[NSRCA-discussion] Stirring up the Masters 2009Sequence discussionagain...

[Jon Lowe]

Glen,
You are spot on.  I have competed in Advanced just this season, and 
have 70 points with several district contests left in 2007.  I finished 
5th at the Nats, but was never really in contention to finish higher.  
District 3 has a lot of competitors in advanced.  I'm a decent but not 
great pilot in advanced right now, so I've gathered more points than I 
would have in a smaller district. Do I feel at all ready to move to 
Masters?  Absolutely not.  Therefore, I am going to sit out contests 
this year so I don't point out.  Or I might fly the FAI P07 at a couple 
of contests just for giggles.  The jump right now between Advanced and 
Masters is just too big right now for me, and the current advanced 
pattern does not properly prepare you for Masters.

Jon Lowe


-----Original Message-----
From: Glen Watson <gwatson11 at houston.rr.com>
To: 'NSRCA Mailing List' <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:43 am
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Stirring up the Masters 2009Sequence 
discussionagain...



Is the issue that competitors are forced by the current AMA regulations 
to
move up thru the classes via a point system whether a competitor feels 
ready
or not?

Just mastering a maneuver is not enough.  Being able to manage 
positioning
throughout an entire sequence regardless of weather conditions is a 
major
task which becomes more challenging as maneuver complexity and 
difficultly
increases.  A good example is the Figure M.  I witnessed many 
competitors
during the prelims at the NATS not able to sustain proper track and
positioning in the cross/quartering winds we experienced. They would 
begin
at 150-175 meters and finish at 80 meters from being blown in.  
Practice can
address this however as I read here in previous posts not all have the 
time
they wish to practice.

The current point system for Intermediate and Advanced is based on a 4 
year
cumulative total although one could point out in a single year from
attending enough well attended contests. A potential issue here in 
District
6 for example. Does this make someone ready for the next class?

If a pattern enthusiast has limited time to enable them to be 
comfortable
flying a particular class why make it mandatory to move up.  If the 
point
system criterion was revised in such a manner to reset each year and 
force
only top consistent place finishers to move up that would provide more 
time
for those with limit time to hone the skills necessary to be comfortable
moving on to the next class.  In addition I feel this raises the 
competitive
bar in Intermediate and Advanced having more experience competitors 
within
the ranks.

Glen




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