Mark James Boyd wrote:
Well, for now anyway, I can't see myself doing steep banks in the
pattern. And since the FAA says so, I'm gonna teach no more than
medium banks, and mild or moderate roll rates. At the recommended
pattern size, I don't see why this isn't sufficient.

In my mind (for gliders), a shallow bank is anything less than 30
degrees, moderate/medium is 30 to 45, steep is 45 to 55, and from 55 on
up you're in aerobatic territory. I use moderate turns for patterns and
most thermals, and steep turns only when needed for thermals (almost
always down low). I simply reject the notion that one is in any way
"safer" by using shallow turns near the ground...

Marc