PGOpen next season.
The cut-off date for any bids to run a NZOpen in the next season is 21 June. Following the huge success of the Rotorua PGOpen last season I am keen to preserve our reputation by avoiding running it again this coming season. The only bid for a NZ based PGopen at present is from Wanaka. Mark hardman will be organising another Wanaka Festival at the beginning of January 2011.
The rules allow for one of the NZOpen comps to be held in Australia and several pilots are keen for that to be at Canungra. I am keen to put together a group for the Canungra comp and see if we can beat the record of about 18 NZ pilots at Manilla for our nationals a few years ago. I have been in touch with the organisers and they are very keen to be our hosts for an NZOpen.
Canungra has reliably good early spring conditions, user friendly launches ( schools operate there) and the organisers are encouraging participation by intermediate pilots. So if you want to kick start your xc season and get ahead of your mates back in NZ then this is the one to go to.
The details of the comp, which will run from 23-30 Oct 2010 are here; http://www.canungracup.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Note: The Australian temporary membership has been reduced from $100au to $50au after some lobbying by NZ and Aus pilots. Also note the entry fee for Canungra includes full retrieval service and airport transfers. This is highly recommended and worth every cent.
Comments
sounds like I need to book
sounds like I need to book flights... definitely up for both Canungra and Wanaka..
more Rotorua!
I think you should still run a competition in Rotorua as a local competition; it was a great event and running it a second time will feel a lot easier than the first time. You can do it lower key with less fuss. Rotorua attracts a lot more intermediate pilots than a Canungra cup which is great for the local scene and the club.
How about at least a league?
Canungra is a great event from all I understand but I it attracts different pilots. Last time we ran Bright as a league we had only a small number of NZ participants, less than you would have in NZ.
Yes there will be leagues (
Yes there will be leagues ( now known as regional comps or RCs) at the Paeroas. Anyone can run those with as much notice or as little as 5 days notice and they are easy to run. My post is specifically about the NZopen which has to be put in the calendar well ahead and is run to FAI Cat2 standard. If there is someone who notifies the PCC that they will do that for Rotorua again this season then Canungra will not be chosen as a NZOpen.
We can have up to 2 RCs at the Paeroas and others at different sites if we get enough good weather. So keep an eye on the forecasts, let the PCC know if you want to run one, and go for it. We will take care of the scoring as long as the tracks are sent in. They are designed to be low key fun comps for new and old pilots to enjoy. In contrast the NZOpens are designed to introduce intermediate NZ pilots to racing in gaggles. Something we have to do if we are ever to compete effectively overseas.