"Stewart Kissel" wrote in
message ...
Since gliding is a sport, it's hard to see this analysis
supporting much risk except, perhaps, for a pilot two
points out of first place in a national contest on
the last day.

Snipped from Bill...

This is something I have thought about a lot...and
excuse the length of this story I will present...but
it struck me as a good way to decide what amount of
risk makes sense.

A friend of mine did an epic soaring flight one day...possibly
a state or national record if he choose to submit it...which
he was not interested in. Upon encoutering a group
of his buddies at the local Salida watering hole, and
being quite pumped up about his flight...he blurted
out a quick report to them.

Following a brief silence, one of his friends replied,
'Gee, that sounds sorta interesting, but Fred over
there hit a triple in the softball game!!'

I think that probably summarizes the fact that we fly
only for our own sense of accomplishment. And to risk
it all for something that most others see as no more
significant then a triple in a softball game...wel
that does not make sense to me.

Well, Stu, it USED to be a big deal to win the US Nationals. I guess that
speaks to the state of competition in the US these days.

Bill Daniels