On Tuesday, January 29, 2013 8:57:31 PM UTC-8, noel.wade wrote:
A properly-called MAT can essentially simulate an AT. Why the hate
for MATs? Have you simply had bad experiences because they weren't
properly called?

Just about every MAT I've flown has been something along the lines of "here's your first turnpoint, come back in 3 hours". So, yeah, I don't like them, as the ones I've experienced are little more than PSTs with a TP or two thrown in for the hell of it. To me, they are usually more like pin-ball games than actual cross-country glider racing.

And as a small quibble: Logically one can say the things you said
about flying in FAI classes. And yes, its a learning experience and
still fun and those are all true statements. But that TOTALLY ignores
emotion and human behavioral tendencies. A contest - even a regional -
requires many HUNDREDS of dollars these days (entry-fee, food,
lodging, gas, other expenses) - and a week of precious vacation-time.
Those of you who can look at an "unwinable" situation and still choose
to put in that time and money are in the slim minority. Most people
are going to want to _feel_ like they have a fighting chance, to get
them to even try. Now once the hook is truly set, then more people
(like me) will gladly hurl themselves into the fray and spend ungodly
amounts of time and money at it. But you have to provide an
attractive "point of entry" for most folks.

I think you've inadvertently exposed an important insight here. A lot of us (in my experience more than a slim minority) fly contests not to "win", but to have fun flying decently set tasks with friends in an organized fashion. In fact, when I started "winning" too much, a lot of the fun went out of it for me. I started feeling the competitive urge to put serious work into staying near the top of the scoresheet, then started taking chances I would never take in recreational flying, so eventually I decided it was time to quit. If contests continue to be increasingly expensive (thanks to such things as newly required equipment), time consuming, and with tasks aimed primarily at those who think they have a chance of winning, a lot of the rest of us will vote with our feet, and go do OLC or something. At least, that was my experience, and I wouldn't discount the possibility that this is part of the reason for dwindling numbers...

Marc