I have read and re-read a couple of these postings and feel that while every
single one of us can point out a single instance when it may be okay for
this kind of behavior, I feel that if you ask yourself if you were the
instructor on the ground, watching a student pull this off, how would you
react? I think even the pilot who got away with it, should ask himself the
same question quietly while staring in the mirror...

I am not an instructor in sailplanes...but if my student did that,
well...we'd have a substantial "chat"...a "critique", if you will.

I think the whole thing boils down to one thing. How long do you wish to
participate in this sport? If it's a long time, then not contacting the
ground in a stall or spin will benefit that goal. If you have a blatant
disregard for you health and well being ( or mortality) then carry on. But
under no circumstance in my book, in a modern sailplane is this low of a
"save" a normal or good plan of action. The fact that the argument is
carrying on about how is it different from a rope break, is exactly how we
view autorotations in helicopter flying...we need to be prepared for the
worst, and so we practice them with instructors for checkrides...do you ever
see people go practice rope breaks on their own???

If you want to stay alive in this sport, you will adjust your assessment of
yourself to a more sustainable plan of action. I fly a DG-400, and once the
gear is down, the flaps down and the spoilers are cracked...we're
landing...no biggie...that's just the way it is. I commit to that act of
landing much higher away from the ground than some people...but I think it's
smart. 1000 feet is just a good all around safe AGL place to fully and
completely commit to land...can you be closer to the ground in the
mountains...or while ridge soaring....well...duh!!! that's not really the
point here though is it...?

I think I've added a full three cents worth now...I completely agree with
Eric Greenwell on the topic of the top competitors carrying safety to
amazing levels in their planning and throughout their flying...we should
too.

Steve.