[NSRCA-discussion] Competition

Thu Sep 22 05:59:59 AKDT 2016

We’ve had 5 or more different Father/Son teams at the more than a few D4 local contests…  Me/Sean, Steve& Brandon Sobolewski (D5), Brian & Matt Finley, Bill & Greyson Pritchett and Tim & Andrew Jesky (ok, Tim doesn’t compete, but does fly ).     I actually think that’s pretty good.   Add Bobby & Rob Satalino, John & Dave Snow and I’d argue we actually have a pretty good Father/Son participation.

But it’s still a great point.  Interest starts at home.  Not sure our personal homes… but our home fields.  We need to make pattern fun at home.  Practice can look down right painful at times, and not something people will want to do.  I think that can change…

At our field (and we now have a healthy pattern group that appears to be growing) our Saturday’s and Sundays are a long practice session.  Very social, music playing, with harassment, coaching (disguised as harassment), one upping, smack talk, and more harassment.   Those not participating almost feel left out and want to join in.  And do…  Not with a pattern plane, but trying to roll their trainer a little bit cleaner.  Or do 3 in a row….or “what the hell kind of loop was that??”

It’s friendly, and it’s fun.   And we have a few more guys with Osiris’s (seems to be the starter of choice if you can find one) now that come out and try to learn this or that.

MARK ATWOOD
o.  (440) 229-2502
c.  (216) 316-2489
e.  atwoodm at paragon-inc.com<mailto:atwoodm at paragon-inc.com>

Paragon Consulting, Inc.
5900 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 205, Cleveland Ohio, 44124
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On Sep 22, 2016, at 9:49 AM, John Pavlick via NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org<mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>> wrote:

This is only a temporary problem: once they get married and have the need to escape their wife – they’ll be back! LOL

I don’t even have a wife and I came back after that same scenario unfolded for me.

John Pavlick
Cell: 203-417-4971

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Integrated Development Services

From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of John Fuqua via NSRCA-discussion
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 6:42 PM
To: 'General pattern discussion'
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Competition

Our pattern group mentored 3 young men over the years and each was very successful.    And then ======= they discovered cars and girls, graduated from HS and had to get a life.   I hope they come back at some point.

From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Ron Hansen via NSRCA-discussion
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 5:33 PM
To: 'Atwood, Mark'; 'General pattern discussion'; 'Monte Richard'
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Competition

I’m not going offer any solutions as I don’t believe there is one or even a few of the many solutions offered so far that are going to make a difference but it certainly doesn’t hurt to try some of them.

I’m going to ask another questions; that demonstrates how difficult the situation is.

How many father/son teams are out there?  I know a few but my sense is it is statistically small.

We can’t even get our own sons to join us on a consistent basis.

This just demonstrates how tough it is to recruit new blood.

Many of the father/son teams I know aren’t at the majority of contests and I’m not being critical here.

Many are going to school or are participating in other activities which, if I were them, I would be doing those other things too.

Perhaps in the future, our children will re-enter the competition field after college or high school but that decision will depend on a whole host of issues already discussed.

Food for thought.

Ron Hansen

From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Atwood, Mark via NSRCA-discussion
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 6:01 PM
To: Monte Richard; General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Competition

+10

Our best contests have huge social components, typically in the form of a WAY too much good food.   Pretty sure the only reason Anthony ever came to St. Clairsville was for the saturday lunch.

MARK ATWOOD
o.  (440) 229-2502
c.  (216) 316-2489
e.  atwoodm at paragon-inc.com<mailto:atwoodm at paragon-inc.com>

Paragon Consulting, Inc.
5900 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 205, Cleveland Ohio, 44124
www.paragon-inc.com<http://www.paragon-inc.com/>

Powering The Digital Experience

On Sep 21, 2016, at 5:18 PM, Monte Richard via NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org<mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>> wrote:

Something that was briefly mentioned in I think one post on the subject of improving participation in pattern competitions. The social aspect.

From reading thru the many post, a common theme seems to be the cost of two day events, travel, motels, etc to attend an event especially if your following the circuit to fairly far away events.

Many clubs have lost the social aspect of the competition. Most are charging $35 to $40 entry fees. Yet what does the competitor get for his entry fee and vast amount he spends on gas, motels, and travel to the event? One free hamburger, chip, and a drink. A picture trophy framed in a dollar store frame. There are some clubs that offer a better meal, maybe a bar-b-que chicken dinner, or better trophies. Those usually have a little better attendance.

When pattern was hot and heavily participated in, most of the clubs had a Saturday night banquet. It was something for the money you spent to attend an event, weather you were a contender or a not so competitive pilot. You felt like you received something for your entry fee even if it wasn’t a trophy. Is also gave the pattern community a chance to come together for a fun evening, a chance to meet new friends, and enjoy some time with old friends. Even clubs that didn’t put on a banquet, at least picked a restaurant near the field that could handle a crowd, and announced to the competitors that we would all meet there for dinner and fellowship. Don’t underestimate the value of this fellowship, it’s the most important part of competition to many modelers who may never reside at the top of the classes. Old stories and tall tales reign and make for a very enjoyable and memorable evening.

Our sport has lost it’s heart, and everyone knows you spend your money where your heart is.

Adding classes puts a burden of added trophies and expensed on the competition. Sportsman was designed as an entry level event. When we decided to add a district championship for the class, we inadvertently added the enticement to stay in Sportsman. So instead of only staying a season or two in sportsman and then moving up, we now have people camping out in sportsman to get a district championship. That is a large part of why newcomers see 2M pattern planes and 3 or 4 year veterans in Sportsman and feel they can’t compete. The beginning class needs to be just that, a beginning class to get a taste, then get in the game. Once you move up to a 2M pattern plane, your ready to move to Intermediate and continue your learning experience. Keep sportsman for the newbies with the sport planes.

Someone posted a good idea, if you want to promote pattern, then work with your club to put on a one day club contest three or four times a year, just for your club members. Have a bar-b-que at the field and promote it as a come out, try a simple pattern and get coached by experienced pattern pilots to improve your flying and win bragging rights or simple prizes. No pressure event for fun to offer a taste of what pattern can do to improve your flying. In the process a few will get the bug. Others won’t, but they’ll have a new appreciation for what pattern is about. Invite a pattern pilot from neighboring clubs to come help put it on, coach or judge. Give helping judging hints to the pilots, and see that they have an enjoyable day.

Monte

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