Corn Alps 2026 — Paragliding Competition · Cosmos, MN

About the event

The Alps are flat.
The flying isn't.

Every July, Minnesota's central prairie turns into one of the Midwest's best XC arenas. Strong thermals boil off black soil and farmstead rooftops. Cloud base stacks to 8,000 feet AGL. County roads lined with corn and soybeans become your runway — and your infinite bailout.

SDI Paragliding Academy has run this event since 2014 — 2026 marked the 13th annual Corn Alps. The vibe is welcoming for P2/H2 pilots dialing in XC fundamentals, and competitive enough to challenge the top regional pilots. Flights of 25–50 miles are common. The site record is 228 miles.

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Tow-launch operationPlatform and aerotow from quiet gravel county roads. All comp towing and retrieves included in your $400 entry.

📡

XContest scoringAll tasks scored live on XContest. Create your pilot profile at xcontest.org before you arrive.

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WhatsApp commsTask calls, weather holds, retrieve coordination — all over the 2026 Corn Alps WhatsApp group. Link sent in your confirmation email.

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Open landouts in every directionFlat prairie at 1,112 ft ASL. Thermal any direction without worrying about landing options — every field is a bailout.

See the flying

This is what
flatland XC looks like.

Tow-launched off a gravel county road, climbing in Midwest thermals, cornfields in every direction. This is Corn Alps.

Cumulus cloud over the cornfields near Cosmos, MN, with a paraglider climbing beneath it

Aerial view from altitude over the flat Minnesota farmland near Corn Alps

Cloudbase Mayhem · Episode 154

Going Big Against the Odds with Thad Spencer

Thad Spencer sits down with host Gavin McClurg to tell the full story — the obsession with cracking 200 miles, the role of the tow operation, the conditions that make central Minnesota world-class XC terrain, and the 228-mile flight that finally put it all together. Essential listening before you arrive in Cosmos.

Full episode on Cloudbase Mayhem ↗

Competition classes

Find your category

Five classes span paragliders and hang gliders. P2/H2 and above are welcome — competitive and community-minded at every level.

PG

PG Competition

Any paraglider, no glider restrictions. The open class.

PG

PG Standard

EN B or lower. A leveled field for mid-range gliders.

PG

PG Women Open

Female pilots on any paraglider. All skill levels welcome.

HG

HG Open

Any hang glider — flex-wing and rigid both welcome.

HG

HG Sport

Kingposted hang gliders only. Strong Midwest tradition.

All pilots must hold a current USHPA membership. Minimum rating P2 or H2. Bring your own PG tow bridle — available on-site for purchase if needed.

Schedule

Seven days on the prairie

Jul 13

Monday

Practice

Practice flying
Towing 10am–5pm
Get familiar with the site
$25/tow · $1/mi retrieve

Jul 14

Tuesday

Practice

Practice flying
Towing 10am–5pm
Dial in gear & instruments
$25/tow · $1/mi retrieve

Jul 15

Wednesday

Competition

Task 1
Flying 10am–5pm
Meet & greet — evening
Old friends, new faces

Jul 16

Thursday

Competition

Task 2
Flying 10am–5pm
Potluck dinner — 6pm
Bring food to share

Jul 17

Friday

Competition

Task 3
Flying 10am–5pm
Bonfire — evening

Jul 18

Saturday

Competition

Task 4 — final comp day
Flying 10am–5pm
Candy drop for kids — 6pm
Awards ceremony — 6pm
DJ & Karaoke @ The Dive Bar, 8pm–midnight

Jul 19

Sunday

Optional

Make-up task (weather permitting)
Exploration tandem flights
Free flying & fun

Pricing

What's included

2026 pricing, for reference. 2027 pricing TBD.

$400

Competition registration

All comp towing (Wed–Sat)
Full retrieve service
Competitor t-shirt
On-site camping at HQ
Prizes & paragliding awards ceremony
Evening social events

Roster placement is public unless you opt out during registration.

À la carte

Practice days & extras

Practice tow: $25/tow
Practice retrieve: $1.00/mile
Off-course comp retrieve: $1.00/mile
Within 5mi relaunch: free

Day rate for non-registered comp flying: $125 covers all tows and retrieves for the day.

2026 season

That's a wrap.

Four days of tow-launched thermals, cornfield runways, and some of the best flatland XC flying the Midwest has to offer. Thanks to every pilot who showed up, flew hard, and made this year's field the best one yet.

See how it all played out

View 2026 Results ↓

🌽

Corn Alps 2027 — see you next season

Dates and registration will go up here next spring. Join the WhatsApp group to hear first, or reach out to Steve with questions.

Final standings

2026 Results

Four days of tasks across three classes and six divisions. Congratulations to everyone who flew.

🧭 Regional waypoints (LZs, tow roads, landmarks) — Download KML ↗

PG Competition

Open

Rank	Pilot	Wing	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Total
1	Chester Zeno ★ top overall	Ozone Enzo 3	96.41	67.26	22.83	37.97	224.47
2	Tom McCormick	Zeno 2	68.86	50.38	15.12	16.43	150.79
3	Thad Spencer ★ men's state record holder — 228 mi	Zeno	76.05	61.69	—	0	137.74
4	Jaro Krupa	Flow Mystic+	46.97	55.73	30.76	0	133.46

Sport

Rank	Pilot	Wing	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Total
1	Dan Wyatt	Ozone Lyght	97.58	27.06	16.74	13.13	154.51
2	Brad Whittemore	Ozone Lyght	47.96	20.41	19.92	47.1	135.39
3	Andrei Cojoianu	GTO 3	30.97	41.52	13.52	37.81	123.82
4	Ruslan Nikan	Delta 5	63.8	14.82	13.37	26.75	118.74
5	Greg Flymeister	Swift 6	69.22	13	15.24	9.32	106.78
6	John Murphy	Queen 2	34.28	17	18.6	29.11	98.99
7	Stephen Messinger	Rush 6	69.03	4.96	—	—	73.99
8	John Henckel	Nevada 2	17.71	15.28	12.73	14.89	60.61
9	Carlos Almeida	Delta 4	0	—	16.02	—	16.02

PG Women Open

Open

Rank	Pilot	Wing	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Total
1	Andria Lea ★ women's state record holder — 101 mi	777 Queen	31.29	31.86	12.92	13.41	89.48
2	Shani Schechter	Advance Theta	20.25	10.53	16.31	20.46	67.55
3	Alexis Robarge	Ion 7	20.64	20.4	13.86	10.93	65.83

Sport

Rank	Pilot	Wing	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Total
1	Shruti Wigh	Ion 6	14.8	21.88	10.45	14.84	61.97
2	Alyssa MacLeod	BGD	22.85	10.96	12.29	13.58	59.68
3	Alli Petersen	Bolero	0	0	0	12.2	12.2

PG Standard

Sport

Rank	Pilot	Wing	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Total
1	Ryan Pacholski	Rush 5	38.95	44.52	8.03	17.56	109.06
2	Jakob Woodland	Mistro 2	23.08	42.02	14.82	13.67	93.59
3	Gregory Senko	Advance Theta	20.97	21.51	16.43	15.57	74.48
DNF	Jedidiah Scharmer	Rush 6	—	—	—	—	0

A-B Class

Rank	Pilot	Wing	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Total
1	Joshua Jones	Skywalk Tequila 6	13.58	8.74	13.35	10.7	46.37
2	Tiger Beaudoin	Advance Pi 3	13.65	5.8	7.16	8.71	35.32
3	Edward Hewey	Advance Theta	13.78	7.82	0	12.23	33.83
4	Alan Lundstrom	Swing Mito 2	10.51	6.34	0	11.42	28.27
DNF	Jake Roquette	Gin Explorer	0	—	—	—	0

2026 in photos

The season, in pictures.

Launch to landing, camp to podium. Thanks to everyone who shared photos.

In the air

A paraglider and hang glider sharing a thermal together

Fisheye view over the flat Minnesota farmland from altitude

Cockpit view over the grid of farmland below

A pilot wing reflected in his helmet visor at altitude

On the ground

Shruti Wigh geared up and ready to launch

A pilot with his wing packed up after a flight

Two pilots smiling for a selfie in the field

A pilot fully geared up with instruments and radio

A pilot holding his lines, ready to launch

A pilot in a watermelon-patterned helmet giving a thumbs up

A pilot with her wing in front of the cornfield

A pilot in full-face helmet on the retrieve walk

Two pilots helping each other prep their gear

Camp & crew

Pilots relaxing around the fire pit at camp

The full crew gathered under the shade tent

Five women pilots smiling together in the field

Awards night

Six divisions, six podiums, one long night of celebration. Congratulations to everyone who placed and everyone who just showed up and flew.

Corn Alps 2026 awards, women division podium

Traveling here

Traveling to the comp

Cosmos is about 75 miles west of Minneapolis — roughly 80 minutes on Highway 7. Minneapolis–Saint Paul International (MSP) is your airport, and it's one of the best-connected hubs in the upper Midwest.

T1

Terminal 1 — Lindbergh

The main terminal · most domestic carriers

Who flies hereDelta, United, American, Alaska, Air Canada, international carriers

Ground transportLight rail (Blue Line) direct to downtown Minneapolis. Rental car center on-site. Rideshare pickup on Level 1 of the garage.

Drive to Cosmos~80 min west on Hwy 7. Rental car strongly recommended — no transit to Cosmos.

T2

Terminal 2 — Humphrey

Budget & leisure carriers · often cheaper fares

Who flies hereSun Country Airlines, Spirit, Southwest, Frontier, charter flights

Ground transportLight rail (Blue Line) to downtown. Free shuttle connects T2 to T1 if needed. Rental car shuttle runs every 5–10 min.

Drive to Cosmos~80 min west on Hwy 7. Same drive as T1 — both terminals feed the same highway.

On the ground

Location & logistics

About CosmosNamed for the Greek word for order and harmony, with streets named after planets and constellations, and a Space Festival that started in 1969 to celebrate the Apollo 11 moon landing. Population ~500. It's that kind of place.

Address51680 CSAH 37, Cosmos, MN 56228

MapsGoogle Maps ↗ · Apple Maps ↗

ContactSteve@sdiparagliding.com
612-391-3576

Food & fuel Casey's — 2 miles from HQ. Quick supplies, but no beer. Hutchinson — 16 miles east. Full grocery store, gas, and the best spread of restaurants nearby: River House Kitchen & Drinks (waterfront, full bar), Flank Bar and Char (steakhouse, book ahead on weekends), Tokyo Grill (sushi & hibachi), and Sonora's (Mexican). Drex Mart — Lake Lillian, 5 miles west. Fuel, groceries, and beer. Owned by Dennis Jacobson, who also owns the West Launch site and has offered us the use of their restrooms. Support the people who support us.

Rideshare & carpooling

Pilots are already coordinating rides from MSP, Airbnb shares, and carpools in the WhatsApp group. Post your arrival details and connect with fellow pilots flying in.

Join the WhatsApp Group ↗

Flying in to MSP?

MSP is ~80 min from HQ. A rental car is the most practical option — rates are reasonable for a week. Some pilots are also coordinating airport pickups in the WhatsApp group if you want to avoid the rental.

Before booking through the usual suspects, check Turo.com — it's like Airbnb for cars, and often significantly cheaper. Worth a look, especially for a week-long trip.

On-site at HQ

Camp under
the prairie sky

SDI Paragliding Academy HQ is your base camp for the week. Tents and travel trailers welcome on the grounds. No utility hookups — come self-sufficient. The property has a barn, open lawn, and a silo with an observation deck that gives you a 360° view of the surrounding fields.

Silo with observation deck at SDI Paragliding HQ

Is there a shower?

Yes — a shower is available on-site. You won't need to drive to town to clean up after a long XC day.

Are there bathrooms?

Yes, a proper toilet is available on-site. No outhouse situation here.

Is there WiFi and power?

Yes to both. WiFi is available at HQ and the property has electricity — useful for charging instruments, batteries, and devices.

Can I bring a travel trailer?

Absolutely. The property has plenty of space for tents and trailers. The driveway and lawn area can accommodate multiple rigs comfortably.

What's in the silo?

The observation deck on top of the silo gives a 360° view of the surrounding prairie and cornfields. Worth the climb at sunset after a big XC day.

Nearest grocery/supplies?

Casey's General Store is ~2 miles from HQ. Hutchinson (~16 miles east) has a full grocery store and gas stations. See the Traveling Here section for food and fuel details.

▸ Food & evening options in town during comp week (Cosmos Space Festival)

58th Annual Cosmos Space Festival

July 16–19 · Cosmos City Park, Fire Hall & Ball Park

View festival poster ↗

The 58th Annual Cosmos Space Festival runs July 16–19, overlapping most of the comp — food vendors, a beer garden, and evening entertainment a short walk or drive from HQ, all in the City Park / Fire Hall / Ball Park area.

Thu Jul 16
Family movie night · BINGO at the Fire Hall · Big Bang Small Engine Parade · DJ at the Dive, 8pm–1am

Fri Jul 17
Inflatables & games in the City Park · Beer garden at the Fire Hall · DJ at the Dive, 8pm–1am

Sat Jul 18
Fry bread tacos & beer garden at the Ball Park · Kiddie parade 5:30pm · Fireworks at dusk · DJ & karaoke at the Dive, 8pm–1am — same night as the Corn Alps awards party

Sun Jul 19
Pork chop dinner, 11am–1pm, City Park · Food vendors & food trucks all day · Space Festival Parade, 3pm

There's also a town-wide duck hunt — 25 rubber ducks hidden on public property, $20 reward each if you find one. Details at the raffle ticket booth or on their Facebook page.

Nearby accommodations

Where to stay

Book early — this is peak summer in rural Minnesota. Hutchinson has the most options and is ~16 miles east of HQ on Highway 7.

Top pick · Hutchinson · ~16 mi east

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites

Highest-rated in town · Pool, hot breakfast buffet, fireside lobby · Pet-friendly

Book direct ↗

Hutchinson · ~16 mi east

AmericInn by Wyndham

Pool, hot tub, sauna, free breakfast, fireplace lobby

Book direct ↗

Hutchinson · ~16 mi east

Days Inn by Wyndham

Victorian theme on the Crow River · Pool, free breakfast

Book direct ↗

Hutchinson · ~16 mi east

King Motel

Budget-friendly · Overlooks the Crow River · WiFi, fridge, microwave · Pet-friendly

(320) 587-4737 · Call to book

Hutchinson · ~16 mi east

Queen's Inn

Budget motel · 200 Hwy 7 E

(320) 587-2129 · Call to book

Litchfield · ~15 mi east on Hwy 7

SureStay Plus by Best Western

Pool, hot tub, free breakfast, pet-friendly

Book direct ↗

Hutchinson area · ~16–22 mi

Airbnb

Good for groups sharing costs · Pre-filtered for comp dates

Search listings ↗

Official Corn Alps gear

Land of 10,000 LZs.

Every flying region gets the mountains it deserves. In Minnesota, ours happen to be made of corn. Pilot-made gear from Launch & Flight Co. — a small-batch, pilot-owned shop. Small runs, often one-time only.