Kawa.....

On Thursday, July 31, 2014 10:14:05 AM UTC-5, Sean Fidler wrote:
You are correct! It appears that Sebastian Kawa won the 2012 15 Meter Class World Championship at WGC Uvalde 2012 by ONLY 440 points (not quite 600).. I don't understand what you mean by gaining half of those points on the final day. It appears that Kawa gained only 7 points on the last day (13).

He beat his team mate, Tomasz Rubaj by 7 points. Second place overall in the contest was Matthias Sturm. Kawa beat him by 188 points on the last day.. So, he got 188 of his 434 point victory margin on the last day.

And, I don't think anyone is questioning that Kawa is a superb pilot. Some have pointed out that others have made significant accomplishments, as well. Just not yet over the duration that Kawa has shown.

But, Poland is fairly nationalistic, and Poland does not have its own 18m glider yet.
- Actually both of these statements are incorrect. Aeroklub Polski owns a ASG-29,if not two. And Poland is less nationalistic than pretty much all neighboring EU countries, including Germany.
If you think "nationalistic" take a trip to France, but I think it's just a matter of spending tax money on the things that work in the interest of common folk/tax payer, as opposed to financing an overgrown military.

On 2014-07-31 15:14:05 +0000, Sean Fidler said:

I am not sure the fine details matter that much. I stand behind my
statement that Kawa's: 1) major contest record (numerous World
Championships, FAI Grand Prix, Major European events), 2) consistency
(second is a poor contest for him, even at this level), 3) raw talent
and 4) ability to be competitive in multiple classes and gliders is
something the world has never seen before in the sport of soaring. In
fact, nobody else is (or has been) remotely close.

I like that, unlike many other top contest pilots, he is not afraid of the PW5.

Originally Posted by Sean Fidler

You are correct! It appears that Sebastian Kawa won the 2012 15 Meter Class World Championship at WGC Uvalde 2012 by ONLY 440 points (not quite 600). I don't understand what you mean by gaining half of those points on the final day. It appears that Kawa gained only 7 points on the last day (13). Not to shabby, regardless.

snip

Kawa is the best competition glider pilot ever, by far and without question.. He has the whole world gunning for him every contest. The only question is how long can he maintain this run!

I would venture that it's not without question. There have been other excellent pilots both in the past and at present that have excellent contest winning pedigree.

There have been some e.g. Sue Kussbach, Ingo Renner, George Lee and Michael Sommer, that I can think off, that have won 3 world titles in a row in the same class. Not an easily achieved feat and one that Kawa has yet to do.

I take nothing away from Sebastian, in fact if there was betting involved my money would be on him (saw him fly the SGP final at Omarama in 2007). He's my pick as winner in whatever contest he flies and he does seem to fly a lot. I actually wonder what his winning percentage is over all the National level and higher comps he's been in.

As a side note and probably worthy of a thread it's own is 'how good is the variety of gliders span wise that are competitive in the open these days?'

:-) Colin

Sean, Kawa was a Dinghy champion before he started flying gliders,
Sound familiar :-)

Agree with ALL of that!

On Wednesday, July 30, 2014 12:41:51 PM UTC-4, wrote:
Agree with ALL of that!

Just wish we could see him fly 18M class. One of the few trophies he doesn't have.

On Wednesday, July 30, 2014 1:45:27 PM UTC-4, Clay wrote:
On Wednesday, July 30, 2014 12:41:51 PM UTC-4, wrote:

Agree with ALL of that!



Just wish we could see him fly 18M class. One of the few trophies he doesn't have.

Well, the Polish Team have other strong pilots in the 18 m class as the previous two WGC and the current score card suggest.

On Wednesday, July 30, 2014 1:45:27 PM UTC-4, Clay wrote:
On Wednesday, July 30, 2014 12:41:51 PM UTC-4, wrote:

Agree with ALL of that!



Just wish we could see him fly 18M class. One of the few trophies he doesn't have.

Ironically, in 2002 during US World Class Nationals, Sebastian told me that 18m class is a future of gliding competition, and would be his most preferable class to fly.