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, saw significant growth, doubling spectator numbers and tripling pilot participation, attracting visitors from 30 different states.
Competitors faced challenging high-altitude conditions (7,084 feet msl), strong winds, and high density altitude, which led to nearly doubled measured distances compared to other events.
Despite these difficulties, pilots delivered exceptional performances across all classes, and the event was widely regarded as an "overwhelming success" by organizers and attendees, who praised the Pinedale community.

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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.”