Club Class Nationals

On Sep 22, 1:25Â*pm, Westbender wrote:
Why is everyone focused on the wrong end of this subject? Why are you
focused on a nationals/team selection discussion when the club class
is still practically only a concept in the US at this point? It's like
you want to have the super bowl without the regular season and
playoffs to determine who plays in it.


Not to negate the necessity to grow participation in national contests
but this is what is stated in 1.1 of the Sports Class Nationals rules:


1.1 â€* The purpose of a National Sport Class Soaring Championship is to
determine a National Sport Class Champion and to measure the
performance of all entrants. Performance in Nationals will be used to
provide a basis for pilots to qualify for entry into future soaring
Championships and to select pilots for the U.S. Team in International
Club Class Competition.


Bringing in new pilots should start at the regional, not national
level where the main purpose is to determine the annual Champion and
US Team selection.

On Sep 23, 1:56Â*pm, Junior Team 2007
wrote:
On Sep 22, 1:25Â*pm, Westbender wrote:

Why is everyone focused on the wrong end of this subject? Why are you
focused on a nationals/team selection discussion when the club class
is still practically only a concept in the US at this point? It's like
you want to have the super bowl without the regular season and
playoffs to determine who plays in it.

Not to negate the necessity to grow participation in national contests
but this is what is stated in 1.1 of the Sports Class Nationals rules:

1.1 â€* The purpose of a National Sport Class Soaring Championship is to
determine a National Sport Class Champion and to measure the
performance of all entrants. Performance in Nationals will be used to
provide a basis for pilots to qualify for entry into future soaring
Championships and to select pilots for the U.S. Team in International
Club Class Competition.

Bringing in new pilots should start at the regional, not national
level where the main purpose is to determine the annual Champion and
US Team selection.

Yes, but...

a national contest has a higher ranking factor. Pilots that do well
are better
able to get into other contests. National contests fly more days
(hopefully).
And, we've already had a couple of regional level club class
contests. We're
hoping for additional interest in the class (and contests in general)
by
holding more contests.

-- Matt

On Sep 22, 12:06*pm, Tim wrote:

postings, I ,too, fully support ending the ban on former US Team
members in the FAI classes from being slected for the Club Class Team.
We should send the best pilots, flying club class ships that we can to
every World Championships- Period!

Just a point of contention he

There is no "right" or "wrong" answer on this subject. Its a matter
of attitude, philosophy, and emphasis.

If you keep the ban in place, you are emphasizing participation - you
are in favor of more people getting a chance to compete in the World
Championship event, and all that goes with it. Winning is secondary
to giving many people an opportunity to fly in that grand venue.

If you want to lift the ban, you are emphasizing winning over
participation. You want to see the USA ranked #1, other
considerations are secondary.

Again: This isn't a good vs. bad thing, you just have to decide what
your priorities are.

--Noel

On Sep 22, 7:07*pm, wrote:

How about a "rookie school" at your local regional? Would that help
get your feet wet?

We started doing that in Ephrata, WA a couple of years ago. The "Dust-
up" is a 3-day contest specifically designed to introduce pilots to
tasking and the flow of competition days. We're still tweaking and
tuning the event, but we've had decent attendance the first two years
(although this year we only really got 1 flying day in - always a
danger with a 3-day event).

As "low-stress" as we try to make the Club/Sports class competition at
the Regional level, a lot of people are still intimidated by the
competition-aspect and the rules. Providing an unofficial event where
people can give it a try has helped lower some barriers...

--Noel

As "low-stress" as we try to make the Club/Sports class competition at
the Regional level, a lot of people are still intimidated by the
competition-aspect and the rules. *Providing an unofficial event where
people can give it a try has helped lower some barriers...


Well said.

Is there any way for the SSA and associated racing committee to try
and reach out with some nudging, encouragement and guidelines via
mailings? My club is small and has absolutely no experience putting on
such an event. Although there are a few individuals who would really
like to try it.

Does anyone know of some published instructions/guidelines for
organizing an informal, club-level contest that would be a reasonble
stepping-stone approach to preparing for other sanctioned events?
Noel, did your club document anything regarding the event you put on?

On Sep 23, 12:13*pm, Westbender wrote:
As "low-stress" as we try to make the Club/Sports class competition at
the Regional level, a lot of people are still intimidated by the
competition-aspect and the rules. *Providing an unofficial event where
people can give it a try has helped lower some barriers...

Well said.

Is there any way for the SSA and associated racing committee to try
and reach out with some nudging, encouragement and guidelines via
mailings? My club is small and has absolutely no experience putting on
such an event. Although there are a few individuals who would really
like to try it.

Does anyone know of some published instructions/guidelines for
organizing an informal, club-level contest that would be a reasonble
stepping-stone approach to preparing for other sanctioned events?
Noel, did your club document anything regarding the event you put on?

I am in the same club as Noel. Besides the Dust-up competition our
club also has encampments to "remote" airstrips where we do mountain
flying. These encampments typically have way more member attendance
than the Dust-up "informal" competition, where a majority of the
competing pilots are not club members.

Brad

Contests participation have dwindled down for many reasons. One of
which is the costs for a competitive glider are ridiculous! To put
your name at the top of the score sheet will cost you a fortune.
Sorry, but winning gliders that cost 160,000 dollars doesn't make this
sport attractive. I love the idea of sports class and club class
because it keeps the playing field level. The scores typically
indicate who is the better pilot and not who has the most
technologically advanced glider.

The world class is a fabulous idea. Btw the pw-5 is a retarded looking
ship (IMHO) that should have never been used. A 13.5 m span,
conventional tail, fixed gear, isn't exactly what most guys desire to
fly. Our club has one and I always blow past it in my 1971 standard
cirrus. The world class needs a 15 m spanned, t tail, retractable
gear, roomy cockpit, and much more like an asw 19 or 20 for around
25000 to 30000 to be successful. I believe an asw 15, standard cirrus
or libel will give you more bang gor the buck than a pw5 will. So why
buy a pw5?

Let me rephrase that; I believe a STD cirrus, asw-15 or libelle will
give you more bang for HALF THE PRICE!!! so why buy one???