IMAC Freestyle or not " POLL"

[Jcarte]

So you find yourself as a CD of an up coming IMAC event and with the strong attendance in the Southeast you wonder if you should have a Freestyle on Sunday or not. Many guys like to haul butt as soon as they can so they don't get home late Sunday night. Myself I like to hang around and watch the Freestyle, its always been that way since I have flown IMAC.

How do you feel?

[fastford]

Freestyle on Sat. evening no rush and everyone is sticking around. Seems to work out nicely.

[DKnippen]

Saturday evening weather permitting works best.

[NCFRgal]

Last year in the North Central there was a move to have the Freestyle on Saturday after flying is done. It caught on very quickly. Having freestyle on Saturday accomplishes several things: it encourages pilots to participate because you don't have to get packed up and on the road and all in attendance can enjoy it because they don't have to pack up and hit the road. This is especially good for contests that serve dinner at the field on Saturday. Just a thought.....

Marian

[wcknight]

Freestyle Sunday while getting all the rounds tabulated, after the final round.
gives the crowds something to watch while the organizers are getting organized

[DKnippen]

	Quote: Originally Posted by wcknight
	Freestyle Sunday while getting all the rounds tabulated, after the final round. gives the crowds something to watch while the organizers are getting organized

From what I've seen guys are packing up or hitting the road during the Freestyle on Sundays. Especially those that have to travel 5 to 8 hours . Not much encouragement for the Freestyle guys. Some times theres only 3 or 4 guys flying. I think Saturday evening would draw more pilots. At least thats what I've seen.

[mflander]

Saturday night sounds like a great idea.

[xtra330]

Here in the SE, I have not witnessed a freestyle on Sat night...not a bad idea, since most of the time it is only 3-5 guys....could be done if three rounds were completed in timely manner....or even just two rounds and thena freestyle.....then maybe a round of Knowns and and the Unknown on Sunday morning....that should be enough time to get everybody out of town by Noon.

Joe

[Wayne]

	Quote: Originally Posted by wcknight
	Freestyle Sunday while getting all the rounds tabulated, after the final round. gives the crowds something to watch while the organizers are getting organized

I havent been to many NC contests where tabulation tales more than 10 minutes. A lot of times its done quicker.
The people doing the tabulation are generaly the people that would be running the freestyle portion anyways.. It actually takes longer this way.

I say either do it Saturday night or drop it all together.
We dont even have a freestyle points race in NC anymore.

Wouldnt bother me if it was gone altogether.

[Plane Wrappers]

Jeff,
I would like to see more "Scored" freestyle competitions. Not just 3D demo to music. I don't think it really matters what day as long as it is determined well in advance. Many CD's have there event published in the local media and draw a ton of spectators to come out and watch. You cant really go switching up once that is set.
Flying the unknowns on Sunday AM should only take till around 11:00 or so with around 50 pilots ( assuming weather doesn't delay the wheels up time ) 45 minuets or so for a few freestyles and 20 minuets for awards and your on the way home by 12:30

[3D-Seth]

As a few others have said, we tried freestyle on Saturday night up here in the NC region. Works really well, we get more participation than the freestyles on Sunday. I say have freestyle Saturday night, as it works best. I myself love to fly freestyle and I would hate to see it go period, so I say to have it on Sunday if you don't want to do it on Sat. Saturday seems to be the new thing, and it works really really well. Just something to consider . . .

Seth

[Wayne]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Plane Wrappers
	Flying the unknowns on Sunday AM should only take till around 11:00 or so with around 50 pilots ( assuming weather doesn't delay the wheels up time ) 45 minuets or so for a few freestyles and 20 minuets for awards and your on the way home by 12:30

Never works that way.

[dmichael]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Wayne
	Never works that way.

Wayne's right.

I estimate I have been to probably 50-60 contests over the years and have CD'd probably a half dozen more. It's more like:

Even with only around 30 contestants, unknowns not finished til closer to noon. Second round done around 2-3 o'clock if you're lucky. Final calculations, awards and wrap-up take maybe another hour.

You're on the road by about 3-4 o'clock.

Sorry to de-rail the conversation but I'd like to take this opportunity to talk about what contestants can do to help speed things up and keep things running smoothly- saving time and perhaps making it possible for freestyle and/or an additional round:

1) Go to a judging clinic, be prepared to judge and don't make the CD's come begging you to do it (believe me, it feels like you're begging). I live for the day when the majority of contestants can judge and are pro-active about volunteering. It is the biggest hassle a CD deals with- who can judge, what class are they "comfortable" judging, scheduling so that a judge doesn't have a conflict with his flying/holding up a contest, being asked if they can pass on judging so they can call for their buddy, trying not to overwork the few quality and trained judges you have at a contest so you don't burn them out or be unfair to them.... I could go on but I won't.

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

[!Spike!]

I second that. Even small contests I have been to never wrap up before 3:00pm.
I have always pushed for freestyles in the SW reigon but have always met with the same lame answer of "We don't have time" what they all mean is they are unwilling to make time. Making time for freestyles can only help to make our attendance grow and encourage pilots to move up in class to qualify for the freestyles.

Come on SW. lets do it!!!

[BR289]

	Quote: Originally Posted by dmichael
	Wayne's right. I estimate I have been to probably 50-60 contests over the years and have CD'd probably a half dozen more. It's more like: Even with only around 30 contestants, unknowns not finished til closer to noon. Second round done around 2-3 o'clock if you're lucky. Final calculations, awards and wrap-up take maybe another hour. You're on the road by about 3-4 o'clock. Sorry to de-rail the conversation but I'd like to take this opportunity to talk about what contestants can do to help speed things up and keep things running smoothly- saving time and perhaps making it possible for freestyle and/or an additional round: 1) Go to a judging clinic, be prepared to judge and don't make the CD's come begging you to do it (believe me, it feels like you're begging). I live for the day when the majority of contestants can judge and are pro-active about volunteering. It is the biggest hassle a CD deals with- who can judge, what class are they "comfortable" judging, scheduling so that a judge doesn't have a conflict with his flying/holding up a contest, being asked if they can pass on judging so they can call for their buddy, trying not to overwork the few quality and trained judges you have at a contest so you don't burn them out or be unfair to them.... I could go on but I won't. 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

I totally agree with dave....I have only run one IMAC event and tried my best to make it run smoothly.
Most of the participants were fairly close "Homewise" yet only two or three really wanted to do a "Freestyle". Alot of these guys are the same at each event and the freestyle ends up being the same thing...actually trying to convince more people to participate.
Maybe the idea of doing it on a Sautrday night might help....Maybe leaving it up to a vote Friday or Saturday morning would be the thing to do.
Blair