contest task explanations .....

If you get time can you explaine what class to sign up for? I thought
the Sport class was for newbies, a easier task and shorter min time.
But I see lots of very experienced racing pilots signing up in the
sport class. Also the time for sports and 15 meter used the same min
time and course on your first day at Mifflin.
* *Thanks
* *Glenn

Sports is aimed at handicapped racing for a wide variety of gliders,
and as an "entry" class, especially at regionals. The task will
typically be "easier" in that the CD will usually set a shorter
distance. He will not necessarily set a shorter time. There's nothing
about being new that means you can't fly for 4 hours on a great day,
just that you are not expected to go as far in that time. The official
direction in the rules is to use as much of the soaring day as
possible, in large part because many pilots are sick of taking a week
off work and then flying for 2 hours while their OLC buddies rack up
the miles.

But the philosophy will vary from contest to contest. The rules are a
flexible tool for contest organizers to use in order to create a fair
valid and safe competition to please the assembled pilots. They are
not a mandate for every detail of how a contest should run. The real
advice is "pick your contest" more than "pick your class."

If you go to a small regional in the midwest, or a regional that
advertises a training camp for new pilots, expect shorter tasks. If
you go to one of the local, even lower-key contests (Sky Soaring in
the Chicago area is running one next weekend), expect an even lower
key atmosphere. If you choose to go to mifflin on a booming ridge day,
expect a really long task. To call anything less would be a real
disservice to the pilots who come for just that purpose.

John Cochrane