What are your thoughts about the Parallel Glider Race

On Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 11:25:33 PM UTC-4, Sean Fidler wrote:
I'm not saying I like this format as much as SGP with regatta starts, pure assigned tasks and a real race finish. However, the earlier reference to this new events reliance on glide computers is quite silly. I think my statements are accurate. Timed tasks with choices (the vast majority of US contest tasking) are by far the heaviest on glide computer importance and skill managing it in complex scenarios.

Back to the Abu Dhabi thing. I think being the absolute most efficient pilot at starting and final glide is an extremely interesting skill. Match racing is a cool thing as well. Look at Red Bull air races for example (time trials really). Gets a little boring even though the flying is amazing. How cool would it be to see 2 gliders fly around a similar course on either side of the runway? The energy management, flying the glider in the smoothest manner, perfect lines, etc would make all the difference. Pilots would, in fact, probably not have time to look inside the cockpit. I think this could be very interesting and fun to watch considering that the crowds can see the whole thing play out. I for one think an event focused on lots of short races focused on extreme final glide skills would be pretty fun to compete in, every once in awhile. This is not a replacement of traditional soaring of course. It's a highlight of perhaps the most exciting (from a spectator perspective) part of Sailplane Grand Prix. A close finish. The big challenge of this would be setting a course where they are not redlining...but I'm sure they are aware of this concern.

Anything is better than a timed 1 turn MAT or a 25-mile radius TAT all summer. It would be a nice change. Imagine sailplane final glide racing on TV! Cool! Give it a chance. Sure, it's not perfect, but they are trying! It's not hurting you that they are trying something new...is it?

Compared to Red Bull air racing this will be a total snore fest.
UH