Decline of pattern / Translation

[David Harmon]

Jeff....I disagree where you said...

>> I think the time of two day 
contests is over and we should focus on one day contests. This would 
be better for the contestants and better use of the fields we use.<<<

My view is that if a guy is interested enough in pattern to spend enough
money, time and effort to acquire the equipment and go to a contest, he
does not view pattern as a hobby.
He views it as a way of life, a sport, what he does when he isn't
working, most of the time he thinks about it when he should be thinking
about something else, an avocation/obsession.....you get the idea.
If contests would be only 1 day as you suggest, then the situation in
your view would be twice as bad as what you say.....2 days and 3
flights? Many contests are too big to be only 1 day with 6 flights. The
folks that run the contest usually pay the home club for both days so
it's not like the club is not earning anything. Many club members that
don't enter the contest come to the field anyway to just watch and yak
with their friends and perhaps meet some new ones as well as get
exposure to Pattern.
If you go to a 2 day contest for only 1 day, you are really
shortchanging yourself and your friends out of another day of fun. 
Contests aren't that often anyway so you might as well stay both days
and have a ball.

Regards

Dave Harmon
NSRCA 586
K6XYZ at comcast.net
Torrance, Ca.

-----Original Message-----
From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]
On Behalf Of Jeff Hughes
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2003 12:54 PM
To: discussion at nsrca.org; discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: Re: Decline of pattern / Translation


I've trained and counseled a couple of fliers at our field who were 
good enought to fly pattern. I took two of them to contests (separate 
times). Both never went to another contest. To many, this is a hobby 
and spending three days to get in 6 flights is not a good use of their 
time. I personally only attend contests that I can drive to and fro in 
a day and never go back on Sunday. I think the time of two day 
contests is over and we should focus on one day contests. This would 
be better for the contestants and better use of the fields we use.




=====================================
# To be removed from this list, send a message to 
# discussion-request at nsrca.org
# and put leave discussion on the first line of the body.
#