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Hang gliders, paragliders headed to Lakeview this summer
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| Submitted photo A hang glider pilot checks out the aerial view after launching from Black Cap, the mountain behind Lakeview. |
April 1, 2007
The skies over Lakeview will be buzzing this summer, but not with mosquitoes.
Hang gliders and paragliders will earn frequent flier miles during a series of flying events, including the National Paragliding Championships June 24 to 30, Umpteenth Annual Festival of Free Flight June 31 to July 4, and Hang-On Hang Gliding Competition July 22 to 28.
“We really seem to have gotten a reputation as the best place on the West Coast for paragliding and hang gliding,” said Caro Johnson, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce's executive director.
“Lakeview has been known as the Hang Gliding Capital of the West,” said Gail Haley, who is organizing national paragliding and first-ever Hang-On events. “The hang gliding pilots love Lakeview because they can get up, stay up longer and go far.”
Haley said Lakeview was awarded the paragliding nationals because of its reputation for favorable wind conditions and the community's support for pilots.
The formal name for the event, which will be held annually, is Very Important Paraglider Pilots and known as VIP2. Cost of registration is $295 until April 15 and $350 after. Events will include an awards party, no-fly day basketball tournament, street dance, trophies and $1,000 to winning pilots.
Foot launches
Lakeview and its numerous regional launch sites also offer something missing from competitions held in recent years on the East Coast - foot launches instead of tow launches. At the Lake County launch sites, such as Black Cap behind the town of Lakeview, pilots run off steep-sloped hillsides and become airborne.
Haley said the paragliding championships will come immediately after the Fifth annual Rat Race, an event near Grants Pass that annually reaches its maximum number of pilots the first day of registration. The meet, set for June 16 to 23, is limited to 130. The nationals will also be limited to 130 fliers.
Public invited
The event will be headquartered at the Lake County Fairgrounds and the public is invited to events, including breakfasts, daily flight meetings and to-be-announced activities.
“We're hoping to do some fun things the public can enjoy,” Haley said.
In contrast to the nationals, Johnson said the Umpteenth event “is a fun fly. It's not as task oriented as the national competition.”
Johnson predicted the Festival of Free Flight, so named because it attracts hang and paragliders, will lure about 80 pilots. The chamber will again sponsor activities for fliers along with the usual mix of Fourth of July activities.
Haley said the Hang-On event will be limited to 130 fliers, but expects the first-year will entice about 80 pilots. The event will be based from the fairgrounds and include community events.
“We are seeing our motels and restaurants being used more than they used to,” Johnson said, noting more pilots are staying in rooms instead of camping. Pilots and their families/support groups also buy gas, groceries and do other shopping.
- By Lee Juillerat
The skies over Lakeview will be buzzing this summer, but not with mosquitoes.
Hang gliders and paragliders will earn frequent flier miles during a series of flying events, including the National Paragliding Championships June 24 to 30, Umpteenth Annual Festival of Free Flight June 31 to July 4, and Hang-On Hang Gliding Competition July 22 to 28.
“We really seem to have gotten a reputation as the best place on the West Coast for paragliding and hang gliding,” said Caro Johnson, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce's executive director.
“Lakeview has been known as the Hang Gliding Capital of the West,” said Gail Haley, who is organizing national paragliding and first-ever Hang-On events. “The hang gliding pilots love Lakeview because they can get up, stay up longer and go far.”
Haley said Lakeview was awarded the paragliding nationals because of its reputation for favorable wind conditions and the community's support for pilots.
The formal name for the event, which will be held annually, is Very Important Paraglider Pilots and known as VIP2. Cost of registration is $295 until April 15 and $350 after. Events will include an awards party, no-fly day basketball tournament, street dance, trophies and $1,000 to winning pilots.
Foot launches
Lakeview and its numerous regional launch sites also offer something missing from competitions held in recent years on the East Coast - foot launches instead of tow launches. At the Lake County launch sites, such as Black Cap behind the town of Lakeview, pilots run off steep-sloped hillsides and become airborne.
Haley said the paragliding championships will come immediately after the Fifth annual Rat Race, an event near Grants Pass that annually reaches its maximum number of pilots the first day of registration. The meet, set for June 16 to 23, is limited to 130. The nationals will also be limited to 130 fliers.
Public invited
The event will be headquartered at the Lake County Fairgrounds and the public is invited to events, including breakfasts, daily flight meetings and to-be-announced activities.
“We're hoping to do some fun things the public can enjoy,” Haley said.
In contrast to the nationals, Johnson said the Umpteenth event “is a fun fly. It's not as task oriented as the national competition.”
Johnson predicted the Festival of Free Flight, so named because it attracts hang and paragliders, will lure about 80 pilots. The chamber will again sponsor activities for fliers along with the usual mix of Fourth of July activities.
Haley said the Hang-On event will be limited to 130 fliers, but expects the first-year will entice about 80 pilots. The event will be based from the fairgrounds and include community events.
“We are seeing our motels and restaurants being used more than they used to,” Johnson said, noting more pilots are staying in rooms instead of camping. Pilots and their families/support groups also buy gas, groceries and do other shopping.
- By Lee Juillerat
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