[NSRCA-discussion] More flexibility in class selection?

[rcpattern at stx.rr.com]

John,

So what you're saying is it is OK to "park" in Advanced, because you 
dont want to in Masters??  I dont understand how you can comment on 
this, when you arent even flying Masters.  How do you know how you'd 
stack up without trying it first?  Find me some masters guys who 
complain about this.  I think once a guy wins the NATS in Masters, 
they tend to move up.  They may come back for a year or so, but you 
don't see those guys sticking around to win it year after year after 
year.  I know that had I won this year, I would've moved up. I'll be 
back next year, and just because you finish 2nd one year, doesnt mean 
you'll win it the next.  The bar is set high in Masters and it makes 
it fun.  I knew the first time I made the masters finals that it was 
an accomplishment.  Flying on the last day of the NATS is an 
impressive achievement.  Every year you see new guys break in at the 
finals, and its fun.  There are usually a couple of carry overs, but 
not always and you see guys that made 
the finals last year, missing the cut this year. So I dont see what 
the "parking" is doing for them?  Masters at most contests is the 
largest class.  And usually also the most competitive.  I dont see 
this is as legalized sandbagging.  They are 2 different things.  FAI 
is a class unto itself. The level of preparation is a lot higher. A 
lot of districts have now gone to flying the F pattern on sunday at 
contests, which means twice as many patterns.  Yes, I'll admit, I 
could probably fly P or F and fly mid to upper 900's against these 
guys...and have done it in the past.  However, I love the competition 
in masters.  When I moved to district 6, I didnt hear one person 
complaining that I was flying masters, instead I was welcomed.  It 
really makes it fun when the competition is this tough.  I try to 
learn things from guys I fly against to improve.  There are things 
I've seen Glen do, that i thought presented better than how I did it, 
so therefore, I might adjust something.   I'm 
sure others have done it with my flying.  i want to see these guys at 
their best.  I dont sit around hoping a guy blows something.  If I get 
beat, i want it legitimate.  Glen and I went back and forth at the 
NATS. It made it a lot of fun.  This year, he won...who knows next 
year.  I was glad to see him win.  He's paid his dues and certainly 
earned it with his flying.  I think it makes it more fun when the 
competition level is there on a weekly basis rather than just at the 
NATS and I'm looking forward to flying against Glen more the rest of 
this year as well as the other guys down here.  Mark Hunt, Lance, BW, 
Jeff Carder, those guys really push me knowing they will be there, and 
I'm sure they will be on their game.

Arch


----- Original Message -----
From: John Gayer <jgghome at comcast.net>
Date: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 4:25 pm
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] More flexibility in class selection?
To: NSRCA Mailing List <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>

> Claude,
> Over the years, I have seen many, many more people move up 
> prematurely 
> and struggle mightily. A lot more than I have ever seen of any 
> sandbagging in class for the sole purpose of winning. The only 
> exception 
> I have seen is the legalized sandbagging occurring these days in 
> Masters.I would however recommend taking one more year in a given 
> class and 
> focusing 80% of your practice time on the next class.
> John
>