On Monday, September 24, 2012 11:35:09 PM UTC-6, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Monday, September 24, 2012 10:38:04 AM UTC-6, wrote:

While I do take offense at being given the moniker of "troll" in this discussion, I would like to thank all the posters and especially ZL, BB, OG, and F2 for their excellent responses and interest in this topic. THeir thoughts and honesty are refreshing and useful.







It just seemed to me that the worlds ended and then there was "wind whistling through the trees". Really? In light of what happened? This seemed to be the only place where an open discussion on this topic might plausibly take place for all (or at least those that peruse this forum) to see and learn from. If that is being a Troll, then I stand accused!







For competitive American pilots who want to pursue the racing aspect of our sport to its highest level, we need to discuss these things and have these discussions be open for all (experienced and aspiring) racing pilots to make use of.







And as far as the money issue goes, it is THE most important issue in our racing sport. To do well one needs to make a substantial commitment of time and resources. This is without doubt and cannot be changed. Our US Team members do this on a never-ending two year cycle and should be applauded for their efforts to represent us. But could we do better, given the tremendous amount of time and resources (i.e. DB and the Concordia) expended? That was all this thread was meant to do.







I, for one, would be more inclined to give more to the US Team if I knew the money was being well spent and the effort was aimed at producing podium finishes for both individuals AND team points. That is, after all, the goal of competition, isn't it?







Al Batross



Well, since you post under a nom de plume rather than a real name, the troll moniker fits. Well fed thread BTW. Yet, you fail to comment on the substance of my post, which others have suggested is part of the problem. I do know some US pilots, if they had the means or the support, may well have replaced some of the US team for this event, but they can't afford to compete in those classes on their own. However, I'm acquainted with several of the US team members and find them to be quite competent and worthy of selection. That said, a fellow SSA member reminded me that George Moffatt did have access to gliders through the support of another. As I trained originally in the UK, I was pleased to have 32 glider makes in my logbook within the first four years, two of which I owned shares in. That type of exposure is a bit harder to acquire in the US. As a scorer in the 93 and 94 UK Opens and later a US regional CD, I objected to the US photo TP approach, US windicapping, and the emerging beer can TP's. My experience was that we in the US were flying to different standard in our competitions to the effect it was a lesser standard. I understand the emergence of the current US rules, but I appreciate the vocal club class proponents wanting something other than Sports Class rules as a discriminator.



Frank Whiteley

I will add that there is some patronage and much generosity in US soaring. I recall one US soaring family that attempted to provide gliders for our US junior team development, but that offer did not complete.

Frank