US Competition Pilot Poll and Election

On Friday, October 21, 2016 at 10:59:50 AM UTC-4, wrote:

P3 & T8:

In your research, where did "cost" fall in the spectrum of "other reasons"? It sounds like focusing on time issues and making the camp/competition experience a good one is of more value than trying to run an event on absolute minimum $$?

J9

Hi J9,

There are only a couple of guys we know that complain in any serious way about entry fees. It's not a very defensible complaint. No one thinks for a moment that anyone is making any money off contest organizing.

T8

On Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 1:20:14 PM UTC+2, wrote:
On the SSA website, you have to click on "Sailplane Racing" to get to contests. That's because the SSA was CREATED for "Racing."

I've been to too many gliderports in the USA and listened to the old timers speak to younger generations about how "back in my day, racing was racing." This conversation seems to happen enough, to be a major contributor to the demise of Soaring in the USA.

That's not motivational to hear George Moffat tell someone who is considering buying a racing sailplane. That's a big turn off when pilots stop and think about spending $80,000 for a racing glider that you can't race.

Sailplane Races in America have turned into Geo Cashing Contests in the Sky. That's as boring as Pokémon Go.

Perhaps we should have two groups in America. A racing league for the serious competitors who have been pussified by the detachment from the rest of the world racing league and one league where nobody is interested in speed.

Sailplane Racing Association verses Tiddlywinks Geo-Cashing Pokémon Go League.

I love it!
Mark