Train Wreck

UH: I agree entirely. This kind of public (yes, internet is public) behavior is near inexcusable and close to disqualifying in a US team member. Any pilot who reacted to a decision by a worlds CD, international Jury, or an action by his own team captain and team mates in this manner should be sent home immediately and banned from further US team participation.

I have not seen a similar ability to overcome the many unfair adversities our sport throws us in competition, but I would surely infer less than the required equanimity, and the US team should consider that in its assessment of pilots overall suitability. Overcoming a bad day and not throwing yourself into a mire of self-inflicted self-pitying misery has been a constant weak point of the US team, and one of the main things this whole selection process was invented in order to avoid.

One effect of going to a voting system: any pilot should pay a little self-interested attention to his relations with other pilots, the US team, and his or her public image. Maybe that isn't all bad!

I merely wanted to correct an impression I saw in earlier posts -- that because Sean rants about assigned tasks and US rules he is necessarily only good at assigned tasks and IGC rules, and does it to further his own contest results. Sean is pretty good at flying any kind of task, and is not a leech in classic style.

Likewise, I argue for high finishes, more TAT and MAT to avoid gaggling and leeching, because I enjoy contests more that way. But as a pilot, I fly the finish line just as crazy as the rest of you guys, and play the gaggle and follow game as necessary.

John Cochrane