General Info

WELCOME!
The Cal Poly Gear Slingers are proud to present the Gear Slingers Open 2026! The event is on a Sunday during a 3-day weekend, allowing for easier travel for non-local teams! We will have 2 competition fields, 1 skills field, and 1 practice field. There will be plenty of room, so spectators are welcome!

AGENDA
Friday, January 16th
Event set-up

Sunday, January 18th
8:00 a.m. Volunteer Check-in
8:00 a.m. Pits Open
8:00 a.m. Event Team Check In & Robot Inspection
8:45 a.m. Drivers Meeting
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Qualification Matches, Skills Opens
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch Break
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Qualification Matches
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Elimination Rounds, Skills Closes
5:00 p.m. Award Ceremony
5:30 p.m. Pit Area and Venue close
5:30 p.m. Event Teardown

VOLUNTEER
We will need volunteers for the event! Please volunteer! https://forms.gle/o96j87qkiX3JBW97A

WEATHER POLICY
Our event is indoors, so it is extremely unlikely the event will be canceled due to weather. If an emergency occurs, we will notify everyone registered that the tournament is canceled. In the event rain occurs, bring trash bags to wrap robots in for transport between the venue and the parking lot.

TRAVEL INFO
Date:
January 18th, 2026

Location: 
1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Chumash Auditorium (building 65)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2JYRoV1ZZwRUSQ427

Event Map:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jaMXpZXVW50Nyh0s9oSpuwJOpneu2iVl/view?usp=drive_link 

Parking:
Grand Avenue Parking Structure
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wC6R48RobMfZ4A3n6
enforcement hours (should be free on weekends)
https://afd.calpoly.edu/parking/parkingoncampus/parkinglots/

On Campus Food Options:
1901 Marketplace (right next to the event) 
Vista Grande (across from the parking lot)
https://dineoncampus.com/calpoly/

San Luis Obispo Travel Guide:
Would you like some recommendations for activities and restaurants in SLO? See this Google sheet!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1daV-4OOQcRzv_wfoKXY4_KUoRFmsdxJHfkfYzVsFRRI/edit?usp=sharing​ 

Nearest Airport:
SBP

WEBCAST
Watch Live on the Gear Slingers YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3e3rjvZwrI

JUDGING FORMAT
All In-Person Judging - The Team Interviews and Engineering Notebooks will be judged in person on the day of the event. Teams should upload their notebook to RobotEvents the night before.

Grade Level: College

Skills Challenge Offered: Yes

Judging Format: Remote Engineering Notebooks