I am already given to understand that at least one member of the USHPA Competition Workgroup views "competition" pilots as second class citizens. Fair enough. I realize that we aren't the ones that they are trying to please with all their "adjustments" to the NTSS ranking system. Their target is the "silent majority," the rest of the USHPA membership, those pilots who aren't taking part in the USHPA sanctioned competitions.

But just because  we are "competition" pilots does this also mean that we are to be treated with such disdain? That somehow what we say isn't as valuable as what others say?

The USHPA Competition Workgroup is under the delusion that by fiddling with the NTSS points system that can bring about a flowering of competition throughout the nation and bring in the reluctant masses. I say, good luck with that.

So why won't the Competition Workgroup share with all of us their analysis of previous meets to determine if their new meet valuation formula(s) actually does(do) anything? Why aren't the USHPA members treated to a little transparency? Did they learn this from the Bush administration?

How about if they name one single pilot who is supposed to be manipulating the NTSS for their advantage? There is a rumor that at least one of the members of the Competition Workgroup claims that there is a collusion going up among top competition pilots to attend only certain competitions. Name the pilots.

I have written to the top competition paraglider pilots and their answer is no there is no collusion going on to manipulate the NTSS ranking system. Would only the paranoid consider that they were doing this?

From what I have heard Lisa Tate has threatened (in the past and apparently that threat is still viable) to not allow the Big Spring US Nationals to have that moniker (share the Nationals moniker with the King Mountain Nationals) if the new meet valuation formula isn't (or wasn't) approved by the BOD. Since when do we allow the USHPA President to blackmail the USHPA BOD?

Personally, I don't see the connection between the 2009 meet valuation formula and the sharing of the Nationals moniker. This seems to be just horse trading.