Rocky Mountain STOL Reflects Growth

This year, the number of spectators doubled and pilot participation tripled for the event in Pinedale, Wyoming.

Monday, August 21, 2023 at 12:53 PM ET

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The Wind River mountain range served as a picturesque backdrop for the second annual Rocky Mountain STOL competition. [Credit: Daniel Major]

Key Takeaways:

The second annual Rocky Mountain STOL competition in Pinedale, Wyoming, was an "overwhelming success," experiencing remarkable growth with double the spectators and triple the pilot participation compared to the previous year.
Pilots contended with challenging high-altitude conditions (7,084 feet msl) and winds, which notably extended measured distances, yet delivered exceptional performances across all competitive classes.
The event featured a full field of diverse competitors, with notable winners including Brandon Corn (Touring), Micah Lindstrom (Backcountry), Brian Shirley (Adventure), Rick Boardman (Sport), William Mechan (Rookie), and Steve Henry (Unlimited), who won with a combined distance of just 76 feet.

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Ralph Wentz Field (KPNA) is situated in the rustic town of Pinedale, Wyoming, with the Wind River mountain range serving as a picturesque backdrop for the second annual Rocky Mountain STOL competition hosted by Emblem Aviation.

The event, sanctioned by the National STOL Series, experienced remarkable growth this year, with the number of spectators doubling and pilot participation tripling. It featured a full field of competitors across the various classes, including not only local participants but also those from Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Minnesota, and even Alaska. Angela Douglas, co-owner/founder of Rocky Mountain STOL, said “of the 850 people who attended, 268 visitors from 30 different states were in attendance, according to our gate survey.”