E-petition - USPA Competion committee

[Jumperpaula 0]

This was sent to me a few days ago. Interesting topic of discussion. Should I sign it? Im not a competitor, but I support them.
> Friends
> Changes are going to made in the coming weeks
> that affect the way YOUR U.S. Nationals are conducted.
> This is your opportunity to change your Nationals to
> better serve your interests. If you are, were, or will
> be a competitive skydiver and agree with this
> E-petition please take note.
>
> 1. Forward this petition to the address in the subject
> box along with your USPA member# in the subject box.
> 2. Forward this message to any and all concerned
> friends in your mailing list.
> 3. Feel free to add comments of your own, but please
> do not alter the body of this petition.
> 4. Delete this preamble before sending to USPA.
>
> It's takes only a few minutes to forward this
> message. If you choose not to then you will have no
> right to complain next year. So please, point and
> click your way to change.
>
> PETITION STARTS HERE
> ______________________________________________________________________
>
> USPA Competition committee members
>
> We would like to take a few moments of your
> valuable time to outline a few concerns we have about
> the current rule changes for FS competition that will
> be discussed at the Feb. meeting, and also outline a
> few proposals we feel will better serve our needs.
>
> First, to allow the Advanced class champion to
> stay in that division year after year would be a slap
> in the face to most seasoned and novice competitors.
> The proposal as we know it has been originated by Kurt
> Gaebel of the NSL whom is also a member of Taewaz.
> Mr.Gaebel has taken advantage of the success of the
> NSL to push his own personal agenda. There are many
> NSL competitors who do not wish for Mr. Gaebel to
> speak for them, we are just a few of many. It is our
> opinion that Kurt and his very well trained team have
> aspirations of "camping out" in the advanced class for
> many years to come in some twisted fantasy of being
> "amateur Champion" of the world year in and year out.
> If you are to consider allowing the advanced class
> winner to stay then why not allow the intermediate
> class champion as well? We can answer that for you,
> because too many members would be upset, thats why.
> Then why would you think for a moment that most of the
> members would not be upset with allowing the advanced
> class champion to stay. We have heard their argument
> for staying in the advanced class: (Pro vs. Amateur),
> "I don't want to quit my job, live in a roach infested
> trailer, eat beenie wennies and haul tons of tandems
> for years waiting to be picked by a top team". Well,
> thats what most of the world class competitors choose
> to do to be on top. If Mr.Gaebel wants to be on top
> then those are the sacrifices that have to made. You
> can't have your cake and eat it too.
>
> With the recent advent of "player coaches" it is
> foreseeable that an "Amateur team" could live
> indefinatly in the Advanced class. This would
> discourage competition and eventually lead to disgust
> among members.
>
> Leave the rule in place. All winners move up to
> the next class. The only reason we are talking about
> it is because Mr.Gaebel wants you to believe he speaks
> for the 100 or so teams that use the NSL as a means to
> "train" for what matters most to members..."our US
> Nationals". Which by the way, will never be replaced
> by the NSL in any way, shape, or form regardless of
> how hard Mr.Gaebel promotes the NSL.
>
> Second, we do agree with Mr.Gaebel on a few
> points. Yes, there needs to be a class between the
> current intermediate and advanced. We agree with his
> proposal for a class that "bridges" the gap. That
> division would have, from the current dive pool, 16
> blocks, all randoms with no mirror/non-repeater
> sequences of 4-5 points.
> Entry level Competition continues to grow as
> evidenced by the FACT that over half of the teams at
> the Nationals this year were in the intermediate class
> and steps should be taken to ensure their needs and
> wants are met. That tells us the competition committee
> needs to get busy pleasing the masses.
>
> Thirdly, we would like to propose a few changes
> to the current competition format:
>
> 1. ALL Teams should be allowed to fully
> demonstrate their skills via enough competition rounds
> to cover all, or nearly all, of the blocks and
> formations. Ten rounds will allow us to do so.
> Competitors don't want to jump less, they want to jump
> more. The average intermediate team may make between
> 100-250 training jumps before Nationals only to get
> there and be allowed to make 6 jumps. If lift capacity
> and time needed to complete 4-way is the major concern
> then allow an intermediate team to decide whether it
> wants to do ten rounds for the championship or six
> rounds for the experience. This option will help
> reduce the total number of rounds and subsequently the
> lift capacity and time needed to complete the event.
>
> 2. Skydive Arizona should host all future
> Nationals events. They obviously have the capacity,
> facilities, staff and weather to make every Nationals
> a success from a competitors point of view. Members
> don't care about distribution of funds to USPA member
> DZs, we care about making 6-10 competition jumps per
> day on fast, well organized aircraft into great
> weather conditions.
>
> 3. We want fair judging. We want our out of sight
> hand grip on a meeker to count the same as Arizona
> Airspeeds out of site hand grip on a Compressed
> Accordian/ Box, and countless other documented
> similarities. It seems the judges look for an
> Intermediate teams missing grips and ASSUMES Airspeeds
> has theirs. This situation needs to change or judging
> credibility, and subsequently, Nationals credibility
> will suffer. Intermediate and Advanced teams take
> their competition just as serious as our world class
> counterparts do and demand to be judged in the same
> like manner.
>
> 4. Rules need to be in place to curb a disturbing
> trend of late; highly experienced coaches and
> competitors, many current and previous medalists of
> the U.S., France, GB, Canada, and other countries with
> greencards joining with weekend competitors, either by
> aquaintance or monetary agreement to compete at our
> Nationals. Case in point; Optic Nerve had two highly
> experienced competitors of world class caliber join
> them to compete solely at this years Nationals.
> It will be a dark day when a US Nationals medal
> can be bought and paid for. We do not agree with this
> blatant attempt to usurp the rules and demand steps be
> taken to end it.
>
> 5. We would like to be kept well informed via the
> member dues supported web site of all pertinent
> information regarding issues that affect our Nationals
> competition in a timely manner.
>
> In summation:
>
> 1. All medalists should continue to be required to
> move up to the next division.
>
> 2. A division is needed to bridge the gap between
> Intermediate and Advanced. A total of four divisions
> are needed to better serve the needs of entry level
> teams. The current Intermediate, The new division,
> Advanced, and open will accommodate all members needs
> and abilities.
>
> 3. All entry level divisions(Intermediate/new class)
> should have the option of competing in a 10 round
> venue.
>
> 4. All future Nationals events should be held at
> Skydive Arizona.
>
> 5. Rules to prevent teams from using hired guns at our
> Nationals.
>
> 6. Timely distribution of information via the
> web site and Parachutist magazine.
>
> Respectfully
> USPA Members
>
Fly Your Slot !

[mwthomsen 0]

Paula,
After reading the petition it sounds like the individual submitting the document has some valid points that should be discussed, but at the same time the individual has included a couple of things that appear as if he has a personal agenda in mind. It is those items and the limitation in being able to change the document that would make me think hard about signing it and sending it to the USPA. Maybe your post will spur some conversation that will narrow down what issues are truely at hand.
Mike

[Jumperpaula 0]

[url "http://www.uspa.org/CurrentMembers/Competition/100101.htm
http://www.uspa.org/CurrentMembers/Competition/100101.htm
[/url]
Here's the link to proposed changes -
Fly Your Slot !

[mwthomsen 0]

Paula,
Thanks, after going to the site and reading the proposed changes I wouldn't sign the petition. The USPA has given us an opportunity to express our opinions in two ways, one by commenting on the propsed changes individually and the other by answering the questioneer. IMO when petitions are submitted too often individuals stray from the issues that are important and combine some personal, selffish belief system that specifically benefits them.
Mike

[Jumperpaula 0]

Personal agenda's such as making Eloy the USPA Headquarters for the Nationals? The current system of taking bids and awarding the work to the most efficient proposal keeps these dropzones competitive and inovative. What would happen to any DZ that had THE WORLDS TOP SKYDIVING EVENT locked up for several years? What would happen to jump ticket prices? Training Schedules? Team Rates? What's the incentive to grow and provide good service to the customer? (yes, the skydiver is THE CUSTOMER..) I like the bidding process. I like competition in any marketplace.
Fly Your Slot !

[weid14 0]

I wouldn't sign this petition, there is actaully an e-poll out there (It is on the parachute history web sight). individual concerns can be brought to the appropriate members of the comp. commitee also. This un-named individual has some personal gripes it appears. The petition does have some points that should be debated, but overall I would not support it (line item veto would come in handy on this one

• Quote

[Jumperpaula 0]

On the issue of the advanced class moving to the open class, - say for instance, Im fortunate enough to medal in the advanced class, then my team breaks up. I form a team at the DZ with 3 jumpers who have never been on a team. Would the fact that I have medaled in advanced class disqualify my team from competing in intermediate? If the answer is 'YES, your team would have to compete in open since you medaled in advanced last year"... I think this needs re-thinking.
Fly Your Slot !

[weid14 0]

no you wouldn't -- the rule is 25% of the team (or one member if 4way obviously) can have medaled in that or a higher class. So you can form that team and do any class you want.