I know you were being tongue-in-cheek, but we do think about the issue of participation - a lot. It's not much of a race if nobody shows up.

Actually I was serious, Andy! I'd love to see you cut through some of the discussion about why competitive soaring seems to be declining based on data and analytics.

How much has it really declined over time vs. just spreading a fixed number of pilots over more classes? Is it just the one-time effect of a pre-Baby-Boom bulge of ex-WWII-trained pilots becoming inactive? Are we attracting the same number of new names but they just don't come back?

I complain about cost [I won't apologize for digressing; this is USENET, not a debate] but how does the cost of a new glider (or a good used glider) really compare with income vs. the past? How does siting affect participation, and does it impact all classes the same? I know the data on some of this aren't readily available but you've demonstrated an ability to think outside the box.

I'm not in touch with what's happening in Europe except to recall from years ago that the trend was towards motorgliders and two-place. Is Standard Class dying there, too? Club Class was booming a few years ago, flying in the face of the trend towards more expensive gliders. How does that compare to here?

And what's with the Perry regional? The old Chester regional at the same time of year was frequently oversubscribed (they received a waiver one year for 65+ pilots, IIRC). So if Perry is just as popular as Chester was, what's different about it compared with so many other contests where attendance is down?

We all have our opinions. I was intensely curious about your conclusions on the effect of FLARM in unstealthy mode on contest performance. And I look forward to your analysis of leeching.

Yes, I know the Rules Committee strongly considers participation (thanks for the handicapping in Standard Class; I'm puzzled why it hasn't attracted more interest). So I truly was hoping you could turn your attention at some point and perhaps develop some insights on what's been happening to competitive soaring.

Thanks to you and the Rules Committee for your continuing work.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
U.S.A.