EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally appeared in the September-October 2025 edition of Sport Rocketry magazine and is republished here with the permission of the author.
There is one thing inevitable about spring in the San Luis Valley. WIND.
But like the estimated 200-plus model rocket enthusiasts who spent all or part of four days here for the 2025 National Sport Launch West event over Memorial Day weekend, it’s just a part of the hobby.
Held in a gravel pit area southwest of the city of Alamosa, owned by the local Southway family, participants were treated to mild mornings, but blustery conditions in the late afternoon. An anemometer is used to monitor wind volume and launching ceases at winds of more than 20 mph.
That meant most of the estimated 500 launches took place in the morning hours, wrapping up by about 2 p.m. daily according to Matt Abbey with the sponsoring San Luis Valley Rocketeers.
“The wind really wasn’t that much of a factor this year except for opening day (Friday),” he said.
This was the fourth time in the past five years and the third consecutive year that the west national event was held here, endorsed by the National Association of Rocketry. The 2026 launch will be held at a yet to be announced location.
In an interview last year, Abbey said “our little local club has established the San Luis Valley as the premier launch site in the west.”
Part of that popularity is related to the 52,000-foot (above ground level) ceiling approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the national event, allowing for larger rocket projects to participate. Abbey noted that the normal model rocket ceiling in the area is 15,000 feet.
The local Rocketeers agreed to host the event for three consecutive years as somewhat of an experiment on how attendance would be affected, Abbey said, but needed a break next year from the cost and time commitment required. Growing the audience of hobbyists as well as local attendance expands the interest in the hobby.
He said slight growth was seen annually from the rocket community, but there was a notable increase in local attendance including members of the Boy Scouts, 4-H Clubs and other youth including those from the local Amish community. “Using the same site for multiple years makes it easier for fliers to plan their seasons,” Abbey said.
Many of those took advantage of the “take it, fly it” offer where youth are given a rocket and engine and some training on how to fly it before eventually going home with the rocket. Abbey estimated about 75 local kids participated in the event with rockets provided by Estes Rockets of Penrose and Quest-Aerotech.
Steven Cole of Alamosa, who assists with the “take it, fly it” project, said youth ages 3-17 are taught how to build the rocket and safety procedures, and get to watch their rocket launch. “It’s a way to get the youth involved and learn about the hobby,” he said.
‘Final Cut’ makes its return
One major highlight of the weekend was the second launch of the SpaceX “Final Cut” project, a creation of longtime rocketeer Doug Gerrard of Altus, Okla.
Final Cut flew its maiden flight at NSL-W in 2021 but this time a few changes were made. The rocket weighs 188 pounds at liftoff, its 8 inches in diameter, reducing to 6 inches and is 15 feet tall. The strap-on boosters (SOB’s) were completely rebuilt with new cameras and electronics.
“It is like prepping seven rockets to fly all at the same time,” Gerrard said.
On board Final Cut were 13 cameras, 19 altimeters, GPS trackers, timers, plus other electronics to trigger the cameras and deploy the SOB’s after their motors burned out. “One thing that did not change from the first flight was the motor selection,” Gerrard said. “Final Cut was powered by an Aerotech N1000 and six K270’s all ignited on the pad.
“Great care was taken to ensure simultaneous motor ignition including staggering when the motors were lit. All came up to pressure at the same time and it once again flew straight and true.”
After about seven seconds, the SOBs blew off except one. The only complication, Gerrard said, was some of the SOBs’ parachutes didn’t fully come out of their body tubes so some fins were damaged. However, the rocket flew to 9,100 feet and all parts, electronics, cameras, etc. were recovered with minimal damage.
Doug is already planning Final Cut’s next flight on Dark Matter motors in 2027.
Dad blasted to the heavens
Veteran rocketeers as well as beginners participated in NSL West-2025 including Coloradans like Greg Caster of Fort Collins. His family has followed the hobby for years, including his father who died in January 2024.
“Dad always wanted my rockets to go higher and faster, so I designed one just for him,” Caster said. “Two years ago at NSL 2023, I successfully flew my Level 3 project — a semi-scale Falcon 9 — with my family and friends cheering me on from the sidelines. After the flight, my dad smiled and said, “Go higher. Go faster!
“Inspired by those words, I began designing a 98mm minimum diameter rocket powered by a CTI M3400, naming it 4 My Dad. He approved of the design and helped guide the color scheme. He passed away unexpectedly during the build, and with my family’s blessing, I created a custom urn to fit in the nose cone.
“We decided NSL West 2025 would be the perfect place to honor his memory and watch him break the sound barrier on the way to a simulated altitude of 19,500 feet,” Caster said.
Recapping the actual launch, he said, “Launch day was a perfect Sunday — clear skies, light wind, and a strong turnout of friends and family. After prepping the rocket and taking a group photo, we agreed: Dad would have loved it.
“The flight began beautifully, roaring off the pad and climbing fast. At about 2.2 seconds into flight, a sudden wobble led to a high-speed breakup at over Mach 1.4. Over the PA, event host Matt Abbey called out, ‘Best shred ever!’ As debris spread across nearly a mile-wide swath, everyone watched individual pieces fall, helping track and recover most of the rocket.
“Fittingly, the first piece found was Dad’s urn. The last was the fin can, with all four fins still solidly attached. While not the ending I had hoped for, it was exciting and entertaining. With my family’s encouragement, this project isn’t finished — I’ll be back in the shop soon, designing a better rocket to send Dad flying high and fast into the sky again.”
Vendors at the ready
No major NSL event would be complete without vendors stocking everything most rocketeers could possibly need.
Among those at the 2025 launch near Alamosa was “Moto-Joe Rocketry,” based in Boulder, but with additional distributors. Partner Joe Hinton of Boulder is joined by distributors Jason Chamberlin of Pueblo West and Art Hoag of Windsor. Ed Dawson of Longmont is another partner.
Hinton was involved in helping establish the SLV Rocketeers after Abbey reached out to him.
“Most of us grew up watching the ‘space race,’ so it made sense to get into rocketry,” Hinton said.
Club draws wide interest
Even though the SLV Rocketeers are based locally, teens from as far away as Taos reached out to join.
Stefan Breir, 18, of Taos said he started building rockets at age 8, took a break, but “got back into it in 2021.” He said the San Luis Valley club interested him because of the launch site. He enjoys building and flying rockets, but also enjoys helping the club.
Launching some low-power models at the recent event, he also tested and succeeded at achieving his L2 certification to fly with J, K and L motors.
It takes a community
Abbey said the success of the national events and model rocketry in general wouldn’t be possible without the support of the community.
A donation from the Alamosa County Local Marketing District helped make the first NSL-West launch in 2021 possible, he said, and annual support has come from local law enforcement and fire departments. He also credited the city of Alamosa and Alamosa County for helping make the event a success.
Abbey said the national events have been a boon to the local economy, particularly for hotels and restaurants. Local craft brewers hosted events that helped make it a success as well.