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#1
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Participation
My website has a copy of the article "The National Contest
Participation Dilemma" that appeared in this month's Soaring. I put together a lot of numbers on contest participation, and tried to get at some causes. A few surprises: lots of new pilots show up, but they don't stick. Pilots do not like to drive long distances. There are lots of contest- capable gliders out there. The article is meant to stir up discussion on what we should do, including east/west nationals, mixed handicapped classes, picking team members from outside "their" class, or (not in the article because I hadn't heard of the idea at the time) having just one big nationals with many small classes and multiple super-regional qualifiers. Direct link http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...ticipation.pdf Webpage http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...index.htm#misc John Cochrane |
#2
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Participation
On Thursday, June 14, 2012 7:30:37 PM UTC-4, John Cochrane wrote:
My website has a copy of the article "The National Contest Participation Dilemma" that appeared in this month's Soaring. I put together a lot of numbers on contest participation, and tried to get at some causes. A few surprises: lots of new pilots show up, but they don't stick. Pilots do not like to drive long distances. There are lots of contest- capable gliders out there. The article is meant to stir up discussion on what we should do, including east/west nationals, mixed handicapped classes, picking team members from outside "their" class, or (not in the article because I hadn't heard of the idea at the time) having just one big nationals with many small classes and multiple super-regional qualifiers. Direct link http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...ticipation.pdf Webpage http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...index.htm#misc John Cochrane John, Keep the writing up. Your articles have become the highlight of the magazine for me. There are some shining lights: 1) GTA Racing Association in Region V is thriving this year after a few years of decline. 2) A half dozen competition pilots have entered the fray this year via GTA. All of these guys are young with the youngest being 16! 3) Bill Daniels reports that the last few months have seen a net growth in SSA memberships. 4) An SSA committe has engaged the Civil Air Patrol in constructive talks regarding glider training. 5) The SSA has some forward thinkers who are working hard to generate momentum. The pendulum may be swinging in the right direction. Lane XF Lane XF |
#3
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Participation
I think Scheduling has a lot to do with individual or specific Contest participation. June in the West illustrates the problem perfectly. The Open Class nationals has 9 Contestants. The reality of Open Class @ Minden is that you DO NOT need 25+ Meters of Wings to be competitive. Moriarty and Ephrata have scheduled the exact same dates. Just to add insult to injury, The 18M and Standard Class Nats are in the same corner of the world. The Sports Class Nationals @ Parowan also overlaps . All this "togetherness" forces people to make choices and dilutes participation at all events. If the 18-Std Contest had been scheduled and sited in the center of the country, I suspect the contestant numbers would have been greater for both the Open and 18-Std Contests respectively. The equation of dates and distances must be balanced such as to direct pilots to the obvious choice. An 18M owner from the East is unlikely to drive to Montague, However He may make the drive to the Center of the country. But, not when the dates conflict with other closer choices. Also, It's good to combine classes. However Location must be Considered. I suspect that if the Standard Class was combined with the Opens @ Minden and No other Western Contest was run during the same time, Attendance would be up significantly. I know it's a tricky situation compounded by very few sites stepping forward to host a contest. With some coordination, I think everybody can benefit Paul Cordell |
#4
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Participation
I'm not in the game so maybe this isn't an issue but my guess is races are too long. Fit everything in a week. Have Mon. be the practice day, race ends on Fri. Two days to drive in, two days to drive home. Of course you would lose more contests to weather and maybe luck makes a bigger contribution then consistency, but if a race can be done in one week of vacation time the value/time spent changes.
On Thursday, June 14, 2012 7:30:37 PM UTC-4, John Cochrane wrote: My website has a copy of the article "The National Contest Participation Dilemma" that appeared in this month's Soaring. I put together a lot of numbers on contest participation, and tried to get at some causes. A few surprises: lots of new pilots show up, but they don't stick. Pilots do not like to drive long distances. There are lots of contest- capable gliders out there. The article is meant to stir up discussion on what we should do, including east/west nationals, mixed handicapped classes, picking team members from outside "their" class, or (not in the article because I hadn't heard of the idea at the time) having just one big nationals with many small classes and multiple super-regional qualifiers. Direct link http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...ticipation.pdf Webpage http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...index.htm#misc John Cochrane |
#5
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Participation
On Friday, June 15, 2012 8:13:10 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I'm not in the game so maybe this isn't an issue but my guess is races are too long. Fit everything in a week. Have Mon. be the practice day, race ends on Fri. Two days to drive in, two days to drive home. Of course you would lose more contests to weather and maybe luck makes a bigger contribution then consistency, but if a race can be done in one week of vacation time the value/time spent changes. That is a really good point. Last year Region 10 worked well for that. First practice day was Sunday. Race was Tuesday - Saturday. Of course the weather was good so that helped. Anyone within a one day drive only had to take a week off work. I don't mind using vacation time to go soaring but I really don't like taking vacation time to drive. Anything more than 12 or 14 hrs on the road from home adds 2 more days of vacation required to attend. |
#6
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Participation
I agree.
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#7
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Participation
There are some contests that are well attended year after year (sold
out) such as "The Seniors," and a few regionals. It may be possible to have a similar format with a "Class" or "Classes" mixed in and appropriate trophies awarded. Regional / National contest with Sports, Standard Class and/or 15 M would fit fine. Even the 18M and Open Class could participate with seperate, but similar tasking. Some contests are too popular to allow such a mix. Such as The Seniors, and Perry Tom Knauff |
#8
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Participation
On Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:37:02 -0500, Tony wrote:
On Friday, June 15, 2012 8:13:10 AM UTC-5, wrote: I'm not in the game so maybe this isn't an issue but my guess is races are too long. Fit everything in a week. Have Mon. be the practice day, race ends on Fri. Two days to drive in, two days to drive home. Of course you would lose more contests to weather and maybe luck makes a bigger contribution then consistency, but if a race can be done in one week of vacation time the value/time spent changes. That is a really good point. Last year Region 10 worked well for that. First practice day was Sunday. Race was Tuesday - Saturday. Of course the weather was good so that helped. Anyone within a one day drive only had to take a week off work. I don't mind using vacation time to go soaring but I really don't like taking vacation time to drive. Anything more than 12 or 14 hrs on the road from home adds 2 more days of vacation required to attend. I second Tony's re-affirmation of Gregg's point that scheduling is a big factor. I also flew the Region 10 for the last two years and the timing is just right to fit into a single week off work (maybe leaving a bit early on Friday, but...). This makes a huge difference versus having to be gone for 1.5-2 weeks (or more). Somebody mentioned the GTA races and I think there is a similar "league" in Arizona that runs numerous weekend races as opposed to one marathon race. Obviously, this is somewhat less practical for a Nationals but a regionals run across two long weekends, for example, might work. -- Stefan Murry |
#9
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Participation
I would never drive 2 days each way for possible 5 days of flying
(including practice day). My criteria: reasonable distance, chance for good weather (based on location) and reasonable length of the contest, no less than 6 flying days plus a practice day. For example drive up on Saturday, Sunday practice, Mon-Sat contest , Sunday back home (exactly like Perry). On Jun 15, 9:13*am, wrote: I'm not in the game so maybe this isn't an issue but my guess is races are too long. *Fit everything in a week. *Have Mon. be the practice day, race ends on Fri. Two days to drive in, two days to drive home. *Of course you would lose more contests to weather and maybe luck makes a bigger contribution then consistency, but if a race can be done in one week of vacation time the value/time spent changes. On Thursday, June 14, 2012 7:30:37 PM UTC-4, John Cochrane wrote: My website has a copy of the article "The National Contest Participation Dilemma" that appeared in this month's Soaring. I put together a lot of numbers on contest participation, and tried to get at some causes. A few surprises: lots of new pilots show up, but they don't stick. Pilots do not like to drive long distances. There are lots of contest- capable gliders out there. The article is meant to stir up discussion on what we should do, including east/west nationals, mixed handicapped classes, picking team members from outside "their" class, or (not in the article because I hadn't heard of the idea at the time) having just one big nationals with many small classes and multiple super-regional qualifiers. Direct link http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...ocs/participat... Webpage http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...index.htm#misc John Cochrane |
#10
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Participation
I am also a x-c wannabe at the moment, but second the shorter contests
suggestion. I have four weeks of vacation per year. More than most americans. There is no way I'm going to devote two of them to driving to and attending one contest, let alone more. Closer, shorter, and then I'll be interested. |
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