[Brandon_L]

OP couldn't have stated this any better. You took a risk, and it got called illegal. But you handled it very well. +1 for you guys, I'm impressed.

On the GDC side of things, ruling it illegal is 100% okay to do. But being extremely vague on definitions of things like "grappling" and "balanced" and what consists of the bridge until the final week/first day of competitions is..I can't even think of a word for it. If they were made clear from the start, and if they wouldn't beat around the bush with these "we can't comment on designs" answers, none of this would have happened. Even in this case, if they couldn't comment on the design, they could at least clarify what consists of clamp/grasping/whatever. And then stick with that definition, and not change it when someone thinks outside of the box with a design that still fits those parameters. even something as flat out as "no, you cant hang off the side of the bridge." Nothing to lawyer there.

Something just has to be done about that, at least I think. Its okay to change rules, just not so late in the season after you refused to clarify them a million times.

2c.