United States XContest 2025

Welcome to the United States XContest

USHPA, Inc. has sponsored a US League on XContest.org that is open to all USHPA, Inc. members. This is an online system to track flights that occur within the competition time period. Pilots earn points for flights based on various calculation methods. Flights are submitted online based on the output of flight recorders (in IGC format from a single instrument).

The rankings will be based on the six highest-scoring flights in the United States for each pilot. The rules and scoring parameters will match the world XContest, starting on October 1 and ending on September 30 each year.

How to participate

Register as a Pilot on xcontest.org (only needed if you've never registered before)
Register with the US League
~~Pay $5 registration fee~~ The registration fee is no longer required as of the the 2025 season
Go flying
Upload your flight to xcontest.org Flight Claim, ensuring "United States XContest" is checked under "Login to the contests"

Rules

The standard World XContest rules will be used, with a couple of small exceptions. Complete rules are available on the United States XContest Rules page.

The winners will be recognized in the following categories, based on glider class, mirroring the USHPA, Inc. National Champion categories:

Paragliding

Competition Class
C Class
B Class
Womens Class

Hang Gliding

Open Class 1
Sport Class 1
Single Surface Class 1
Womens Class
Class 2
Class 5

The pilot with the most points in each scoring class at the end of the season, is the "US League XContest Champion" for this class for that year. Results are available directly on the US League XContest page (click the "United States XContest" pull-down to select a previous year, then click a "Ranking category" on the left).

Three types of flights are possible, with different multipliers. Free flight, flat triangle, and FAI triangle. Any flight that doesn’t qualify as a triangle will be scored as free flight, where the distance is optimized through three waypoints. Free flight tracks score 1 point per kilometer. Any triangle that does not conform to the FAI specification will earn 1.2 points per kilometer if closed within 20% of the total distance and 1.4 points per kilometer if closed within 5% of the total distance. Triangles where no leg is shorter than 28% of the total distance count as FAI triangles and earn 1.4 points per kilometer if closed within 20% of the total distance and 1.6 points per kilometer if closed within 5% of the total distance. The XContest software will automatically optimize your tracklog and choose the flight type that results in the highest score.

To keep the scores current throughout the season, track logs must be uploaded and submitted to the United States XContest within 14 days of the flight. Logs must be uploaded in IGC format with a valid G record.

All flights must be conducted in accordance with applicable air law and any flight found to be in violation of airspace, including Class A, will be disqualified. Foot-launch, towing, and aerotowing (hang gliders only) are permitted. For tow-launch flights, the maximum release altitude is 3,280 ft (1 km) AGL.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I include a flight that was uploaded to the World XContest before registering for the US XContest?

After registering for the US XContest, any flights from the last 14 days can be uploaded. If a flight was already uploaded the the Wold XContest, it can be edited by checking "United States XContest" under "Login to the contests" to have it included in the United States XContest scoring.

Why isn't my flight being included in my score?

The most common problem that prevents a flight from being included in a pilot's score is that the glider is not recongnized. Try editing the flight and choosing the manufacturer and model in the dropdowns.

Administrator contact

If you have any questions about the United States XContest, or any suggestions for improvements or alterations, please contact: Reavis Sutphin-Gray: reavis@sutphin-gray.com ph. 415-684-8626