NOPS head-to-head -- anybody ever try anything like this?

[Than_Bogan]

In several other threads recently, the general idea of more "interesting" tournaments has come up a few times.

A few years back, a MA guy named Al Stokes had a really "outside the box" idea for a 3-event tournament.  As far as I know, this was never actually done, but this seemed like a good time and place to bring it up.

The idea is that at the end of a "normal" 3-event tournament, you have a single elimination head-to-head based solely on NOPS points, without regard to event, age, or gender.  So you could have a 66 year old jumper skiing against a 12 year old slalom skier, or any other combination.

Since this would be just for fun, it would be possible to be a bit lax on some things, like using multiple boats to keep things moving.

I think the most challenging aspect of this is that many 3-event sites need some changes in configuration between events, which might make it very impractical to have jumpers alternating with slalom skiers.

But surely there must be some sites where this would be doable?  As a specialist myself, it seems like this could be a way to bring more of my attention to the "other" events.

Anybody ever try it?  Anybody want to?

[Roger]

Never tried that, but we did have a head to head handicapped slalom at the end of one of our tournaments (Okeeheelee).

This year, we are trying another new idea at our Semptember Slalom Jamboree, double elimination head to head. A Winners Bracket and a Losers Bracket. As long as you keep winning, you remain in the Winners Bracket. If you lose, you move to the Losers Bracket to face another skier who has lost once in the Winners Bracket. As long as you keep winning in the Losers Bracket, you keep skiing. Eventually, the winner of the Winners Bracket faces the winner of the Losers Bracket. If the winner of the Winners Bracket wins, he/she is declared the winner of the event. If the Winner of the Losers Bracket wins, then the two skiers ski against each other a 2nd time to determine the winner of the event.

We will also be running a standard 3 rnd slalom event in another lake for those that don't qualify for the head to head or would rather compete in the traditional format. Details and rules to be posted at http://www.okeeski.com

 

[RichardDoane]

Roger - are you going to allow "Power Vests" in your H2H ?

[Roger]

Beats me, I don't make the rules (if I did, there would be no PV or Clinchers for that matter)...

[clemsondave]

NOPS points doesn't work very well. If you have one outstanding older or younger skier, they will win. Example, we have a M8 skier that can get mid 38. NOPS points are through the roof for him.

 

We have been running a handicapped head to head series in Va for a couple years. Called it the Va Little Dawg Series. It has been a huge success. See the 'rules' page here: http://www.skilittledawg.com

[Than_Bogan]

M8 skier getting mid 38 sounds like his NOPS points *should* be through the roof.  That guy is completely destroying his peers I suspect.

We've done some handicapped style things, and I definitely like those, but I think the idea here was to simply honor the best relative to their event, age, and gender.

NOPS may have some "issues" but it's the only thing I am currently aware of that could be performance based, but allow folks of all ages and genders, and competing in any event, a chance.

But mainly just trying to stimulate some ideas, anyhow.

[HO 410]

I don't really think that NOPS points are a bad way to go handicapping a tournament if you're wanting an elite trick skier to compete against an elite slalom skier. What you won't be able to do is replicate the Big Dawg style of head to head where skier 2 must match skier 1. You would need to pull a full round and then compare scores. 

A big part of the appeal of the Big Dawg format is the importance of each pass and the immediacy of the results. I love the Little Dawg formate and would almost want to encourage a little wagering off the handicap, "The book says I get 3 1/2 buoys, well I'm telling you I only need 2."

[clemsondave]

Yes, we go pass for pass. I could go against someone with an average at 15off. We start 3 passes back from our average.

 

Example:

Me: average is 5 @ 38 so I start at 32 off.

Skier X: average is 5 at 15off 34mph. They start at 15off 30mph.

Two boats in the water. First skier makes a pass and waits at the other end. Second skier makes a pass and joins skier 1 at the end of the lake. This continues until someone falls. Second skier has to beat the first. So, let's say I got 4 at 38. Skier 2 would have to get 4 1/4 at 15off.

 

[Than_Bogan]

I definitely like the Little Dawg format.  Very clever and sounds really fun.

But it does something a bit different than this wacky NOPS idea, and I'm just looking for interesting and different things to add some flavor to certain tournaments.

(To be clear, I'm not personally looking for that -- I enjoy simple go-for-rankings slalom-only tournaments most of all.  But I also love to brainstorm new ideas, and it seemed like some comments around this forum suggested a search for new things to do.  This might be one.)