Golden Goals Comp
An educational, season-long set of scored XC tasks from Golden. It's a free benefit for all members of RMHPA.
What?
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A task for each month from May - September. They will start quite easy and get progressively more difficult through the season. You can do them any time but get a bonus in the designated month.
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There will be one additional difficult season-long task: GoBoGo.
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All tasks will start and end in Golden - Lookout which has significant pilot requirements!
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Installing, understanding, and using the DNL file is critical!
Why?
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Novice XC pilots can complete as much of the task as possible and still get a good score - each meter along the course counts.
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Join friends and work together - a task will teach you a lot about XC navigating and speed optimization.
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Learn to use the task/comp features of your flight app.
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Experienced pilots can compete for the fastest time, and have something fun to do when chasing numbers isn't a great option.
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Scoring will be by wing class A/B/C/D+, so you can compete with similar wings.
Tasks for 2026
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There is no task start time. Do it any time, as often as you want. Get high, get inside the start cylinder, and GO! As always, new pilots should be wary of mid-day thermic conditions.
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All tasks start the LAST time you leave the start cylinder (you can go in and out) and have an ESS (End Speed Section) outside the finish cylinder. Don't fly the last bit of the flight fast & close to ground!
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You can do the task at any point during your flying day. The scoring system will find the part of your flight that completes the task. Fly as much as you want before or after the task.
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50 bonus points for tasks done in the designated month (but you can do all tasks all season).
May task: "Easy as AB…M"
6.3km. A short task that explores crossing both Clear Creek Canyon and Windy Gap. The first building blocks of any XC to the north or south.
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Suitable for XC newcomers (try to fly the whole task), and for experts (optimize for speed).
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Consider possible venturi through the canyons and ensure you leave the start cylinder with enough altitude to make the crossings.
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There are plenty of opportunities to bail a canyon crossing and return to a safe LZ.
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Up to 300 points for distance and 700 points for speed.
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50 point bonus for flights done in May.
June task: "Tour de Tables"
11.8km. Tour the unique topo features that surround Lookout Mountain by flying the main ridge north to White Ranch, then hopping to North and South Table Mountains before returning to the LZ.
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There are bail out LZs to the north on the way to White Ranch but do not land at White Ranch!
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Avoid flying low in the lee of either table mountains as you cross to the west side of each.
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Up to 500 points for distance and 500 points for speed.
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50 point bonus for flights done in June.
July task: "Red Rocks Run"
17.8km Head to Red Rocks Amphitheater and back! On a lucky day you might catch a soundcheck from the air.
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Please do not land at Red Rocks!
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This is a straightforward task following the ridge straight to the south. Simple enough with a north wind, but don’t forget you’ll need to return to the main LZ!
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Up to 550 points for distance and 450 points for speed.
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50 point bonus for flights done in July.
August task: "Piggy Bank"
21.3km. This task takes you south to Morrison then crosses to Hogbacks for the return north.
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Hear the “ka-chings” as you tag small waypoints along the way!
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The Hogbacks are excellent thermal triggers on a good day.
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Please do not land at Red Rocks!
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Up to 600 points for distance and 400 points for speed.
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50 point bonus for flights done in August.
September task: "The Star of Golden"
18.9km. This task challenges the ability to explore in all directions as you create a star around Golden.
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Do not fly to the west without ample altitude. There are safe landings on the plateau but be smart about how you access the west WP.
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Be conscious of your ability to penetrate upwind in all directions. On a good day, at least one of these waypoints will require you to fly with a direct headwind. This can be challenging on lower performing gliders.
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At any point on this task, you should be within glide of a safe landing zone. Fly within your limits.
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Avoid flying low in the lee of either table mountains.
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Up to 700 points for distance and 300 points for speed.
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50 point bonus for flights done in September.
Season-long task: "GoBoGo"
69.7km. The classic line between Golden and Boulder... and back!
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The full route is only for experienced XC pilots.
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There are very large DNL sections south of Coal Creek - be sure to study our DNL system!
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Kris Holub has great video tutorials: Boulder to Golden, and Golden to Boulder.
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Up to 800 points for distance and 200 points for speed.
Scoring and Results
Open the full scoring system: 2026 (current comp).
RMHPA pilot Eric Wustrow is the mastermind behind the scoring. Contact him or Nick Wilder on Telegram if you're having trouble.
You will be taken to the scoring system website where you'll log in and upload your icg file(s).