Make Sailplane Racing Great Again

What a valid statement regarding the definition of great.

Here's my view of what a "Great" Sailplane race is.

1. A national contest for one class that is SOLD OUT, with a waiting list.

2. A contest so simple that you can explain how to win within 2 minutes or less to any pilot.

3. A national winner who competed against a group of 75 pilots in their class as opposed to a small elite group of 12 who now gets to represent the United States of America at the world contest.

4. A contest where you can watch this live on the internet and minute by minute see who is in first place.

5. A contest run so well their are activities and enjoyment for families to cheer on their pilot while he is up and away, and down on the ground. Very few pilots are single with no kids, theirs got to be "things to do" for the non aviators.

I tried to fly Nephi last year, but having been out of soaring for so long, I had no seeding points, denied. I am seriously thinking of Uvalde but six days on the road (3 there 3 back home) to fly 3 or 4 hours in the best part of the day, not as big a draw for me as Nephi fly-in or Parowan fly-in.

Perhaps if we had more "camps" and good soaring sites that would help participation in soaring in general which leads to more racing.


On Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 6:44:54 AM UTC-8, wrote:
What a valid statement regarding the definition of great.

Here's my view of what a "Great" Sailplane race is.

1. A national contest for one class that is SOLD OUT, with a waiting list..

2. A contest so simple that you can explain how to win within 2 minutes or less to any pilot.

3. A national winner who competed against a group of 75 pilots in their class as opposed to a small elite group of 12 who now gets to represent the United States of America at the world contest.

4. A contest where you can watch this live on the internet and minute by minute see who is in first place.

5. A contest run so well their are activities and enjoyment for families to cheer on their pilot while he is up and away, and down on the ground. Very few pilots are single with no kids, theirs got to be "things to do" for the non aviators.