Canadian Hang Gliding Championships - June 3-9th 2007
Mark Dowsett writes:
The Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association of Canada has just sanctioned the Canadian Hang Gliding Nationals to be in Lumby, BC.
After a one year hiatus from the National Championships being hosted in Lumby, BC, the event is returning to the area. Lumby was the host city of the Hang Gliding Nationals for five of the last seven years showing that it is a desirable area to host the competition which is the most prestigious event in this sport in Canada.
Hang glider pilots from coast-to-coast and from all over the US will flock to Lumby in search of the Canadian National Championships. The winner is crowned after six daily rounds are flown where competitors will launch from the various mountainside launches and race around a series of pre-determined turn points and usually back into Lumby where the finish line is normally located. The longest task to date at the Lumby Nationals has been over 110km in length and tasks often take up to three hours in duration and launches are used in Lumby, Vernon and as far away as Mara Lake - always taking the pilots back to Lumby as the goal.
The Lumby valley is ideal for this sort of racing as the dry climate and amount of heat that time of year bring great conditions where thermal updrafts safely take competitors to well over 12,000' above the ground. There are many places in North America that these altitudes can be attained but the valleys in the area are very friendly offering abnormally light winds and numerous places to land should pilots not be able to make the designated goal.
Here's what Randy Rauck, president of the Lumby Air Force has to say: "Its great to see the Canadian Hang Gliding Championships back in Lumby, BC during Lumby Days. The Lumby AirForce started hosting hang gliding competitions in 1976 and they have always been a great addition to the Lumby Days excitement. With the new launch being created at the top of Coopers mountain, a longer, safer launch area for pilots to launch will be available this year. Also more gliders will be able to be set up at once and it will be safer for spectators. The target is 100 gliders set-up at a time so that more competition flying will be attracted to the community."
You will be able to follow daily reports of this event and many others at http://events.dowsett.ca and watch animated track logs of past competitions at http://events.dowsett.ca/results
Enquiries on the event can be made to Mark Dowsett, the event organizer at 604-630-8545 -
Sat June 2nd - registration and practice day Sun June 3-8th - official competition rounds Sat June 9th - possible extra round should we require it to meet sanctioning requirements
* * awards will be handed out on the traditional barn party the night of Sat the 9th at Randy Rauck's place
* * stay for the Lumby Air Races that are taking place that weekend (8th-10th) in conjunction with Lumby Days
Light Aircraft 
