Only folks with the means or the strong desire can afford to come
to one of these

32.881678,-111.854982,Francisco Grande, Casa Grande, Arizona,
USA

The registration fee for the Santa Cruz Flats is $300. The tow fee
is $350. Then there is the hotel, the transportation to the meet, driver and
truck expenses during the meet. Dinners out, as well as breakfasts, and then
there is the bar tab.

This level of hang gliding competition and especially towing competition is
expensive and it keeps out a lot of pilots who would love to compete and join in
the fun. Only very dedicated pilots or pilots with a bankroll (only a few of
those) can afford to attend the major national hang gliding competitions, other
than the King Mountain meet, which is less costly to register for and doesn't
require towing. Also you can camp in the park there at Moore, and food is
cheaper in Arco.

The Santa Cruz Flats Race is a posh meet. You can stay at a fine hotel, swim in
the pool before and after your flight (get in a round of golf), carry a bar tab,
eat at the restaurant day and night (and the food is pretty good, although
better in Casa Grande). But it is not cheap and only some pilots can afford it.

Other meets (like the ECC and the Rob Kells) are less expensive, but still have
tow fees. The tow fees are high here because planes and tug pilots have to be
brought in from around the country (and from Quest Air in Florida). This is not
cheap at all.

So the costs are high not because Jamie Shelden or David Glover is making much
if any money, but because the costs are high to run these things. I don't know
any way around this fact.