NorthWest Soaring Society

Current newsletter July 2026

Our 51st year & the 50th Annual Season Championship year

The Northwest Soaring Society has been in existence in the NW corner of the United States for 51 years, consisting of Clubs from Seattle, Richland, and Spokane, Washington, Portland and Eugene Oregon, Lewiston and Moscow, Idaho and Missoula Montana.

The Annual Tournament started in 1977 and consisted of winch launched planes competing in alternating 2 min precision and 7 minute international duration tasks. 9 rounds were flown over two days with the top 10 pilots competing in 7 rounds of 7 min duration to determine the winner. The first event had 36 pilots

The format has evolved over the years elimitting the precision event in favor of longer flights (7 & 10 are the most common).and recent events have seen the preliminary rounds used to create a seeded final bracket, allowing all pilots to compete in the final 5 to 7 rounds.

The 10th Tourney hosted 66 pilots!

The 20th Tourney hosted 50 pilots

The 30th Tourney hosted 35 pilots

The 40th Tourney hosted 30 pilots

The 50th Tourney is expected to host 35-40 pilots

Our next contest is

Aug 22 & 23

The Jim Pugh

Rippin’ Thermals In St Paul

(His Favorite Contest)

Sponsored By

Portland Area Sailplane Society & the Eugene Glider Guiders

A classic Eugene Contest Experience!

PASS Club Field – St Paul, Oregon

REGISTRATION: BEGINS AT 8:00 AM SATURDAY

FLYING: STARTS ASAP ON Sat and at 9 AM on Sun.

NO NEW ROUNDS starting after 2:00 PM on SUNDAY

EGG BUST: Sunday before the contest - optional Classic Egg Bust Event!

CLASSES: EXPERT, COMPETITOR, Open 2-METER, NWSS RES . . .

Winch provided (electric nose-launch allowed, set CAM to 150m)

AMA OR MAAC MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED

AWARDS: EXPERT, RES, COMPETITOR, 2-METER

+ Eggs Bust Winner & Thermal Wizard!

Beautiful Photo PLAQUES (all classes awarded for both days combined) & Special Thermal Wizard

ENTRY FEE: $15.00 - FIRST AIRPLANE, $5.00 - 2ND AIRPLANE PER DAY (2 max per day)

TASKS (both days): 3-5-7-9-11 ID – Pilots choice

Thermal Wizard Format (Top cumulative time is Thermal Wizard!) Launch Windows, NWSS LANDING Lines both days

Free Lunch! : PASS Sandwich Shop available both days

PLUS!! Epic (& FREE!) Chicken BBQ & Sweet Corn Feed Dinner @6pm at the Field!!!!

Facilities: Overnight camping allowed for self-contained RV’s Friday and Saturday night.

CD: Tom Culmsee 503-358-8421 teculmsee@gmail.comKevin

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CONGRATS to the

2025 NWSS Tourney Champ

Curtis Headrick

Flying his trusty Vertigo, Curis ﬂew consistently and skillfully the

entire contest for his ﬁrst time win

2025 Champion

Curtis Headrick

Want to become an NWSS member?

Send your payment of $20, you can use Paypal - nwsspayment@gmail.com

along with the following information to:

Cathy Boysen, NWSS Treasurer

4113 S Best Ct, Veradale, WA 99037

Please include your Name, Address, Email, Phone #, AMA/MAAC #. You will receive the monthly Newsletter via email and be eligible for season points!

NWSS calendar

About Us

We are pilots from Oregon, Idaho, Montana , Washington and Canada representing various clubs, who compete at each others' fields and have great fun hanging with each other. Check out the links below for information on specific clubs.

Inland Empire Quiet Flyers - Spokane, WA

Farragut Flyers - Athol, ID

Portland Area Soaring Society- Portland, OR

Lewis Clark R/C Model Club - Lewiston, ID

Seattle Area Soaring Society - Seattle, WA

Montana Electric Soaring Society (MESS) - Helena, MT