SLTA Celebrates 4th Year; Begins 5th

Season IV Awards

SLTA IV Intersim Queen Of Helms: ElvaWilmarie

SLTA IV Intersim King Of Helms: Jerit Weiser

SLTA IV Intersim Top Ten (Alphabetical): StartFragmentStartFragmentAP0LLO, Belladonna Mandrake, ElvaWilmarie, Jerit Weiser, KALIvRAHU, Liska Fuchs, Nephilim Ventris, Nyza Stillwater, Ricci Juliesse, Wickedfox73

SLTA IV Intersim Champion: Nephilim Ventris

Jousting League Leaders IV: Nephilim Ventris (1st); KALIvRAHU (2nd); AP0LLO (3rd)EndFragment

Keynote Address

"The awards we are giving tonight are tracked through the JOUSTING LEAGUE website. So let me tell you a little about what is tracked and tabulated...

The SLTA has been tracking results from jousting tournaments longer than anyone, as well as the history of significant events in SL Jousting.

Comparing year-to-year results and tracking the history of major events shows how the sport of joust is trending.

This year the numbers told an interesting story.

For example, this pie chart shows all the jousts that were tracked this past season. The bar chart shows the number of entrants in those jousts by month.

The number of jousts represents a significant increase in 2014. In 2013 there were about 8 jousts in SL. In 2014 it grew to 19 or more.

Making the joust a mainstream and popular activity in SL has always been the mission of the SLTA, so this proliferation has been encouraging and exciting to see.

But rather then attracting more jousters to the sport, there has been a sharp decrease in participation. The numbers of jousts went up, but the number of jousters per joust went down in 2014.

This is to be expected if we simply accept the joust community cannot grow beyond its current size, and all must share a diminishing resource. But I don’t believe that, having been instrumental in bringing many new realms and individuals into this sport. Rather I think we are at a crossroads for renewal.

When I started jousting in 2008, there were only two main jousting groups for sending and receiving notices for Inter Realm Jousting. Both groups were the creation of Lance manufactures (MD & TAS). These groups were not used much, as Realms advertised their events within their own group.

In 2009, the DDA’s School Of Joust began teaching regular classes on Wednesday followed by a tournament. Visitors came from other Realms to learn and the number of jousters began to grow.

From 2009 to 2011 groups such as the SLJA and SLTA were helping to expand the sport to other Realms. The SLTA began tracking the jouster’s progress and giving awards annually for the top perfromers. Jousting numbers grew steadily for the next 3 years gaining new participants. 20 entrants at a single Intersim event was not uncommon.

By 2013, the Jousting League was formed to facilitate the organization of Team Leagues and Championships for participating Realms.

In 2014, the mood of cooperation shifted dramatically. It was understandable those raised in the SLTA and DDA jousts would want their piece of the pie. Fair competition is always welcomed, but methods varied for building their group memberships.

No need to dwell on the past, nor should we overlook its lessons. We can all recall adversarial approaches being taken, the support of boycotts and conflictive scheduling and pitting jousters and groups against the other, forcing them to choose sides.

Infighting will always fracture and divide a community, and several groups were formed that year in direct response to the turmoil caused by a few. Several of these groups consolidated in 2015 to provide better cooperation between all groups.

Many say they would like to return to the time of harmony and cooperation and I think we can do more to attract new people, and keep old ones engaged. Or risk they no longer care or come.

It’s just good business. Participation is the coin of the Realm in SL. Not only do hosting events demand a lot of time and energy, but if you build it and they don’t come, the considerable

expense for owing a SIM quickly looses its appeal.

In 2014 we also lost many friends from the closures of large Sims known for active jousting events. Some are gone for good, others seeking new horizons or cheaper alternatives on other grids. They will be missed as it means fewer opportunities in SL jousting.

Whatever the reasons for their departure, what we now know, that after a year of data, we can do better to retain and attract others.

So we ask we all place the emphasis this next year on creating the best community experience for our jousters."

- Forester Lowenhart, Headmaster DDA

#joust #tournament