Ollie Gregory <<olliettt1955>>
writes:

As the Tennessee Tree Toppers (TTT) competition committee chair, I
thought I'd report on some Tree Topper plans for 2010. The Tree Toppers intend
to host a season of monthly soaring and cross country competitions on the second
weekend of every month starting March 2010 and finishing November 2010. All that
is required is a healthy enthusiasm and, of course, completion of the release
forms.

We'll have duration, spot landing and streamer drop competitions both days so
everyone from hang 2 on up may compete. The spot landing competitions will be
handicapped by hang rating. The pilots with the most winning spot landing points
and streamer drops over the year will become the TTT landing skills champs. I
expect these categories will go to someone on a Falcon or Sport 2! No Clark, you
can't win it tandem with rolling landings!

Categories will include single surface, kingposted, topless and rigid wing
divisions. Contests will include cross country, spot landing, streamer drop,
total number of flights and duration. Winners will be announced after every
flyable week end. Points earned at every competition will accumulate toward the
2010 TTT Weekend Series winners. It will be a blast to compete regularly and add
points for your Series total score. Awards for spot, streamer drop, total
duration, total number of flights, and total XC points in single surface,
kingposted, topless and rigid wing categories will be presented at the 2010 TTT
Xmas party! Maybe we can we get some sponsors?

We intend to have these fun and low stress competitions every second weekend of
the month from March through November! We hope to host great community dinners
after Saturday's flying all during this season long event. Of course, we'll
compete on Sunday too!

Coordinates will be posted for several predefined straight line to goal, out and
back and triangle tasks. Predefined tasks will range from short and simple to
challenging! Pilots will choose a task or open distance to fly each day. Scores
for all predetermined tasks will be posted so you can easily see how much each
flight is worth. Predetermined goal, out and back and triangle tasks will be
weighted to reflect their increased difficulty. Partially completed goal, out
and back and triangle tasks will be scored as open distance, but with a factor
to handicap the more difficult return legs.

We will have tasks designed for hang 2s, hang 3s and advanced pilots to choose
from. Scoring will be self reported on line and automated with easy log ins.
Scoring will be run by the honor's system like everything we do with the Tree
Toppers. Jeff Nibler will adapt a scoring program to help us with this new
contest. Rapidly updated announcements of weekend winners and total standings
for the year long contest will be available on our website! Soon we should be
able to score and post it from the TTT clubhouse. Many TTT members have pledged
money to get an internet connection going there!

TTT is doing this in addition to the Team Challenge and Mayhem Fly In. As we
develop the tasks and handicaps, we will report this on our club's group forum
called Flymail. Of course we will need volunteers for these events. All
volunteers interested in helping us out are encouraged to chime in and assist us
in the development of the next great TTT contribution to our sport! Check out
what is going on at www.tennesseetreetoppers.org. We'll have the rules, tasks and Google Earth map of the valley and turn points up soon!

It will be a blast! Thanks to Barry Klein and Jeff Nibler for helping me
brainstorm! I can't wait for it to start