JULY 16, 2009 ISSUE
Fourth Annual Tater Hill Open Begins July 26
At the beginning of a race last year, paragliders launch from Tater Hill. This year’s Tater Hill Open once again brings hang gliders and paragliders from across the country to Boone and runs from Sunday, July 26 to Saturday, August 1. Photo submitted
Thirty-five people are registered so far for the 4th annual Tater Hill Open, a paragliding and hang gliding competition that runs from Sunday, July 26, to Saturday, August 1.
“They’re coming from all over the country,” said Bubba Goodman, meet director and Tater Mountain landowner.
“I’m sure it’s the largest meet of its kind on the East Coast for paragliders,” he added.
Goodman expects between 40 to 50 people to participate in the meet, which is open to all H2 or P2 and above pilots. The mountain, a big bald atop ample meadows, provides an ideal site for the competition.
“The mountain faces west and our predominant winds are from the west,” Goodman said, adding that the mountain stands 5,000 feet above sea level and 2,000 feet above the valley floor.
“Fairly light winds and not much in the way of thunderstorms is what we’re looking for,” he said, adding that the area’s stronger winds are generally in the spring—summer usually provides good flying conditions.
“We fly with a GPS,” Goodman said. “[Each day of competition,] we’ll call a task, depending on the weather.”
Similar to sailboat races, the goal of each day’s task is to fly to the way points (or set destinations) the most accurately or to do the course the fastest, Goodman said.
The winner of each day’s event receives points, and at the end of the week, whoever has accumulated the most points wins. The better paragliding pilots and better-performing hang gliders are handicapped to even the playing field, so that they have to work harder to win.
Bubba Goodman prepares to fly his hang glider. Goodman owns the property and serves as meet director for the Tater Hill Open. The upcoming 2009 event marks the meet’s fourth consecutive year. Photo submitted
By design, hang gliding machines are faster-flying than paragliding machines, he said.
Several local businesses sponsor the event and, so far, a couple has donated $1,000 in prize money for the competition. First place wins $500, second place receives $300 and third place takes home $200.
“The town’s really been supportive of what we’re doing,” Goodman said.
The Tater Hill Open costs $175 per person to enter and includes rides up the hill for the week.
Saturday, July 25, will be the practice day for competitors, and a good day for spectators to watch, Goodman said.
Spectators may not drive up the private road to the top of Tater Hill, but are welcome to watch from anywhere in the valley. Directions can be found online.
Kari Castle, a world champion paragliding and hang gliding pilot, will teach a clinic, offered for $200, which is in addition to the Tater Hill Open registration fee. The clinic is designed for pilots that are new to competition, consisting of a morning strategy session and an afternoon de-brief after each daily task. The clinic will cover all aspects of competition flying, including equipment preparation, racing strategy and how to compete safely. It will be limited to 15 pilots, and to register, you must first be registered for the meet.
During the weeklong competition, one or more pilots may offer tandem rides to the public.
“The going rate is $125 or $150,” Goodman said, adding that the flights are usually done in early morning or late evening.
“Last year, we had about four or five people show up for that,” he said.
Interested persons should call Goodman at 828-773-9433. For more information or to register for the event and for the clinic, click to www.taterhillopen.com.
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