PPO - Polish Paragliding Open

Why Shambhala Center? Why Sopot, Bulgaria?

• Shambhala Center have a lot of experience in organizing sporting events, including paragliding competitions.
• The site's microclimate allows to set many tasks during one week.
• The terrain is varied and allows to set tasks both in the mountains as well as on the flats, which makes the competition more interesting and challenging and safer at the same time (see waypoints).
• The high level of safety is assured via vast take-off and spacious landing zones, clear terrain and professional rescue and medical services.
• Transportation to the take-off and retrieve after the task are much facilitated by the chair lift and well-organized road network.
• On non-flying days pilots can test various alternative activities which are also attractive for accompanying people.

Sopot is practically flyable all-year-round The most consistent and favourable conditions are from the middle of July till the end of August. That is when most paragliding events take place there.

Shambhala Center hosted twice World Cup events (2005 and 2008), many times Bulgarian Championships and Russian Opens. Each year they organize Skynomad Open competition. In 2008 there were 4 competitions in a row with 18 valid tasks altogether.

This year, between 8^th and 15^th August Sopot will be site to one of the XC Open World Series legs.

Shambhala Center

• Shambhala Center is located in Sopot, 5 km west from Karlovo.
• The Center was created to serve enthusiasts of active leisure pursuits. In the area you can practice paragliding, hang-gliding, rock climbing, paintball, mountain biking, zorbing and other forms of active leisure.
• Road connection with the center is very easy. It also has its own car park.
• The Center is situated in the middle of the picturesque Stara Planina mountain massive. From the take-off there is a wonderful view on the Rose Valley.

Take-off. Photo: azoom.ch Take-off

Pilots are transported up by a chair lift. From the top station it's between 5- and 15-minute walk to the take-off, depending how high you want to launch.

SkyLift

• Two-seat chairs
• Double-level lift takes you right to the top Pilots are taken to the paragliding take-off located next to the middle station
• The trip takes about 25 minutes
• Build on the initiative of hang-gliding pilots working in the nearby army facilities
• It was modernized in 2008

The take-off is a vast grassy field allowing to lay out over 150 wings. The take-off is located at 900 m agl (1400 m asl).

Landing place. Photo: azoom.ch Landing zones

The main landing place is located at 572 m asl right next to the bottom station of the chair lift. It is surrounded by small tress and sometimes requires handling higher skills.  However, pilots are allowed to land on the spacious surrounding fields.

Apart from the landing zone next to the lift station, there are two more, which can also be used for goals. One of them is on the outskirts of Sopot and another one on the old sports airfield close to Bania.

Safety

• During competition days a rescue team and a doctor are present at the take-off.
• A rescue helicopter equipped with a winch is ready at the organizers' disposal. It arrives within 30 minutes to the flying area.
• A Euromed ambulance is present in the morning by the bottom station of the chair lift and in the afternoon at goal.

Retrieve on demand. Photo: azoom.ch Retrieve

The retrieve system in the area is very efficient. Most roads lead ro Karlovo. Apart from the official retrieve vans pilots can use regular commuter buses free of charge.

Headquarters

The headquarters are located in the Shambhala Center, next to the bottom station of the chair lift. It is fully equipped, including WiFi Internet access.

Weather station

Shambhala Center has its own weather station. The measurements are available on the Internet.