Region 9 North in 2010?

Hi All -

So in planning my vacation time this year (i.e. "Soaring time"), I was
saddened to realize that there's no way I can make the Sports Class
Nats at Parowan. :-( But I still want to attend a contest in addition
to the Region 8 Regionals...

I see the Region 9 North contest was pretty heavily attended last
year, but in 2010 its being held about a month earlier in the season.
Can anyone familiar with the contest & the area explain to me what
this date move might mean for both attendance and conditions?

Thanks, take care,

--Noel
(who sadly won't be able to attend the SSA Convention, either - argh!)

On Jan 17, 10:34*pm, "noel.wade" wrote:
Hi All -

So in planning my vacation time this year (i.e. "Soaring time"), I was
saddened to realize that there's no way I can make the Sports Class
Nats at Parowan. :-( *But I still want to attend a contest in addition
to the Region 8 Regionals...

I see the Region 9 North contest was pretty heavily attended last
year, but in 2010 its being held about a month earlier in the season.
Can anyone familiar with the contest & the area explain to me what
this date move might mean for both attendance and conditions?

Thanks, take care,

--Noel
(who sadly won't be able to attend the SSA Convention, either - argh!)

The peak of the season for Logan normally is about the last three
weeks of July and the first two weeks of August, by moving the
contest to mid July we take advantage of the longer days. It also
allows those that wish to fly Logan and the 15M Nationals in Uvalde to
do so without conflict.

We expect that Logan will have as many or more ships than last year
and if the 2011 bid that is being prepared is accepted it will raise
even more interest for those that would like to fly here to practice
the nationals.

Statistically the hottest day of the year falls around July 26th of
each year in Logan so the contest should be just about at peak
season. Last year we had very unusual weather for Logan (and most of
the west), but still had five contest days and excellent ridge and
thermal flying the last day that was officially canceled due to rain
overnight (something I don't remember ever before in August in the ten
years I have lived here).

We had a very positive response from most pilots last year and many
that were sad they decided not to fly after they heard about the
conditions and mix of terrain, not to mention the fact that being a
University town you can get excellent food including Sushi, Indian,
Thai, and Tuscan Italian. One of the few soaring towns that I know of
where the crews are actually happy.

Logan is one of the best and safest places I have raced for having
great mix of conditions and terrain, yet many safe landing spots.
Many airports and alfalfa fields in the contest area so off-fields are
usually uneventful.

As always, Bruno Vassel captures many of the aspects on Logan in his
videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECHGKS7Yiz4

I am biased, but also lucky that I get to live at one of the most
fantastic soaring sites in the world. Thermal, ridge and wave all at
one site and with a great airport and town, it is a very rare
combination.





..

Tim Taylor wrote:


The peak of the season for Logan normally is about the last three
weeks of July and the first two weeks of August, by moving the
contest to mid July we take advantage of the longer days. It also
allows those that wish to fly Logan and the 15M Nationals in Uvalde to
do so without conflict.

We expect that Logan will have as many or more ships than last year
and if the 2011 bid that is being prepared


Which contest are you bidding for?



is accepted it will raise
even more interest for those that would like to fly here to practice
the nationals.

Statistically the hottest day of the year falls around July 26th of
each year in Logan so the contest should be just about at peak
season. Last year we had very unusual weather for Logan (and most of
the west), but still had five contest days and excellent ridge and
thermal flying the last day that was officially canceled due to rain
overnight (something I don't remember ever before in August in the ten
years I have lived here).

We had a very positive response from most pilots last year and many
that were sad they decided not to fly after they heard about the
conditions and mix of terrain, not to mention the fact that being a
University town you can get excellent food including Sushi, Indian,
Thai, and Tuscan Italian. One of the few soaring towns that I know of
where the crews are actually happy.

Logan is one of the best and safest places I have raced for having
great mix of conditions and terrain, yet many safe landing spots.
Many airports and alfalfa fields in the contest area so off-fields are
usually uneventful.

As always, Bruno Vassel captures many of the aspects on Logan in his
videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECHGKS7Yiz4

I am biased, but also lucky that I get to live at one of the most
fantastic soaring sites in the world. Thermal, ridge and wave all at
one site and with a great airport and town, it is a very rare
combination.





.

On Jan 17, 9:34*pm, "noel.wade" wrote:
Hi All -

So in planning my vacation time this year (i.e. "Soaring time"), I was
saddened to realize that there's no way I can make the Sports Class
Nats at Parowan. :-( *But I still want to attend a contest in addition
to the Region 8 Regionals...

I see the Region 9 North contest was pretty heavily attended last
year, but in 2010 its being held about a month earlier in the season.
Can anyone familiar with the contest & the area explain to me what
this date move might mean for both attendance and conditions?

Thanks, take care,

--Noel
(who sadly won't be able to attend the SSA Convention, either - argh!)

Noel,

I competed in the Region 9 North last year at Logan.

Great Town, Great Safe Airport, Great Club, Great FBO, Great place to
fly.

The earlier dates will be better!

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

I see the Region 9 North contest was pretty heavily attended last
year, but in 2010 its being held about a month earlier in the season.
Can anyone familiar with the contest & the area explain to me what
this date move might mean for both attendance and conditions?

Thanks, take care,

--Noel
(who sadly won't be able to attend the SSA Convention, either - argh!)

Noel,
I may be biased myself. But I am a HUGE fan of Logan. Last year was
the first year of a contest at Logan. They have a HUGE airport
(biggest I have seen outside of Hobbs), but still in use. The airport
authority opened up their hearts and airport , we had an entire old
unused runway to use as tie-downs. We had an entire runway and
taxiway to use for launching. We had lodging, restaurants,
activities, entertainment, EVERYTHING. The soaring had ridge, wave
AND thermal. I couldn't believe it, last year we only had two FIELD
landings...and at one the farmer came out and wanted his family to
meet the glider pilot, and took the glider pilot into town to wait for
his retrieve crew (his mind was that it would be easier to find). We
had so many airstrips everywhere, that all of the other out-landings
were on actual airstrips. The city of Logan sits in a valley with
mountains all around. You seem to ALWAYS be able to find lift,
because you can use the ridge. Funny, but on the east coast, there
are ridge days when the ridge seems to work. In Logan, there wasn't a
day when the ridge didn't work. I was pretty amazed at seeing the
clouds indicate the wave. We had to daily remind the pilots to not
bump the ceiling. And as Tim T, said, it was the worst weather he had
seen in over 10 years. Wow....you should have seen some of the
altitude on the flight traces! Moving the contest to earlier this
year, will give us better conditions, and launching earlier this
year. I have already had a few e-mails of some seasoned competition
pilots that are going to be attending. Like last year, we are going
to have ground school (strategy classes) by some really experienced
pilots!
I can hardly wait to get back there....Jonathan's was the best steak
restaurant I have ever been to outside of New York City! Ok, maybe I
am a little biased! LOL
Micki

Noel,
Tim shared one of my videos made at the Logan contest in 09. If you
are interested in seeing more of soaring in the Logan area here are a
few more videos of gliding in Logan, Utah. If you take the time to
watch these videos there is no possible way anyone would not want to
come soar in the Logan Region 9 contest in 2010! The soaring
conditions are unbelievable at times (except when I am landing out -
yeah I was one of the 2 people to land out), the airport is amazing
for contests, the people are great and the scenery is unforgetable.

Nov 2009 Ridge Flight from Logan to Pocatello and back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qFDkRxyI_I

Oct 2009 Logan Wave Day with lift to 18,000+
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgaTBdt-2d0

Last Day of 2009 Logan Contest - Canceled due to morning weather.
Notice Biff (H7) and I still had a great time on the ridge...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRSPj4WkTp0

May 2009 Shows flying the entire 30+ mile main Logan Ridge - both in
cockpit video and tail mount video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xo6N6_9rNQ

April 2009 - Took off from Morgan Utah about 40 miles south of Logan
and Flew to Pocatello and back. Low save. Good view of what Logan
valley looks like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LipeSXXe1Yk

Hope you decide to come join us. Would love to meet you.

Bruno - B4

On Jan 18, 10:39*am, MickiMinner wrote:
I see the Region 9 North contest was pretty heavily attended last
year, but in 2010 its being held about a month earlier in the season.
Can anyone familiar with the contest & the area explain to me what
this date move might mean for both attendance and conditions?

Thanks, take care,

--Noel
(who sadly won't be able to attend the SSA Convention, either - argh!)

Noel,
I may be biased myself. *But I am a HUGE fan of Logan. *Last year was
the first year of a contest at Logan. *They have a HUGE airport
(biggest I have seen outside of Hobbs), but still in use. *The airport
authority opened up their hearts and airport , we had an entire old
unused runway to use as tie-downs. *We had an entire runway and
taxiway to use for launching. *We had lodging, restaurants,
activities, entertainment, EVERYTHING. *The soaring had ridge, wave
AND thermal. *I couldn't believe it, last year we only had two FIELD
landings...and at one the farmer came out and wanted his family to
meet the glider pilot, and took the glider pilot into town to wait for
his retrieve crew (his mind was that it would be easier to find). *We
had so many airstrips everywhere, that all of the other out-landings
were on actual airstrips. *The city of Logan sits in a valley with
mountains all around. *You seem to ALWAYS be able to find lift,
because you can use the ridge. *Funny, but on the east coast, there
are ridge days when the ridge seems to work. *In Logan, there wasn't a
day when the ridge didn't work. *I was pretty amazed at seeing the
clouds indicate the wave. *We had to daily remind the pilots to not
bump the ceiling. *And as Tim T, said, it was the worst weather he had
seen in over 10 years. *Wow....you should have seen some of the
altitude on the flight traces! *Moving the contest to earlier this
year, will give us better conditions, and launching earlier this
year. *I have already had a few e-mails of some seasoned competition
pilots that are going to be attending. *Like last year, we are going
to have ground school (strategy classes) by some really experienced
pilots!
I can hardly wait to get back there....Jonathan's was the best steak
restaurant I have ever been to outside of New York City! *Ok, maybe I
am a little biased! *LOL
Micki

Thanks All,

Looks like a great place! I think Montague (if a contest is held
there this year - its not on the SSA calendar yet) might be the only
other contest that could steal me away... I know Montague is a
technical place to soar; but I'm one of those oddballs who loves a
certain amount of stress and challenge. ;-) You guys promote Logan so
well that it sounds almost too easy!

BTW - Beautiful videos, Bruno! I have a POV-1 camera I got last year
but I never rigged up a mount I could like in my DG-300 cockpit. I
got a few videos, but it was too fiddly to use consistently. Maybe
I'll have to bug you for help - you seem to have found an over-the-
shoulder mount/position that works...

--Noel

On Jan 17, 10:34*pm, "noel.wade" wrote:
Hi All -

So in planning my vacation time this year (i.e. "Soaring time"), I was
saddened to realize that there's no way I can make the Sports Class
Nats at Parowan. :-( *But I still want to attend a contest in addition
to the Region 8 Regionals...

I see the Region 9 North contest was pretty heavily attended last
year, but in 2010 its being held about a month earlier in the season.
Can anyone familiar with the contest & the area explain to me what
this date move might mean for both attendance and conditions?

Thanks, take care,

--Noel
(who sadly won't be able to attend the SSA Convention, either - argh!)

Tucson has Region 9 South planned for May
Schedule of Events:

Daily pilots meeting - 9:30am each day

May 7, 8 - Informal practice days (tasks will be called and scored)

May 9 - Official practice day

May 9 - 6pm dinner, 7pm mandatory safety briefing/pilots meeting

May 10 through May 15 - Competition days

http://www.tucsonsoaring.org/Page.as...nsoaring. org

On Jan 18, 12:45*am, Greg Arnold wrote:
Tim Taylor wrote:

The peak of the season forLogannormally is about the last three
weeks of July and the first two weeks of August, *by moving the
contest to mid July we take advantage of the longer days. *It also
allows those that wish to fly Logan and the 15M Nationals in Uvalde to
do so without conflict.

We expect that Logan will have as many or more ships than last year
and if the 2011 bid that is being prepared

Which contest are you bidding for?

if accepted it will raise

Looks like it is now official so we can now say that the 2011 15M
Nationals will be at Logan from 7/19/2011 - 7/28/2011.