To prove limited handicap racing works well and brings in newer pilots, Noel did *quite well* in his DG300 at the first limited handicap range Std Nats at montague last year......

Limited handicap contests work well, and foster competitive racing.

The Argentinian system has proved this very well. We should learn from this and other examples around the world.

2T

On Tuesday, 29 January 2013 12:31:23 UTC-8, noel.wade wrote:
On Jan 28, 1:09*pm, wrote:



Club is the most accessible, affordable racing class available to us. I believe club class is the long term foundation

for pilot development in the US and can be an excellent trial class for a 'best of US/IGC' system. (thinking here that

handicapping for wt as per the US is a plus, as one example of the ways we can pick the best system)



Peter Deane (my own views - *not necessarily those of the USTC)





Regardless of whether or not you think "Club" or "Sports" is the way

to go, I would like to point at myself as the perfect example of what

Peter is referring to. I'm 35 (which is young for a US glider pilot).

I started gliding in late 2006. I bought my DG-300 in 2008 (a fancy

and "high-dollar" ship for someone with less than 100 hours in the

sport). I tried my first competition in early 2009 - a little regional

down at Warner Springs, CA.



If it wasn't for the Sports class, I probably never would have even

tried competitions (or maybe once, just to say I'd done it). But why

pay for competition entries just to get my ass repeatedly kicked by

D2s, V2s, and other high-dollar glass being flown by super-experienced

pilots?



The handicapping and spread of pilot experience made Sports Class far

more appealing. And the supportive atmosphere from fellow competitors

(especially the experienced ones who freely share their local

knowledge and wisdom) keep me coming back. And I've found that

atmosphere much more prevalent in Regional handicapped races, than at

high-stakes Nationals.



If you want to push the top end of the contest group, you need to

build a broad, solid base first. Over time a bigger base of pilots

will ensure you net more "top guns" (i.e. 1% of 5000 is more than 1%

of 1000). The cream will rise to the top, and drive everyone around

them (who's serious about staying on top) to do better. If you neglect

the base, the whole system slowly withers on the vine; and without new

blood coming up to challenge the existing top dogs, people aren't as

driven to evolve or improve. Things stagnate - the top dogs probably

stay on top; but only within their own limited peer-group. Eventually

age takes its toll and the top dogs disappear into the sunset - and

who is left to take their place?



--Noel

(with total respect and thanks for the top dogs out there who've

helped me learn to dog-paddle over the past 5 years...)