Contestant Judging was Calling Maneuvers for Judges

[Gray E Fowler]

Allan

Sounds good, does that work? The fact that the locals will sit thru two 
days of judging is amazing. Have you actually had people start flying 
because they judged? I would never advocate excluding a local with 
interest, but I think their skill level is best suited for Sportsman and 
perhaps Intermediate simply because the judge load is so much lower. I fly 
Advanced and I do not have it totally memorized. Think about someone who 
does not fly pattern at all....one time you see a stall turn without a 
half roll, next time with a half roll, then a bunt with a half roll and a 
double immalmen with a full roll-sure looks the same and can get 
confusing. Do the locals really take the time needed to become a good 
judge? We as flyers constantly discuss such judging while sitting around 
not flying -to the point of overkill, but we learn it if nothing but from 
maximum exposure. 
If I had a local that showed interest I think I would make him fly 
Sportsman instead of judging. Ron Barr had 9 Sportsman last weekend.



Gray Fowler
Principal Chemical Engineer
Composites Engineering




AWorrest at aol.com
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06/12/2003 12:42 PM
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        Subject:        Contestant Judging was Calling Maneuvers for Judges


Gray and all, 

I am going to play Devil's advocate.  If the sole purpose of a pattern 
contest is for the benefit of the flyers, then contestant judging is the 
way to go.  But as a former CD, let me assure you there are more reasons 
than this one for holding a pattern contest.  As important it is to 
provide a fair venue for the contestants, a contest can also serve as a 
way to get new blood into the sport. 

Using contestant judging exclusively closes one door for introducing new 
people into pattern.  If we exclude non-pattern fliers from participation, 
pattern will wither and die.  I was introduced into pattern first as a 
scribe, then as a judge.  After judging a few contests, I decided I could 
fly as well as some of those who were flying and entered my first contest. 


As a CD I believed it was important to involve non-pattern fliers in a 
pattern contest.  I even strong-armed some reluctant club members into 
judging.  Good judging is the goal so training is essential.  People 
should not be asked to judge classes beyond their ability.  A good mix of 
contestant and non-contestant judges is necessary to keep the sport 
healthy. 

Allan Worrest 

In a message dated 6/12/2003 11:29:08 AM Central Daylight Time, 
gfowler at raytheon.com writes: 


Tony 

I was the one flying when this happened. When I heard the judge say " 
isn't he supposed to be inverted" both myself and my caller Lance said 
"no" in unison. During the flight I think two more judge "questions" arose 
where upon I almost missed a downwind centered maneuver because my caller 
was again straightening out judge confusion. Frankly I felt like landing. 
I really do not know how this could have been fixed after the fact unless 
I re-flew the entire pattern.  Considering that I am a very bad Advanced 
guy I am no where near winning anything  so it did not matter. To 
alleviate this problem on the next rounds both myself and Lance started 
calling out the entire  maneuver loud enough for the judges to know that 
there is both a stall turn with and without half rolls and when I was 
supposed to be inverted. 
These judges were club guys who got the intense training session prior to 
the contest. They were trying their best to do it right, and were just 
confused-no reason to get mad. What I think this underscores the most is 
that we as Pattern dudes are by far the most qualified to judge ourselves, 
yet no one wants to judge- or it appears no one wants to judge at the 
contests, yet we are willing to let the local sport flyers give us all 8 
,9 and 10's no matter how bad it is, not know when to zero, look down 
during the maneuver, etc. 
Here's a vote for contestant judging! .... 

Gray Fowler 
Principal Chemical Engineer 
Composites Engineering

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