I'm sure that changing gliding competitions towards or creating
technology towards making gliding competitions more of a spectator
spectacle would be a great help to the sport.
Since the new FLARM units are consistently outputting each FLARM
equipped gliders height, position and speed vector through out their
flight, how hard would it be to extend this so that a competition could
create real time displays of every gliders height and position through
out the completition.
I expect that the output of the Flarm units is nowhere near strong
enough for a single contest base station to pick them up but would it be
realistic to have a number of linked ground based stations throughout
the completition area to create that display. Alternatively, or in
conjunction with, would it be possible to have specific competition
versions that increased the output or also broadcast the output on a
second radio channel in a manner that allowed fewer base stations to
pick it up.
Their is no requirement for 100% coverage. If a real time completition
display kept losing some 10 per cent of the gliders in specific parts of
the course then it would probably increase the fun of the spectacle.
I'm only asking question so I hopefully don't need a flame suit for these.
Thanks
Ken
David Conway wrote:
There seems to be a view held by some that competitions only serve the
pilots competing.
I also used to have this view since it was put by people I thought
should know what they were talking about, but I know now it was naïve
and shortsighted.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
In exactly the same way that local footy clubs would find it harder to
recruit new members, most of whom would only ever be recreational
players with no chance of getting into the AFL, if the AFL didn't exist.
Or we should abandon the Olympics because the chance of anyone actually
getting to that level of competition is about zero.
Young people see professionals sports people at elite competitions and
want to get involved even though few will ever achieve that level. It
doesn't matter.
It also acts to improve the standards and technology, to the benefit of
all members. Especially when you see people like Paul Mander, Bruce
Taylor, etc spending significant amount of time putting the skills they
have aquired at competitions back into the grass roots membership via
coaching.
It also helps hosting clubs to generate enthusiasm to improve facilities
and earn some money, again to the benefit of the regular members.
The 1974 World Comps at Waikerie created huge interest in gliding in
Australia at the time, the peak of the GFA membership and clubs, large
numbers of gliders imported into Australia, which benefited ALL the
'recreational' pilots for many years to come, not just the 50 odd pilots
who competed.
The future of gliding in Australia if the effective marketting and
promotion of the sport through the wider population, and the development
of clubs and other facilities to deliver on the new members expectations
when they turn up to give it a try.
Competitions or 'sport' is just one element of marketting our sport
which allows it to become visable to the wider population and of
interest to potential new members.
Cheers
David
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mark
Newton
Sent: Tuesday, 6 December 2005 10:48 PM
To: Robert Hart
Cc: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] The Future of Gliding Part 2
Robert Hart wrote:
I think the population of people like that is understated. Terry
Cubley is promoting the sports side of gliding quite a bit, but only
about 2% of GFA members seem to front-up to competitions, so I reckon
his priorities are a tad misguided there. I think the other 98% of
GFA members are more interested in the social and recreational
aspects of gliding than its sporting side.
I'm sorry but that statistic is simply innaccurate. 2% of 3000
(rounding
the membership numbers) gives us 60 competition pilots.
Even if your 15% estimate is accurate, that still means that the intense
focus on sports (to the exclusion of "recreation") is misguided.
Furthermore, "sports" does not just mean competitions. Badge flights
are
also part of the sport scene and there are a fair few pilots involved
there.
Yup - Pilots in their first few years of gliding. The ones we have
trouble retaining. Chasing after the elusive silver or gold badge
clearly isn't a significant drawcard for those folks.
I see promoting the competition side of gliding as an important part
of
promoting the sport.
Sure -- But at the moment there's precious little focus on anything
*except* the competition side.
Look at Terry's article from three months ago in Soaring Australia to
see what I mean.
- mark
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I tried an internal modem, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
but it hurt when I walked. Mark Newton
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