ORIGINAL: EHFAI
Tim
Actually FAI - F3A is AMA class 406. Granted, subject to F3A rules as defined by the CIAM F3A Subcommittee.
We have representation on that committee. In fact, many of the ''new'' things in pattern were conceived by our rep who was chairman of the committee for years. I don't believe that we (AMA classes) have been dictated to by FAI other than by our failure to participate. That's our fault. We've active representation now (Derek Koopowitz) and I assure you that any input to him will receive consideration. The NSRCA has taken an active role (rightly so) in ensuring we have active representation, communication, and participation in both AMA & F3A. Pattern as a whole is much better served by being a part of the global community.
That being said, the AMA classes serve well to provide skill development with reasonable opportunities for advancement and competition for the casual competitor. Not everyone has the skill or desire to compete at the top level. For sure, F3A takes more work and costs more than many wish to dedicate to the sport and that's fine, hence AMA Masters being our ''destination class''. But F3A is the globally recognized epitome of pattern, so it really doesn't serve the sport, or individuals, well for AMA to adopt contrary rules. Certainly there's room in the AMA rules to allow variations in weight, noise, etc. so as to minimize cost and make competition available to as many as possible. We have a Pattern Contest Board that works hard to achieve this. OTOH, it's reasonable that the basis of the AMA rules and practices coincide (and they really do for the most part) with those of F3A.
+1
Change the rules in the lower classes to reduce cost and enhance accessibility, but judge the maneuvers the same. Tim, you didn't present anything to support your argument but just simply stated that the FAI shouldn't dictate what we do. As Earl explained, we have representation on the F3A subcommittee. Why does the US have to be so stubborn? What makes the F3A rules so detestable that we can't adopt them and prepare our up-and-comers for the challenges of F3A? This would also help bolster our footprint in the global community. Lately several of the South American countries have come together to form the biennial Pan American Championships, a contest similar to the European Championship. Imagine having the opportunity to hold that contest in the United States. Don't we want that global participation? Don't we want to attract more young people to the sport? Matt mentioned that we need to make pattern less dull. Participation in global events and the opportunity to travel to South America, Europe, Africa, etc. sounds pretty exciting to me! In fact, it was exciting! I've done it! Wouldn't young talent be more inclined to get their feet wet in pattern if they knew it may come with the opportunity to travel to another country for a week?
Someone please explain to me why F3A is dull, and why we just HAVE to adapt our own set of rules that are so much "better".