My opinion is that Open should still be flown on all 4 circles where the top 5 from each can move on to the top 20. I would then put Advanced on two of the 4 circles and Expert on the other two.
Just my .02
Derek
I think we need to pay attention to our history. In the past, prior to world champs and the huge entry that brought with it, the Open and Advanced flyers were separated. The two events were run as separate contests. Advanced on circles one and two and Open on circles three and four. I heard first hand some grumblings from judges about going to the Nats and being placed on the Advanced circles and not getting to judge the Open fliers. Advanced guys please don’t take that the wrong way, I was in Advanced when this was said to me and I understood exactly what was being said. The judges, just like us flyers, want to perform at their best and to do so they need to see all of the flying possible at all levels offered. As it stands now, the Open and Advanced flyers are merged together across all four circles. The flyers randomly pick flying order and the judges, unless they feel the need to remove themselves from a certain flyer (possible family member), randomly pick circle assignments. It is extremely important that we work Expert into the contest across all four circles just as Open and Advanced is done today. This way it keeps the random circle placement of both judge and flyer. All judges will have the opportunity to work all levels of flying. Both the judge and flyer will benefit from this and only make the contest that much better for everyone involved, judges, flyers, CD, ED, admin, support staff, computer programmer, etc.
Word to the wise, if you separate this out like it used to be you run the chance of losing judges. That is already one of if not the most difficult tasks of running the nats. Let’s not make it any harder than it already is.
On another note, preliminary rounds and the number of flyers that move from onto the finals where Advanced and Expert is concerned. I am reading about a different number being moved onto the finals than the usual 20. If in fact this is going to be changed to a smaller number this needs to be determined at once and posted at the top of the forums, yes plural, for all who spend the money and time to come and compete. Everyone needs to know far in advance what they are in store for when planning and spending a large amount of vacation time, and money, to attend the nats. A % of entrants would be one way to make the cutoff as the number fluctuates year to year. Whatever method is chosen it needs to be public knowledge for a long time prior to the nats. Since this goes into affect 2013 it would be good to have that posted by November 2012 on the forums, in SN and Control Line World, along with notice to the AMA to go out in the entrant letter if need be. This way there is no confusion and a possible past entrant not returning due to what they feel is on the fly changes that make the event less enjoyable.
KT mentioned less rounds if participation is down. That is a real possibility. If this is the case then the schedule would need to be looked at as well. Process on Monday, then fly on Thursday and or Friday. That break in there is not needed if less rounds are going to be flown. If the processing day continues to be on Monday with the contest starting on Wednesday for Open then other events should fly these days as well or participation will wane as it makes no sense to process on Monday and sit there until Thursday or Friday.
Just my .02 + a little bit more.