Seminole Lake Gliderport Hangars

On Thursday, 18 May 2017 08:59:56 UTC-6, Sean Fidler wrote:
I am excited about next season where Seminole will host the FAI SGP USA and the 18-meter Nationals.

Sean are you announcing that Seminole is hosting the 2018 18 Meter Nationals? Nothing on the SSA calendar. The query for 2018 contests returns' NO CONTESTS FOUND

So what are the dates for 2018 18 Meter Nationals?

On Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 11:12:55 AM UTC-6, Ron Gleason wrote:
On Thursday, 18 May 2017 08:59:56 UTC-6, Sean Fidler wrote:
I am excited about next season where Seminole will host the FAI SGP USA and the 18-meter Nationals.

Sean are you announcing that Seminole is hosting the 2018 18 Meter Nationals? Nothing on the SSA calendar. The query for 2018 contests returns' NO CONTESTS FOUND

So what are the dates for 2018 18 Meter Nationals?

Rich also informed me that the 18's in 2018 were to be in Seminole...or they put in a bid for them? I am just not sure but I also believe the time frame was for May. We were chatting before launch and I could be mistaken on time and if it was an award.

Best. Tom #711

Ron,

We are planning the 18 Meter Nationals during the month of May. We are deconflicting with the Region 5 North and Miffin contests that do not have dates yet. We want to ensure pilots have the ability to attend all 3 contests if they desire. By setting dates too early, and without any coordination, we hamper the plans of other contest management staff. All of us want to provide the best contests possible and not force pilots to choose one over another based on overlapping dates. This contest has not been officially sanctioned by the SSA, so that is why it had not been announced. Sorry for any confusion this has caused.

Rich Owen
Vice President
Seminole Flying and Soaring

On Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 10:28:25 PM UTC-4, Rich Owen wrote:
Ron,

We are planning the 18 Meter Nationals during the month of May. We are deconflicting with the Region 5 North and Miffin contests that do not have dates yet. We want to ensure pilots have the ability to attend all 3 contests if they desire. By setting dates too early, and without any coordination, we hamper the plans of other contest management staff. All of us want to provide the best contests possible and not force pilots to choose one over another based on overlapping dates. This contest has not been officially sanctioned by the SSA, so that is why it had not been announced. Sorry for any confusion this has caused.

Rich Owen
Vice President
Seminole Flying and Soaring

Rich, have you thought about April instead? Less likely to have thunderstorms in April?

On Thursday, 18 May 2017 20:28:25 UTC-6, Rich Owen wrote:
Ron,

We are planning the 18 Meter Nationals during the month of May. We are deconflicting with the Region 5 North and Miffin contests that do not have dates yet. We want to ensure pilots have the ability to attend all 3 contests if they desire. By setting dates too early, and without any coordination, we hamper the plans of other contest management staff. All of us want to provide the best contests possible and not force pilots to choose one over another based on overlapping dates. This contest has not been officially sanctioned by the SSA, so that is why it had not been announced. Sorry for any confusion this has caused.

Rich Owen
Vice President
Seminole Flying and Soaring

Rich thanks for the update and your continued willingness to host and support contests. Your efforts to coordinate with other venues is great but that has been done by the SSA in the past. Typically National contests are set 2 years in advance so other contests can work around the dates.

Other folks that have submitted requests to host National contests for 2018 have not heard from the SSA. Many are in the same boat as you Rich.

Sounds like SE USA for 2018 will the hub for the beginning of the contest season; March for the Seniors, April for the SGP and May for the 18 Meter Nationals.

Rich thanks again to you and the other folks at Seminole for your support of soaring and hosting racing (gasp!) events!

Ron Gleason

PS - I got my ticket at Seminole (Knut and Jim Lee) and in the early 2000's spent each spring in the central FL area flying and competing in HG contests. All that changed after the 2006 HG worlds held 15 miles north of Seminole when I started flying gliders. Time to get to FL in the spring. Yahoo!

Sorry if I jumped the gun in discussing the 18 meter Nationals. I thought it was a done deal. Perhaps not. I certainly hope so. Seminole would be a really fun venue for Nationals.

Andrzej that's funny. The first thing I did when I heard about is Seminole 18m Nationals in May 2018 (during SGP USA last month) was also to try and convince Rich to go with April. I had similar reasons. The reason they were thinking May was, at least partially, to avoid interfering with Perry. I believe that there were also sensible reasons such as staff exhaustion. With the 2018 FAI SGP USA Orlando again scheduled for late March (also 18 meter), a corresponding April 18 meter Nationals would be extremely efficient for pilots looking to compete in both events. Some of the Europeans and Australians who are already beginning to plan for FAI SGP USA 2018 could potentially do compete in both events "back to back."

Scheduling contests is always a challenge. Regardless of the dates, Seminole will be a hot spot next season. They will likely host three great events by May. My entire soaring season may be competed with only one major drive ;-).

Sean