On Sep 18, 9:54*am, BB wrote:

I've been thinking about this for a while. *I put the numbers together
and you're right. Typically about 3 pilots cross the Mississippi to
attend contests at Cordele, Mifflin, Montague, or Ephrata. Everyone
else either flies sports, or shifts up a class -- standard in 15, 15
in 18, 18 in open.

On the one hand, most pilots seem happy -- they seem to far prefer
flying in slightly wrong class rather than dragging all the way across
the country -- so what's the problem
On the other hand, clearly it's less than optimal, and the structure
of our contests isn't meeting what pilots want -- national-level
competition within a 2 day drive.

It's also an issue for US team selection. Take a look at the current
rankings

http://soaringweb.org/US_TEAM

you can see that US team selection picks from a very small pool of
pilots who actually show up in the same class for 2-3 years in a
row.

It's not that easy. Multiple nationals in each class means even
smaller contests, unless you merge classes with handicaps which is an
anathema to most FAI class pilots. US team selection would then have
to aggregate at least across multiple contests, and better yet across
classes. That's not that hard either, but it changes deep-set
traditions.

So, at least one rules commitee member is thinking hard about this
issue.

The poll is open, so it's a good time to tell the RC how you feel.

John Cochrane
BB

John,

Thanks for the comments.

On the one hand, most pilots seem happy -- they seem to far prefer
flying in slightly wrong class rather than dragging all the way across
the country -- so what's the problem

I am not sure they are happy, but it is what we do to race within a
reasonable distance and cost. I for one would prefer to race in my
class each year. Just to drive across country now is very expensive.
Assume 15 mpg for a tow vehicle and 3000 miles coast to coast. It is
nearly $1600 in fuel and an other $1500 or more for hotels and $1000
for contest fees.

It's not that easy. Multiple nationals in each class means even
smaller contests, unless you merge classes with handicaps which is an
anathema to most FAI class pilots.

I am not sure the contest will be smaller. Look at Parowan, it has
become a super regionals drawing pilots from all of Region 9 (NM, CO,
AZ, and UT) and many from Regions 11 and 12, basically the Western
US. Why are they there? Great soaring, but also because it will be
one of the most competitive contests outside a nationals (and often
more competitive than some nationals). Look at the 15M class this
year. Two national champions and one runner up in the field.

It is also a serious contest with 7 days of racing if possible and
tasks that are called on national standards rather than regionals.
The tasking usually gives the FAI classes the same task so that you
are flying with forty or more ships in "one" class.

Is a seven day regional really different from a nine day nationals?
Other than it can be done with one week vacation rather than two or
more.

US team selection would then have
to aggregate at least across multiple contests, and better yet across
classes. That's not that hard either, but it changes deep-set
traditions.

I think we are way past time to look at this. I have flown ships form
all classes except World Class and there is very little difference in
racing a Std, 15M or 18M ship. The Opens do require a slightly
different set of skills but the others are essentially the same. We
could combine the rankings and let the top pilots select or bid for
the class they represent in the worlds. Our current system is
weighted to those that fly one class every year and not looking at
there performance across several classes or regionals. Pilots such as
Gary Ittner and Bill Elliott have low rankings in some classes even
though they have won a nationals.

So, at least one rules committee member is thinking hard about this
issue.

John, thanks for thinking about this. I see a very strong desire to
race among many pilots, but the time and cost of going to a nationals
is limiting the development of pilots at that level. I learn a great
deal from each contest and wish there were more in the west to fly
in. Next year 18M and Parowan are the same time ;-( and I can't fly
my Ventus in the Std. Class.

Tim Taylor
TT