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FAI Sailplane Grand Prix USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando



 
 
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  #81  
Old April 11th 17, 04:10 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Sean Fidler
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Default FAI Sailplane Grand Prix USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando

Two comments. First, I think your questions are good ones. They also point out several false claims often made about SGP and assigned tasks in general. Most importantly, SGP is not just about highly experienced sailplane pilots. It is also about novice and even beginner pilots as (I believe) it teaches critical cross country skills much faster than the alternatives while being highly rewarding and very fun (not just following the easiest weather possible, but learning how to deal with challenging weather and complete the assigned task). In SSA sanctioned competition, Turn Area Tasks (timed) are roughly 98% of the total annual tasks called in a season. In other words, SSA soaring "game" is extremely "one-dimensional." And for many of us, very annoying (and very boring).

POINT #1: SGP is an ideal format for novice pilots as well. All other forms of sailplane competition are (by definition) NOT racing due to 1) not having a simultaneous start and 2) not consisting of a set race track for all competitors to complete (imagine a marathon with different routes!). SGP "real" sailplane racing competition, therefore, provides a much more objective and measurable context for a novice (or even beginner) racing pilots to learn and comprehend the sport. SGP is an ideal training format for racing friends at a home club vs. just trying to fly as long and far as one can every day by following the easiest weather.

Examples of hyper-subjectivity/variability in non-SGP format sailplane competition:
1) the highly objective weather gambles required of wide area TAT tasks (98% of US tasking)
2) the start time decision "casino" roulette table (trying to start behind your competitors, so you have markers to follow or perhaps trying to start first hoping those behind start too late and then struggle to finish)
3) having to decide when and where to make your turns within several 60-mile radius turn areas (nearly 3000 square miles in area each) in order to time/maximize the flight to return at or just above the tasks minimum time. This complex series of decisions are yet another massive variable built into Turn Area Tasks (98% of US/SSA tasking in 2016) and strongly favors experienced pilots with very expensive flight computers and years of experience using them in such tasks (tasks they often are helping to call...).

These three variables alone often determine 90% of the TAT scoring result. The flying performance aspect of the competition is minimized by such tasks. Broad weather strategy decisions (guesses/gambles) are hypercritical to the result. In fact, these weather "strategy" decisions are often pure guesses as soaring weather is highly variable to predict on such a small scale accurately.

So, in regular sailplane competition, these enormous variables have huge effects on the results (making comprehension the subtle details and steadily improving performance (or being coached) very difficult). Often the winning decisions and strategies of the day are highly obfuscated from others (weather forecast accuracy, unpredictability, assumptions, etc.). Many pilots are quite turned off by the fact that while you are supposedly "racing" in the US (or Canada), you may never see another glider. If you do, it usually means absolutely nothing to you. Is this racing? Who are we trying to kid? That glider you see could have started well before or after you, could have gone further or could have just nipped the last turn area and caught up. You have no idea if they are ahead, behind, or even. Soon they will probably fly off in another direction likely never to be seen again during the flight. Then, at the end of the day, it takes many hours to get the scoring for a Turn Area Task completed. We are told that assigned tasks are blasphemous and irresponsible, and SGP is pure evil (demonstration pilots)! Again, 97% of US tasking consists of broad Turn Area Tasks. And the leadership wants 100% TAT's!

POINT #2: Becuase the turnpoints in SGP are all assigned, and quite small, it is very rare to have two gliders arrive at the 500m radius assigned turn point at the same time. This possibility can be further "softened" by making the first leg longer. But, even if two SGP pilots arrive at an SGP turn-point together, abreast, unlike US rules, both pilots know exactly what the other is going to do, and when, right down to the meter.

In contrast, in US rules, assigned task pilots are allowed (and encouraged) to turn at different times. Pilot A might decide to go to the back of the assigned turn (gaining two extra miles and the ability to leech on pilots who turn earlier), and pilot B might turn in the middle of the turn-point area. This can create (I experienced this last summer in Nephi during the 15m Nationals, and several times before) a dangerous, chaotic and unpredictable cris-cross-crash zone in which you never really know what anyone else is going to do or if you have somehow missed someone within all the chaos on a collision course. Just stupid. The US Rules Committee should take the ability for pilots to add distance in an assigned task or rename it what it is, another pseudo area task. But they refuse to leave the assigned task unmolested by their supposed US rules "genius." You have to keep a sense of humor when looking at all of this.

Anyway, I hope this helps you understand the SGP a little better. Or at least hear a different viewpoint. Oh, and the Europeans and most other soaring countries LOVE SGP racing. The USA has refused to participate in it or to sanction it for over a decade!

My .02 cents...

Best,

Sean

  #82  
Old April 19th 17, 03:38 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Sean Fidler
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Default FAI Sailplane Grand Prix USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando

New SeeYou replay videos for all six FAI SGP USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando races he http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...Var1DMTldaQNlT

Full FAI SGP USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Results he http://www.sgp.aero/usa2017/results-...ontestID=28476

FAI SGP USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Website he http://www.sgp.aero/usa2017.aspx

Amazing FAI SGP USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Official PHOTOS (thanks to Maria Szemplinski - NEETKA PHOTOGRAPHY) he http://www.sgp.aero/usa2017/race-cov...ontestID=28476

FAI SGP USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Facebook Page: @FAISailplaneGrandPrixUSA

FAI SGP USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Twitter Page:
@faisgp #faisgp

Thanks to all the the competitors, all the volunteers and especially to the friends, family and sailplane racing fans who followed this epic event!

Special thanks to John Godfrey (Competiton Director) and Tiffany Fidler (Scorer) and Rich Owen (host) and Sue Martin! And a huge thanks to the amazing Seminole Lake Glideport crew!

Special thanks to our amazing event sponsors, especially the WILLIAMS SOARING CENTER, AS Sailplanes, CLEARNAV and SAGE Varios.

Sincerely,

Sean Fidler
Event Manager
FAI SGP USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando 2017
  #83  
Old April 19th 17, 08:51 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
John Cochrane[_3_]
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Default FAI Sailplane Grand Prix USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando

To be just a little fair here, the SSA rules committee did offer a Grand Prix option in regional rules that would have made it every bit Sean's "real race." (Last start time). With absolutely zero interest after a few years, in the name of simplification, the RC pulled it. If it is so great to have "real races," even for beginners, it's a bit curious that absolutely nobody ever tried it. Perhaps nobody reads the rules. Anyway, if Sean has sparked interest, I would guess the RC would be open to allowing it again.

John Cochrane
  #84  
Old April 21st 17, 01:46 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Sean Fidler
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Default FAI Sailplane Grand Prix USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando

Because leadership matters.

But I'll give credit; the SSA contest "leadership" has nearly accomplished its goal.

Today, in North America, all we do are TATs. Real Racing (Assigned) tasks are 100% extinct. This is a fact.

90%+ of US tasks are TAT. Less than 3% are "US Rules," pseudo AT/Area tasks (where extra distance and associated tactics is a huge variable and pathetically predictable). Just stay with the gaggle, get more distance in the turns, re-leech, catch up, pass, repeat, pass near the end. Win. Easy as pie. Racing ruined. Zzzzzzz.

Congratulations John. Congratulations RC. Congratulations SSA. Bravo.

I am all for TAT tasks. They are fun. But, when it's all we do, it becomes incredibly annoying. Especially when it severely handicaps our US Team, along with our vastly different US rules & scoring.

Obviously, all of this "success" has created a very one-dimensional environment which, when viewed from outside of North America, is not very exciting....

Example: Canadian Nationals last summer (2016).

Over a full week of absolutely legendary weather (8k cloud bases, 8-10 knot thermals, etc...considerably better than Uvalde, TX which took place the same week), they chose to call exactly ZERO assigned tasks in FAI Class (or Club class). Instead, they decided to run six straight days of TATs, followed up with a serious attempt at a (one or zero (blocked from my mind forever) MAT in awful weather! Allow me a moment to clean up the vomit. OK. I'm back. Yes, the task sheet for the final day of the Canadian National Championship featured four bold options (no, I am not kidding). They we North, South, East, and West. Thankfully, this crapshoot excuse for a task was, eventually, canceled.

This is what, IMO, poor leadership has created.

Just because you "offered" Grand Prix as an "option" in the US rules, in and of itself, means little. You (leaders) have to believe in it and encourage it. You have to want to do it yourselves. Clearly, you didn't. You didn't promote it. You didn't encourage it. You didn't lead. People see this. It rubs off. That kind of leadership is dire for the sport, in my opinion. The sport needs leaders who drive the sport forward. Not noodle with knobs behind the curtain.

The truth is that assigned tasks are constantly demonized by SSA leaders (and their cheering sections...). Consistently and across the board. It's quite impressive, to be honest. Nobody with the possibility of an alternative viewpoint is allowed near the committees. The Good old boy network is alive and well.

A great quote...

"Too many committees are not active, not responsive, and donโ€™t publicize what they are not doing. There are many reasons for this. Entrenched committee members that have been in office many years, purposefully weak leadership, an aversion to change, and reluctance to bring in new members, especially new members who might rock the boat for members who are no longer active..." -undisclosed

A little humor...

1) LEADER - "Well, we're waiting. Grand Prix tasks are there for you.........(under breath) if you're crazy and stupid enough to want to partake in this blasphemy....GO AHEAD!!!" https://youtu.be/Z0YIJQ1jgEI

....two years later...

2) LEADER - "See! Nobody used it once. I told you. That must be for a good reason. ;-)"

Sigh... Facepalm.... Disbelief... This is what we are dealing with...

You know what, this is getting so old. Never mind. I am now off to do something productive again...

On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 3:51:59 PM UTC-4, John Cochrane wrote:
To be just a little fair here, the SSA rules committee did offer a Grand Prix option in regional rules that would have made it every bit Sean's "real race." (Last start time). With absolutely zero interest after a few years, in the name of simplification, the RC pulled it. If it is so great to have "real races," even for beginners, it's a bit curious that absolutely nobody ever tried it. Perhaps nobody reads the rules. Anyway, if Sean has sparked interest, I would guess the RC would be open to allowing it again.

John Cochrane


  #85  
Old April 21st 17, 02:08 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Tony[_5_]
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Default FAI Sailplane Grand Prix USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando

Perry today featured 50% assigned tasks
  #86  
Old April 21st 17, 09:48 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Sean Fidler
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Default FAI Sailplane Grand Prix USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando

Wonderful. Good for them! Unfortunately, and sadly, I must point out that any supposed US Rule "assigned?" task(s) called today were not assigned tasks. Any US rules task which includes the word "assigned" is a sham. These are just "mini TURN AREA TASKS." They are what we will now refer to as.... "Assigned in Name Only" tasks! (aka AiNO). AiNO T-shirts coming soon.

Let's just be honest; ASSIGNED TASKS and Sailplane Racing exist today only within FAI competitions. They "boldly" feature an actual set racing course! Ironically, FAI assigned tasks are also commonly referred to as RACING TASKS. Not the case with any current SSA task. No sir. That is for a pretty darn good reason; it's because (drum rollโ€ฆโ€ฆ.) FAI assigned tasks often (50%+) feature sailplanes racing around a fixed racing course, in a thing called a race. US tasks simply do not do this, EVER! PERIOD..

Seriously, you should all try sailplane racing someday; it's fun! Don't let the good old boys scare you.

The SSA should probably consider refraining from using the word "assigned" to describe its current tasks. It might be better for all involved. The truth is that the SSA intentionally chose to abandon assigned/racing tasks (for us all), years ago and forever. Why hide from that? Embrace it! Own it.

THE US RULES MODIFIED AREA TASKS (aka MAT or HAT):
The US MAT/HAT is just a smaller TURN AREA TASK, but often with a cheap Nevada casino table at the end (or even the very beginning). The MAT/HAT (aka TURN AREA TASK), of course, allows each pilot to achieve widely variable task distances. The MAT/HAT is also MINIMUM TIME TASK, just like the TAT. So...how is this (assigned?) task not a just another TURN AREA TASK again?

THE US RULES "ASSIGNED? TASK":
Again, just another TURN AREA TASK with a little lipstick, cheap perfume and with the word "assigned" added like a cherry on top. Of course, this is also not a set race course. Each pilots distance flown can vary as much as 10-15 miles. The dynamic morphs from a pure race into a leeching exercise.. Do we not already have enough turn area tasks in the SSA? No room for anything else? This clearly proves that all we do here in USA/SSA sailplane contests are various flavors of the TURN AREA TASK. Mind numbing.

THE CRISS-CROSS-CRASH KILL ZONE(S)
Finally, within these US Rule compressed TURN AREA TASKS, when many gliders (the gaggle) is somewhat in touch when entering an AREA (often the case), an extremely dangerous and highly unpredictable "criss-cross-crash, KILL ZONE" is created" for our participants to enjoy. For a few moments, gliders can almost be coming from anywhere. In this designed chaos, gliders can easily find themselves come together at 90-degree angles, turning into each other, or approaching each other nearly head on while everyone is dealing with lots of relatively unpredictable traffic. This is not particularly...safe. This also is not a particularly brilliant task design. Especially with non-Flarm equipped or Stealth Mode gliders.

Personally, I prefer the safety and predictability of real assigned turns (in which everyone simply wants to get in and out ASAP, making for a much more predictable experience). This is, unfortunately, not the case in US rule MAT/HAT, 2-mile diameter "turn areas" of chaos, unpredictability, and chance! I digress...

In summary, you have (innocently) claimed that two "(not) assigned?" US rules tasks took place today. Yes, the word assigned was indeed used to describe these "thingsโ€ฆ" That is true. But let me suggest not letting the obvious (and obscene) misuse of a common, English word fool you any longer. Like flying purple unicorns, assigned tasks (and sailplane racing) no longer exist here in the USA/SSA. All we have remaining are flavors of the good old boys beloved TURN AREA TASKs. Cue beloved TAT banjo musicโ€ฆ

AiNO T-shirts (high quality cotton/poly blend) $14.99. Includes shipping. PM to pre-order yours today!!!!!!!
  #87  
Old April 21st 17, 03:29 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Sean Fidler
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Default FAI Sailplane Grand Prix USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando

Again, don't be fooled by poor word choices! Or by #fakenews

Further examination of these "US rules Assigned Tasjs" has revealed more damning evidence that assigned tasks simply no longer exists in the SSA/USA. Period!

Photos: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0tJ058xyJIlE0Q

After feeling highly skeptical about your claim, I just took brief look a closer look during my flight this morning. I was not disappointed. I quickly learned that these two "Assigned in Name Only" US Rules (not racing) tasks were perverted even more than normal. What a joke it is to call any US rules task "assigned..." Please stop. It's embarrassing.

http://www.ssa.org/ContestResults.as...ltsUpdate=True

Perry Open Class (Day 2):
"ASSIGNED TASK (AiNO!)"
Name Radius
Start 2 5.0
Newberry 15.0 ----- ????
McCormi 15.0 ------ ????
Bamburg 10.0 ------- ?????
Finish 1.0

So let me get this straight. 15, 15, and 10 mike radi qualifies for "assigned tasking" in the USA? Why am I not surprised?

Perry 18 meter Class (Day 2)
MODIFIED ASSIGNED TASK (AiNO!)
Name Radius
Start 2 5.0
Newberry 15.0 ---- ;-)
McCormic12.0 ----- lol
Williston 10.0 ----- sigh
Bamburg 1.0 ---- at least one was a mile radius, despite really being a Turn Area and not assigned area.

I give you US assigned tasks!

#AMAZING



  #88  
Old April 21st 17, 07:34 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Tango Eight
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Default FAI Sailplane Grand Prix USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando

On Friday, April 21, 2017 at 10:29:21 AM UTC-4, Sean Fidler wrote:
Again, don't be fooled by poor word choices! Or by #fakenews

Further examination of these "US rules Assigned Tasjs" has revealed more damning evidence that assigned tasks simply no longer exists in the SSA/USA.. Period!

Photos: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0tJ058xyJIlE0Q

After feeling highly skeptical about your claim, I just took brief look a closer look during my flight this morning. I was not disappointed. I quickly learned that these two "Assigned in Name Only" US Rules (not racing) tasks were perverted even more than normal. What a joke it is to call any US rules task "assigned..." Please stop. It's embarrassing.

http://www.ssa.org/ContestResults.as...ltsUpdate=True

Perry Open Class (Day 2):
"ASSIGNED TASK (AiNO!)"
Name Radius
Start 2 5.0
Newberry 15.0 ----- ????
McCormi 15.0 ------ ????
Bamburg 10.0 ------- ?????
Finish 1.0

So let me get this straight. 15, 15, and 10 mike radi qualifies for "assigned tasking" in the USA? Why am I not surprised?

Perry 18 meter Class (Day 2)
MODIFIED ASSIGNED TASK (AiNO!)
Name Radius
Start 2 5.0
Newberry 15.0 ---- ;-)
McCormic12.0 ----- lol
Williston 10.0 ----- sigh
Bamburg 1.0 ---- at least one was a mile radius, despite really being a Turn Area and not assigned area.

I give you US assigned tasks!

#AMAZING


lol. Look at distances flown by the finishers. You are flipping out over an error on an "unofficial" scoresheet. Odds are pretty good that will be corrected.
  #89  
Old June 26th 17, 01:34 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Sean Fidler
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Default FAI Sailplane Grand Prix USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando

Live FAI SGP France ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท Race #2
https://youtu.be/d2Se_vDikAA

  #90  
Old June 26th 17, 01:36 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Sean Fidler
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Posts: 1,005
Default FAI Sailplane Grand Prix USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Orlando

Race ๐Ÿ #1 FAI SGP France condensed replay...
https://youtu.be/RL8IyDKgRAU
 




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