The Midnight Sun Awaits: SGP Series 13 Heads North to Starmoen
25/06/2026 - Starmoen, Norway - Following the gripping alpine duels in Varese and the dynamic flatland racing in Lasham, the 13th Series of the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix continues its momentum as we head to Scandinavia. The third event of Series 13 will take place at the celebrated Elverum Starmoen airfield in Norway, running from June 28 to July 4, 2026.
A Look Back at a Thrilling 2024
The first time the SGP visited Starmoen in May 2024, fans were treated to a phenomenal display of tactical flying. The unique Norwegian terrain, characterized by hills and mountains to the north contrasting with flatlands to the south, challenged pilots to constantly evaluate their routing strategies. While Germany's Conrad Hartter ultimately seized the championship with 39 points, the battle for the remaining podium spots was intensely close. Klaus Kalmbach (Germany) and local Norwegian hero Arne Martin Güettler tied at 31 points, with Kalmbach taking second place over Güettler via tie-breaker after a crucial Race 2 victory.
The Competitors: Redemption and Rivalry
As detailed in the official roster, the grid for the 2026 Norway SGP is stacked with both seasoned veterans and hungry contenders. Several pilots are returning to Starmoen seeking redemption and top honors:
Klaus Kalmbach (Germany) returns in his JS3, looking to upgrade his 2024 silver finish to gold.
Arne Martin Güettler (Norway) is back in the JS3 RES, ready to leverage his deep local knowledge to capture a home-soil victory.
Other returning 2024 competitors include Petr Panek (Czech Republic) in the JS-1b JET and Michael Pfennig (Germany) in the JS 3 TJ 18m, both of whom have proven they can navigate the complex Scandinavian air masses.
The Norwegian contingent is formidable this year. Alongside Güettler, local fans will be cheering for Jo Inge Bjørø (LS10), Kato Kvitne (JS3RES), Eirik Brenner Marthins (ASG 29E), and Rune Hovda (Ventus 3-M). They will face fierce international competition, including gliding legend and CEO of Schempp-Hirth Tilo Holighaus (Germany) piloting a Ventus-3T, Mikael Widén (Sweden) in a DG808C, Teet Jagomägi (Estonia) in a JS1C, Luka Žnidaršič (Slovenia) in a Ventus 3 FES, and Maciej Walasek (Poland) in a JS-3 RES.
The Tactical Challenge
Operating out of the Ole Reistad Senter, pilots will need to expertly exploit Starmoen's diverse energy lines. The split between the rugged northern topography and the softer southern flatlands ensures that every task will be a unique chess match. With the long daylight hours of the Norwegian summer, the energy windows can be wide, but local convergence lines and sudden weather shifts will strictly punish any tactical errors.
The stage is set for a spectacular week of racing. Stay tuned to sgp.aero and our official social media channels for daily race reports, live tracking, and exclusive pilot interviews as the world's best take on the Norwegian skies.
For press and media inquiries regarding the Norway SGP, please reach out to media@sgp.aero.
