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  #1  
Old June 15th 12, 12:30 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
John Cochrane[_2_]
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Posts: 237
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My website has a copy of the article "The National Contest
Participation Dilemma" that appeared in this month's Soaring. I put
together a lot of numbers on contest participation, and tried to get
at some causes.

A few surprises: lots of new pilots show up, but they don't stick.
Pilots do not like to drive long distances. There are lots of contest-
capable gliders out there.

The article is meant to stir up discussion on what we should do,
including east/west nationals, mixed handicapped classes, picking team
members from outside "their" class, or (not in the article because I
hadn't heard of the idea at the time) having just one big nationals
with many small classes and multiple super-regional qualifiers.

Direct link
http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...ticipation.pdf

Webpage
http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...index.htm#misc

John Cochrane
  #2  
Old June 15th 12, 01:31 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
[email protected]
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Posts: 209
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On Thursday, June 14, 2012 7:30:37 PM UTC-4, John Cochrane wrote:
My website has a copy of the article "The National Contest
Participation Dilemma" that appeared in this month's Soaring. I put
together a lot of numbers on contest participation, and tried to get
at some causes.

A few surprises: lots of new pilots show up, but they don't stick.
Pilots do not like to drive long distances. There are lots of contest-
capable gliders out there.

The article is meant to stir up discussion on what we should do,
including east/west nationals, mixed handicapped classes, picking team
members from outside "their" class, or (not in the article because I
hadn't heard of the idea at the time) having just one big nationals
with many small classes and multiple super-regional qualifiers.

Direct link
http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...ticipation.pdf

Webpage
http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...index.htm#misc

John Cochrane


John,

Keep the writing up. Your articles have become the highlight of the magazine for me.

There are some shining lights:

1) GTA Racing Association in Region V is thriving this year after a few years of decline.
2) A half dozen competition pilots have entered the fray this year via GTA. All of these guys are young with the youngest being 16!
3) Bill Daniels reports that the last few months have seen a net growth in SSA memberships.
4) An SSA committe has engaged the Civil Air Patrol in constructive talks regarding glider training.
5) The SSA has some forward thinkers who are working hard to generate momentum.

The pendulum may be swinging in the right direction.

Lane
XF

Lane
XF
  #3  
Old June 15th 12, 06:38 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Paul Cordell
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Posts: 70
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I think Scheduling has a lot to do with individual or specific Contest
participation. June in the West illustrates the problem perfectly.
The Open Class nationals has 9 Contestants. The reality of Open
Class @ Minden is that you DO NOT need 25+ Meters of Wings to be
competitive. Moriarty and Ephrata have scheduled the exact same
dates. Just to add insult to injury, The 18M and Standard Class
Nats are in the same corner of the world. The Sports Class Nationals
@ Parowan also overlaps . All this "togetherness" forces people
to make choices and dilutes participation at all events.

If the 18-Std Contest had been scheduled and sited in the center of
the country, I suspect the contestant numbers would have been greater
for both the Open and 18-Std Contests respectively. The equation of
dates and distances must be balanced such as to direct pilots to the
obvious choice. An 18M owner from the East is unlikely to drive to
Montague, However He may make the drive to the Center of the
country. But, not when the dates conflict with other closer
choices. Also, It's good to combine classes. However Location must
be Considered. I suspect that if the Standard Class was combined with
the Opens @ Minden and No other Western Contest was run during the
same time, Attendance would be up significantly.

I know it's a tricky situation compounded by very few sites stepping
forward to host a contest. With some coordination, I think everybody
can benefit

Paul Cordell
  #4  
Old June 15th 12, 02:13 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
[email protected]
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I'm not in the game so maybe this isn't an issue but my guess is races are too long. Fit everything in a week. Have Mon. be the practice day, race ends on Fri. Two days to drive in, two days to drive home. Of course you would lose more contests to weather and maybe luck makes a bigger contribution then consistency, but if a race can be done in one week of vacation time the value/time spent changes.
On Thursday, June 14, 2012 7:30:37 PM UTC-4, John Cochrane wrote:
My website has a copy of the article "The National Contest
Participation Dilemma" that appeared in this month's Soaring. I put
together a lot of numbers on contest participation, and tried to get
at some causes.

A few surprises: lots of new pilots show up, but they don't stick.
Pilots do not like to drive long distances. There are lots of contest-
capable gliders out there.

The article is meant to stir up discussion on what we should do,
including east/west nationals, mixed handicapped classes, picking team
members from outside "their" class, or (not in the article because I
hadn't heard of the idea at the time) having just one big nationals
with many small classes and multiple super-regional qualifiers.

Direct link
http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...ticipation.pdf

Webpage
http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...index.htm#misc

John Cochrane


  #5  
Old June 15th 12, 03:37 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Tony[_5_]
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On Friday, June 15, 2012 8:13:10 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I'm not in the game so maybe this isn't an issue but my guess is races are too long. Fit everything in a week. Have Mon. be the practice day, race ends on Fri. Two days to drive in, two days to drive home. Of course you would lose more contests to weather and maybe luck makes a bigger contribution then consistency, but if a race can be done in one week of vacation time the value/time spent changes.


That is a really good point. Last year Region 10 worked well for that. First practice day was Sunday. Race was Tuesday - Saturday. Of course the weather was good so that helped. Anyone within a one day drive only had to take a week off work. I don't mind using vacation time to go soaring but I really don't like taking vacation time to drive. Anything more than 12 or 14 hrs on the road from home adds 2 more days of vacation required to attend.
  #6  
Old June 15th 12, 07:27 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
J. Murray
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Posts: 16
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I agree.
  #7  
Old June 15th 12, 08:59 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Tom[_12_]
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Posts: 95
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There are some contests that are well attended year after year (sold
out) such as "The Seniors," and a few regionals. It may be possible to
have a similar format with a "Class" or "Classes" mixed in and
appropriate trophies awarded.

Regional / National contest with Sports, Standard Class and/or 15 M
would fit fine. Even the 18M and Open Class could participate with
seperate, but similar tasking.

Some contests are too popular to allow such a mix. Such as The
Seniors, and Perry

Tom Knauff

  #8  
Old June 15th 12, 11:00 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
S. Murry
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Posts: 68
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On Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:37:02 -0500, Tony wrote:

On Friday, June 15, 2012 8:13:10 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I'm not in the game so maybe this isn't an issue but my guess is races
are too long. Fit everything in a week. Have Mon. be the practice
day, race ends on Fri. Two days to drive in, two days to drive home.
Of course you would lose more contests to weather and maybe luck makes
a bigger contribution then consistency, but if a race can be done in
one week of vacation time the value/time spent changes.


That is a really good point. Last year Region 10 worked well for that.
First practice day was Sunday. Race was Tuesday - Saturday. Of course
the weather was good so that helped. Anyone within a one day drive only
had to take a week off work. I don't mind using vacation time to go
soaring but I really don't like taking vacation time to drive. Anything
more than 12 or 14 hrs on the road from home adds 2 more days of
vacation required to attend.


I second Tony's re-affirmation of Gregg's point that scheduling is a big
factor. I also flew the Region 10 for the last two years and the timing
is just right to fit into a single week off work (maybe leaving a bit
early on Friday, but...). This makes a huge difference versus having to
be gone for 1.5-2 weeks (or more).

Somebody mentioned the GTA races and I think there is a similar "league"
in Arizona that runs numerous weekend races as opposed to one marathon
race. Obviously, this is somewhat less practical for a Nationals but a
regionals run across two long weekends, for example, might work.

--
Stefan Murry
  #9  
Old June 15th 12, 11:02 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Andrzej Kobus
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Posts: 585
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I would never drive 2 days each way for possible 5 days of flying
(including practice day). My criteria: reasonable distance, chance for
good weather (based on location) and reasonable length of the contest,
no less than 6 flying days plus a practice day. For example drive up
on Saturday, Sunday practice, Mon-Sat contest , Sunday back home
(exactly like Perry).

On Jun 15, 9:13*am, wrote:
I'm not in the game so maybe this isn't an issue but my guess is races are too long. *Fit everything in a week. *Have Mon. be the practice day, race ends on Fri. Two days to drive in, two days to drive home. *Of course you would lose more contests to weather and maybe luck makes a bigger contribution then consistency, but if a race can be done in one week of vacation time the value/time spent changes.







On Thursday, June 14, 2012 7:30:37 PM UTC-4, John Cochrane wrote:
My website has a copy of the article "The National Contest
Participation Dilemma" that appeared in this month's Soaring. I put
together a lot of numbers on contest participation, and tried to get
at some causes.


A few surprises: lots of new pilots show up, but they don't stick.
Pilots do not like to drive long distances. There are lots of contest-
capable gliders out there.


The article is meant to stir up discussion on what we should do,
including east/west nationals, mixed handicapped classes, picking team
members from outside "their" class, or (not in the article because I
hadn't heard of the idea at the time) having just one big nationals
with many small classes and multiple super-regional qualifiers.


Direct link
http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...ocs/participat...


Webpage
http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...index.htm#misc


John Cochrane


  #10  
Old June 16th 12, 01:35 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Martin[_5_]
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Posts: 22
Default Participation

I am also a x-c wannabe at the moment, but second the shorter contests
suggestion. I have four weeks of vacation per year. More than most
americans. There is no way I'm going to devote two of them to driving
to and attending one contest, let alone more.

Closer, shorter, and then I'll be interested.
 




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