men vs. women

[spitfire1940]

Could someone tell me why women and men compete separately in aerobatics?

I would think this is a sport where the sexes are pretty much on an even playing field, since strength, especially of the upper body, isn't of prime importance.

Sorry for the dumb question!!

 

[Mike Eggen]

In the U.S. ,IAC sanctioned contest, med and women do compete against each other. I'm not sure about Europe or UK. I think at the World Aerobatic
Championships they compete against each other but they have mens,womens, and overall champs.

 

[spitfire1940]

Thanks!

So they do and don't compete against each other. Interesting.

 

[mzaharis]

I was watching the (2000?) FAI World Aerobatics Championship on Discovery Wings a long time ago, and they interviewed Mike Heuer, who was talking about a proposal to eliminate the separate womens championship. Apparently, it didn't go through.

 

[spitfire1940]

thanks for that. It's a strange situation. It appears to me that men and women can compete in this sport on completely equal footing.


Aside from bowling and marksmanship, I can't think of any other sports where the sexes are so balanced.

Oh well, I guess I won't find the answer in this forum.

 

[yaya]

thanks for that. It's a strange situation. It appears to me that men and women can compete in this sport on completely equal footing.


Aside from bowling and marksmanship, I can't think of any other sports where the sexes are so balanced.

Oh well, I guess I won't find the answer in this forum.

.Chuckle. I am wondering why your question?

 

[spitfire1940]

Why? Just curious ... if strength isn't an issue, why doesn't everybody compete together? It's no big deal ... I thought there might be an obvious reason.

 

[say again]

I like to compete FOR women!!

 

[Airbum]

Why? Just curious ... if strength isn't an issue, why doesn't everybody compete together? It's no big deal ... I thought there might be an obvious reason.

I don't know a obvious reason, my thoughts where always on the reasoning it allowed more trophies to be handed out . The IAC is such a small niche. I thought the division between men and women was driven for international competitions. It does seem funny to think of female fighter pilots flying combat and yet they can't compete on a level playing field in a little pitts.

I would like it to be about the "best" pilot not the best male or female pilot.

 

[AdolphOlivrbush]

It's because if women competed against the men, they would never win! Duh!

 

[Mike Eggen]

In IAC competition men and women do compete against each other head to head. Women are most successful in the most advanced category (unlimited)

 

[mzaharis]

They currently announce overall, mens, and womens competition winners.

For example, in 2005, Sergei Rakhmanin was the overall and Men's champion, and Svetlana Kapanina (4th overall) was Women's champion.

Note: in the following link, there's an error that lists the womens champions as overall champions, despite the fact that they have lower scores than the mens champions (see Betty Stewart and Viktor Smolin in the 1982 championships). I think that this problem is only for results from 1986 and earlier.

http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/chronology.asp?id=13

 

[Mike Eggen]

"They currently announce overall, mens, and womens competition winners."

Thats true for Fai not Iac

 

[mzaharis]

"They currently announce overall, mens, and womens competition winners."

Thats true for Fai not Iac

You are correct. Sorry I did not notice that distinction.

 

[glasspilot]

I don't know a obvious reason, my thoughts where always on the reasoning it allowed more trophies to be handed out . The IAC is such a small niche. I thought the division between men and women was driven for international competitions. It does seem funny to think of female fighter pilots flying combat and yet they can't compete on a level playing field in a little pitts.

I would like it to be about the "best" pilot not the best male or female pilot.

"Allowed more trophies to be handed out." ??!!??!!

By your reasoning then they should have a mens compition, a womens, a men with black hair, women with blonde hair, black man, black woman, black man albino, women black albino, man named "Tim", woman named "Sally", man named "Roger", woman named "Becky", man with tatoo, woman with tatoo, man with funny look, woman with funny look compition too. Hey, MORE TROPHIES right? .....sheesh

 

[mzaharis]

"Allowed more trophies to be handed out." ??!!??!!

By your reasoning then they should have a mens compition, a womens, a men with black hair, women with blonde hair, black man, black woman, black man albino, women black albino, man named "Tim", woman named "Sally", man named "Roger", woman named "Becky", man with tatoo, woman with tatoo, man with funny look, woman with funny look compition too. Hey, MORE TROPHIES right? .....sheesh

Whoa, whoa, hold on there! Read Airbum's final sentence!

I would like it to be about the "best" pilot not the best male or female pilot.

He's not trying to advocate gender-specific trophies, he's just trying to understand why it's the current state of affairs. Anyway, as Mike Eggen pointed out, IAC doesn't give gender-specific trophies - only the FAI does!

 

[Mike Eggen]

If anyone's interested here's a link where you can read blogs from the US team at the WAC getting underway in Spain. www.unlimitedaerobaticsusa.com.

 

[Airbum]

Guess this is what happens when they let a history major on the internet. (me) <BG>

Mzaharis thanks for the backup

Glasspilot: Many sports offer age group/men/women categories in my understanding. No offense was meant concerning my thoughts.
Like Mzaharris said I just like the idea of pilots competing on a level playing field. Let the best win.

However I would like a special category for guys who can't do a decent vertical roll! I could rock!

 

[spitfire1940]

Hey Guys,
Just got back from two weeks vacation (in Russia) where I purposefully avoided all contact with the internet.
I was glad to see some thoughtful responses to my question. Knowledge and reason are rare commodities in the Hanger! Nobody flamed me for asking or blamed the division between men and women on Mesa or Kit Darby ... although they probably DO bear some responsibility ...

 

[flynfr8]

Women vs. Men

It's because if women competed against the men, they would never win! Duh!

Funny, the current AND recently former US National Unlimited Aerobatic Champions ARE WOMEN! Vicki Cruse and Debby Rihn-Harvey, respectively. Then there is Patty Wagstaff...

The FAI/CIVA has their rules, and the IAC works in concert with them to keep the operations of contests consistent with world level competition. In the US, the National Champion in each discipline is non-gender specific, it is only during team selection for the World Championships where gender comes into play.

 

[spitfire1940]

Thanks for resurrecting the thread, flynfr8.

I didn't know the division into men's and women's competitions only takes place at the world level, or in preparation for it.

I guess it just makes things more interesting to divide the competition up ... but wouldn't you say this is a sport where men and women compete on equal footing as opposed to things like track and field or figure skating?

 

[flynfr8]

When I watch a competitor or airshow pilot fly, I look at technique and precision, as well as artistic expression and the uniqueness of the figures (as seen in the 4-minute freestyle), not at gender.

That being said, when I watch a female competitor or performer fly, I am thrilled that there is someone who can inspire my daughter to excellence.

Pretty much all I have to say about that. Enjoy the sport, and volunteer at IAC contests. The volunteer coordinators are always looking for folks to assist.

 

[Airbum]

just get out there and fly. SO few pilots fly aerobatics. Encourage everyone to try the "outside" life!

Wish more did