So, if I understand correctly – there is no problem if the drift comes straight down the line and if you mess up that’s your fault (no one is holding a gun to your head).
OK, if that’s the case suppose each flier can secretly choose a permanent (non-rotating) pole on the always-used start line at Lost Hills. The majority would choose poles in the middle third. No one would select a pole in the eastern part, and a few might select poles on the western part, but there is some risk of a westerly drift. Evidently, the line orientation does make a BIG difference.
I’m not looking upon this as an excuse for not making the team (I’ve raise this issue well in advance in this thread). Instead, considering the contest/Finals as a whole, were being down/up wind on a line increases/decreases the probability of maxing. In general, the better fliers do take advantage of such information – and why not – it’s a public good for those down line. And, as noted above, a Finals with the drift down the line is really testing fliers skills in piggybacking (even though they might not admit it).
I happen to have suggested rotating the line before the Finals to Jim Parker who rebuffed me saying said it was "not in the program". Buzz Avrill thought it was a great idea, but was barred from implementing one by the Team Selection overview subcommittee on Thursday morning. During the Finals I pointed to Buzz and to Dan Tracey that the drift was coming down the line but Buzz said that our only alternative was to move to the line across ‘death valley’. Had I insisted and brought up a formal protest we might have moved, making everyone really unhappy – including me.
(Whether the oversight team selection subcommittee has the authority to micro manage line placements at the Finals is another question. It will definitely be brought up in December.)