Dave, I agree and raise you 3 just for the fun of it!

1) I think 40% of task should be AT tasks and not 10% ;-).

2) I think we should have a 30-60 minute start window and not be able to hang out indefinitely. ;-)

3) I think we should be required to announce our start times (within 10 minutes) so we can feel like we are racing if we meet with a competitor on task (you know, in the 60 mile turn area) ;-). Yep I know this is counter to a proposed rule change.

I do think our tasking is generally quite conservative and not challenging enough for many at regionals. That said, the last two 18 meter Nationals (CD Eric Mozer at Bermuda High and John Godfrey at Minden) were really fun and challenging. I think 4 hours was median. The later had a very difficult job with surprise special airspace and weather challenges. Kudos to the task committees as well.

I guess I am fine with knowing we will at least have challenging tasking at nationals. I am willing to support the conservative tasks at our regionals if it helps maintain and grow contest soaring in the US however. But a zero land out tasking strategy is not realistic or fair either. A novice contest pilot should be comfortable with and expect an occasional land out while learning the sport. Novice pilots (especially) should therefore bring crews. I sure did (land out alot and be sure to bring crews)! Crewless pilots "hands" at first pilots meetings is big pressure on regional CDs....and thats not right.

On Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at 10:50:06 PM UTC-5, Dave Springford wrote:
The post was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but in general, I feel tasks are too short and that the maximum amount of day is not used.

However, there is a significant reason European tasks are longer and it has to do with Latitude. Many European contest sites are in the 50's in Latitude (or hilly/mountain sites) and the soarable day can start as early as 10 am and go as late as 8 pm.

Most US contest sites have Latitudes in the 30's and the soaring doesn't start until at least noon and then is done around 5-6 pm. So by necessity the task times are shorter.

In my opinion 2-2.5 hour tasks are too short and 3-4 hour tasks should be the norm. Of course, there are some days when a short tasks is necessary to fit into a weather window, but these should be the exception.