IMAC Freestyle or not " POLL"

[scot]

I want to see freestyle at every contest. I haven't tried it myself yet, but I love to watch. Schedule it for whatever day you like!

[Plane Wrappers]

Lots of good points here.

[John Schroder]

	Quote: Originally Posted by GoldenEagle
	I first listened to what the various opinions were before jumping in to see if there was a real slant one way or the other. Wouldn't affect my own view but as an IMAC CD I feel obligated to listen to what folks want in their contest. Notice I said "their" not "my" contest. I guess as usual - different strokes. Big attendance makes time critical but a smooth contest with cooperative pilots usually seem to end at a reason hour on Sundays. In our area, IMAC was non-existant a few years ago. You saw nothing but 3D anywhere you had giant scale aerobats. A lot of the guys who are into IMAC here now came from 3D first and if they don't try the Freestyle themselves, they really seem to enjoy it as part of the contest. Yeah, we get the typical 4 to 5 guys putting on the show but the rest of the pilots haven't complained - at least to my face. I agree with Mike on several points - Freestyle is a draw to previously non-competitors, most pilots like to watch and cheer on their buds, and its a chance to unwind after the more serious precision flying. We jump right into the Freestyle after the last round on Sunday while scores are being wrapped up and others are packing. I doubt we've delayed anyone from leaving more than an hour at worst. Saturday is usually the toughest and longest day and most would rather study their unknown, socialize, clean up and eat at the end. As for the safety aspect, give the pilots a deadline (or "zero" line) and enforce it. Cross it, get too close, and you're done. The CD should stand behind the pilot with a whistle or airhorn - the same you call time with - and blow it if you see the guy getting out of hand. Horn blows - its over - no questions. We can make Freestyle work and I believe it has already become an important segement of our sport. Like most stuff worthwhile - it just takes a little extra effort. Chris

Chris,
Well said.
I believe Freestyle should be flown Sunday after the unknowns. The set up time on Saturday after the known rounds may push the daylight issue. It would be a shame to cancel the Free because of a lack of time.
I also think that most IMAC pilots don't know what Freestyle is. It is NOT a 4 minute 3D exibition. I would suggest everyone read the rules book and see what the criteria is for a good Freestyle. Not only pilots but judges also!
If, as a CD you want to promote more activity in the Freestyle you might want to consider two classes, Intermediate and Unlimited. Or,,, if you want to really go off the hook, do like the TOC, Masters, TAS invitational, and the Spring Classic and incorporate the Freestyle into the knowns and unknowns to determine the Champion.

see you soon,
John

[OnTheEdge]

	Quote: Originally Posted by dmichael
	1) Go to a judging clinic, be prepared to judge and don't make the CD's come begging you to do it ...... 2) Go to a judging clinic 3) Go to a judging clinic 4) Know the flight order and be ready to fly when your turn comes 5) Go to a judging clinic

Also, learn how to fly with other callers. It's nice to always have that same person, but it can realy slow things down if your caller is flying or judging the other flight line. If you insist in the consistancy, then work with a caller that flies in your class.


As for the freestyle, we've done Saturday many time with success.

[Andy540T]

In a perfect world, we could push 50 pilots through 2 rounds of knowns in about 6.5 hrs. This would be without a break for changing judges in between classes, chasing down scribes (btw, where does everyone hide when we need scribes?) and having the entire class lined up ready to fly. Every pilot would have to be ready to go and in the air prior to the end of the previous sequence, and the lines could never stop moving. Like I said, a PERFECT WORLD. The reality is pilots don't get in the air quickly, judges and scribes aren't ready to go before they need to be there and there are always things that stop the flow. We spend almost 8 hrs on Saturday just to get 2 rounds in, and on Sunday we spend about 6 to get 1 round of unknowns and 1 round of knowns. Most contests don't start in the SW until after 9:00 AM for either noise or sun issues. The only way to squeeze a Free in would be to cancel a known round and since not all IMAC pilots fly freestyle, I am pretty sure that wouldn't go over very well.

[GoldenEagle]

Thanks for coming in John. You made a good point that I thought about after posting - mine was windy enough so I let it go. Freestyle is not just 3D but a skillfully correographed blend of precision and 3D maneuvers flown to music. The winner is usually not, and should not, be the guy with the wildest, lowest, rollling harriers and torque rolls. You got to show the entire envelope of what the airplane is capable of in a way that is unique and artfully presented. It is real work and a serious effort to put a routine together with edited music, not a last minute thrash to to your favorite tune. If you've ever seen John perform his freestyle you know what I'm saying.

Give the guys who've prepared for it a chance to perform if time allows.

Chris

[!Spike!]

Sweatpea,

Don't get me wrong, I didn't say it would be easy. I just think it is possible if you get an early start to things. I appreciate all the hard work that you and every CD does to put on a great contest. as for the safety and plane issue, I don't think anyone below Advanced should be elligible to fly free. I think this puts it in the hands of very capable pilots. That is the incentive I was speaking about to move up in classes and become a better pilot.

[lazyboyflyer]

I for one enjoy watching a freestyle competition, that said, there has already been talk of having one at the Riverside Spring IMAC on Saturday, May 3rd. after the known rounds. Freestyle at SW IMAC's on Sunday is impossible, it's dead, gone! I will do everything I can to make sure we have a Freestyle competition at Riverside Saturday. One more thing, I known a few guys flying Sportsman and Intermediate in the SW, that can 3d with the best of them. I don't think it should be limited to only Advance and above!

[Radioactive]

Dude, we have a Jack as well, nice looking animal!!!! Got to love a Jack Russel!!!!

[bubbagates]

	Quote: Originally Posted by !Spike!
	Sweatpea, Don't get me wrong, I didn't say it would be easy. I just think it is possible if you get an early start to things. I appreciate all the hard work that you and every CD does to put on a great contest. as for the safety and plane issue, I don't think anyone below Advanced should be elligible to fly free. I think this puts it in the hands of very capable pilots. That is the incentive I was speaking about to move up in classes and become a better pilot.

We always tell people not to move up until they feel ready and are consistently placing well in a given class. This will actually cut out some good freestyle pilots in the lower classes because they followed the advice. I know of a very good local pilot. He can do the precision well but really excels at freestyle and is also very safe at it yet he flew basic and sportsman last year to get experience (he catually admited to many that the precision was a lot harder) and flew his freestyle routines when he could. He is actually hounded to fly his routines quite often so this suggestion would literally cut out some very good people

[1bwana1]

Howard,
A freestyle at Riverside will be great, I'm looking forward to watching it. But that means I will have to find some place to stay up there, as I will probably not want to do the round trip to San Diego if I stay that late.

Howards Jack Rusel is the biggest food mooching pooch I have ever seen. Between him and Spike I usually only get half a lunch.

[samsrc]

As one of the CD’s for the 2007 Canadian Scale Aerobatic Nationals, we decided to do the Freestyle at noon time on both Sat and Sun. Now we did it both days because we had large crowds who wanted to see a show, and it worked out rather well (I’d only suggest the Sat for a regular contest) I think that in any IMAC contest you are going to get the most spectators at noon time, and let’s face it, for someone who is not into IMAC, it can get old rather quickly. Most people who come to watch want to be entertained, and see some fancy flying with music. If you as a CD, time the rounds properly, you can shut down both lines at roughly 12:00…The pilots who aren’t competing in Freestyle can get something to eat, the spectators get a show, and everyone is happy. If time is a consideration, you can just run the IMAC a little longer on the Sat night.
Just another suggestion…It worked for us, and was well received by pretty well everyone.
Sam