Right now they are scheduled to be at the Florida Ridge (for flex
wings and rigid wings, but not for the Sport and Single Surface Classes) in
April. Why there?


Got me. Because they asked first, sort of.


I've repeatedly written to Liz Sharp, the USHPA Competition Committee
Sanctioning subcommittee chairman, over the past few weeks and begged and
pleaded with her to reconsider this ill considered decision. I've written to
James Tindle and Steve Larson at the Florida Ridge and asked them to give this
moniker (that they got last year) up and let it go to the hang gliding meet in
Lakeview. The first national hang gliding meet that we've had on the west coast
in years.


I've spoken with James Tindle, and he doesn't see any need for the moniker, but
no one has moved to get the moniker moved. The competition committee (Liz, I
guess) has refused to do anything.


We, the competition committee gave the Nationals to the Florida Ridge (actually
forced it on them) in 2006, because we wanted to promote that meet as much as we
possibly could, given the weak tools that we have to accomplish the goal of
promoting competitions. We felt that all the other meets really didn't need it,
and even though it wasn't all that appropriate for such a small meet at the
beginning of the year so far away from most of the US pilot population, it was
the best place for it under the circumstances.


Well, circumstances have changed. Now the competition committee has the chance
to promote, as best they can, a revival of a hang gliding tradition, a mountain
launch meet in Lakeview. They need to give Mike and Gale Haley every chance that
they can that their meet in July will be as successful as their Rat Race
Paragliding meets have been. The competition committee needs to make sure that
the city of Lakeview keeps inviting all of us back and Mike and Gail keep
putting on competitions.


This is not to say that I don't really appreciate what James and Steve do for me
and for hang gliding at the Florida Ridge and with their meet. I really do
appreciate it and I will be going to their meet (and most likely not to the
Lakeview meet). I will promote it to the best of my ability, but please call it
something other than the US Nationals.


Please, Liz, think about what is best for the whole community of pilots, all the
competition pilots, and the community of organizers. What can the USHPA do that
is the best for everyone?


Florida Ridge
Championships, LaBelle, FL, USA, 7^th to 13^th Apr

"Hang-on" Hang Gliding
Competition, Lakeview, OR, 22^nd to 28^th July


Just to be clear Mike and Gail Haley are okay with the Nationals going to either
meet, although they applied for the Nationals moniker. Their Lakeview hang
gliding competition web site will be up on January 15th. Again. maybe they
should apply for the Sport and Single Surface Class Nationals moniker.


Liz Sharp writes:

Mountain-launch hang gliding competitions have not drawn the
crowds they once did. Witness the attendance at the 2005 Sandia meet, and the
Chelan Classic just doesn't draw like it used to. You and I have shared several
emails on the reasons for this phenomenon. You know that the hang gliding pilots
have been staying away from US mountain competitions.


If the hang glider pilots will return to a sanctioned meet in the mountains, the
USHPA will sanction a mountain as the site for the Nationals in 2008.