Judging Comps ??????

Ok I have done a few comps and flyins this year and I just can't work out what I should be doing to improve ie, do I fly harder as in more aggresivly, to me (and others who speek to me ) it seems like a right black art as in what to do !

I have just done the NE Grass roots (top comp mike great fun ) and I stood next to (called for) several pilots one of which put on a stonking set manuvers rounds and came 13th ???????? I did miss call for him , as in he didn't tell me he was starting a move , so I didn't call it ......
I don't think the judges of any Grass roots comp would mark that down ,so please understand this post is in no way a pop at the judges all of which I respect highly, it's just an attempt to find out how to improve my placing.


So come on comp pilots and judges have some input and help us and me understand how to improve our scores.
Maybe we could see a score card ???? If anyone hase one from NE I am happy for mine to be shown .

Thanks xxxxxxxxxx Rachel

[waveydavey]

Happy for mine to be shown too. I think I fall into the run out of ideas group and redo what I've already done so get repetitive. Rather than fill up the 3 minutes with as much as I can fit in, probably better to attempt something than to leave it out. Recognisable maneouvres so that the judges can see what you're trying to do, centered as best you can, use of the airspace left and right of the centre too. I think judge feedback on he day would help as it helps you at the time.

I don't think the agression thing will work as if you can't do it well it looks untidy and puts your model at risk. Personally I thought your flying has improved leaps and bounds this year Rachel

[steve_b]

My understanding of the sets is that they are marked on the following:

entry and exit height
positioning on the centre line
appearance of the move

The freestyle is marked on the content of the flight, accuracy of the moves and I guess how the flight goes together and flows as a whole.

My flight had too little content and as a result I repeated moves which is why I dropped the points I did, so off to practice a bit of backwards and inverted flying for next year, as this was something very obviously missing from my freestyle compared to the guys and girls that came above me.

[rachel]

Steve by Content , do you mean actual set moves such as flips rainbows etc ie is it a waste of time showing a nice backwards circuit etc ????

I am very confused , at Dave thanks but I was annoyed at my freestyle I freaked out and forgot everything (as usual) bloody nerves !!!!!!!!!!!!

[steve_b]

Steve by Content , do you mean actual set moves such as flips rainbows etc ie is it a waste of time showing a nice backwards circuit etc ????

I am very confused , at Dave thanks but I was annoyed at my freestyle I freaked out and forgot everything (as usual) bloody nerves !!!!!!!!!!!!

My limited sort of understanding is that for example a travelling aileron roll done backwards is a different move to one done forwards, even though they're both just a roll at the end of the day. My freestyle had lots of variations on flips at the end of the day and there were a reasonable number of rainbow type moves, hence the lower score than if I'd put some other moves in.

For the level of competition we're at, i.e. not 3D masters, then a nicely done, smoothly flown and controlled backward circuit is a very valid move, and one I'll probably be adding for next year, likewise hurricane / pie dish type moves, and could be the start of a bit of big air type flying, as I think there is also merit in trying to do a bit of closer in stuff, flips, tic tocs etc etc and some big air loops, stall turns, hurricanes etc.

[Nige]

The 'sets' score is greatly influenced by the 'k' factors for the manoeuvres you choose. The range of k factors for the grassroots manoeuvre set is 1 to 3.5 .
So making a reasonble attempt at a high k manoeuvre may get you a higher score. On the other hand an incomplete manoeuvre may get you a zero!

[Swashbuckler]

I don't wish to imply that you had a hand in the pilot you called for not doing so well, but the judge can only mark a set mano that has the beginning and end called. Also I believe if you called the wrong mano and the pilot performs a different one they get no points for that move. I think for sets as has been said you want consistent speed, altitude, transition, and start and end points. You can't do any better than to watch how Duncan Osbourne performs sets IMO. Freestyle and judging is all a bit hit and miss if you ask me. Popularity (crowd noise/ pleasing), style that the individual judges like, all come in to play and there have been many occasions where I have questioned wtf they were looking at. Fact is if you are known and liked within the community you will get a bit more respect when you fly, the announcer will be silent, more crowd will watch. Wrong but thats how it is.

[rachel]

I hope that the callingf issue didn't effect the pilots flight :-(
I messed up my "Rainbow" and came 7th in that round.

I feel that for me a lesson with a competision pilot / judge may help me out , but to be honest I just didnt feel in control of my Rave all weekend, a combination of a strong wind from behind , poor sky conditions for my freestyle flight and a very odd centrline (pmsl) didn't help , but this post / thread isn't about my bad flying ability its about inproving by understanding the judging aspect .

Thanks all so far for the input :-)
x Rachel

[Obi Wan]

On the other hand an incomplete manoeuvre may get you a zero!

I alway wondered why you kept mumbling zero each time I flew Nige

[Swashbuckler]

Rachel you need to focus on a couple of facts.

You did a demo flight that people talked about.
You got yourself Opti sponsorship.

Many pilots will never achieve such lofty heights. Sure, think about how you might improve, but 2.5 years ago we walked along at 3d champs and you were quite disheartened that you had just failed your B test. So you have improved and will continue to do so. Sometimes forcing it isn't the way, it can lead to a loss of enjoyment. Just keep doing what you're doing.

[tonystevens]

Sometimes forcing it isn't the way, it can lead to a loss of enjoyment. Just keep doing what you're doing.

Thats bang on mike, happened to me recently, was pushing too hard and found i wasnt enjoying myself because i was putting too much pressure on myself to nail certain things. took a step back and got the enjoyment back and the progress is still there too
Its too easy to forget that this is just a hobby, well it is for me anyway.

[Swashbuckler]

I'm still trying to get the enjoyment back Tony. Worst thing I ever did was compete. And the best.

[moonmanflyer]

Have to look at it this way
In sets: yes they have to be called at the start, and at the finish, otherwise you will be marked down the pilot should comunicate just before he starts, the caller should also have prior experience of the person doing those sets so he/she knows when the pilot is starting, very hard to call accurately for someone on the day without minor errors.
In freesstyle: Is hard for judges to mark but the main things are flow, technicality and inovation, you can smack as hard as tareq, but if you keep repeating and do nothing else then will score low, so being aggressive is not goping to score you more than someone flying a smooth technical flight, hence why duncan O always does well in comps, he plays his smooth technical card well

[Leigh Beaumont]

After few ive seen it seems fixed so lost interest in it all now. and im talking from grassroots right up to pro level only comp ive watched that seemed fair was 3d masters, prob upset loads by this comment not meaning to but this is going by what ive see and heard others say such a shame, if your name is known you win or score high, such a shame for really good pilots wanting to make it big and held back as there not pilot of the moment!!!

[waveydavey]

Ouch, I don't think I can agree with your comments. Having competed in both MK Grass Roots and North East Grass Roots this year my placing was similar in both, my sets aren't bad but my freestyle lacks content. Simple as that really.

I think a lot make the mistake that being able to chuck the model around with outright abandon makes for a good competition pilot. It's not the case, a mixture of moves and at Grass Roots Level a sound grounding makes the difference.

My name isn't known but i was 3rd at MK, my club mate Phil definitely isn't known but won the event through superb flying.

How many events have you taken part in or attended just out of interest? The fact that you've lost interest in the comp scene without taking the initiative and involving yourself then denouncing it as rigged is sad in itself. Make the effort and get involved, support those that do and maybe you'll change your mind