On Monday, 14 December 2015 14:55:28 UTC-7, wrote:
To Sean's point, what is the #1 objective of our U.S. National contests? If it's to help insure an American winning the World Championships, I might agree we should adopt IGC rules. If it's more complicated than that, then following everyone else may not make sense.

Similarly, is it easier for a pilot who's very good at making his/her own decisions to be good at IGC gaggle flying, or is the reverse true? Some of our most respected and internationally successful pilots have been renowned for their lead-from-the-front, individualistic style he e.g., A.J. Smith, George Moffat, and Doug Jacobs, with 4 world championships among them (without intending to slight anyone else).

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

From the SSA web site - United States Soaring Team pilots are chosen by the Soaring Society of America (SSA) based on recent performance in National and World-level competition. After each of the US Nationals, competitors' scores are compared to the winner's score. The winner of each Nationals receives a score of 100, and the other contestants are ranked relative to the winner's score. The pilot's current year and the best of the two previous years' performance are considered when selecting U.S. Soaring Team members with the current year being weighted more heavily.

U.S. Soaring Team rankings can be very close with only a fraction of a point separating competitors. When U.S. pilots do well in world level contests they earn bonus points that count toward their selection to future US Soaring Teams. The number of team members who represent the United States at a World Soaring Championships is ultimately determined by the World Championship contest organizers and the SSA.

From 2015 National FAI-Class Competition Rulebook -
1.0 GENERAL
1.1 The purpose of a National FAI Class Soaring Championship is to determine a National FAI Class Champion and to measure the performance of all entrants. Performance in Nationals will be used to provide a basis for pilots to qualify for entry into future soaring Championships and to select pilots for the U.S. Team in International Competition