On Sep 18, 12:26*pm, "Sean F (F2)" wrote:
First, the US Soaring Team is highly unlikely to be competitive (or likely within 2500 pts) at a World Championship until the SSA starts (and continue's for some time) competing under the same set of competition rules. *In this case, FAI. *The SSA apparently believe's that it's rules are better rules than FAI as alot of energy is spent on them. *With that, in my opinion, US pilots will never be properly trained or prepared for top level competition. *Far from it. *FAI and US rules differ significantly. *The only country in the world that uses different rules is the USA.

The SSA is fairly powerless to do anything about these recent World Championship performances. *They are happy sending a US Team and having fun. *Which is fine. *But clearly, the US as a country, is not competitive in the 15/18/Open classes. *Not even close to being close. *Even with a super-glider in Open.

It's not about the gliders, its about training and preparation as a team from the bottom up. *I have been through this on the US Sailing Team. *With that experience, in my view, the US Soaring Team is not really a team at all. *The only time the pilots were really together was at the Worlds for maybe a week prior. *Its completely individual based unlike the teams of the podium pilots. *It is not a team.

We need to develop younger pilots, earlier. *We need to develop a true team and leverage it. *We need the pilots flying together and committed. *We need to play the same game (FAI). *That is just not going to happen with the current group.

Our current US Soaring Team qualification system under our US rules, then sending pilots to fly a World Championship under FAI is a bit like qualifying for a poker tournament by playing checkers. *Add to that how little time is spent practicing together vs. the other teams.

The club class has shown great interest in being allowed (sanctioned) by the SSA and flying under FAI rules. The SSA committee's will not allow it. *They do not want to divide up the numbers of their flagship sports class.. *Oddly, the US Club Class team has been the most competitive US team lately.

I for one would like to fly FAI rules, at least for some contests. *I may be buying a club class glider and hosting a none SSA, club class, FAI rule contest next year in MI. *I hope others do the same. *Especially if your goal is to be competitive at a World Championship some day.

PS...Look at what Canada has accomplished. *Its about flying together all the time...even though they might not fly FAI. *What are your expectations for Canada at the next Worlds vs. the US? *I would say Canada has serious podium potential. *I would say the US will not improve.

I would love to see the US do better. *But I see little or nothing changing in the next two years OR NOW WHEN IT MATTERS.

F2







On Monday, September 17, 2012 2:11:31 PM UTC-4, wrote:
To everyone with an interest:

Given the sub-par, and I am being generous here, performance of the US Soaring Team at the recently completed WGC. Is anyone else wondering what in the world happened?

Maybe the lack of debate and substantive change around this topic is why we did so badly in the first place.

Clearly, US Team selection, training, and decision-making (among other things) did not work. And if our team can't work at here at "home", then how can we expect it to work when we send teams overseas.

We can't do much worse than we just did, so how can we change our competitive fortunes? Or does no one care?

Al Batross

The issue of using IGC rules comes up quite often, so perhaps one
(unofficial) rules committee voice should explain.

The IGC rules require far more assigned tasks than we typically use in
the US. The distance/speed points formula leads to much more gaggling
and leeching. For both reasons, the landout rate is much higher, as is
the chance of flying into rain, thunder, etc. The midair risk is also
much higher. (We had one effectively assigned task with big gaggles at
Mifflin this year, and I don't think anyone was anxious to repeat the
process)

These are the primary reasons we don't use IGC rules in the US -- or
at least the primary reason I don't advocate doing so. Yes, doing so
would better train the team. (From my one experience at worlds,
dealing with the very tactical start, leeching, gaggle strategies and
communication with team captains required under IGC rules are a far
bigger issue for US pilots than team flying. Maybe I just had a great
team mate.)

Alas, most of our nationals are on the edge of viability as it is.
Rules have to be run for the bottom 99%, not just to train the team.
If the only people who show up are team members, contests die.

Really, would you show up to a nationals if the game required hours of
start gate roulette, flying around every day in one big gaggle,
landing out (especially new pilots) several times in a contest,
requiring that you bring a crew (most of us don't these days) or buy a
glider with a motor? Would you come if we eschewed turn area and MAT
tasks, so you routinely were flying into doomed turnpoints in the rain
even though weather is great somewhere else? If the landout damage and
midairs were even more frequent?

The US rules committee has safety, and then participation as our first
two goals. Training the team comes later.

Still, the idea is worth exploring. We'll have poll questions up soon,
and a big one concerns radio usage. The main argument against radio
usage so far has been that it too would discourage participation, but
maybe that's wrong. With poll support, we can open up radio usage to
regionals this year and nationals in the future.

The US team camp contest idea has been around a long time, was a great
success last year and is worth pursuing. Such a contest can (by
waiver) use as much of the IGC rules as it likes. If lots of people
go, then we can demonstrate that our participation fears are
misplaced, and IGC rules can be used more broadly.

There's been lots of talk of staging a "continental" championships,
under IGC rules. It just takes a contest manager and site willing to
do it and a deep pocket willing to bankroll it. Go for it! There
really is no "they" who "oughtta" do these things. There is "us."

The RC is however pretty allergic to theoretical "build it and they
will come" arguments (see, PW5). One good thing about US rules (unlike
IGC!) is that we rely on experimentation at regionals to see if bright
ideas work in practice before making big changes at nationals. OTOH,
there is great flexibility for regionals and super regionals to try
anything vaguely sensible. So, if you want to see IGC rules, stage a
regional by IGC rules and demonstrate it can work and will attract
lots of pilots.

Disclaimer: personal opinion, not speaking for RC here.

John Cochrane

PS, The Canadians use a modified version of US rules and winscore.
(The main difference is the finish height, which I suspect they will
raise next year.) So, alas, we will just have to chalk up their
success to some pretty awesome piloting.