Forget Dying; Is Soaring Dead?

wrote:
Only 21 planes on the grid at storied Uvalde, TX for the U.S. Std.
Class Nationals, even with three non-U.S. guests. This was apparently
Uvalde's smallest contest of any kind, including regionals, and smaller
even than most U.S. regionals.

A "get your entries in while they're still available!" posting today
from the folks at New Castle, VA...6+ weeks after the preferential
deadline for what has been an oversubscribed contest and "must attend"
social event for as long as I can remember.

The only U.S. contest I know of where seeding still matters (or
preferential deadline, for that matter) is the spring kickoff in Perry,
SC, where pilots crazed from a long winter of inactivity still flock in
droves, apparently not having gotten the word that soaring, or at least
competitive soaring--whose adherents have traditionally been more
willing to expend the vast sums needed for the latest equipment--is
dead. OK, maybe Mifflin, PA, but with this renowned venue being more
recently notorious for uncertain weather, it's not impossible to
foresee a dropoff there, too.

True, entry fees are up a bit. And so (not uncoincidentally) are
gasoline prices. And our core competitive pilot base continues to age,
notwithstanding wins this year by "junior" masters Liz Schwenkler and
Chris Saunders. But is that enough to explain these two startling
events?

What's going on?

Are you sure that contest attendance is related to the size of the
overall soaring population? Many folks "race" every weekend now using
OLC to compete with folks from around the country.

Jeremy

I have flown in two contests Avenal and Air Sailing Sports contest.
Both were a lot of fun and well attended. In region 11 our regional
contest this year was held at Ely NV and was not well attended which
was probably because of it location. It is also difficult to convince
most wives that crewing in the desert for a week is a good way to spend
a vacation.

I think handicapping the regional contests by class would encourage
pilots to attend who do not have the budget to compete with the latest
ship designs. I also agree that the rules for qualifying to attend a
regional or national contest make no sense. How does a pilot ranking
score greater than zero prove anything. Pilots with XC experience
should be allowed to attend any contest that has room for them.

CLewis95 wrote:
A 2006 Sports Class REGIONAL rule change (see below) makes it necessary
for pilots to have a Pilot Ranking Score or have earned the FULL FAI
Siver Badge to qualify for competition. (This may be just a formallity
to many experienced XC pilots...but enough to keep them from competing)
Previously only participation in a formal XC soaring program was
required.

Does anyone know of any pilot who did not fly in their first Regional
contest due to this requirement? I have been concerned about the
effect this change.

Also....do you know of any pilots that did not compete due to the lack
of an installed ELT...in contests where one was required?

I wish I had gone to Uvalde!

Curt Lewis - 95
Genesis 2
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Regional Sports Class
5.4 Pilot Qualifications and Requirements
5.4.1 Experience requirements
5.4.1.1 Each entrant shall meet one or more of the following
experience requirements:
5.4.1.1.1 Have a Pilot Ranking Score (Rule 5.2.1) greater than
zero.
5.4.1.1.2 Present evidence both of having completed a previous
National soaring contest and of recent cross-country soaring
experience.
5.4.1.1.3 † Present proof of having earned the FAI Silver Badge.


///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

wrote:
Only 21 planes on the grid at storied Uvalde, TX for the U.S. Std.
Class Nationals, even with three non-U.S. guests. This was apparently
Uvalde's smallest contest of any kind, including regionals, and smaller
even than most U.S. regionals.

A "get your entries in while they're still available!" posting today
from the folks at New Castle, VA...6+ weeks after the preferential
deadline for what has been an oversubscribed contest and "must attend"
social event for as long as I can remember.

The only U.S. contest I know of where seeding still matters (or
preferential deadline, for that matter) is the spring kickoff in Perry,
SC, where pilots crazed from a long winter of inactivity still flock in
droves, apparently not having gotten the word that soaring, or at least
competitive soaring--whose adherents have traditionally been more
willing to expend the vast sums needed for the latest equipment--is
dead. OK, maybe Mifflin, PA, but with this renowned venue being more
recently notorious for uncertain weather, it's not impossible to
foresee a dropoff there, too.

True, entry fees are up a bit. And so (not uncoincidentally) are
gasoline prices. And our core competitive pilot base continues to age,
notwithstanding wins this year by "junior" masters Liz Schwenkler and
Chris Saunders. But is that enough to explain these two startling
events?

What's going on?

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"

I dont think that even handicapping will help much. On a medium to
strong day, a hotshot in his fiberglass ship will outrun all the lower
guys even with handicapping. The only time a low performance guy like
myself will win is on the weak days. Guess what, soaring contests,
especially nationals are not usually held at places with weak
conditions.

The nuts and bolts of it (in my case at least) is that I was lured into
this great sport because I was told it was cheap. And im going to hang
on to that dream for as long as i can. Currently I am the most active
Cross Country pilot in Iowa, Commercial and CFIG, and own a Cherokee II
and enclosed trailer with less than 10,000 dollars invested all
together. Thats right folks, a college kid with a 23:1 wood and fabric
glider is the most active cross country pilot in Iowa. If the lift is
positive and cloudbase is above about 3000 AGL, im outta here.

I couldnt even buy a new gelcoat on your glider for what i have
invested in the sport. Basically the reason your contests are weakly
attended is because it costs too much to be competitive, and really
what is the point of competing if you cant be competitive.

To fix this, I am organizing a contest. Only "crappy" gliders will be
allowed. Im thinking capping the L/D at something like 28. No
fiberglass, no water, no GPS or cambridge glide computer thingymabobs.
Pellet Varios are fine, Total Energy if you want to get high tech.
Basically you, your glider, a sectional and a task. We will do
triangles only, designed to make it back to the airport so that we can
tell lies and drink beer into the evening. First guy to make it back
is the first guy on the list to retrieve land outs, and so on. If its
windy, the only task will be to stay upwind of the airport. No score
will be kept, except the days winner will have to buy beer. So we are
looking at next spring/summer sometime, in Central Iowa. So far Im in
with my Cherokee, Matt Michael will probably compete with his Woodstock
(Which has done 400 km Hilton Cup Triangle in IOWA!) and a few others
from the upper midwest. Who else wants to come?

Tony wrote:
I dont think that even handicapping will help much. On a medium to
strong day, a hotshot in his fiberglass ship will outrun all the lower
guys even with handicapping. The only time a low performance guy like
myself will win is on the weak days. Guess what, soaring contests,
especially nationals are not usually held at places with weak
conditions.

The nuts and bolts of it (in my case at least) is that I was lured into
this great sport because I was told it was cheap. And im going to hang
on to that dream for as long as i can. Currently I am the most active
Cross Country pilot in Iowa, Commercial and CFIG, and own a Cherokee II
and enclosed trailer with less than 10,000 dollars invested all
together. Thats right folks, a college kid with a 23:1 wood and fabric
glider is the most active cross country pilot in Iowa. If the lift is
positive and cloudbase is above about 3000 AGL, im outta here.

[....]

To fix this, I am organizing a contest. Only "crappy" gliders will be
allowed. Im thinking capping the L/D at something like 28. No
fiberglass, no water, no GPS or cambridge glide computer thingymabobs.
Pellet Varios are fine, Total Energy if you want to get high tech.
Basically you, your glider, a sectional and a task. We will do
triangles only, designed to make it back to the airport so that we can
tell lies and drink beer into the evening. First guy to make it back
is the first guy on the list to retrieve land outs, and so on. If its
windy, the only task will be to stay upwind of the airport. No score
will be kept, except the days winner will have to buy beer. So we are
looking at next spring/summer sometime, in Central Iowa. So far Im in
with my Cherokee, Matt Michael will probably compete with his Woodstock
(Which has done 400 km Hilton Cup Triangle in IOWA!) and a few others
from the upper midwest. Who else wants to come?

I do, but I'm not good enough. Maybe, by next year.

I think the 1-26 Association ought to open itself up to _all_ gliders
under approx. 1/25 performance -- 2-33's, your Cherokee II, everything.

That would benefit everyone who wants to compete in that
price/performance range. OLC is great but it's not the same as "being
there", so to speak.


Jack
#588

Hey this is a great idea and one that just might get some folks interested
that wouldn't otherwise fly XC at all much less in contests. If it doesn't
get sanctioned by the SSA please keep us posted on how much interest you get
and if/when you hold the contest please report the results here! We need
more ideas like this.

Casey Lenox
KC
Phoenix

Who else wants to come?

================================================== ==========
What? No uber flugkomputer mit GPS? Sacrilege!!!!!!

If only it wasn't so far from Estrella, I'd be in. I wonder if Bruce or
Jason would let me take one of their 1-26s?

Last weekend, I flew around an hour in the 1-26 and never got near the
Grand Canyon or above 3000 feet AGL. I guess that would not qualify me
in the ASA racing group.

C'est la vie.

Terry C

Tony wrote:

To fix this, I am organizing a contest. Only "crappy" gliders will be
allowed. Im thinking capping the L/D at something like 28. No
fiberglass, no water, no GPS or cambridge glide computer thingymabobs.
Pellet Varios are fine, Total Energy if you want to get high tech.
Basically you, your glider, a sectional and a task. We will do
triangles only, designed to make it back to the airport so that we can
tell lies and drink beer into the evening. First guy to make it back
is the first guy on the list to retrieve land outs, and so on. If its
windy, the only task will be to stay upwind of the airport. No score
will be kept, except the days winner will have to buy beer. So we are
looking at next spring/summer sometime, in Central Iowa. So far Im in
with my Cherokee, Matt Michael will probably compete with his Woodstock
(Which has done 400 km Hilton Cup Triangle in IOWA!) and a few others
from the upper midwest. Who else wants to come?

I do. But will you allow a Ka6? It was 30 odd when it was new forty
years and 3 coats of paint ago.

How far is Central Iowa from Bathurst New South Wales? Is the road OK
because the trailer's as old as the glider?

I wish I could be there!!! Go Tony!

GC

"Terry" wrote in message
oups.com...

Who else wants to come?

================================================== ==========
What? No uber flugkomputer mit GPS? Sacrilege!!!!!!

If only it wasn't so far from Estrella, I'd be in. I wonder if Bruce or
Jason would let me take one of their 1-26s?

Last weekend, I flew around an hour in the 1-26 and never got near the
Grand Canyon or above 3000 feet AGL. I guess that would not qualify me
in the ASA racing group.

C'est la vie.

Terry C

There are loads of excuses to not race but this contest pretty much does
away with them all. That's what's so great about the idea and it sounds
like it will be lots of fun.

Casey Lenox
KC
Phoenix
(Which BTW is where the ASA is based and yes we have had pilots race in a
1-26....ask Bob VonHellens!)

Tony wrote:
I dont think that even handicapping will help much. On a medium to
strong day, a hotshot in his fiberglass ship will outrun all the lower
guys even with handicapping. The only time a low performance guy like
myself will win is on the weak days. Guess what, soaring contests,
especially nationals are not usually held at places with weak
conditions.

The nuts and bolts of it (in my case at least) is that I was lured into
this great sport because I was told it was cheap. And im going to hang
on to that dream for as long as i can. Currently I am the most active
Cross Country pilot in Iowa, Commercial and CFIG, and own a Cherokee II
and enclosed trailer with less than 10,000 dollars invested all
together. Thats right folks, a college kid with a 23:1 wood and fabric
glider is the most active cross country pilot in Iowa.

Have you looked at an HP? *Lots* more performance for around $10K +/-.

My biggest problem with contests is mostly that they chew up a week of
time. If I were a college student or retired (I'm somewhere in between
right now) then that would not be an issue and you would likely see me
at multiple contests every year.

I used to race small sailboats and 2-3 day "weekend" regattas were more
the norm. I attended a lot of those. I realize that with gliders a
2-3 day format could be problematic due to weather uncertainties, at
least in many parts of the US. But that is the biggest blockade for
me. The new locator requirement does nothing to encourage me to take
off a week doing something my wife has zero interest in. The issue of
probably coming in last due to equipment and/or skill is not a
deterrent for me.

-Doug

Jack - That is the point, you do not have to be "good enough" The idea
of the contest is to get people to fly cross country and have fun doing
it!

Jack wrote:
Tony wrote:
I dont think that even handicapping will help much. On a medium to
strong day, a hotshot in his fiberglass ship will outrun all the lower
guys even with handicapping. The only time a low performance guy like
myself will win is on the weak days. Guess what, soaring contests,
especially nationals are not usually held at places with weak
conditions.

The nuts and bolts of it (in my case at least) is that I was lured into
this great sport because I was told it was cheap. And im going to hang
on to that dream for as long as i can. Currently I am the most active
Cross Country pilot in Iowa, Commercial and CFIG, and own a Cherokee II
and enclosed trailer with less than 10,000 dollars invested all
together. Thats right folks, a college kid with a 23:1 wood and fabric
glider is the most active cross country pilot in Iowa. If the lift is
positive and cloudbase is above about 3000 AGL, im outta here.

[....]

To fix this, I am organizing a contest. Only "crappy" gliders will be
allowed. Im thinking capping the L/D at something like 28. No
fiberglass, no water, no GPS or cambridge glide computer thingymabobs.
Pellet Varios are fine, Total Energy if you want to get high tech.
Basically you, your glider, a sectional and a task. We will do
triangles only, designed to make it back to the airport so that we can
tell lies and drink beer into the evening. First guy to make it back
is the first guy on the list to retrieve land outs, and so on. If its
windy, the only task will be to stay upwind of the airport. No score
will be kept, except the days winner will have to buy beer. So we are
looking at next spring/summer sometime, in Central Iowa. So far Im in
with my Cherokee, Matt Michael will probably compete with his Woodstock
(Which has done 400 km Hilton Cup Triangle in IOWA!) and a few others
from the upper midwest. Who else wants to come?

I do, but I'm not good enough. Maybe, by next year.

I think the 1-26 Association ought to open itself up to _all_ gliders
under approx. 1/25 performance -- 2-33's, your Cherokee II, everything.

That would benefit everyone who wants to compete in that
price/performance range. OLC is great but it's not the same as "being
there", so to speak.


Jack
#588