Actually fellas, I find the most difficult class to judge is Sportsman. The manuevers are short and quickly paced. That is way harder to keep up with than FAI where most everything is stretched out with clear breaks between more complex shapes.

Frankly, I'm very troubled that anyone would feel they can't or won't judge FAI, especially at the master's level. When the move was made to shift away from USPJA judges to contestant judges, it was understood that it was your responsibility as a pilot to learn the rules and sit in the chair and fairly judge folks in other classes either above or below the class you fly. It's all just loops, rolls and lines guys. Nothing complicated about that!

I'm definitely for a district wide clinic. Judging isn't a secret, but we all have opiions that influence our numbers. The best thing we can all do is talk about it and get several points of view on how to downgrade after everyone has sat and watched the same flight. Not sitting around talking theory, but actually comparing what each person saw. It really works wonders, which is why there is a warm up flight at the nats before the finals and the judges have a debriefing before the competion continues.

Maybe the next time Jas deals out a 2, you should go talk to him and try to understand why you received a downgrade... I know I've had my share from him and others and asking about it makes me better because I sure don't want another one in the next round!

Perhaps we should suggest that the judging seminar at the nats be expanded into a clinic? Boy that would be fun, no?

joe