Shorter Cat1 event | Free Flyers Union

Discipline

Paragliding XC

What do we want ?

Cat1 event are 2 weeks long. Many pilots believe it is too much. Overloading the organisers and the pilots, raising unecessary cost.

How do we achieve that ?

Change Section 7 to shorten the duration of the event to 7 task max.

Issue category :

Cat1

duration

Racing format

Comments

By Ondřej Pohořelský on Tue, 21 Oct 2025 - 09:27

I feel like the issue isn't the length of the event, but how many consecutive days we fly or stand on the launch preparing to maybe fly. It feels like there is no proper rest on Cat 1 event, which then translates to many pilots being tired and making stupid mistakes, which wouldn't have happened.
I would rather have 4 100km+ tasks in 8 days then 7 50-70km tasks in 8 days.

By Olmo León on Tue, 21 Oct 2025 - 16:58

I agree, maybe to have a maximum of 3 consecutive days.. possibility of longer tasks, more interesting.

Organiser

By Toni Crottet on Tue, 21 Oct 2025 - 10:17

I think too, changeing the S7 to have more rest days, this will be easier to achive. This years HG Worlds, we were happy to have that number of days, since the weather was very unstable.

And yes, most pilots in HG love long tasks, where you have to hurry up to make goal cause the day ends.

By JD Kugler on Tue, 21 Oct 2025 - 22:05

HG pilot here !

I'd rather go for more rest days (or less flying days) with longer, more interesting tasks than shorter CAT1 events. This year at the worlds, we flew only 2 tasks between July 18th and July 24th. I think we need those 2 weeks in case the weather is tricky. 3 to 4 consecutive tasks max.

By Martin Grössinger on Tue, 21 Oct 2025 - 22:39

2 weeks is a safety feature, because it allows the organisers only to pick only good weather conditions and have a high chance for a valid competition.

PWCA Board

CIVL Delegate

By eduardosanchezgranel on Wed, 22 Oct 2025 - 05:46

Panamericans are already a 7 day event
I agree with reducing the Worlds.
Maybe max. 8 tasks with rest day in the middle.

PWCA Board

CIVL Delegate

By eduardosanchezgranel on Wed, 22 Oct 2025 - 06:00

In south america, cold fronts tend to have a weekly frequency in the spring and autumn seasons.
So 9 days with a rest day planned (and preferably located in one of this cold pulses), can give a high chance of having at least 5 good days

Other places might have other typical weather patterns to be taken into consideration.

By Juan sebastian on Wed, 22 Oct 2025 - 17:07

It’s already such a massive strain on the pilots to take days away from work and family 2 weeks for Cat1s, 2 weeks for Superfinal plus 2 or 3 weeks more for normal events. Most of us don’t earn a living from competitions. In reality you only need 4 tasks to have a sportive fair event, 8day Cat 1 should be enough!

Organiser

By DusanO on Thu, 23 Oct 2025 - 20:22

Totally agree with shorter overall duration. 7 days with 7 task.
With MINIMUM preparation /ceramony days, etc...!!
It could be from Friday to Sunday. 10 days in total.