2009 US Hang Gliding Nationals – Big Spring

The second half of the 2009 United States Hang Gliding Nationals was held in Big Spring Airport, Texas, about 300 miles west of Dallas. The event took place during August 9-15, 2009.

The first half of the Hang Gliding Nationals was held at King Mountain, Idaho during July 20-25 earlier this year. Results from the Big Spring tasks will be combined with the King Mountain task to determine the National Hang Gliding Champion. Surprisingly, most of the favored competition pilots to win the Hang Gliding Nationals did not compete in the first round of competition at King Mountain.

Glenn Volk takes National Championship

By winning three of the seven scheduled tasks and finishing in the top four in every task, Glenn wins his first National Hang Gliding Championship. Glenn is a resident of San Diego, California and has been flying since 1981. He is a member Team Moyes and is also a member of the San Diego Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. Glenn was the alternate on the 2009 US National Team.

Glenn Volk image courtesy of Moyes Gliders.

Photos of the competition by David Glover.

Task 7

August 15, 2009

Task 7 results are located here
Glenn Volk had the longest flight of the day when nobody made goal. This was Glenn’s third task win and was the last task of the competition. Glenn was followed by Jeff Shapiro and Zac Majors.

Standings after 7 tasks.
Standings after Task 7

Task 6

August 14, 2009

Task 6 results are located here
Derreck Turner won his third task of the competition today which lifts him into third place overall. Frontrunner Glenn Volk finished in 4th, keeping his consecutive 4th or better standing in every task so far. Glenn remains in first overall.

Standings after 6 tasks.
Standings after Task 6
1. Glen Volk USA Moyes Litespeed RS 4 5499.48
2. Zac Majors USA Wills Wing T2C 144 5233.96
3. Derreck Turner USA Moyes Litespeed S5 4853.25
4. Jeff O’Brien USA Wills Wing T2C 144 4569.74
5. Larry Bunner USA Will Wing T2C 144 4535.73
6. Jeff Shapiro USA Wills Wing T2C 144 4353.08
7. Chris Zimmerman USA Wills Wing T2C 144 4315.46
8. Bill Soderquist USA Moyes Litespeed 4 S 3750.06
9. Davis Straub USA Wills Wing T2C 144 3603.91
10. Terry Reynolds USA Wills Wing T2C 144 3518.22

Videos courtesy of David Glover and Youtube.

Task 5

August 13, 2009

Task 5 results are located here
Glenn Volk out flies the rest to win this task. This task was the same as yesterday’s 84 mile task. This is Glenn’s second task win and has finished in the top 4 in every task so far at Big Spring. Glenn has been flying since 1981 and has never won a National Championship. He is based out of San Diego, California.

Standings after 5 tasks.
Standings after Task 5
1. 124 Glenn Volk USA Moyes Litespeed RS 4 4617.31
2. 128 Larry Bunner USA Will Wing T2C 144 4354.85
3. 104 Zac Majors USA Wills Wing T2C 144 4311.36
4. 125 Derreck Turner USA Moyes Litespeed S5 3870.13

Task 4

August 12, 2009

Task 4 results are located here
Glenn Volk crosses first followed by Zac Majors and Larry Brunner. Derreck Turner takes fourth in this 84 mile task.

Standings after 4 tasks.
Standings after Task 4
1. 124 Glenn Volk USA Moyes Litespeed RS 4 3613.87
2. 104 Zac Majors USA Wills Wing T2C 144 3601.79
3. 125 Derreck Turner USA Moyes Litespeed S5 3550.28
4. 128 Larry Bunner USA Will Wing T2C 144 3468.02

Task 3

August 11, 2009

Task 3 results are located here
Derreck Turner of Fort Myers, Florida crosses goal with the fastest time for this 104 mile task. This is Derreck’s second task win in this competition. Zac Majors and Glenn Volk take second and third. Derreck now leads the overall points lead, just ahead of Zac Majors and Glenn Volk.
Standings after 3 tasks.

Standings after Task 3
1. 125 Derreck Turner USA Moyes Litespeed S5 2734.81
2. 104 Zac Majors USA Wills Wing T2C 144 2699.53
3. 124 Glenn Volk USA Moyes Litespeed RS 4 2687.94

Task 2

August 10, 2009

Task 2 results are located here
Larry Bunner take first followed by Glenn Volk and Jeff O’Brien in this 85 mile task.

Task 1

August 09, 2009

Derreck Turner was first to goal in this 102 mile task. He out flew two members of the USA World Hang Gliding Team, Jeff O’Brien in second followed by Zac Majors.

Task 1 results are located here.

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