At 06:45 AM 12/3/2002, Tom wrote:
About 5 years ago I went to a contest where I was technically eligible to fly sportsman, It was my first "away" contest, a contest I travelled to with a bunch of guys in the club. I was regularly getting my ass kicked in local club contests, so I figured I would fly in the sportsman class. At least I wouldn't have to compete against the guys in my club. It turned out I had one of those weekends, I placed first both days and was weekend overall in the sportsman class. At the awards presentation the CD announced that I had flown well enough to have placed 3rd in Expert that day... I would have rather had that 3rd, I think you made the right choice, Tom. I never saw another trophy for another two seasons. 8-) (probably too busy chasing the next new, "gotta have", molded contest winner)At the OVSS fall roundup last year we had a "sportsman" flier (Go Don) flying for all the marbles with the Icons in the top group. I got glass both days last year and technically I was eligible for sportsman too but chose to fly expert.
Those are some descriptive words, I know exactly how you are feeling.If I didn't have such a hard head and love for flying these things, I may not have stuck with it. What kept me in it was the fact that some of those "top dog" pilots had time to spend with me since I was never in the air when they were. I got better and learned from them. I learned patience. I learned that you won't win every round. I learned the air and learned to land. If you've never seen a guy put down his Icon to go help somebody COMPETE with a gentle lady... and never seen thirty people cheering the last two pilots in the air working low level stuff early in the round... you haven't been to a "contest" yet.
It's not easy acquiring all these skills and contest experience, would it be so interesting if it wasn't? 8-)
The long round format seeded MoM we are flying in the OVSS provides that atmosphere you describe above. People have time to help, and man it's a hoot to spectate, every flight group is like a mini contest, especially fun if one or two guys get a burial on the group.
As for your progressive time suggestion, I think the idea might have merit in handing the demands of a larger contest. With the size contests we are doing now, the long contest rounds almost naturally shake out in a progressive fashion as far as the task time actually flown. But if the contests start to get any larger, a progressive task time might allow an extra round or two of flying. It also could be made simpler, let me suggest just taxing the "A group" with additional time. (Less worries about Barry getting the right time set on his watch) 8-)
Jim
Downers Grove, IL
Member of the Chicago SOAR club, AMA 592537 LSF 7560 Level III
ICQ 6997780 R/C Soaring Page at www.jimbacus.net
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