Table of Contents
Event Information
Reliable weather. Big Air. Bigger vistas. 4 launches that take different wind directions. HUGE XC potential through some of Utah’s most incredible natural wonders. Welcome to the Monroe PWC, the first world cup hosted in the USA since 2012 in Sun Valley, Idaho! This is a World Cup Cat 2 event that promises strong conditions and long tasks that take advantage of deep, tall mountain ranges and high-desert flatlands. Participants should be very comfortable with flying in strong thermals at high altitudes. Please consider conditions in the Rocky Mountains and where we host this competition. The altitudes are very high and conditions can be very strong. You can expect long tasks. In the 2023 US Nationals we had two triangle tasks over 100 miles (160 km)!
Get a feel for the remarkable area with this short film shot by Ben Horton during the 2022 Global Rescue XRedRocks hike and fly race.
Full Details on Local Rules and Regulations here.
Selection and Registration
Registration is via the PWCA website.
Cost
€400 (through PWCA website)
Schedule
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!
Getting There
To get to Monroe from out-of-state or overseas, fly to Salt Lake City international Airport (SLC) and arrange a car rental to drive to Monroe. Or, schedule a shuttle through us for $50-$75 per-person (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. Although having a car provides more flexibility.
Visa Information for International Pilots
Visitors from many countries, including most European countries, do not need a visa to enter the US. However, you must have a valid travel authorization (ESTA) before arrival. Citizens of all other countries must apply for a visa. If you are from a non ESTA country and need a visa we can help. Address / Contact to use for your ESTA:
Lindsey Ripa Burns, 340 N 100 E, Elsinore, UT 84724
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 one month upgrade to their “Premiere Plan” which provides for unlimited texting and 2 minute tracking at no charge. You must already have the “Safety” or “Recreation” plan on your device. To correctly set up your device go here. PLEASE DO THIS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE!
- Headlamp
- External battery for your phone
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.
An outside vendor (Doug Patrick) will have oxygen kits for rent or purchase (he we will buy back after the comp for a small fee). Doug has complete units (tanks, regulator, cannulas) available for rent for $150 + $100 deposit. Unlimited refills for $50 for the week, or $15 per fill. Canulas and basic carrying case will be provided for the comp systems. These units and regulators operate similar to more expensive “pulse” conserving technology systems at a very good price. Feel free to reach out with questions.
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. Use the discount “RRWO-10” at checkout (or order by phone) to get the discount.
Local Transportation
Shuttles to launch are provided each day from the following locations:
- Quality Inn Richfield
- Monroe Canyon RV Park
- Sevier River RV Park
- Monroe LZ (Headquarters)
All paragliders are kept in our trailers overnight, so you just go home each night with your instruments and things you need at night.
Required Insurance
Per PWC rules, all participants must have third party liability insurance with a minimum coverage of €800,000 or foreign currency equivalent. We will provide temporary USHPA membership for all foreign pilots, which provides 3rd party insurance.
We highly recommend having Global Rescue insurance in addition to your own medical insurance. Global Rescue is repatriation insurance and will get you home to a hospital of your choice. Is it very reasonable. In addition, you will be required to sign a participant waiver at registration.
Insurance options for flying in the United States are summarized here.
Retrieve
Live trackers, Telegram, and InReach tracking are used for coordinating pilot retrievals.
Communications
Please join our Telegram Group
This will have official announcements, chat, and retrieve.
PLEASE set up your satellite tracker per these instructions: 2024 InReach set up instructions
Medical Emergency
Our safety director, Justin Grisham, and his crew are all ER Physicians or wilderness medical experts.
Emergency Telephone
911
Nearest Hospital
Sevier County Hospital
1000 N Main St
Richfield, UT 84701
Phone: +1 (435) 893-4100
Flying in the Lost River Range Area
Launches
King
King is the main launch, at an altitude of 7381′ feet and faces West. King is one of the most famous XC launch sites in the world and is known for strong conditions. King was host to many Hang Gliding events in the past and then suffered a long period of very little use but in recent years has been relit with passion and is seeing very regular paragliding and hangliding flights once again. Matt Beechinor broke the Idaho out and back record from King in 25′. HUGE distances have been flown from King for decades. A list of the top flights.
Coyote
Just around the corner from King is N facing Coyote, a favorite for evening glass off flights or on north days.
Antelope Pass
This just-discovered launch (Gavin McClurg is the only one we know of who has flown it) is an E facing launch that makes earlier launches possible with immediate access to big terrain in the White Knob mountains and Southern Pioneer mountains.
Big Windy
This launch in the Lemhi Range could be the future site of the biggest out and backs in North America. It looks to have incredible potential but as of yet remains untested.
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.
Airspace
None other than Class A (18,000′)
How should I dress for flying? How cold is it?
Daily temperatures on the ground in Idaho in September are typically around 65–75 F (18-24C), but we can get VERY tall in this area — frequently 15,000’–18000’ (4572–5486 M). 18,000’ is Class A airspace which we CANNOT violate and will result in a zero. At these heights temperatures can be at 0° C (32 F) or colder. Think Alps in the spring on a cold day. DRESS WARM for flying — big gloves, hand warmers, or electric gloves and a big puffy.
Tell me about this party I keep hearing about!
We are not shy about claiming the US has the best comp scene in the world right now. Why? Partly because our flying is wild — remote, stunning, surreal and just totally out of this world. 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!
Local Activities and Sites to See
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.