The procedure in question was first used in the Luesse WGC. The German
15m class team members described the situation like this:

15 gliders at maximum altitude in the same circle, trying to gain as
much energy (read: speed) as possible. One of the most dangerous
situations they ever experienced - day after day.

Cheers
Andreas

Interesting. My experience at Szeged (and otherwise with unlimited
altitude gates) is exactly the same -- except it's in clouds!

If the top of the start area is properly set, it's easy to climb up to
it. Therefore, you do not need to spend any time at all in such a
monster gaggle. Stay a few hundred meters below the top, then climb up
when it's time to go. In the US you are allowed to start out the top
of the cylinder, which makes it even easier. There is just no need to
spend lots of time in such a dangerous situation.

It sounds to me like your pilots had not evolved the right strategy to
deal with an altitude limited gate. That's understandable. US pilots
were doing the same thing for a while after the limited altitude start
was implemented. By and large we've all learned it's not necessary.

John Cochrane