Entry fee : 400€

HQ:

Monroe Canyon View LZ

https://maps.app.goo.gl/mLDiLhM8GP2tNAmY9

CONTACT:

Radio frequency: 151.925 MHz (a USHPA member frequency)
Monroe PWC Telegram Official Announcements
Monroe PWC Chat

Organizer Contact Information

• Gavin McClurg (gavin@cloudbasemayhem.com)
• Logan Walters (logan.walters@gmail.com)

RETRIEVE:

Cellular service available: Live trackers and InReach tracking are used for coordinating pilot retrievals.
PLEASE set up your satellite tracker per these instructions: 2024 InReach set up instructions

Medical Emergency:

Telephone: 911
Nearest hospital: Sevier County Hospital. 1000 N Main St, Richfield, UT 84701. Phone: +14358934100

Our safety director, Justin Grisham, and his crew are all ER Physicians/ Wilderness medical
experts. We have a robust helicopter search and rescue team in Richfield and Salt Lake City
and SAR personnel in Richfield.

Staff:

Organizer(s): Gavin McClurg and Logan Walters
Meet Director: Logan Walters
Medical and Safety: Justin Grisham
Weather: Reavis Sutphin-Gray and Lisa Verzella

Communications

Please join our Telegram Chat

This will have official announcements, chat, and retrieve.

More info here:

https://www.usparaglidingcompetitions.com/pwc-monroe/

https://www.usparaglidingcompetitions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Monroe-PWC-Info-Packet-1.pdf

How should I dress for flying? How cold is it?

Daily temperatures on the ground in Utah in September are typically around 70-75 F (21-24C), but we can get VERY tall in this area- frequently 15,000’-18000’ (4572-5400 M). 18,000’ is Class 1 airspace which we CANNOT violate and will result in a zero. At these heights temperatures 2 can be at 0° F (32 C) or colder. Think Alps in the spring on a cold day. DRESS WARM for flyingbig gloves, hand warmers, or electric gloves and a big puffy.

What about oxygen?

Flying with oxygen is HIGHLY recommended. You can expect long tasks and very high altitudes, and oxygen helps you keep from getting hypoxic (which can be dangerous), helps you think more clearly and helps you stay warm. We will have oxygen kits for rent or purchase (which we will buy back after the comp for a small fee. Each tank fill is $15 (we make no money on this, the equipment for filling to higher pressures is expensive and our O2 expert takes O2 seriously), we will have complete units (tanks, regulator, canulas) available for purchase for $250-$300 and will buy them back for $100-$150 (the variation depends on the tank manufacture date). We are doing everything we can to make the units as affordable as possible. These units and regulators operate similar to more expensive “pulse” conserving technology systems at a very good price. For those who desire the “best in class” research “Mountain High Sport oxygen systems” (https://www.mhoxygen.com/), they run about $1200. We cannot offer these systems, but have arranged a 10% discount with Mountain High. Canulas and basic carrying case will be provided for the comp systems. Feel free to reach out with questions.

Mandatory Equipment

• Garmin InReach or other suitable satellite tracker (we strongly suggest Garmin InReach over SPOT). We do not have units to lend, but we can arrange a 20% discount on purchase through Garmin. You will be provided a month upgrade to their “Explorer Plan” which provides for unlimited texting and 2 minute tracking at no charge. You must have their most basic subscription plan on your device. To correctly set up your device go here.
• Headlamp
• External battery for your phone

Why do I need an InReach — don’t you use the Flymaster Trackers?

All competitors will be issued a FlyMaster live tracker each day, but our flying area in some places is incredibly remote and does not have reliable cell service. A satellite tracker and having the ability to two-way communicate is absolutely mandatory not only for safety but to provide faster retrieves.

Tell me about this party I keep hearing about!

We are not shy about saying the US has the best comp scene in the world right now. Partly because our flying is wild- remote, stunning, surreal and just totally out of this world (psychedelic?). But it’s our community vibe AND a lot of this is because of our parties. After the awards we get cranking. LIVE DJ with Reavis, who is VERY, VERY special, lasers, lights, sound and all if it in a very cool natural amphitheater of amazing red rocks and wicked stars. Bring your costumes, prepare to stay up all night dancing and getting weird with us!

DO NOT BOOK
YOUR FLIGHT HOME FOR EARLY SUNDAY! You will regret it!

Flying Sites

Monroe has 4 world-class launches, and we have two others we can use within striking distance.

Monroe Peak

Monroe Peak is the main launch, at an altitude of 11,171 feet and faces SW. It is an astonishing 6,000′ above the valley floor! HUGE distances have been flown from Monroe (over 300 km). A list of the top flights. To see previous tasks go to AirTribune and search “red rocks wide open” and you will see all the years.

Cove

Cove is a local favorite for getting incredible restitution glass-offs of well over 15,000 feet even in October! Cove has launches from N, W and S. We had an incredible 73 km task in the 23′ event that started at 1700!

Mt. Edna

One of the most stunning take-offs in the Rockies is the highest drive-up launch in Utah, with various launches that take nearly all winds between 11,500 and 11,700 feet.

Junction

A SE facing launch where HUGE XC flights (several over 300km) go down nearly every year. Central Utah has the most reliable flying weather in the Intermountain West.

CUASA, the local club hosts an annual fly-in at the end of September every year and it is nearly always flyable every day. We are hosting this event right after the monsoon, when OD becomes much less of an issue and yet the days are still long and XC potential is still fantastic. The fall colors will be setting in and the terrain is nothing short of mind-boggling. Expect long and varied tasks (FAI triangles, downwinders, and out and backs) that utilize the most of every day. You can download all the waypoints from the bottom of the page here: https://airtribune.com/red-rocks-wide-open/info

Track Logs Historical flights on XContest from Monroe Peak and surrounding launches. Also search “red Rocks wide open” on Airtribune for recent tasks during our US Nationals in 2022 and 2023.

Weather

• CUASA Cove Station
• NOAA Central Utah 
• Weather.com – Hourly
• USAirNet.com Winds Aloft – US 
• WindCast – Utah / Soaring Forcast
• Live Feed on Cove Two hour time span on Cove

If you have the flexibility to bring camping stuff we highly recommend camping. We have a couple different spots that have full facilities (showers, kitchen, lots of grass, etc.) that are very convenient and cheap ($10-15 per night). All our staff will be staying at the Sevier River RV Park near Joseph (about 20 minutes from Monroe) and we can accommodate a few dozen competitors there. In addition there are quite a few hotels in Richfield (about 10 minutes from Monroe and more of a “town” but not as quaint as Monroe).

In Monroe itself (the main LZ and what you can think of as the “HQ” there is only the Monroe Inn and a lot of cute AirBnB’s.

● Quality Inn (Richfield)

● Monroe Inn (Monroe) very unique cool spot near the hot springs!

● Hotels in Richfield

● AirBNB’s in the area (many of these are really cool- get a group together!

● Monroe Canyon RV Park (Monroe) Ask for Jordan for a pilot discount (adjacent to the main LZ). This RV park has great facilities for vans and campers, but has no grass or shade so is not great for tent camping.

● Sevier River RV Park (Joseph) about 17 mins from LZ. All staff stay here. Awards and afterparty will be here. Lots of grass and trees. Great for tent camping. Check with us directly. We are working on pilot discounts at all the hotels and will update this document when they have been secured.

Shuttles are provided to launch each day from the following locations:

Quality Inn, Richfield. Monroe Canyon RV Park, Sevier River RV Park, and the Monroe LZ (Headquarters).

More info here:

https://www.usparaglidingcompetitions.com/pwc-monroe/

https://www.usparaglidingcompetitions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Monroe-PWC-Info-Packet-1.pdf

To get to Monroe from out of state or overseas you would fly to the Salt Lake City international Airport (SLC) and then arrange a car rental to drive to Monroe, or schedule a shuttle through us ($50 per-person from SLC to Monroe). It’s about a 2 hour drive. We recommend getting a car or camper van either before or after the comp to explore this incredible area, but you do not need a car during the event!

Information here:

https://www.usparaglidingcompetitions.com/pwc-monroe/

https://www.usparaglidingcompetitions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Monroe-PWC-Info-Packet-1.pdf

Event days: September 7, 2024 – September 14, 2024 (September 7 is a practice day)
Saturday September 7, 2024:
● Official training day. Transport to launch provided. Retrieve from main landing zone
provided. No official task set.
● 1600–1830 — Official Registration and equipment inspection
● 1900 — Mandatory Safety and Race Briefing
Sunday September 8 – Saturday September 14
● Contest flying days
Saturday September 14th
● 1900—Prize Giving
● Closing Ceremonies
● BBQ for pilots, family, and friends
● An EPIC Party!

Information here:

https://www.usparaglidingcompetitions.com/pwc-monroe/

https://www.usparaglidingcompetitions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Monroe-PWC-Info-Packet-1.pdf

Information will be published soon

Our flying zone is VAST — high mountains, surreal deserts — and southern Utah is one of the
world’s great wonders. MANY national parks and monuments surround the area — Bryce
Canyon National Park, Escalante National Park, Dinosaur National Park, Zion National Park,
Capitol Reef National Park…and of course the Grand Canyon. If you have time before or after
the event, we HIGHLY recommend taking some time to see some of these places (it is
impossible to see them all!). Activities on weather days include EPIC mountain biking, ancient
petroglyph sites, visits to Bryce or Zion national parks, hot springs, river floats (SUP, raft, etc.)
and star gazing like you’ve never seen before.