In article , stant2
@mindspring.com says...

Meanwhile, our "Sports Class" is stuck with nothing but PST (pilot
selected tasks), which is basically a bunch of guys going cross
country on the same day.

Not true. The sports class uses the MAT:

10.3.2.2 ‡ Modified Assigned Task (MAT) - Speed over a course of one
or more turnpoints, with a finish at the contest site.

The is no PST as such. I like the MAT quite a bit more than the old
PST, because everyone does get to fly together for a while. The slow
gliders head for home after one or two turnpoints, while the rest of
us might be together for 3 or more, before we run out of assigned
turnpoints and start doing our own thing.

Of course, if the CD never assigns any turnpoints (shame on those that
don't!), it's just like the old PST.

Fun, but hardly a race, IMHO, and poor
preparation for "the real thing". But it sure makes it easier for the
Contest Director/Task caller!

Who can have a big problem selecting a task for a field that can
include both a 1-26 and an ASH 26. The MAT makes it easier for the CD
to call a task with assigned turnpoints and still accommodate the wide
range of gliders that often shows up for a Sports Class event. Not all
CD's are aware of the option, or some of the pilots, either. I've
found that encouraging a CD to use the MAT yields better tasks.
--
!Replace DECIMAL.POINT in my e-mail address with just a . to reply
directly

Eric Greenwell
Richland, WA (USA)