[NSRCA-discussion] Hello: Stirring up the Masters2009Sequencediscussionagain...

[Dan]

How in the heck did this thread go from ranting about FAI being an AMA class 
and forced advancement to getting ready to fire up a rules change proposal? 
There has been an advancement rule with point accumulation in place for a 
long time.  Hardly, if ever, has it been kept current or used.  Yet, we have 
still managed to maintain a fun, competitive and working system based more 
on honor than anything. I think the concept of movement through the AMA 
classes could very easily and effectively be set completely on a persons 
honor.  We all know or have known when it was time to move up in a class and 
we haved moved.  If someone is pathetic enough to want to remain in a lower 
class just to be the "da Man" then it his loss and his loss only.  Pro golf 
is played for millions of dollars in prize money and they maintain a great 
honor system for abiding by the rules, surely we can do the same competiting 
for some plauques and bragging rights until the next contest.

I really can envision great problems arising if a national database for 
points accumulation is attempted, both on the grand scale of keeping it 
current and on the local CD scale of trying to feed it, use it and enforce 
it.

Is it really needed??

Dan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lance Van Nostrand" <patterndude at tx.rr.com>
To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 11:23 PM
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Hello: Stirring up the 
Masters2009Sequencediscussionagain...


>I have a rules proposal form filled out. here's your chance to really make 
>a
> difference.  Please tell me if this proposal will make it better.
> --Lance
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Lance Van Nostrand" <patterndude at tx.rr.com>
> To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 11:22 PM
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Stirring up the Masters
> 2009Sequencediscussionagain...
>
>
>>I have considered all the proposals and am unsatisfied.  Ideally we could
>> make use of a national database but lacking that I have a simple
>> adjustment
>> to the current system: let people stay in a class for at least 2 years
>> regardless of their performance.
>>
>> This addresses both the occasional pilot that doesn't want to be 
>> penalized
>> for a good performance in Sportsman, and the very active pilot that
>> accumulates a lot of points quickly, is getting lots of practice, but is
>> not
>> yet ready to move up.  Yes this could be abused, but that is what Earl is
>> for.
>>
>> If this were officially proposed would you support it as an improvement?
>> Please really think about all the other ideas and how they'd work in 
>> large
>> and small districts, with pilots of varying skill and motivation, etc.
>> --Lance
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Jon Lowe" <jonlowe at aol.com>
>> To: <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>> Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 3:42 PM
>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________________________________________________
>>> AOL now offers free email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free
>>> from AOL at AOL.com.
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>>> NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>> http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>> NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>> http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>
> _______________________________________________
> NSRCA-discussion mailing list
> NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>