2026 Wave Camp

Minden is hosting a Wave Camp this year that will focus on getting pilots to travel along the Sierras. The event will last from April 11 to April 18.

Wave Camp Resources

Each day will include ground school covering basic methods for entering the wave and safety precautions. World-class instructors and club members new to wave soaring will present topics to help participants of all skill levels safely maximize their enjoyment of the Sierra Wave. Special guest speakers on advanced topics will include World Altitude Record Holders (Jim Payne and Tim Gardner) and OLC World Distance Records Holder (Gordon Boettger).

The Wave Camp Director will be Jim Lee. Jim is the Minden Soaring Club President, Current US National Open Class Champion, and Club Chief Safety Officer.

We have 3 club gliders, a 2-32, Blanik L13, and Duo Discus. We have reserved all three for wave camp. How we dole them out remains to be seen, depending on the number of attendees, how many bring their own gliders, and what the weather brings. If we have very good wave conditions, our 3 club gliders will be overbooked. We highly recommend that you bring your own glider if possible.

In addition to the club gliders, we have some other 2 place ships available by club members, such as my Phoenix motorglider which can make several flights into the wave each day with different attendees. These flights will be about 1 hour long, entering the wave, flying to Reno and back, and landing. Followed by the next attendee flight.

The camp program will take place in Steve Sliwa’s Hangar at 2142 Taxiway C. It’s inside the gate, so we will provide instructions on how to get escorted into the hangar fence area and, for those bringing gliders, how to obtain temporary gate passes.

Wave Camp Philosophy

The schedule is being tuned as Jim Lee talks to people about their availability. That will continue right up to the beginning of the camp. The weather will be the predominant factor in the schedule. We can look at the Windy forecast a week and a half out, and the Skysight forecast for 5 days. The Skysight forecast will be used to fine-tune the schedule just before the camp begins.

The philosophy behind the schedule is to cover the most important factors for safe wave flying in the Carson Valley at the beginning of the camp, so that if we have wave conditions early on, we can give our attendees the immediate knowledge they need. More advanced, esoteric, or entertaining subjects will be held later in the camp. It would be ideal if we didn’t have waves during the first 2 days of the camp to get the important stuff and glider checkouts out of the way. Lectures in the morning and flying in the afternoon, with wave flying all day long, is what we will shoot for. It is not ideal to have full days of lectures, so hopefully the weather will be kind to us and allow afternoon thermal flying with some wave thrown in.

We have the top wave pilots in the world in our club! The amount of combined knowledge blows my mind! We will be able to deliver the highest quality lectures and expertise possible in the US. There will be audio/visual equipment for those who have photos/slides as well as a whiteboard for scribbling.

Tentative Wave Camp Schedule

2026 Wave camp Schedule V1 Download

Social Events

The planned dinners social events:

April 11 – Welcome Dinner – Sliwa Hangar
April 12 – Dinner hosted by Gordon and Melissa Boettger – Jacks Valley Road – Genoa/Carson City
April 16 – Sport Aviation Foundation Annual Banquet – Minden, NV
April 18 – Closing Banquet – Sliwa Hangar

Attendees can sign up for the dinners during registration. The dinners will nominally be 5PM if there is no wave soaring that day and at 7PM if there is wave soaring that day

Wave Camp 2026 Sign-Up Form

Wave Camp Form 2026

Member Info

Full Name(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

SSA Number

City

ZIP

Address

Bringing your own glider?

Yes

Glider Make & Model

N-Number:

Contest number:

Soaring Experience

(Please Just Approximate/Guesstimate to Help Us Plan Your Time with Us)

Cross-Country Hours

Cross-Country Miles

Wave Hours

Wave Flights Hours

Wave Miles:

Pilot License & Applicable Ratings:

Membership Fees

Required Fees

MSC Annual Membership ($100)

Wave Camp Fee ($250)

Total

I intend to pay via(Required)

I will mail a check (I won’t forget)

I will pay via Zelle NOW

I will pay via Quickbooks link NOW

I will pay via QR code for my mobile phone NOW

Annual Waiver

The Minden Soaring Club, Inc., is a nonprofit IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Your annual tax-deductible dues and donations will support our mission to promote world-class soaring in Minden, Nevada, through education, safety and proficiency, training, and community.

I agree to abide by all MINDEN SOARING CLUB, INC (MSC) rules and regulations as documented in the Code of Regulations, the Uniform Operating Procedures, and MSC documents. I understand that membership in MSC does not give me personal ownership of any club assets but does entitle me to use such equipment. I also agree to pay for any damage to any retractable-gear aircraft resulting from a gear-up landing due to pilot neglect.

For the purposes of this Application, including the waiver of claims and giving of indemnity herein, (i) “MSC” means the MINDEN SOARING CLUB, Inc. and its members, directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, volunteers, pilots (including towpilots and flight instructors), contractors and premises, or any of them, and (ii) “MSC Flying Activities” means anything connected with my presence on the property of MSC, participation in the activities of MSC, flying in any aircraft at MSC, receiving flight instruction and/or glider towing services at MSC, and the operation of any aircraft or other equipment at MSC.

I UNDERSTAND THAT PARTICIPATION IN GLIDING AND SOARING ACTIVITIES, BOTH IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND, IS OR MAY BE HAZARDOUS AND MAY RESULT IN ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR DEATH, AND I HEREBY VOLUNTARILY ACCEPT SUCH HAZARD AND RESULT.

WAIVER OF CLAIMS
In consideration of being accepted as a member of the MINDEN SOARING CLUB, INC and being granted the benefits of such membership, which consideration I acknowledge is valuable and is sufficient to induce me to make this application for membership, I, FOR MYSELF, AND ON BEHALF OF MY EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, HEIRS, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, SUBROGEES, INSURERS, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, WAIVE AND GIVE UP FOREVER ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OF ANY NATURE, TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLAIMS FOR PERSONAL INJURIES TO MYSELF OR MY OWN DEATH, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, WHICH I MAY HAVE NOW OR IN THE FUTURE AGAINST MSC, AS DEFINED ABOVE, (HEREAFTER KNOWN AS THE “RELEASED PARTIES”) THAT ARISE FROM OR ARE CONNECTED IN ANY WAY, WHETHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, WITH MINDEN SOARING CLUB, INC FLYING OR OTHER ACTIVITIES. THIS WAIVER INCLUDES ANY CLAIM AGAINST THE RELEASED PARTIES ARISING FROM THEIR OWN NEGLIGENCE OR THE NEGLIGENCE OF ANY OF THE OTHER RELEASED.

Note: Many health plans and insurance policies exclude coverage for claims arising from the operation of non-public transport aircraft, including gliders. If relevant, check your plan or policy.

By signing this form, I confirm that I have read and understood the terms outlined above.

I freely and voluntarily give my consent to participate in the activity, program, or service described. I understand the responsibilities, requirements, and any potential risks involved.

I accept the terms and conditions of this agreement and agree to comply with all related rules and policies. I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time by contacting the organization, recognizing that doing so may affect my ability to continue with the related service or activity.

I confirm that I have read, understood, and herby affirm the Annual Waiver.

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