I've owned my ASW 24 for 28+ years and see no reason to change, especially since UH helped me refinish it a few years ago. As he noted, it's competitive in Std., Club and Sports. I've also flown 15 Meter Combined here in the East (handicapped), and 15M (again, back East there's not a lot of difference). I flew straight up against the Discus 2 and LS-8 for years and didn't see much if any difference so the fact that I get a small handicap now is great. Throw in Gerhard Waibel's safety cockpit and the fact that the '24 wing is almost impervious to the slow curing and profile warping that can occur with other gliders and it's a winner. I'm biased, of course.

Two caveats:

1) though I can't speak from experience, I understand that the '24 must be "flown" a bit more than, say, a Discus or LS; and

2) you'll want to upgrade the winglets if it still has the factory tips. From experience, UH can help there, too, as he can if you find one that's been shot up by loud-talking, gun-toting aerial cowboys.

Chip Bearden
JB