p24 - Slalom Scoring Revision

Proposal from

Andy Phillips, GBR

Proposal title

Slalom Scoring Revision

Existing text

A4

3.C5; 3.C6; 3.C7; 3.C9; 3.C10

Scoring

Where

t_pil =  the measured pilots time (seconds)

m =  the number of missed targets

v_pen = the time penalty for each missed target (seconds)

t_pen = the pilots time (after penalties for missed targets)

t_best = the best time (after penalties for missed targets)

Q = the task value before normalization

Note:  Spreadsheet formulas:

 t_pen:  = _t_pil + m * v_pen_

Q:  = LOG(3 * t_best / (t_pen – t_best – 1))

New text

Reason

Before the use of the current formula, at the 2009 World Championship, the Clover Leaf slalom task showed the top 5 scores in PF1 class as follows:

1=1000, 2=852, 3=844, 4=817, 5=816

With the new current equation, the scores would have been much more punishing:

1=1000, 2=685, 3=676, 4=649, 5= 648

The current scoring formula for slalom tasks is too complicated and too punitive to all but the top couple of pilots. In order to be consistent in the spread of points we are proposing that the task is scored in fair proportion to the times recorded.

In 2006, a new radical formula was voted in and at the following Worlds in China, the Team leaders tried unsuccessfully to revert to the previous formula. In 2007, another formula was voted in and used in 2008 and 2009. It was not perfect and there must be a better way to score slalom tasks, but the new current one is not an improvement in any way or shape.

I therefore propose to revert to a formula that anyone could use with a simple calculator until a better one can be debated and demonstrated to be an improvement.            

Option B to be scoring proportional to the square of the times, which is still not as punitive as the current formula.