The mountain on which “it all started” is getting really busy these days, preparing for another interesting event: After the huge success of Grand Prix Glider Races in many countries around the world, OLC now launches its first Glider Race – applying Grand-Prix rules. This new contest format was invented several years ago to gain more public interest for the soaring sport. A small group of not more than 20 gliders races around a set task, and the first to return home wins the day. Very easy to understand even if you don’t know anything about soaring!
Announcing the Race
Unlike the big Grand Prix, OLC’s Glider Race focuses the Standard Class. From July 27th to August 3rd you are invited to have a look the worldwide famous “Soaring Mountain” Wasserkuppe. A first successful international Grand-Prix event has been held there in 2011; now 20 pilots from all over Germany are invited to compete in a similar race using grand prix rules. 19 pilots with contest-experience have already signed up to fly in the competition.
While the FAI is more focused on the 15-m class for Grand Prix races, OLC decided to organize the event on the Wasserkuppe exclusively for Standard Class gliders. During the last three years the international image of this famous class has gone down quite a bit. Maybe because the Standard class competitions were scheduled together with the less prestigious Club Class and World Class events? However, there is no reason to leave the popular fifteen meter ships without flaps behind! Young pilots are very successful flying these less expensive sailplanes. So OLC decided to support the Standard Class and their pilots by setting an example and organizes the upcoming race.
The idea to fly from the world-famous Wasserkuppe highlights the contest: During the summer months, every day more than 1,000 visitors drive up to the mountain to hike it, to watch glider- and model airplane traffic or to simply enjoy a picnic. During the final Grand Prix race in 2011 large groups of spectators gathered to watch contestants launch and then everybody waited until the gliders returned from their task. OLC will of course also provide a live tracking system.
The competition will mainly follow the FAI’s Grand Prix rules, but if the weather is not cooperative, the pilots can fly tasks which will then be valued by OLC rules. The costs for the participants are extremely low: Pilots simply pay a 200 Euro registration fee. Camping and aero tows will be paid by sponsors who work together with the glider school on Germany’s Soaring Mountain: “Welcome to the race, you saved xy Euros!”
OLC’s reporter Eric Scharfenort will be monitoring the race on the Wasserkuppe and keep the German soaring community informed. For international readers, his stories will of course be available in English on the OLC-website. Simply hit “Segelflugszene”, enjoy the news in OLC Magazine and stay tuned!
