ORIGINAL: Doug Cronkhite
Bob,
I believe your information on the distance line to be in error. The judging guide on the FAI site is very clear on this.
Section 5B.9 states ''Maneuvers performed on a line greater than 175m in front of the competitor must be downgraded by at least one point. Maneuvers performed on a line greater than 200m in front of the competitor must be downgraded more severely (in the order of 2 to 3 points).'' The rulebook allows for wiggle-space from 150-175m with no downgrade but that's it.
The end result is one pilot should never set the style standard for how the rest of the pilots must fly. The judging manual MUST be the only criteria. If everyone is flying way out, big, and fast, and someone else flies an absolutely perfect sequence, but slow, small, and exactly at 150m, they should not score lower simply because they didn't fly in the same style as the majority.
It was late last night when I posted this. I made a typo:
- 150-175: 0
- 175-200: up to 1 point
- 200-225: up to 2 points
etc.
This is really how it works and the sporting code supports that. This is how the judges are trained. It was more to give an example because there is of course more. I am convinced that also the pilots should know about this so they can make there decision of how to fly.
Now the trick comes here:
If you decide to fly the schedule on 150 meter, the possibility of flying outside of the box is higher. Of course we are more gentle to the "nearby outs", but still it will cost you at least 1 point. Of course also your lines will be shorter which doesn't look very gracefull. Gracefull and smooth is also something you can deduct points for. Also the fact that you fly nearby and the judges can see every error doesn't help. Having said that, it is very well possible someone can fly further away and have better scores without any problem.
Only the distance is not a criterium to set the order of pilots (luckily not).
Of course I'm in the position that the judges are doing quit a good job. Not saying we can't improve, but this kind of conversations are always taking place in judging-sports, doesn't matter whether it horse riding, figure scating etc. If you can't stand that, do racing, horse juming etc.
The biggest problem I have is with the 1000-rule. This way you can influence the scores of other pilots too much which is wrong in my view. The pilots have already proven to fly the F schedule well, because they are in the final. Who is the best WC: the one that can fly at least 1 F good and 2 Unknowns. And get rid of the 1000-rules, just points. Then the pilot gets what he deserves.