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Event info
In 2020 in the depths of the Covid virus, all events worldwide were suspended from March onwards. But in the latter part of May 2020 there were signs that Slovenia may allow an international competition to be organised.
Expand page for more, including Payment & Cancellation infoFlying site
Kobala is a famous flying site in Soca river valley in Slovenia. With the landing place in Tolmin it is intended for flying hang gliders and paragliders, for sport flying, competitions, events and training hang glider and paraglider pilots.
Expand page for more info- left before start of event
- before registration 18/01 11:56 (Europe/Ljubljana)
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Live trackers supplied
The organiser will supply LiveTrackers to you, for safety and scoring
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Helicopter rescue
The region supports helicopter rescues
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Medic on takeoff
There will be medical rescue services at launch
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Good phone coverage
The region generally has good phone coverage
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Radio coverage
We will be monitoring radios for your safety whilst you fly
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Live trackers mandatory
Live Tracking is MANDATORY in this event to score. The organiser will provide the trackers.
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Launch Transport
There will be vehicles supplied to take you to launch
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Retrieve included
There will be retrieve vehicles available to return pilots to HQ
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Toilets on takeoff
There are toilets at, or near, the launch
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Tracklogs managed
The organisers will download the tracklogs at HQ for scoring
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Airtribune blogging
The organisers are using Airtribune for registration, tracking, blogging and to publish scores
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Lunch packs
There will be daily lunch packs for pilots
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Maps are supplied
The organisers will give you printed maps at registration
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ID Cards
The organisers will give you an ID card with all the essential items listed
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Free WiFi
The organisers will have free WiFi available at HQ
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Goal beers
There will usually be goal beers for winners
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Food
There will be a social evening with food
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Party
There will be an organised party during or after the event
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Live music
There will be live music or a DJ at the event
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Free gift
You will receive a tshirt or other welcome gift
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Carbon offset
The organisers have commmitted to Carbon Offset the event, including competitior travel to & from the venue
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Plastic reduction
The organisers support reducing the use of unnecessary plastic at the event. This includes NOT giving disposable water bottles
Event info
In 2020 in the depths of the Covid virus, all events worldwide were suspended from March onwards. But in the latter part of May 2020 there were signs that Slovenia may allow an international competition to be organised. And so the Freedom Open came in to being. Assembled in just 3 weeks, it became one of the highest scoring WPRS events of 2020. But more than just a much needed competition, the local task setting committee managed to set some supreme tasks, covering territory never flown before in Slovenia. The result was considered one of the greatest events the territory had ever held.
So for 2021 we are going to do it again, one last time. The event will again be hosted early in the annual calendar to allow pilots to gain those valuable WPRS points. Come and join some of the best pilots in the world as they battle in the skies of Slovenia. Lets celebrate the freedom that this years vaccine should promise to bring us as the paragliding world strives back towards normality.
The event has been scheduled such that top pilots will have time to travel from the Worlds, in France, which are in the weeks before.
The week after the Freedom Open is the Naviter Open. More information here: Naviter Open
The Freedom Open will be an FAI event, scoring full WPRS points. It will be open to all pilots and wings, but with the following restrictions, to support the minimal restrictions and common sense approach we must still all make:
- The event will be limited to 100 pilots
- All pilots must have prior competition experience
- Safety briefing will be predominantly by PDF document, in advance
- Vehicles may be limited to 2 persons per row (empty seats between pilots)
- The initial registration fee is minimal, but non refundable (see details below), with the balance paid on arrival
The event will have a full Flymaster tracking system for safety, as at all the events in Slovenia.
The focus on the event is to deliver a safe competition to pilots that have been looking for an opportunity to compete at high level. There may be some restrictions whilst we are on the ground, such as wearing masks etc, but once in the air, we can fly, compete, and grab some needed WPRS points!
Flying site
Selection and entry fee
Entry fee will be 230 euro total, paid in two parts
1/ Part 1, upon registration through Airtribune. €70 euro, non refundable*
2/ Part 2, the balance of €160 euro shall be paid on arrival at the venue in June
*see cancellation policy
Places will be offered on the following basis:
> Any pilot ranked top 300 WPRS will immediately be offered a place.
Thereafter, from 31.01.2021, or when 200+ pilots have registered, by the following:
> The top 5 ranked females that have registered
> WPRS order until 90 places are filled
> At organisers discretion for the remaining places
Payment of the deposit will be by Paypal. Details will be sent by email if your application to participate is accepted.
The payment will get you:
- Daily transport to launch for all 6 tasks
- Retrieves daily
- Daily lunch packs
- Trackers, for safety and scoring
- Typical tasking/scoring services
- Facemasks available for all that require them
- T-shirt & other souvenirs as we are able
- Discounts for alternative activities in the event of bad weather
- Other event benefits, as they are made available
- If the Covid situation allows, there will be a social evening with drinks organised
Documents required at registration
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FAI Sporting Licence
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)
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FAI IPPI Card
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
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National Licence
The organiser requires you to present your National flying licence.
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Signed Application form
You will need to sign an applicaton form at the venue. Usually the organiser will provide it on arrival.
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Signed Waiver/Release 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.
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Liability Insurance
You must provide the organiser with a copy of your liability (3rd party) insurance documents
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Rescue/Medical Insurance
You must provide the organiser with a copy of your medical, rescue and repatriation insurance. You can purchase Global Rescue cover from Airtribune
Cancellation Policy
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 = 70% 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
The 70 euro deposit is intended to be sufficient for the organisers to establish the event and cover initial setting up costs. Whilst we realise there is some risk in making this payment, please consider there is also continued risk from the organisers if they must cancel the event. This risk must be shared. However, we do not anticipate any problems in the organising of the event in 2021, just as we were successful in 2020.
In the event the organizers deem it necessary to cancel, relocate, or reschedule the competition you will be entitled to transfer your entry to the 2022 seasons event. In this way, 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.
If you are unable to attend, due to a Covid travel entry ban, then we may allow you to transfer your entry to the 2022 event, regardless of how short the notice. To be considered for this you must contact us in advance of the event start, and provide clear evidence of the ban of entry to Slovenia. If we do not hear from you or you simple do not show then there will be no refund. No shows will cause us unacceptable losses through pre-organised infrastructure, staff etc.
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
Sports Class (EN-C and below)
Female class
General schedule
Sunday 6 June
PRACTICE DAY
Sunday 6 June
Unofficial practice. Transport will be available and a task posted. No retrieves or scoring.
TASK DAYS
1st task Monday 7 June
Last task Saturday 12 June
PRIZE GIVING
Saturday 12 June
To limit the opportunity for viral spread, it is unlikely there will be any organised social evenings/parties. But if the opportunity exists, we will make the party mid week.
Daily schedule
09h00: Headquarters open
09h30: Transportation to take off
10h15: Task and Safety Committee meetings
11h15: Pilot briefing/Task briefing
11h30: Take-off window opens (depending on the actual weather conditions)
16h00: Scoring office opens
19h00: 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
The venue will be the Camping Gabrje. We therefore recommend this to most pilots. They will be operating as normal throughout the competition.
You may also book various accommodation options in Tolmin, or the surrounding area.
How to get here
Libya
Tolmin Slovenia
Plane
The nearest international airports are Ljubljana (85 km away) and Trieste (70 km away) in Italy. From there you can catch a bus to Tolmin.
Bus
You can get to Tolmin by bus from most of the major cities in Slovenia.
If you travel from Ljubljana, you will find the timetable here:
http://www.ap-ljubljana.si/en/
If you travel from Nova Gorica, you will find the timetable here:
http://www.avrigo.si/potniski_prevozi/linijski_promet/vozni_red/
Train
There is a train station at the nearby town of Most na Soci. It is about 10 minutes by taxi to Tolmin. Connecting trains are hard though as it is a small service. You can come from the north, through from Austria, with a change at Jesenice. You can also board at Nova Gorica in the south.
There is a Car Train service from the north than can turn a 1 hour car drive into a 35 minute ride through the beautiful valleys. But there are only 3 or 4 services a day, from Bohinska Bistrica.
Car
You can get to Tolmin either from Kobarid, Nova Gorica or Ljubljana/Idrija. The Headquarters are located at Gabrje Campsite, which is ca. 4 km NW from Tolmin by the Soca river.
Downloads
Waypoint files
Organizers
Airtribune
Gasper Prevc
Contacts
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Meet Director
- Brett Janaway
- brett@flyevent.org