I've adopted the proposals first proposed by paraglider pilots for changing the NTSS points brought to a meet by NTSS ranked pilots in my proposed changes to the USHPA Competition Rulebook. You can find the proposed changes in this document. This is the proposed change:

1. Each competing pilot in the meet (a competing pilot is one who has duly registered and flown at least one competition day) who is NTSS ranked 80_th or higher brings points to the meet in accordance with the following schedule:

Pilots ranked 1_st - 15_th: 45 points

Pilots ranked 16_th - 30_th: 30 points

Pilots ranked 31_st - 45_th: 20 points

Pilots ranked 46_th - 60_th: 15 points

Pilots ranked 61_st - 75_th: 10 points

Pilots ranked 76_th- 80_th: 5 points

Previously it was:

Pilots ranked 1_st - 10_th: 45 points

Pilots ranked 11_th - 20_th: 30 points

Pilots ranked 21_st - 30_th: 20 points

Pilots ranked 31_st - 40_th: 14 points

Pilots ranked 41_st - 50_th: 9 points

Pilots ranked 51_st - 60_th: 6 points

Pilots ranked 61_st - 70_th: 4 points

Pilots ranked 71_st - 80_th: 2 points

In addition this change:

1. Foreign pilots are welcome and allowed in USHPA Sanctioned competitions.

Pilots ranked 1_st - 100_th: 45 points

Pilots ranked 101_st - 200_th: 30 points

Pilots ranked 201_st - 300_th: 20 points

Pilots ranked 301_st - 400_th: 15 points

Pilots ranked 401_st - 500_th: 10 points

Pilots ranked 501_st - 600_th: 5 points

Previously it was:

The NTSS ranking is made up only of U.S. pilots. However, the NTSS recognizes, for the purpose of points calculation, an equivalent foreign pilot's ranking according to the most current WPRS ranking with the top 20 places equal to the top 10 U.S. pilots and the WPRS ranking 21 through 40 equal to the NTSS 11 to 20 and so on up to WPRS 140 through 160 equal to NTSS 70 through 80.

As you can see my proposed change to the NTSS competition program involves giving NTSS ranking points to more pilots so that they bring more points overall to competitions that they attend upping the perceived value of those meets (and thereby encouraging others to attend).

Dave Wheeler, who volunteers to do the NTSS ranking on the USHPA, graciously volunteered to see what difference this proposal would have made in the 2009 meets. Here is the result of his analysis:

Here is how the overall validity of the 2009 hang gliding competitions changed under this proposal:

Competition	Validity
	Original	New
Forbes Flatland	507	522
Bogong Cup	472	487
NSW State Titles	144	159
Rob Kells Memorial	600	600
Flytec Race & Rally	560	600
East Coast Championship	300	300
King Mountain Nats	300	300
Big Spring US Nats	482	555
Santa Cruz Flats Race	447	525

Here is how the top ten ranked at the end of the year (2009). First the new ranking under the new proposal:

Pos	Name	Points	Comp 1		Comp 2		Comp 3		Comp 4
1	Glen Volk	2221	660	(FRR2009)	611	(Spr2009)	477	(Crz2008)	473	(RKMC2009)
2	Dustin Martin	2125	660	(RKMC2009)	520	(Crz2008)	484	(FRR2009)	461	(BSI2008)
3	Jeff O'Brien	2012	575	(FRR2009)	481	(Crz2009)	480	(LCPW2008)	476	(RKMC2009)
4	Zac Majors	2007	599	(FRR2009)	531	(Spr2009)	477	(Crz2009)	400	(Crz2008)
5	Jeff Shapiro	1801	496	(FRR2009)	455	(Spr2009)	444	(Crz2008)	406	(For2008)
6	Derrick Turner	1789	513	(Crz2008)	485	(Crz2009)	479	(Spr2009)	312	(RKMC2009)
7	Davis Straub	1622	463	(For2008)	401	(For2009)	382	(Spr2009)	376	(BSI2008)
8	Chris Zimmerman	1581	451	(RKMC2009)	441	(Spr2009)	432	(Crz2008)	257	(BSI2008)
9	Ben Dunn	1409	399	(FRR2009)	351	(Spr2009)	330	(CXC2008)	329	(RKMC2009)
10	Phil Bloom	1383	502	(Crz2008)	333	(Crz2009)	304	(RKMC2009)	244	(CXC2008)

Original top 10:

Pos	Name	Points	Comp 1		Comp 2		Comp 3		Comp 4
1	Glen Volk	2096	616	(FRR2009)	530	(Spr2009)	477	(Crz2008)	473	(RKMC2009)
2	Dustin Martin	2093	660	(RKMC2009)	520	(Crz2008)	461	(BSI2008)	452	(FRR2009)
3	Jeff O'Brien	1968	536	(FRR2009)	480	(LCPW2008)	476	(RKMC2009)	476	(Crz2008)
4	Zac Majors	1826	559	(FRR2009)	461	(Spr2009)	406	(Crz2009)	400	(Crz2008)
5	Jeff Shapiro	1708	463	(FRR2009)	444	(Crz2008)	406	(For2008)	395	(Spr2009)
6	Derrick Turner	1654	513	(Crz2008)	416	(Spr2009)	413	(Crz2009)	312	(RKMC2009)
7	Davis Straub	1560	463	(For2008)	389	(For2009)	376	(BSI2008)	332	(Spr2009)
8	Chris Zimmerman	1523	451	(RKMC2009)	432	(Crz2008)	383	(Spr2009)	257	(BSI2008)
9	Ben Dunn	1337	373	(FRR2009)	330	(CXC2008)	329	(RKMC2009)	305	(Spr2009)
10	Phil Bloom	1334	502	(Crz2008)	304	(RKMC2009)	284	(Crz2009)	244	(CXC2008)

No change in positions, just an increase in the overall points and a bit more spread out. Ben Dunn came out worst.

So, under my proposal the cream still rises to the top, in exactly the same order, as it turns out. But the perception has subtly changed. Now smaller less well attended meets have higher relative value. The message for the future is that you might do well to attend these meets and gather points.

Also these meets may be perceived as having more value to pilots not yet in the top ten and therefore encourage their attendance. Overall, this proposal can be seen as tempering the "elitist" nature of the NTSS by spreading the points out more.

Next on the agenda, what does the LMR proposal due to the NTSS ranking?