G'day All, What do you think of the below?
Keen to hear from those who aren't going for team selection, would you still turn up to the team selection years (or to the nationals that allowed pair flying every other year)? Also from non-comp pilots, how would you feel about the GFA spending money on the tug ferry fees? & from people who are generally in the organisation of comps, would this be better or worse for you or your club? What are other advantages & disadvantages that I've forgotten about? Or points I've made, but over looked or got incorrect? Other? Cheers, WPP As you're all aware, gliding in Australia is oversubscribed with competitions, as well as the team selection process being far to onerous. I have a simple solution to all this. At the recent Waikerie Club & Sports Class Nationals, it was seen that it's easily possible & safe to task wet & dry gliders together - using start lines. I propose that we hold one nationals every biannual year, which will house all classes - except 20m class. Run using the GFA national rules as it is now. I propose we combine STD & 15m class together & run a '15m performance' class, then award the highest placed STD & Racing class glider/pilot as the national champion - for history sake. Why run it as a combined class? It's not as much fun flying against 7 other competitors, when you could be challenging yourself against 30 plus others! The same could be said for 18m & Open Class, combine them (as they often are) as an 'Open' Class. The only difference here, the 18m gliders/pilots would have to declare what class they were going for the national champion title in. Alternatively, have the 18m & Open Class separate - & only combine them should the Open entries be not enough to make its own class outright. Again though, is competing against 7 other gliders that much fun? Club would be run as it is now. Simple. How many competitors would this attract at a site? Probably 80-90 odd gliders. That's crazy I hear you say. Not really, in years gone past they used to get those numbers (& more!) & managed. Gliding is shrinking. The only clubs that are running nationals now are big clubs, & are all at sites where they can handle such numbers. So the site isn't the issue. The tugs are an issue. Or are they? Simple solution. If GFA want to see their sport & population grow, they'll put their money where their mouth is! Pay at least 2/3's of the tug ferry costs for the competitors. Done. It'd be no different to what it is now in SA where we have to pay large tug levies. This idea/proposal. Run it every biannual year, with every other year running as a team selection competition, let's call it the 'open' comp for now. This 'Open' comp would be run exactly as the nationals is, except 'pair' flying would be allowed. Note! I didn't say team flying, team flying to me could result with multiple gliders flying around in a 6 ship gaggle every day to improve their chances of winning. So only pairs would be allowed, teams would be extremely frowned upon. Note! If & when a solo pilot wins the 'Open' comp - they'd still be eligible to make the team. Though I'll leave the team selection guidelines to the ITC in this proposal. Would the people still turn up to this 'Open' comp if they're not interested in team selection? I think so. As it's still an organised 2wk gliding event to go flying with their mates. Maybe more would turn up than normal, as they'd be able to fly alongside their 'pair' flying mate - & not get shot down as they would now! Alternatively. Run a nationals every year, however only every other year will be used for selection - & this particular year, 'pair' flying would be allowed. Easy. Why leave 20m class out? We want this class to grow. It wouldn't grow as fast as it could if it were included at the nats/open comp. Just run it at a State champs every year, with only the team selection year as the one that counts. Advantages of having only one big 2wk competition a year... * It's only 2wks out of your precious 4wks a year annual leave. * Only one lot of organisation people get put out every year. Clubs & the organisation less likely to get burnt out. * State comps, regattas & coaching events will grow: as people will have an extra 2wks a year to spend how ever they choose. * If you're only after team selection, then in the 'off' years, the pilot could go to the European Gliding Championships, or other European nationals to get vital experience in helping AUS become a world leader in gliding. * More people in towns. Greater support from councils. Greater chance of major sponsorship (GFA should pay for a dedicated sponsorship & advertiser of the event - leaving this up to clubs is never going to work, as it hasn't up to now. Ultimately we don't know what we're doing, & we just don't have the man power or time to do it now). Greater exposure for gliding in general. * Potentially attract more international competitors due to the amount of numbers & likely better competition in each class. Which as a result will make our pilots better. We could advertise it like the 'World Cup' that the paragliders have. Advertisers & media can spin up & promote it! * God forbid, pilots could spend their other 2wks a year having a regular holiday with their family or friends!! Disadvantages... * It's a risk to try it, due unknown amount of competitors that would turn up. I think, what we're doing now isn't working (for AUS international results), why not try something new! WA State comps saw great success with numbers growing once they combined into one big class (Don Woodward said he 'raced' one other competitor in 15m class one year before they changed the format, that's definitely no fun!). * Tugs. This can be fixed if GFA put their hand into their pockets to help their/our sport grow. Regards, Adam Woolley _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
