[CQ-Contest] WRTC - NOT 2022 BUT THE FUTURE

[Sterling Mann]

If WRTC ever gets televised on ESPN, I would consider that a smashing
success. I almost consider radiosport an e-sport, and it would even be
interesting to see WRTC streamed and commentated on Twitch.tv.

>What benefit is there of allowing Youth contesters? It makes us feel good
- but frankly what is the point of allowing a soft goal to youth?

Ham radio greatly benefits from the introduction of new hams - like young
people - through large public displays of involvement by youth. If makes
sense to me to have at least *some* youth interest in the world's premiere
radiosport championship not to make us feel good, but to say to the world
"Hey kids, you can do this too." And for ham radio, I think there's always
a desperate need for young blood.

Are you implying that we remove the WRTC youth category and either have
young people compete at the same level of everyone else assuming they
qualify OR restrict WRTC competitors to a certain age minimum (what is
youth in reference to ham radio anyway?)

A youth only WRTC sounds interesting. YOTA has made strides in the youth
contesting arena, starting the Youth Contesting Program
<https://www.ham-yota.com/youth-contesting-program/> in IARU R1, and in
IARU R2, K3LR is hosting Team Exuberance
<https://www.gofundme.com/team-exuberance> for CQ WPX SSB this year, and
more plans are in the works (saving the spoilers for this week's ARRL
Contest Update). I think I would be amiable to the idea. I'd also like to
see a Youth category or identifier (i.e. it doesn't pit your score against
only other youths, unlike say a College category) in contests.

--Sterling N0SSC

On Tue, Jan 22, 2019 at 3:39 PM Trent Sampson <vk4ts at outlook.com> wrote:

> What are we trying to achieve with WRTC?
>
> Not 2022 but the future.
>
> If it is a contester get together with a feel-good outcome, then we just
> need a hotel with a bar.
>
> If we want to make it a challenge for the best of the best from all over
> the globe, then we need criteria that will achieve same.
>
> From Zone 33 to work into EU on 160M it is akin to shooting ducks in a
> barrel - from VK and ZL to work EU on 160 it is an achievement -even with
> large beverages low noise and big verticals it is hard work.
>
> Do we need to follow the IARU model, noting it is the IARU Contest it is
> based on and determine a selection criterion based on the IARU member
> societies and allow qualification nomination to come from the societies?
>
> What benefit is there of allowing Youth contesters? It makes us feel good
> - but frankly what is the point of allowing a soft goal to youth? What is
> the point of Wild Cards?
>
> The Olympics has a separate competition for Youth - maybe we could follow
> in 2026 or even a separate competition for the disabled.
>
> It needs to start now so that the criteria is well established before the
> end of the 2022 event but change does need to happen.
>
> Will be interested in the feedback
>
> 73
>
> Trent VK4TS
>
>
>
>
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