What are they and how do they differ from an SRS Edition?
The term pre-SRS has two meanings, depending on how the local organisers intend it, or if you are a pilot wanting to attend.
FOR THE PILOT
As a pilot you may decide to attend a pre-SRS for one of two reasons. Maybe you want to improve your SRS Score to try to improve your chances of being accepted in an SRS Edition. Or maybe you want to attend the event to gain experience of the venue, knowing it may well host a full SRS Edition in the future.
First it requires an explanation of the SRS Score and what it achieves for you.
The SRS Score
To get into an SRS Edition you must first achieve a reasonable score to be offered a place. The higher your score, the greater chance of acceptance into the event. In 2025 it typically required a score of greater than 200 to have a reasonable chance of acceptance, and a score of 300+ too be offered an early place. The score is calculated by taking your single best result in a competition where you flew a Sports wing and converting that to a score. There is a detailed explanation here: How I get my SRS Score. In short, if you gained 20 WPRS points in an Open competition, your score would be 200. If it was an SRS Edition, it would be 300. But you first have to make the leap from an Open event to getting into an SRS Edition event. That is one of the benefits of a Pre-SRS event. They score the same as an SRS event. 20 WPRS points would equal an SRS Score of 300. So if you are trying to get into the SRS and just failing the qualification criteria, look for a Pre-SRS to gain those extra points.
Learning the Venue
For the seasoned SRS pilot, the pre-SRS event is an opportunity to explore a new region that has indicated it may want to host an SRS event in the future. By attending this event you will maintain a good SRS Score, but you will also gain advance knowledge that may help you race in the venue in the future. A pre-SRS event is no guarantee that an SRS Edition will be hosted there later though. Speak to the organisers and see what their intentions are.
Event Quality
The event being a Pre-SRS does not guarantee the event will be run to the same standards as an SRS Edition. The event will not have much SRS Organisation involvement. That said, it will guarantee some standards into the event. It will be a requirement for a Pre-SRS that the event have trackers, for example, and that the SRS will have a representative at the event to monitor and report back to the SRS Organisation. The event must also be hosted on Airtribune and have daily reports and scoring shown in Airtribune. These few aspects should deliver a better quality event.
Being an Pre-SRS event does not mean it will be entirely Sports wings in the event. However only the Sports wings will gain an SRS Score.
FOR THE ORGANISER
Probably the benefits can be worked out from the gains for the pilot. Hosting a Pre-SRS event is the path to gaining approval for a future SRS Edition. It is also a great way of bringing your local pilots into the SRS fold and helping your Sports pilots gain access to a larger story unfolding on the global scene.
Contact the SRS today to discuss your event becoming a Pre-SRS event.
FAQs
Can the SRS get me a wildcard to the Pre-SRS event?
No, the SRS will not be involved directly in the organisation of a Pre-SRS event
Can I become the official SRS Observer at the event?
Yes, if you are interested in this role, contact us. The benefits will be a free entry into the event and some assistance with travel and accommodation costs. You will be required to submit a full report back to the SRS (we have a template) and we would expect you to be an established SRS member that has attended several events already.
When will I receive my SRS Score?
An SRS Edition gives the score as soon as the WPRS is published. A Pre-SRS event gives you the enhanced score, but it is not valid for use until 1st December, towards the next season.
Can I attend a Pre-SRS on an EN-D?
That is up to the event organiser. If it is a Sports event, no. If it is an Open event, yes. A Pre-SRS can be either. But you will only get a score if it is a Sports wing you fly. And EN-D will not get you an SRS Score.