Dan,

Thanks for the awareness of how the rules are written!!

I think most will agree that a perfectly flown snap may displace, and likely should in partial snaps. But flying the element perfect, and maintaining perfect geometry is two totally different things. That's why it's been said that it may not be possible to fly snaps without displacment. But the displacement would still be deducted because it isn't perfect geometry, which is required by rule. The guy with less displacement would get less of a deduction than the pilot with more displacement.

For Aresti2004, Fred, and Wally to rationalize that it can't be deducted because the deduction isn't specifically mentioned nullifies the requirement that the "competitor is required to make the shape of all maneuvers perfect". Instead, they've turned the judging concept 180 degrees to say "Fly it however you want. We can only deduct what is specifically mentioned in the judging guide." We've all been told many times that the standard is perfection, and we deduct from there.

It's been pointed that the "justification" for the new guideline on the reference card is because the snap is a stalled condition. When less than perfect geometry ISN'T a deduction, that IS specifically mentioned in the judging guide. The Spins and Stall Turns are examples. The snap judging criteria doesn't have any allowance for less than perfect geometry.

I'm not against getting gifts on snaps!! I hate them, and everyone I fly with knows it. It just seems clear that the rules don't give me the gift. My "Thanks" to Fred and Wally.

Best of luck to the South Central Region in 2006!! The pilots from your region are always a blast to hang out with at the Shootout!!

Take care,

Dean Bird
Sun Valley Fliers
Phoenix, AZ