El Peñon Classic Race is coming up this February 2025 featuring Sport Class and Open Class.
This event will be held in El Peñon, Temascaltepec, Mexico from Sunday 16th to Saturday 22nd of February 2025 with a rest day in between.
This competition is organized by Vuelo-Libre and is a FAI event registered with FAI CIVL. This event will be ranked in the WPRS system.
Traditionally, both Open and Sport classes fly King Posted hang gliders in this event. Not a requirement but it has been a common practice in this comp and is strongly recommended due to the common lifty conditions during landing approach and landing fields sizes that are more optimal for king posted gliders.
Vuelo Libre and FlyMexico are the local flight clubs/schools and they both offer gliders for rental in excellent or even new condition. Also, Wills Wing Factory is in town and there are spare parts or repair services available prior, during and after the comp.
This is a must-do competition if you are a world-class pilot or if you are intermediate and looking to improve your flying while learning from top pilots. Every year we have lots of fun in optimal XC conditions.
Practice flights will be available onsite during the days leading up to the competition.
Pilots must have minimum certifications or their national equivalent: Hang 3 (Intermediate), Foot Launch proficiency, Cross Country, and must be comfortable and proficient flying and landing in turbulent conditions.
Sunday, Feb 16 to Saturday Feb 22
8:00 – 10:00 – Registration at HQ (For those arriving late)
8:30 – Meet Director/Task, Weather and Safety Commitee meetings
9:00 – Event vans depart to launch
11:15 – At Launch Site – Pilots’ briefing / Weather briefing / Previous task official results / Task definition
12:15 – Launch Window Opens
17:00 – Scoring Office Opens
21:00 – Provisional Results broadcasted daily via Whatsapp
9:15 – Vans and Cars Depart to Launch
11:00 – Pilot Meeting
16:00 – Flight tracks processed at HQ
All participants must have minimum pilot ratings or higher as required by the event organizer and/or the site/weather conditions.
USD $200 or its equivalent in Mexican Pesos during registration.
You can pay now via Zelle , Paypal, Venmo or CashApp or domestic tranfer from a Mexican bank. Please use the option that is most convinient to you. If non of these payment options work for you then you can always use cash or credit card during check-in.
Paypal: @nathn7
Zelle: (305) 600-9195
Venmo: @nathN
CashApp: $nathN
Deposit from Mexican Bank:
Name: Monica Gabriela Spaventa Ibarrola
Banca Mifel
Clabe: 042180010007727869
Cuenta: 01000772786
Swift: MIFEMXMM
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SPELL THE NAME, NUMBER OR HANDLE CORRECTLY. Note all the payment app accounts should mention Nathan Contreras as the account owner or phone number (305) 600-9195. If you run into any problems then stop the process and remember you can always just pay cash during check-in at the event.
El Peñon, in Temascaltepec, near the town of Valle de Bravo “Valle” is known for being a consistent site with more than 300 flyable days a year.
The best season starts on November with cloud bases over 4500MSL / 15,000 ft.
The peak season starts on January and it goes until April when the rain season starts. Rainy days are also flyable for a few hours. Rain season ends in September and from then to December days are usually very mellow and nice to fly, perfect conditions for students, beginners or just relaxed flying.
The area is always referred as Valle de Bravo “Valle” or “El Peñon” in reference to the +1000 feet vertical rock formation infront of the launch. Valle is a beautiful lake town with great hotels, restaurants and great street food. Launch site is a 30 min drive from Valle near a small rural town named Temascaltepec. When you plan your trip always look for a stay or activities in Valle de Bravo.
Launch Site: This site has hosted several international and world competitions. The launch site is wide, with plenty of space for parking, setup and lauch. Public restrooms available.
GPS coordinates, Launch: 19°3’41” (19.0616)N; 100°5’27” (100.091)W – Elevation : 2336 m / 7,664 ft
Landing: Official landing (LZ) is a large grassy field 2.5 kms in front of the launch. Snacks and drinks are available at the LZ.
GPS coordinates, Landing Zone: 19°2’45” (19.0459)N; 100°6’32” (100.109)W – Elevation : 1775 m / 5823 ft
Multiple transportation options from Valle to launch are available. You can arrange during registration day.
Getting to Launch from Valle de Bravo Town: Take the road from Valle de Bravo to Temascaltepec and turn right in the Albarrada road sign. Follow the signs on the dirt road to the launch.
Weather Hazards: Strong thermals and rough air are common during this month. You must be comfortable flying under these conditions.
Flight regulation: Basic VFR rules apply. See and Avoid!.
Valle is an area with lots of flying activity. You most always be aware of other pilots flying near you.
Interesting info:
You will find plenty of local young adults at the LZ offering you to break down your glider and put all your gear back into the harness. Most pilots will reject this because they will not trust the this task to anyone else but themselves and specially not to a bunch of kids. These kids have learned from different pilots and you will find that most of those kids can break down your glider much better than you do!. Use this service if you can, make them feel useful, they are just trying to work, earn some money and hang out with us pilots. They hugely admire us. Share some words with them if you can, they will really appreciate it. The usual “fee” for the service is couple of dollars or 50 pesos.
You can arrive at either the Toluca International or Mexico City International Airport. From the airport you can arrange with the event organizers transportation to Valle de Bravo “Valle” or there is regular bus schedule almost every hour. Details below. The bus trip from Mexico CIty to Valle is 3 hours, from Toluca airport is 1.5 hours. International flights arrive to Mexico City.
To take a bus ride from Mexico City Airport to Valle first you need to take a taxi to the bus station named “Observatorio”. Taxi from Mexico City airport to bus station cost $200 Mexican pesos (approx $10 USD)
Time schedules for the Valle the Bravo bus may vary, but basically you will find daily departures from 5:00 AM up to 5:00 PM, one every hour. (For example, 5:15, 6:15, 7:15 and so on)
Be sure to buy and to ride the “Libramiento” (Toll Road) bus route to Valle and *NOT* the “Amanalco” route. The new “Libramiento” route will take you to Valle in less than three hours via the toll road system or the new highway
We can help arrange private and group transportation from the airport to Valle, Whatsapp “Transport Hotline” number will be posted 30 days prior the event.
Those who don’t have transport during the competition, we have arranged with local friends transport and retrieval service for $190 USD for the 7 days of competition. This service includes bringing your wing from the HQ’s to launch and track you and pick you up from where you land and take you back to the HQ’s. This is a group service so you will be riding with others. We have plenty of spots available so you can arrange for this service during registration.
If you are renting a Hang Glider from Vuelo Libre/Rudy, the rental includes retrieval service during the race.
Casa Regional de Cultura, near the main harbour in Down Town Valle de Bravo
Registration
Tavo Gutierrez
tavo.gutierrez@gmail.com
Organizer
Rudy Gotes
vuelolibremx@gmail.com
Safety Officer
Karina Sanchez Navarro
vuelolibremx@gmail.com
Organizer
Monica Spavz
vuelolibremx@gmail.com
Transport and Logistics
Ricardo Tovar
vuelolibremx@gmail.com
Operations
Nathan Contreras
contrerasnathan@gmail.com
Meet Director
Juaki Sanchez
aladelta@feada.org
Marketing
Patricia García de Letona
+527223047381
patyletona@hotmail.com