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Guest
Guest
The traditional stance of AAFTA has been to keep the sport pure and inclusive and affordable(that jeanie is out of the bottle already) by not having money prizes at Nationals. I learned this weekend that at this years nat's at Rio Salado in Phoenix will be offering cash prizes in four combined classes, not the six that are being shot for official score.
The money issue isn't so much of a problem with me other than AAFTA's apparent two faced nature when it comes to their stance of rules, guidelines and the future of the sport.
How these prizes are being handed out is the issue. There are six classes. WFTF(world field target rules) separated by power plant type, spring piston and pcp shooting up to 12fpe. Open class is 20fpe limit with stability aids allowed that the other classes don't get to use(pay attention here, it's an important distinction that will be evident soon). This class is also separated by power plant between spring piston and pcp. The last class in Hunter, again up to 20fpe with shooting aids and restrictions the other classes aren't allowed. Also separated by spring piston and pcp.
The structure for class prizes goes like this:
Hunter PCP/Spring Piston
WFTF PCP
Open PCP
WFTF/OPEN Spring Piston
You may be wondering what the problem with this is. First to combine Classes with different power plants(Hunter) guaranties that those shooting springer have no chance of winning any money. By combining WFTF and OPEN spring piston while keeping the power plants the same you have removed the WFTF shooters from the prize pool. Not only does Open class get to shoot at a higher power, but the use of thigh rests and a harness gives that class a distinct, and except for maybe on or two WFTF spring piston shooters in the nation a chance at the prize money.
Of course combining classes that have low attendance has always been used, the timing here is the middle finger to those shooting in the combined classes. The email went out two weeks before the event. While it may seem simple enough for those in the combined class to choose to shoot the more advantageous platform, most don't have the equipment, let alone the time to get another rig ready and vetted in the next 12 days.
This is another example of AAFTA's mismanagement of Nationals and general disorganization. I understand it's a volunteer organization, but it is taking money from clubs and individual shooters to Manage the sport in the US and support/manage the Nationals event. You dropped the ball again and sooner than later someone else is going to pick it back up before you.
Edit: Class consolidation corrections below.
The money issue isn't so much of a problem with me other than AAFTA's apparent two faced nature when it comes to their stance of rules, guidelines and the future of the sport.
How these prizes are being handed out is the issue. There are six classes. WFTF(world field target rules) separated by power plant type, spring piston and pcp shooting up to 12fpe. Open class is 20fpe limit with stability aids allowed that the other classes don't get to use(pay attention here, it's an important distinction that will be evident soon). This class is also separated by power plant between spring piston and pcp. The last class in Hunter, again up to 20fpe with shooting aids and restrictions the other classes aren't allowed. Also separated by spring piston and pcp.
The structure for class prizes goes like this:
Hunter PCP/Spring Piston
WFTF PCP
Open PCP
WFTF/OPEN Spring Piston
You may be wondering what the problem with this is. First to combine Classes with different power plants(Hunter) guaranties that those shooting springer have no chance of winning any money. By combining WFTF and OPEN spring piston while keeping the power plants the same you have removed the WFTF shooters from the prize pool. Not only does Open class get to shoot at a higher power, but the use of thigh rests and a harness gives that class a distinct, and except for maybe on or two WFTF spring piston shooters in the nation a chance at the prize money.
Of course combining classes that have low attendance has always been used, the timing here is the middle finger to those shooting in the combined classes. The email went out two weeks before the event. While it may seem simple enough for those in the combined class to choose to shoot the more advantageous platform, most don't have the equipment, let alone the time to get another rig ready and vetted in the next 12 days.
This is another example of AAFTA's mismanagement of Nationals and general disorganization. I understand it's a volunteer organization, but it is taking money from clubs and individual shooters to Manage the sport in the US and support/manage the Nationals event. You dropped the ball again and sooner than later someone else is going to pick it back up before you.
Edit: Class consolidation corrections below.
