Train Wreck

On Sunday, November 5, 2017 at 7:44:27 PM UTC-5, John Cochrane wrote:
You guys may be mistaking behind-the-keyboard crazy Sean for the pilot. Sean loves the idea of racing assigned tasks and grand prix, and rather pointedly says so. I haven't seen any particular lack of originality and willingness to strike out on the own in the air. If anything, the opposite, Sean goes where others fear to tread. Just because he doesn't think contests should call tats (which WGC also do, increasingly) does not mean he's any worse at flying them. Not every opinion in this sport is self-interested

John Cochrane

Flying excellence is REALLY important, but it needs to be part of a larger package.
Nasty aggressive behavior, even if not face to face, is corrosive to the entire process of building a team that will succeed. When it's time to perform ,there needs to be a very strong bond for true team work to happen. This does not happen in 3 weeks on site. If you start in a hole, it is very difficult to achieve.
The importance of how the team presents itself is also hard to over emphasize. Raising funds to support a team with a demonstrated bad actor could well be next to impossible. It is hard enough without people saying "I'm not going to support a team with that person on it".
I appreciate the hard caring work of the USTC in developing this new process. I have called them to task, face to face, for the terrible job they did in letting the affected pilots, and others, know how things were changing. They looked me in the eye and vowed to do better.
Thanks to the USTC.
Let's get behind our new team.
UH
US Club Class Team 2001, 2002

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

https://youtu.be/uhrEFpb2kGs

What is your complaint? Following, team flying, and using markers is very hard, and its a part of the WGC game that US pilots are typically not very good at. We tend to break off and do our own thing when inappropriate and screw the pooch. Kawa himself follows and uses markers when appropriate. If these guys can do it effectively at the right times, good for them, and this should be much in their favor for US team selection. Individualists who want to fly by themselves will not do well at WGC

On Monday, November 6, 2017 at 6:52:10 PM UTC-5, John Cochrane wrote:
What is your complaint? Following, team flying, and using markers is very hard, and its a part of the WGC game that US pilots are typically not very good at. We tend to break off and do our own thing when inappropriate and screw the pooch. Kawa himself follows and uses markers when appropriate. If these guys can do it effectively at the right times, good for them, and this should be much in their favor for US team selection. Individualists who want to fly by themselves will not do well at WGC

Pretty much generic gaggle racing that Sean says he likes the most.
When behind, its "tactical following".
When ahead, the other guy is a scum sucking leach.
An example of when he had a good day. Not much to complain about there.
UH

Hank, as usual, you haven’t the slightest clue. And I am not done with the videos. I’m just getting started.

And "this" is to prove a simple point. The US Team selection process is a joke and fraud. It not based on facts. It favors butt kissers and is something that is now "given" subjectively and not "earned" objectively.

Get behind the “Team.� Get behind the team that in several cases was given their positions and DID NOT EARN IT.

Also, just to be clear, is team flying legal now? How is it that we can have 5E and XC team flying entire contests without anyone noticing or caring? Are we just trusting them? Is everyone else OK completing against the clear advantages which that allowance provides them? The same thing occurred in the Club Class (and D2, LS8, ASW20 division) nationals in Hobbs this year. See my Youtube channel for those videos.

So Mini-Me (XC) and Mr. Cochrane (good old boys spokesman east and west)...which is it? (Facts please, cite evidence). We see that 5E and XC team fly and need each other to lose the 15m Nationals. We now know that 90 leeches P7 as if prison was no deterrent. But we don’t see that with me.. How am I not fast without markers mini-me? At least Cochrane won’t lie here like you. But notice that until I added the actual SeeYou replay proving the narrative was incorrect, that wasn't the case.

Also, note XC comments about how that subjective perception (which Mr. Cochrane disputes) was the reason he voted me down. You can see right there how pathetic the new buddy voting system is.

Why is XC so mad (see: Butthurt)? It is because I called them out for complaining endlessly about the FAI rules DURING the FAI world championships for which they had over a year to prepare. Meanwhile John Good writes endless articles attacking the FAI rules while my wife did 3/4 of the work of the team captain. The Team members should not be afraid of or complain about the FAI rules (or European pilots), they should be fully prepared and READY TO ATTACK IT ON ALL LEVELS AND AT ALL TIMES when the event begins. Instead, they longed for the US rules and tasks. Hence one of my many reasons for despising the failed US Rules experiment which has provided ZERO UPSIDE in TWENTY YEARS while requiring extreme effort to maintain.

Mini-Me, did do you know how the 85% “Elite� (cough, cough, wink, wink) voters voted? How is it that you know the "collective narrative" was (weeks ago) that I am not fast without markers as you posted on my Facebook page? Clearly, now that I have provided this thread some objective evidence (in the form of several SeeYou replays), Cochrane is walking that one (whopper) back for you (and the voters). But (and this is key) that is, apparently, still the justification for 5E to move up in the subjective vote and for me to move down. Hmm? The Team Committee has not released any responses to date. How did you know weeks ago? Could it be that it was contrived by a group of people with high ethical standards that would not let personal disagreements affect their votes? No? Yeah, that is a stretch. So, mini-me, how did you know?

Answer: Mini-me was in on the contrived “subjective� answer of the "elite" SSA loyalists (the good old boys) which was designed too.... We all know the answer...

When will the US Team Committee release the US Team votes and comments so we can compare their responses (subjective) with actual flight data for all relevant competition to see if it makes sense or is just personal? This is the process for the rules poll. Why is this not the process for the TRANSPARENT and OF THE HIGHEST MORAL CHARACTER US Team poll?

#participationtrohpy
#givenNOTearned

Oh and great thread title mini-me.

The US Team Selection process is a total TRAIN WRECK.

#morelies

On Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 7:30:58 AM UTC-7, Sean Fidler wrote:
Hank, as usual, you haven’t the slightest clue. And I am not done with the videos. I’m just getting started.

And "this" is to prove a simple point. The US Team selection process is a joke and fraud. It not based on facts. It favors butt kissers and is something that is now "given" subjectively and not "earned" objectively.

Get behind the “Team.� Get behind the team that in several cases was given their positions and DID NOT EARN IT.

Also, just to be clear, is team flying legal now? How is it that we can have 5E and XC team flying entire contests without anyone noticing or caring? Are we just trusting them? Is everyone else OK completing against the clear advantages which that allowance provides them? The same thing occurred in the Club Class (and D2, LS8, ASW20 division) nationals in Hobbs this year. See my Youtube channel for those videos.

So Mini-Me (XC) and Mr. Cochrane (good old boys spokesman east and west)....which is it? (Facts please, cite evidence). We see that 5E and XC team fly and need each other to lose the 15m Nationals. We now know that 90 leeches P7 as if prison was no deterrent. But we don’t see that with me. How am I not fast without markers mini-me? At least Cochrane won’t lie here like you. But notice that until I added the actual SeeYou replay proving the narrative was incorrect, that wasn't the case.

Also, note XC comments about how that subjective perception (which Mr. Cochrane disputes) was the reason he voted me down. You can see right there how pathetic the new buddy voting system is.

Why is XC so mad (see: Butthurt)? It is because I called them out for complaining endlessly about the FAI rules DURING the FAI world championships for which they had over a year to prepare. Meanwhile John Good writes endless articles attacking the FAI rules while my wife did 3/4 of the work of the team captain. The Team members should not be afraid of or complain about the FAI rules (or European pilots), they should be fully prepared and READY TO ATTACK IT ON ALL LEVELS AND AT ALL TIMES when the event begins. Instead, they longed for the US rules and tasks. Hence one of my many reasons for despising the failed US Rules experiment which has provided ZERO UPSIDE in TWENTY YEARS while requiring extreme effort to maintain.

Mini-Me, did do you know how the 85% “Elite� (cough, cough, wink, wink) voters voted? How is it that you know the "collective narrative" was (weeks ago) that I am not fast without markers as you posted on my Facebook page? Clearly, now that I have provided this thread some objective evidence (in the form of several SeeYou replays), Cochrane is walking that one (whopper) back for you (and the voters). But (and this is key) that is, apparently, still the justification for 5E to move up in the subjective vote and for me to move down. Hmm? The Team Committee has not released any responses to date. How did you know weeks ago? Could it be that it was contrived by a group of people with high ethical standards that would not let personal disagreements affect their votes? No? Yeah, that is a stretch. So, mini-me, how did you know?

Answer: Mini-me was in on the contrived “subjective� answer of the "elite" SSA loyalists (the good old boys) which was designed too.... We all know the answer...

When will the US Team Committee release the US Team votes and comments so we can compare their responses (subjective) with actual flight data for all relevant competition to see if it makes sense or is just personal? This is the process for the rules poll. Why is this not the process for the TRANSPARENT and OF THE HIGHEST MORAL CHARACTER US Team poll?

#participationtrohpy
#givenNOTearned

This guy is screaming everywhere that he should absolutely be on the US 18 meter international team. Here is some perspective, his US contest record. It's not exactly overwhelming evidence for a guaranteed slot at 18 meters.... Maybe you should win something before you start whining and complaining?

Sean Fidler
Year Contest Placed
2017 18 meter nationals 15th!
2016 2016 15 meter, Open, and Std Nationals 16
2016 18 Meter National 11
2015 18 Meter, Open and US Club Class Nationals 6
2015 Region 5 North G
2014 18 Meter Nationals 4
2014 Region 5 North 5
2014 Seniors Soaring Championship G
2013 Region 6 North (R6N) 2
2013 Region 6 South 10
2013 18 Meter Nationals 5
2013 Seniors Soaring Championship G
2012 Region 4 North 5
2012 Sports Class Nationals 35
2012 Region 6 North Super Regional 6
2011 Uvalde Glide 18M / 15M Contest 8
2011 Region-6 North 8
2010 Region 6 North 5
2009 Region 6 North 2

I'm just seeing this now. I was happy to let this post drop to the bottom but you keep bringing it up to the top. Here we go...

Let me address just a few of your concerns to set the record straight.

1. Team flying - Team or gaggle flying in not against the rules. Pilot to pilot radio communication is. The US Team camp was held at Cordele the week preceding this year's race. We talked all about how to fly as a pair and how to take advantage of gaggles. We practiced tasks team flying as pairs. What did folks think would happen? Everyone was going to practice these new skills.

Wasn't I on this page just a year ago saying we should fly these contests with FLARM in stealth mode? You and others argued against that. I have already stated numerous times I would like to split the field up more by flying MATs and TATs. The current push is to fly ATs more than everything else. At Cordele 3 AT's were called. Fair enough.

Okay - let's race. Now that I can see everyone in the race pre-start on FLARM, who do you think I am going to pick to start with? Answer: The guy I have practiced team flying with, the guy who I have flown 2 IGC events with, the guy who has a glider just like mine and a flying style perfectly complimentary to mine. The guy who is an ideal non-selfish pair flyer. Then we are going to join the fastest gaggle at the start line as learned during Pan-American, WGC, and the team camp and go around course sailboat style just like you like to do. Here's the thing. There was no communications as you have implied. That would be against the rules and it just isn't necessary in our case. Yep, day three you had a better start time in your gaggle. Congratulations!

2. IGC rules - They're fine. They are easier to read and understand which is a plus. They don't allow for MAT tasks which I think is a great task for really determining who is the best glider pilot when call correctly. That's a negative. Don't recall complaining about the rules in Australia. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Thanks to John Good and the other volunteers, including Tiffany, who were a big help.

3. Collusion - Here's what I knew about the selection process. A call to Bob Fletcher to see when selections might be known. I needed to know because my last week vacation needed to be bid. Answer: Numerically I still had an outside chance at 5th(?) on the list for 15m. He said the pilot survey was nearly ready to go out. Besides that, I called Pete Alexander after getting an email invitation to join the team in 15m. I wanted to know who I might be going with and let him know I was honored but not at all sure I could get the time off. Unfortunately, I had to decline via call and follow up email to Pete. I had a later phone call from Fernando just to confirm I was declining and to express mutual regrets we would be flying together. I do not know where you got that I knew other people's responses to survey. I do not have access to those results.

I really think yo are doing yourself a disservice by ranting on your web page and here. Please take the vile content down and apologize to the team selection committee members who you've trashed. What purpose does this serve at this point?

XC

On Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 9:30:58 AM UTC-5, Sean Fidler wrote:
Hank, as usual, you haven’t the slightest clue. And I am not done with the videos. I’m just getting started.

And "this" is to prove a simple point. The US Team selection process is a joke and fraud. It not based on facts. It favors butt kissers and is something that is now "given" subjectively and not "earned" objectively.

Get behind the “Team.� Get behind the team that in several cases was given their positions and DID NOT EARN IT.

Also, just to be clear, is team flying legal now? How is it that we can have 5E and XC team flying entire contests without anyone noticing or caring? Are we just trusting them? Is everyone else OK completing against the clear advantages which that allowance provides them? The same thing occurred in the Club Class (and D2, LS8, ASW20 division) nationals in Hobbs this year. See my Youtube channel for those videos.

So Mini-Me (XC) and Mr. Cochrane (good old boys spokesman east and west)....which is it? (Facts please, cite evidence). We see that 5E and XC team fly and need each other to lose the 15m Nationals. We now know that 90 leeches P7 as if prison was no deterrent. But we don’t see that with me. How am I not fast without markers mini-me? At least Cochrane won’t lie here like you. But notice that until I added the actual SeeYou replay proving the narrative was incorrect, that wasn't the case.

Also, note XC comments about how that subjective perception (which Mr. Cochrane disputes) was the reason he voted me down. You can see right there how pathetic the new buddy voting system is.

Why is XC so mad (see: Butthurt)? It is because I called them out for complaining endlessly about the FAI rules DURING the FAI world championships for which they had over a year to prepare. Meanwhile John Good writes endless articles attacking the FAI rules while my wife did 3/4 of the work of the team captain. The Team members should not be afraid of or complain about the FAI rules (or European pilots), they should be fully prepared and READY TO ATTACK IT ON ALL LEVELS AND AT ALL TIMES when the event begins. Instead, they longed for the US rules and tasks. Hence one of my many reasons for despising the failed US Rules experiment which has provided ZERO UPSIDE in TWENTY YEARS while requiring extreme effort to maintain.

Mini-Me, did do you know how the 85% “Elite� (cough, cough, wink, wink) voters voted? How is it that you know the "collective narrative" was (weeks ago) that I am not fast without markers as you posted on my Facebook page? Clearly, now that I have provided this thread some objective evidence (in the form of several SeeYou replays), Cochrane is walking that one (whopper) back for you (and the voters). But (and this is key) that is, apparently, still the justification for 5E to move up in the subjective vote and for me to move down. Hmm? The Team Committee has not released any responses to date. How did you know weeks ago? Could it be that it was contrived by a group of people with high ethical standards that would not let personal disagreements affect their votes? No? Yeah, that is a stretch. So, mini-me, how did you know?

Answer: Mini-me was in on the contrived “subjective� answer of the "elite" SSA loyalists (the good old boys) which was designed too.... We all know the answer...

When will the US Team Committee release the US Team votes and comments so we can compare their responses (subjective) with actual flight data for all relevant competition to see if it makes sense or is just personal? This is the process for the rules poll. Why is this not the process for the TRANSPARENT and OF THE HIGHEST MORAL CHARACTER US Team poll?

#participationtrohpy
#givenNOTearned

sean you are referring to me when you make accusations of team flying taking place at hobbs between D2's and an ASW20. firstly, communication is forbidden in the US, not cooperation. we all know that people cooperate during contests. i thought that one critical element of team flying was communication. since we didn't communicate, we weren't team flying. yes, i'll admit with no fear of retribution that RO, 5F, KMI, and myself flew practically the ENTIRE task together. but there's nothing in the rules against THAT. and none of us landed ****ed-off that the others stuck with us. we did well that day, but noone else at the contest was ****ed at us for flying together. under US rules there are still disadvantages to flying alone, even though it is more incentivized compared to FAI rules. so why do you keep bringing up day 2 at hobbs? we didn't do anything forbidden by US or FAI rules. again, team flying implies communication. i accept that we flew together and that there was informal cooperation. would you please explain your focus on us as an example of illegal team flying please?