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Event info

This is a two day, (first day is a practice day) fun competition to celebrate the return of spring (but in California, some would argue we are in a perpetual spring enviroment). No cost for the pilots.

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Flying site

Sylmar is the world capital of hang gliding and pilots have been flying hang gliders in these mountains since 1969. The first U.S. National Hang Gliding Championships were held here in 1973. The Flight Park is located just outside of Los Angeles and we enjoy around 300 days of flying a year.

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Event info

This is a two day, (first day is a practice day) fun competition to celebrate the return of spring (but in California, some would argue we are in a perpetual spring enviroment). No cost for the pilots. There is no rain date set. All pilots must have a current USHPA rating card on their person and must either be a SHGA club member in good standing (meaning your dues are paid and up to date), or have paid the SHGA day use fee.

Transportation to launch is the responsibility of the pilot. Kagel can accomodate about 20 - 30 pilots, another launch at towers can accomodate about 10 - 15 pilots, but is an H4 site only (no PG).

If you are a visiting pilot then it will be best to arrive early and get a site briefing if you have not been here before. There is a good overview on the SHGA web site. Rules and guidlines and Site Dangers and Paragliding info are posted.

Flying site

Sylmar is the world capital of hang gliding and pilots have been flying hang gliders in these mountains since 1969. The first U.S. National Hang Gliding Championships were held here in 1973. The Flight Park is located just outside of Los Angeles and we enjoy around 300 days of flying a year. Please check out the rules and site information before flying here.

Pilots and non-pilots are welcome to enjoy our flight park year 'round! Fly high, fly far, fly safe!

Launch is at 3,540' MSL and at 2,200' AGL, there is plenty of altitude to spare for a great flight. Sylmar is an inland desert flying site, with thermals and turbulence as strong as one will find anywhere. Wind direction is typically from the south during the day and switches to the north near sunset. There is a dirt ramp for south launches and a saddle for paragliders. The SHGA landing zone is an easy glide from launch and there are several streamers in the LZ.

Landing Site
12600-12648 Gridley St
Sylmar, CA 91342
34.317435, -118.406792

Launch Site
Sylmar, CA 91342
34.333396, -118.384326

Selection and entry fee

No cost for the pilots. There is no rain date set. All pilots must have a current USHPA rating card on their person and must either be a SHGA club member in good standing (meaning your dues are paid and up to date), or have paid the SHGA day use fee.

Prize fund and scoring categories

Open Class - Usually will fly a triangle or lap race consisting of an entry start at the far end of the course and navigate the task hitting all turnpoints in the order specified. Turnpoint radius will be assigned the day of the task and will either be 400m or 200m depending on task and course length. The task comittee can chose a regatta start (where all pilots start at the same time) or can elect to use start intervals (normally intervals are used). Intervals will normally be 10 to 20 minutes apart with 2 or 3 intervals depending on the time between intervals, unless there is low participation , then we'll have one start time (regatta). Fastest elapsed time wins. You must complete the course to receive arrival points otherwise only distance points will be awarded.

Sport Class - Task will normally be run like the open class with the course being shorter. The start cylinder will usually be at the opposite end of the open class task. Open to most P3 and H3 pilots that choose to fly king posted gliders.

Novice Class - Designed primarily for H2's and low time H3's (paragliders can participate as well, but the landing circle will be much tighter). Task will be a duration contest with a landing accuracy multiplier. Pilots will be scored for longest duration minus any deductions for landing inaccuracies. If pilots land within the spot circle, then all of their flight time will be counted. If pilots land outside of the spot circle, flight time will be reduced by some factor to be determined (ie. outside circle by 10 feet, flight time in minutes * .9 = scored flight time). We'll likely identify these pilots with a streamer tied to the rear wires or one of the wing tips.

General schedule

June 6, 2015 - Competition and Prize giving day.

Daily schedule

9:30 AM - 11 AM . Pilot Check-in / GPS registration/prep
10:45 AM . . Pilot's Meeting for all competitors
12:00 PM . . Launch window opens for All Classes
1:00 PM . . Start window opens for Sport Class
1:30 PM . . Start window opens for Open Class
3:00 PM . . BBQ Starts!
5:30 PM . . Awards

Accommodation and Activities

How to get here

Where is Sylmar Flight Park?
The Sylmar Flight Park (landing zone) is located north of Los Angeles off the 210 freeway in the city of Sylmar. The Park is open daily from 8 AM until dusk.

How do I get to launch?
Kagel Mountain is located in the Angeles National Forest. The road to launch is a gated unimproved fire road off Little Tujunga Canyon Road. Visiting pilots must contact a current SHGA member for access to the road. A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. Pilots meet in the Flight Park (landing zone) and carpool to launch from there.

Launch is at 3,540' MSL and at 2,200' AGL, there is plenty of altitude to spare for a great flight. Sylmar is an inland desert flying site, with thermals and turbulence as strong as one will find anywhere. Wind direction is typically from the south during the day and switches to the north near sunset. There is a dirt ramp for south launches and a saddle for paragliders. The SHGA landing zone is an easy glide from launch and there are several streamers in the LZ.

Landing Zone and Headquarters
12600-12648 Gridley St
Sylmar, CA 91342
34.317360, -118.406692

Launch is behind a locked gate where you need to know the gate combination. It is best for pilots to go to the Sylmar LZ and get a ride to launch unless you are a club member
34.333497, -118.384630

Sylmar, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Sylmar, CA. United States

Plane

The nearest airport is Los Angeles International airport LAX.
Web: http://www.lawa.org/welcome_lax.aspx

Bus

Free shuttle bus service is provided from the Metro Green Line Aviation Station. Passengers wishing to use this shuttle bus service should wait under the LAX Shuttle & Airline Connections sign on the Lower/Arrival Level islands in front of each terminal, and board the "G" Shuttle.

It takes about 3 hours to get to Sylmar by bus from LAX.
Bus company METRO Tel 323.466.3876. Web: http://www.metro.net/

Other public bus authorities are:
Culver City Bus Lines
Santa Monica Big Blue Bus
Torrance Transit .

Car

It takes about 1 hour to drive from LA to Sylmar (30 miles) via I-405 N or via I-210 N.

Downloads

Waypoint files

Organizers

Sylmar Hang Gliding Assoc.
Windsports Hang Gliding

Contacts

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