Peoria's Balloons at the Park Completes 18 tasks

We miss understood the baggie measuring procedures of the new pointed baggies.  We've updated below

Eighteen tasks is ton for any event, but Maury Petrehn's event in Peoria last weekend did it in just three flights, completing an 11 part flight in the process.  The event used Maury's own rule book, which is a very entertaininig look into what he calls "the future of competition ballooning."  Highlights of the book include a new scoring system where least is best, pilots scoring their peers, and goal of double digit tasks in a single flight. 

 mp_rule_book.doc

The Peoria event was the first test for the rules and for Petrehn as a Director, and he wasted no time jumping right in, calling an 11 part task for the first competition flight Friday morning.  

 

 

 

Flight One 

 

1  JDG
2  MXD
3  JDG
4  JDG
5  MXD
6  PDG
7  JDG
8  PDG
9  PDG
10 JDG
11 MIN

 

 

 

Pilots had 7 total baggies for the flight meaning that four of the tasks were scored by GPS.  The two page task sheet was intimidating to the pilots, but Petrehn made it no secret that his intention was to call a flight with double digit tasks during the weekend.  For the most part the flight was a success, but the winds calmed and shifted for the last few targets, making scores several thousand meters away.

 

After the flight pilots went back to the field to help score the flight, an idea that was ultimately abandoned.  Most pilots have no experience scoring a task and were lost.  But those that did know, stayed and helped as much as they could.  Petrehn and wife Jen assumed most of the burden, staying up all night Saturday to get an overall ranking posted before the final flight Sunday morning.  

 

Petrehn's rules call for scoring much like golf, the lower you score the better.  For baggie tasks the below scoring table is used to assign points to a pilot's result.  The idea is that "you don’t have to whine and moan and cry over an inch here."  There are similar point breakdowns for GPS tasks in the rules as well.

Inside of a 1 meter circle = 0 points

Inside of 2 meters = ½ point

Inside of 4 meters = 1

7 meters = 1 ½

11 meters = 2

15 meters = 2/ ½

20 meters = 3

27 meters = 3 ½

35 meters = 4

45 meters = 4 ½

59 meters = 5

75 meters = 5 ½

100 meters = 6

150 meters = 6 ½

250 meters = 7

Anyone outside of - 250 meters = 7 ½ points 

 

  

The only weather issues of the weekend came in the form of light rain and low visibility on Saturday morning.  After a brief hold, pilots were released for a successful 3 part task.  

 

The multi-use park that served as the main field is a great venue for a balloon event.  Many acres of cut grass gives this event plenty of room to grow, something that the event organizers have said they hope to do.  The field could certainly handle a 100-150 balloon event with no problems.  

Petrehn also debuted his new baggie design for this event.  He turned the weighted square portion of the bag on its point, the idea being that there is one and only one point for scoring officials to measure from for every competitor.  However, Petrehn did say you can adjust the rule for your event to measure the closest of the three points, whatever the director wishes to do.   

 

The final flight of the event was Sunday morning and a four part task was called, the last of which was at the main field allowing pilots to land after throwing their final marker.  Current World Champion Johnny Petrehn figured out the new rules and won the first time event, ahead of second place Spencer Conlin, and third Bill Baker.  

 

 2011 peoria - final standings.doc

 

We received several emails, texts and tweets from pilots at the event who were very excited about the new style of competition and the way that Petrehn ran the event.  You won't find anyone more passionate about his ideas than Maury Petrehn, and he has big plans for this event.  The organizer has commited to an expanded event for next year and we are looking forward to more evolution and testing of the Maury Rules.