2013 USA Competition Rules Published

On Tuesday, March 5, 2013 9:56:16 AM UTC-6, wrote:
"John, When writing the note I realized that the 'joke' was probably lost on today's contest pilots. Given the high median age of glider jockeys, I figured there might be some left who remember this. When turn-point cameras were common in the Dark Ages, we had to go through the start gate for repeat starts inside a start time interval that was set as part of the task. The idea was that an enterprising pilot could not start, fly to the 1st turnpoint, take a picture, return and start again (and go to the 2nd turnpoint). This went away with GPS recorders but not without the contest committee dragging their feet for some years."

I remember those days well, Herb. Helped get me out of last place one day at a contest long ago.

To the Rules Committee:

Forgot to mention this earlier, but maybe it can get done next year. 10.1.4 in the Nationals rules isn't needed any more. This paragraph currently says "Start Opens - at the time of the first launch." Since STI went away with cameras, there is no need to "open the start (gate)" before you "open the task". Likely a source of confusion to Open the Start but not Open the Task in this day of GPS control. If this paragraph gets deleted, it might help in avoiding some confusion. Same paragraph can go away from the other contest rules, too.

I like being able to delete paragraphs from the rules!

Steve Leonard

wrote:
On Monday, March 4, 2013 10:24:37 PM UTC-6, Paul Remde wrote:
Hi,



Thanks for the feedback that the link below was to an old version of the

file on the SSA web site. I have updated the link.



Paul Remde



"Paul Remde" wrote in message ...



Hi Peter,



Yes. The Sailplane Racing Association's Guide to Soaring Competition is the

best resource I'm aware of.

http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books/SRA/SRA-Guide.htm



Many other excellent free soaring article downloads are available he

http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books.htm#Free_Downloads



Also, reading the rules is highly recommended. They are intimidating and

not very exciting, but not so tough to read as they appear at first glance.



Best Regards,



Paul Remde

Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

_______________________________



"Peter von Tresckow" wrote in message

...



"John Godfrey (QT)" wrote:

The US Competition Rules for 2013 have been posted on the Rules and

Process page of the SSA website

(http://www.ssa.org/myhome.asp?mbrc10235857).



You can access the rules directly via these links:



National FAI Class

http://www.ssa.org/files/member/2013...ss%20Rules.pdf



National Sport Class

http://www.ssa.org/files/member/2013...ss%20Rules.pdf



Regional FAI Class

http://www.ssa.org/files/member/2013...ss%20Rules.pdf



Regional Sport Class

http://www.ssa.org/files/member/2013...ss%20Rules.pdf



Thanks to all who provided suggestions during 2012, participated in the

opinion poll and provided feedback during comment period.



There are no changes from the summary of changes published earlier.



For the committee,

John Godfrey, Chair



Thanks guys, I do have a newbie question. Is there a good resource for

neophyte racing pilots that explains tasks, start procedures, strategies

etc?



I think that may actually help people get into racing.



Thanks



Pete

Charlie Spratt Story: During my very first contest at Uvalde in '90 I
sat through the mandatory pilots meeting and when it was time for
questions, I asked Charlie: What's a start time interval? When the
laughter subsided, he sat there for a while, rolled his eyes, mumbled
something about the idiots coming to these meets without having read any
rules and assigned someone to me to explain the basics.
In short Pete, just go to a contest and figure it out! At some level we all did that.
Herb, J7

Herb I agree that that is a good way to learn, and I kind of did that a few
years ago at sky soaring for they I contest. I think it would take a lot of
the anxiety out of going to your first contest if there is a good how to
manual to start with. Of you at least have the basics down it is a lot
easier for you to do we and have fun.

I think that may also be part of what keeps new people from trying contest
flying.

Hopefully the Ka6 will be repainted in time for the sky soaring event.

Pete

Thanks guys, I do have a newbie question. Is there a good resource for

neophyte racing pilots that explains tasks, start procedures, strategies

etc?



I think that may actually help people get into racing.



Thanks



Pete

As much as I would hate to dissuade anyone from reading the rules, the rules appendix, and the guide to competition, do know that most contests, especially a sports class regional, will assign you a "mentor" and provide lots of other support for learning the rules and procedures in real time.

John Cochrane