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 for over a decade. 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.

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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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On-site camping at HQTents and travel trailers welcome. No utility hookups — self-sufficient setup only.

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

$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.

Registration

Ready to fly?

Takes about 3 minutes. Fill in your pilot info, choose your class, pick your shirt size, and pay securely — all in one place. Confirmation with WhatsApp link and XContest reminder lands in your inbox immediately.

1

Fill out the formPilot info, class, shirt size

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Send $400 via PayPalsdiparagliding@yahoo.com

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Add your name in memoSo Steve knows it's you

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You're inSteve confirms & sends WhatsApp link

USHPA — United States Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

USHPA membership required

All pilots must hold a current USHPA membership to compete.

Registration Form ↗

Payment — $400 via PayPal

Send payment to sdiparagliding@yahoo.com on PayPal and include your name in the memo. Your spot is confirmed once payment is received.

Getting here

Flying in to MSP

Cosmos is about 75 miles west of Minneapolis — roughly 80 minutes on Highway 12. 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 12. 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 12. Same drive as T1 — both terminals feed the same highway.

On the ground

Location & logistics

Address51680 CSAH 37, Cosmos, MN 56228

MapsGoogle Maps ↗ · Apple Maps ↗

ContactSteve@sdiparagliding.com
612-391-3576

Food & fuelCasey's General Store ~2 miles from HQ. The Cosmos Space Festival runs during comp week — a small-town Minnesota tradition that's been feeding people well for decades. Past years have featured a Legion Breakfast, Church Hog Roast, Firemen's Pancake Breakfast, fry bread tacos, a Community Club Pork Chop supper, a beer garden, and food stands throughout the park. Check the festival site for the current year's schedule. The Dive Bar hosts Saturday night paragliding awards and karaoke.

AccommodationsOn-site camping (tents & trailers, no hookups). Motels in Hutchinson ~16 miles east. Hotels in Willmar ~22 miles west.

Site elevation1,112 ft ASL — flat prairie terrain with open landout options in every direction.

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.