainly on the paved U.S. Park Service road and then a good 2-wheel drive dirt road through BLM grazing land. Light, straight-in thermal cycles are the usual summer condition throughout most of the day. The launches are 150 and 200 yards apart, allowing several pilots to safely take off simultaneously. The area behind the launches is clear and perfectly level, with space to set up several thousand gliders. There will be an ordered launch that will minimize shuffling of gliders while providing the opportunity to back off if the pilot is not comfortable with conditions. Pilots will be able to drive close to their favorite setup spot, unload their equipment and park nearby. Unlimited parking is available on top, with a level walk to any takeoff. A clearly marked, convenient parking plan, with a separate area for spectators’ vehicles, will be overseen by staff. Spectators will be very cordially, but definitely, restricted from moving into cordoned-off areas surrounding the actual launches.
SAFETY
With several thousand competition and free-flying foot launches over 29 years, an excellent safety record has been established, especially in comparison with other well known big air sites. Safe landing fields and roads are plentiful. Fences, power lines and other hazards are sparse (except in the oilfield near the town of Rangely, an area that will be avoided in task calls). Prearrangements for search and rescue, ambulance and medical facilities will be made and coordinated by the Safety Director for all potential routes of flight.

Selection and entry fee

Entry Fees: The entry fee for the competition is $300 and is required in full to complete your registration and to secure your entry. If you want to save a few bucks, early entry is $250 and must be paid by January 18th. If you would rather contribute to the crew's beer fund, late entry is $350 and applies to anyone paying after May 1st.
Payment details will be sent by email.

Prize fund and scoring categories

Day prizes and winner prizes and trophies in Class 1, Sport, Class 2 and Class 5

General schedule

Saturday, June 17
10am - 1pm - On site check in/registration
7pm - 8pm - Mandatory Safety Briefing

Sunday, June 18 - Saturday, June 24
10:00am - daily task briefings (time subject to change)
4pm - 9pm - daily track log downloads and scoring

Saturday, June 24
8pm - prize giving and closing dinner (time subject to change)

Daily schedule

10:00am - daily task briefings (time subject to change)
4pm - 9pm - daily track log downloads and scoring

Accommodation and Activities

Aesthetically, camping on top is our favorite, be it with tent, RV or just a bedroll under the spectacular starry sky. Camping is free at launch and portable toilets will be provided.

Pilots are invited to camp on the grass in the larger of the two fenced town parks in Dinosaur. There are bathrooms and a large covered area with picnic tables and chairs. There is a free RV dump station at the smaller town park on highway U.S. 40.

A discount has been arranged at the Blue Mountain RV Park, a 100 unit RV park set up by an oil company to house its employees during an earlier boom. Located a short walk from the town park, it has electric, water and sewer hookups for RV's, plus large men's and women's shower and bathroom facilities.

RANGELY (Population 2500, 20 minutes from the town of Dinosaur):

Blue Mountain Inn and Suites (Basic hotel with indoor pool & hot tub) - 37 Park Street, Rangely, CO 81648 (970) 675-8888 www.bluemountaininnrangely.com

Budget Host Inn
117 S Grand Ave, Rangely, CO 81648 (970) 675-8461 www.budgethostrangely.com

Moosehead Lodge
856 East Main Street, Rangely, CO 81648 (970) 675-2257 www.mooseheadlodge@rangelylodging.com

VERNAL, UTAH (Population of 35,000, 35 minutes from the town of Dinosaur):

This small city offers at least 18 hotels and motels, a variety or restaurants and shops of all types.

We are also working closely with the city of Rangely and other local municipalities to arrange for the rental of RVs and trailers by local residents to pilots during the competition. More details to be provided as soon as we have more information.

How to get here

Dinosaur is on U.S. Highway 40, three miles east of the Colorado-Utah border, approximately midway between Denver and Salt Lake City. Pilots from anywhere in the U.S. can easily reach the area via the Interstate Highway System before transitioning to the major artery of U.S. 40. Pilots coming from overseas can fly into either Salt Lake City or Denver international airports.

Dinosaur, CO 81610, USA
Dinosaur, Colorado United States

Plane

Pilots wishing to travel by air can take commuter airlines from Denver or Salt Lake City to nearby Vernal, Utah. They may ship their gliders to the care of the Meet Organizers in Dinosaur.

Car

Dinosaur is on U.S. Highway 40, three miles east of the Colorado-Utah border, approximately midway between Denver and Salt Lake City. Pilots from anywhere in the U.S. can easily reach the area via the Interstate Highway System before transitioning to the major artery of U.S. 40.

Downloads

Waypoint files

Organizers

Jamie Shelden
Competition Organizers
Mitch Shipley
Meet Director and Scorekeeper

Contacts

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Tasks and results

Task 1

18 Jun, 2017

Class 1 — 109.0 km — Race to goal

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Task 1

18 Jun, 2017

Class 1 Sport — 42.2 km — Race to goal

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Task 1

18 Jun, 2017

Class 5 — 109.0 km — Race to goal

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Task 2

19 Jun, 2017

Class 1 — 92.8 km — Race to goal

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Task 2

19 Jun, 2017

Class 1 Sport — 38.8 km — Race to goal

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Task 2

19 Jun, 2017

Class 5 — 92.8 km — Race to goal

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Task 3

20 Jun, 2017

Class 1 — 193.3 km — Race to goal

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Task 3

20 Jun, 2017

Class 1 Sport — 85.3 km — Race to goal

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Task 3

20 Jun, 2017

Class 5 — 193.3 km — Race to goal

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Task 6

23 Jun, 2017

Class 1 Sport — 64.3 km — Race to goal

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Task 6

23 Jun, 2017

Class 1, Class 5 — 94.2 km — Race to goal

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Task 7

24 Jun, 2017

Class 1, Class 5 — 58.6 km — Race to goal

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Task 7

24 Jun, 2017

Class 1 Sport — 36.3 km — Race to goal

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