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

Tue Aug 14 04:17:48 AKDT 2007

Agreed, this is a point we should discuss and has merit. 

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From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Joe Lachowski
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:11 AM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Stirring up the Masters 2009Sequence
discussionagain...

Here's some food for thought. The system just needs a little tweaking.

 How about changing the advancement point criteria to  as much as 200
instead of 100. What is so magical about 100? Increasing the number should
adequately take care of situations such as Jon's where there is a large
turnout in a particular class. I remember in the late 80's when I started
that I ended up accumulating 88 points in my first season of the then
Sportsman class. Back then it wasn't unheard of having 20 guys in that
class. I was not ready to move up after that season. I did, however,
voluntarily make the move up the following season after the Nats when I felt
I was really ready. 

As far as Sportsman goes, it has always been intended as an introductory
class. We know that it really gets treated like any other class at the local
level. So why not give it a mandatory move up after 50, 75 or even 100
points are accumulated period.

I know at least in the Northeast we are suffering from attendance in the
classes below Masters. F3A is another story. Increasing the point
accumulation criteria allows some guys to hang around just a little longer
to hone there skills and hopefully keeps the lower classes fuller in the
long run. I have seen guys point out real quick in a class and then have to
move up when they are really not ready to. This is especially true when the
group as a whole in a particular class are weak in certain skill
proficiency. Years ago you never really saw this phenomenon but today
because the sequences have gravitated towards more difficulty it is more and
more the case. Back then there were always a core group of 3 or 4 pilots in
each class that really flew the sequences well, but then again they were not
as difficult.

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> To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:42:43 -0400
> From: jonlowe at aol.com
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Stirring up the Masters 2009Sequence
discussionagain...
> 
> 
> 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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