Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 19:41:42 -1000 From: Bert Tanaka Message-Id: <9601170540.AA14169@us3rmc.pa.dec.com> Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University Subject: Re: Changing equipment at competitions "pleclerc@zorro.ruca.ua.ac.be" "Peter Leclercq" Peter Pan writes: >Subj: Changing equipment in competition >In European Competitions we have the possibility to set up your equipment >within 5 minutes before you start with your routine. If, for some reason, >you have to wait and the wind changes considerably, you are allowed to >change your equipment. This is not what the Rulebook states, but has been >agreed by competition flyers in Europe and applied since then. (if I am >not mistaken, even at the World Cup) I like this a lot. Wind meters are helpful but nothing is as good as feeling the kite with the lines in your hands. Nothing. Nada. Nichts. >Now here is my question to all competitors: what do you think about the >possibility to change your kites between compulsories and free-style >precision? You would then be able to fly your compulsories with a highly >precise kite and afterwards pick up a kite for the more advanced flying, >including some ground and aerial tricks. For teams, I wouldn't think that using different kites would be much of an advantage. There are basic team kite requirements for tracking and speed control that make it difficult to use a really radical kite. And, the top Masters in the Individual events are usually so adept and familiar with the particular kites that they use, it seems that they can make even the most radical kites appear sedate when they need them to perform in that way. While I agree with the intent of this suggestion, to me it would add another "stop" to an event that already has poor continuity. For the Individual events, I much prefer league style Precision where the compulsories are incorporated into the Freestyle. By eliminating all the "stops", league style makes IP, normally not a big crowd pleaser, a more interesting event, which is better for the sport. Good Winds, Bert = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =