Gordy,
I can see your points on line breaks, but pop offs are almost always in
the polots control, like landings. It takes some small amount of skill
to launch successfully, just like landing on the spot. If someone has
their plane optomized for max launch and wind changes slightly, or their
technique is off, they get a low launch. Sort of like they didn't set
up properly and missed their landing (although not as great of point
penalty).
I fly OVSS with a lot of good flyers, and most of us have fun even when
not leading. There were a lot of top flyers down around my placing even
without popoffs, and I still saw smiles on their faces coming back from
the landing area (although not always immediately after a low launch,
but some guys are unhappy after blowing a landing and the contest is
also over for their chance of winning).
Pop Offs have been reflown at our contests when judged to be equipment
malfunctions, but just because a pilot yells equipment malfunction
doesn't mean it wasn't pilot error.
I can still remember my first NATS like it was yesterday. I know a few
people and had not a clue what was going on. I was in flight group 1,
and got winch 1. I was the first launch and was I nervous. I was on
the line for maybe a second before coming off, but it was one of my
favorite NATS when all was said and done. Got to meet a lot of people
and make friends for life.
At our club contests, we have been know to let sportsmen refly popoffs
(they are sportsmen after all and we want them to have a good experience
and get a lot of flying done). At the big contests, come and have your
A game or you will finish back in the pack, pop off or not. Miss a
landing and watch your score drop. It's sort of the same to me.
Good Lift!
Denny
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I recently flew the OVSS Cincinatti and managed to take some wood...
however, another excellent pilot had a freak popoff (probably it was
strategic instead of an accident, since the pilot is a well know
shifty character, which means he whips my butt pretty much since I
started flying contests :-).
The decision was too bad so sad....and I made it known that I believe
that the rule is abusive, rude, inconsiderate and disrepectful and
pretty much think its a chicken shit rule...however all that wishy
washy indecisionate opinionation by me aside, it is up to the CD or
the rules.
And it makes sense that rules cannot be overruled by common sense or
consideration for everyone's fun as a consideration...
If the rules get changed to consider 'fun' chaos would reign and the
general pilot group would be delayed from getting home or another
round being flown.
Okay so I am pretty much against the no pop off rule, but I'm not
CDing and I do appreciate all the work and excellent effort by the
guys CDing events. My travels make it impossible for me to commit to
taking on the responsibility so what I think is not a criticism of the
coordinators and CDs, rather it is a belief that it is wrong to kill a
pilots contest because of a popoff or broken line.
The unnamed, mysterious 'them' (you know those guys who would abuse
the lack of penalty to use either as a strategic advantage...but I
have never met in all my travels soaring) who are spoken of when the
no popoff or line break rule is justified,,,never win anyway. But to
protect us poor honest guys against the deadly threat of losing a shot
at the wood because some sneaky smart guy manipulates a delayed launch
to see where the air was found by us honest guys....okay pretty stupid
stuff :-)
We all take time from family and responsibilities, spend cash on food,
gas, motels and chance the wrath of wives, only to get burned by fate
and the no pop off or line break rule....well its not fun for anyone
when it happens to anyone of us.
I have yet to be at a contest with a no pop off, and a guy popped off,
where if the entire group were polled, all would say no relaunch.
But rule or no rule, the OVSS has likely the most exciting and
challenging format of all I have been involved in. Seeded Man on Man,
both sucks and is great. Its format causes every single pilot, flying
or in the pits to be interested and involved as the rounds develop.
It is pro active to the ultimate degree and its very exciting. Its
the most fair format and the most unfair....so like having one foot in
a fire and the other in ice, mostly things are great in the middle of
it all :-)....except for the no pop off/line break rule....that's not
good....because when it happens to someone of our friends, it sucks
the fun out of the day and voids the result as being a 'man on man'
result.
I won't ever agree that its justified or good for the hobby....but
I'll continue to enjoy the events and respect the people doing the
work and making the decisions.
Gordy
New Columbia, PA tonite
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