[NSRCA-discussion] stirring the pot..;)

Tue May 19 07:05:55 AKDT 2009

Can I get an "AMEN!"

G
---- "Woodward wrote: 

=============
Hi Bill,

I think flying pattern is 50% competition and 50% social, IMHO. There
are many reasons for this.  The podium is small and the pool of
competitors is large.  The flying skill and dispersion of coaching is
varied across the nation.  Some areas are rich in this, where as other
guys must fly by themselves and try to get club guys to spot them.
Contest availabiltiy varies greatly from distirct to disctirct.  Our
system of judging can consistently separate the top 1,2,3 positions over
6 rounds, but is not really capable of dicerning the difference between
two perfect flights that only on differ by a small percentatge (... we
are all humans).

If you miss the social aspect of it, you miss a lot.  If you are looking
for a competitive enviornment that tries to get it right, this is it.
If you are looking for truth and justice - get a stop watch and race
something.  I am as competitive as the next person and looked at this
from all angles - joy to dissapointment.  Having come full circle, we
cannot expect more from our system than it is logically capable of
producing, and need to come to grips with what the realm of possible
outcomes are at a contest.   Once you put your name on the line and sign
up to compete you are subject to the full ream of the good and bad of
our system. On the drive home, I mostly want to feel like I had a good
time and it was money well spent.  By focusing less on the opininon of
this being purley a "competitive" sport, a little more on the enjoyment
part, I find myself enjoying the event more overall.  

Thanks,

Jim

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Bill
Glaze
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 10:00 AM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] stirring the pot..;)

Bob:

Your statement about most of the flyers compete just to have fun,
resonates.  Taking Masters as an example, I remember well when there
were over 50 Masters in the Nats.  I'm sure that the majority knew they
weren't going to be on the podium when trophies were handed out.  Most
of them probably knew it when they left their driveways at home.  Still
they went.  Seeing friends, getting in some flying, seeing how they
stack up with/against the best we have to offer, the color, excitement,
being able to help out--no use going on and on.  Many, many different
motivations for the trouble and expense of attending.  And, that
probably goes for any contest; just the motives may change a little.
And, I feel the above statement applies to all classes.  As always, just
my privately held opinion.

Bill Glaze

	----- Original Message ----- 

	From: Bob Richards <mailto:bob at toprudder.com>  

	To: General pattern discussion
<mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>  

	Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 9:07 AM

	Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] stirring the pot..;)

Kris,

I agree. 

Now, I am speaking from someone who has not been in the game for a few
years. The last time I went to the NATS was in '95, flying in FAI after
having just moved up from Masters. I thought seriously about whether I
should practice the F sequence or not, and decided that my goal for the
NATS was to make it into the finals. (This was before the semi-finals
format). Four rounds P for the prelims, 2 rounds F for the finals. I
spent all my time practicing the P sequence as a result. Alas, they only
took 10 people into the finals, I think I was 15th. At least I was happy
I had not wasted time flying the F schedule. :-)

Yes, competition should be fun. Yes, part of the game is to separate the
"best from the best". But, it should be fun, too. I think that is why
the majority of the fliers participate. Make it too challenging, then
only the best will be left and the rank-and-file fliers at the local
contests may drop out.

JMHO.

Bob R.

--- On Mon, 5/18/09, krishlan fitzsimmons <homeremodeling2003 at yahoo.com>
wrote:

IMO, for many, the point of flying pattern isn't to go to the nats. If
this was the case, we would have about 125 pattern pilots. The point of
flying pattern to many in my district varies, but not many want to go to
the nats. Now this being said, I do want to go, still in Masters this
year, but next year I will fly FAI. My thought is that if I want to fly
2 rounds of F at a contest, I can choose to do this, but they will be my
throw away rounds. The pilot who doesn't want to practice F shouldn't be
forced to fly it, or have his rounds thrown away just because the pilots
who go to the nats want local contests flown how the nats are. 

I would assume that most FAI nats pilots don't care about the trophy
anyway, so we could judge them all 6 rounds of F if they want.  As a
masters pilot, I like judging the F sequence. I support it being flown,
and judged at locals, however, I don't think it should be forced to be
flown at a local.  Just my opinion. 

Think about this, try the system of flying both sequences at a contest,
now throw in us, or imagine yourself being one of the masters guys who
want to move up. Would you want to be forced to learn two sequences just
to move up and fly a contest? Or be forced to take two zero rounds
because you just moved up and haven't had time to learn two sequences?
Many would stay in Masters I would guess. 

Chris 

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