"Dave Stadt" wrote
In IL we get 1000 fpm thermals. Not sure why but at low altitudes, such as
on final, they have little effect.

I once saved a flight (in a glider) by working one of those thermals
that have little effect at low altitude - starting at about 400 ft.
Every glider pilot I know has a story like that.

As someone else explained, thermals have very little effect on
touchdown point when flying a steep approach. Had you stayed with it you
would have found you would have touched down very near your original
touchdown point.

My instructor felt otherwise. We were already close to midfield and
still not down when he called the go-around.

Sink sems to be a much bigger issue than lift. The
antidote for sink is high and slipping like crazy if you have to.

In my experience the magnitude of sink and lift tends to be about the
same. Conservation of mass, I suppose...

Michael