USA Nationals Schedule for 2014 and 2015

[John Godfrey (QT)[_2_]]

6/10/2014 - 6/19/2014 18 Meter Nationals Minden, NV
6/24/2014 - 7/3/2014 15 Meter/Open Class Nationals Montague, CA
6/25/2014 - 7/4/2014 Standard Class Nationals Hobbs, NM
7/15/2014 - 7/24/2014 Sports Class Nationals Midlothian, TX

6/24/2015 - 7/3/2015 Sports Class Nationals Waynesville, OH
7/26/2015 - 8/4/2015 Standard and 15 Meter Nationals Elmira, NY

[Andrzej Kobus]

On Mar 20, 12:55*pm, "John Godfrey (QT)" >
wrote:
> 6/10/2014 - 6/19/2014 * 18 Meter Nationals * * * * * * * *Minden, NV
> 6/24/2014 - 7/3/2014 * *15 Meter/Open Class Nationals * * Montague, CA
> 6/25/2014 - 7/4/2014 * *Standard Class Nationals * * * * *Hobbs, NM
> 7/15/2014 - 7/24/2014 * Sports Class Nationals * * * * * *Midlothian, TX
>
> 6/24/2015 - 7/3/2015 * *Sports Class Nationals * * * * * *Waynesville, OH
> 7/26/2015 - 8/4/2015 * *Standard and 15 Meter Nationals * Elmira, NY

Wow, no Nationals on the East Coast in 2014! Aren't we going the wrong
way?

[[email protected]]

>
> Wow, no Nationals on the East Coast in 2014! Aren't we going the wrong
>
> way?

I noticed that too. Does someone want to step up and bid for a handicapped mixed FAI "east coast nationals" in 2014? Maybe this would be a good chance to try that idea. (Lack of bids is usually the problem with nationals BTW.)

John Coochrane

[Tim Taylor]

So glad we listened to Pilots Survey and worked to implement an East/West Nationals like the majority of the pilots asked for.

Glad that we will keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.

[[email protected]]

A few of us Sports Class / Club Class guys are jsu thappy we don't have to drive anywhere for a change :-)

I concur with BB, it is usually lack of choice of bids that is the problem because of the "wear" it puts on organizing groups year after year...

[[email protected]]

> So glad we listened to Pilots Survey and worked to implement an East/West Nationals like the majority of the pilots asked for.
>
> Glad that we will keep doing the same thing and expect a different result..

"We" did listen to the pilot survey. See 2012 RC minutes, especially the last two sentences.

http://www.ssa.org/files/member/2012%20RC%20Meeting%20Minutes%20Final.pdf

24. East-Central-West Nationals – poll option F. Mixed handicap vs. pure. Note that purpose of Nationals. 63% of pilots polled approve of this option.

[Craig R.]

Whoops...
PA Sports

Oregonian here... Live 30 miles from the Pacific.

[[email protected]]

For those of us with Standard class ships based the Pacific Northwest, there will not be a Standard class or Sports class Nationals for three consecutive years which does not require at least six days of driving. (Time and distance data from Map Quest, time rounded to nearest hour.)

2013

Benton, TN 78 hrs 5142 miles
Reedsville, PA 83 hrs 5444 miles


2014

Hobbs, NM 56 hrs 3486 miles
Midlothian, TX 64 hrs 4169 miles


2015

Waynesville, OH 72 hrs 5252 miles
Elmira, NY 84 hrs 5558 miles

So are you all so afraid of getting thrashed by an SZD-55 that you won't hold a Standard class or Sports class contest in a location that I can get to?

P9

[Andrzej Kobus]

On Mar 27, 5:30*pm, wrote:
> For those of us with Standard class ships based the Pacific Northwest, there will not be a Standard class or Sports class Nationals for three consecutive years which does not require at least six days of driving. *(Time and distance data from Map Quest, time rounded to nearest hour.)
>
> 2013
>
> Benton, TN * * * * 78 hrs * *5142 miles
> Reedsville, PA * * 83 hrs * *5444 miles
>
> 2014
>
> Hobbs, NM * * * * *56 hrs * *3486 miles
> Midlothian, TX * * 64 hrs * *4169 miles
>
> 2015
>
> Waynesville, OH * *72 hrs * *5252 miles
> Elmira, NY * * * * 84 hrs * *5558 miles
>
> So are you all so afraid of getting thrashed by an SZD-55 that you won't hold a Standard class or Sports class contest in a location that I can get to?
>
> P9

FAI classes for me next year :)

Montague, CA (6350 miles and 94 hours)
Minden, NV (5942 miles and 88 hours)
Hobbs, NM (4380 miles and 66 hours)

If I decided to go to any of these contests my wife would probably
call a shrink.

For me flying to Europe and renting a glider there to fly in a contest
is probably a better solution than spending 70-100 hours in a car.

[[email protected]]

I feel your pain.

The point is that those of us residing in the Pacific Northwest are looking at a THREE year drought for national Sports class and Standard class contests, not just missing one year.

P9

[Dave Nadler]

So Andrzej, are you volunteering to organize and
lead any contests on the east coast ?
Or just complaining that other volunteers don't
suit your preferences ??

[Craig R.]

So, this thread seems to remind us just how large our country is and the time commitment needed to participate in a national contest on the other side of the continent.
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but perhaps we should try again? We could have co-National contests each year in a couple of the more popular classes? How about Mifflin and Parowan each year for Sports? The same scenario for 15M/18M combined? By utilizing the most popular classes, it derives a better chance of filling the contest and making making instead of losing money for the contests organizers. US Team member selection could still work using this format and it would get a national contest within somewhat reasonable driving distance. Not a perfect solution by any means. Thoughts?

[Craig R.]

So, this thread seems to remind us just how large our country is and the time commitment needed to participate in a national contest on the other side of the continent.
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but perhaps we should try again? We could have co-National contests each year in a couple of the more popular classes? How about Mifflin and Parowan each year for Sports? The same scenario for 15M/18M combined? By utilizing the most popular classes, it derives a better chance of filling the contest and making money instead of losing money for the contests organizers. US Team member selection could still work using this format and it would get a national contest within somewhat reasonable driving distance for many pilots. Not a perfect solution by any means. Thoughts?

[[email protected]]

On Thursday, March 28, 2013 12:27:05 PM UTC-4, Craig R. wrote:
> So, this thread seems to remind us just how large our country is and the time commitment needed to participate in a national contest on the other side of the continent. I'm sure this has been discussed before, but perhaps we should try again? We could have co-National contests each year in a couple of the more popular classes? How about Mifflin and Parowan each year for Sports? The same scenario for 15M/18M combined? By utilizing the most popular classes, it derives a better chance of filling the contest and making money instead of losing money for the contests organizers. US Team member selection could still work using this format and it would get a national contest within somewhat reasonable driving distance for many pilots. Not a perfect solution by any means. Thoughts?

Sounds like a reasonable idea for participation as long as the winners are not declared National Champions. When 2 "winners" both get 100 ranking, who goes to the worlds?
Shields Up
UH

[Sean F (F2)]

How about we solve that problem with live webcast "dance off?" Results will "of course" be derived via a lengthy pilots poll written carefully by the RC to allow several guided choices which they provide for us via their wisdom... ;-)

[Craig R.]

I can think of several formulas to use to determine a class champ that would be fair and equitable. I am very sure that the RC could come up with significantly more than I can (and perhaps some options would be acceptable to even the sarcastic members of the soaring community)...
Another benefit would allow someone to compete twice in the same class (toss the worst contest score?) and it would allow the guys with convertible ships (15/18M) to fly in both (traveling would be required) ;-)

[[email protected]]

On Friday, March 22, 2013 11:09:49 AM UTC-4, Craig R. wrote:
> Ok, just for a little balance and perspective here, there are no West coast nationals this year (2013). FL 13.5M SC 18M PN Sports NM 15M/Open TN STD And for those who say that Hobbs is West Coast, that is 1900 miles and 30 hours driving to get there for me. Hobbs, in my opinion, is mid-West.

If one looks at participation in terms of supporting contests in various areas of the country, we would have almost no contests out in the far west.
I looked at the last 6 years in Std, 15, 18, and Sports. Only 2 of the 5 contests has nore than 20 entries and 3 had less than a dozen. Rex and Noelle obviously do this for love.
Hobbs gets contests, even though their local infrastructure is thin, because they are enthusiastic enough to support racing and bid for contests.
With participation much more consistently solid in the east, with the exception of the very popular Parowan, it would seem that central and east are where to go for participation.
Craig- you are the exception. Most guys out west don't support nationals unless they are at Parowan or Minden. That only 3 far west sites even bid with any regularity is a shame.
Try Hobbs, I've been there a few times and it can be well worth the drive.
UH

[Craig R.]

> Try Hobbs, I've been there a few times and it can be well worth the drive.
>
> UH

I'll give it a try. And thanks for your thoughts.

Craig