I think Mitch has asked a very interesting question. Now that the
Sports Class Nats are over, there were 49 landouts, give or take(by my
unscientific count -- correct me if I'm grossly wrong here), just a
few more than the 4 than Mitch was initially discussing. At the 2006
Standards in Uvalde (CD Charlie Spratt) there was only 1 landout.
From a surface view, it seems that the consistency of the weather is a
bigger factor in determining the number of landouts than the CD. The
weather in Uvalde was remarkably consistent, whereas it seems that it
got very difficult towards the end of the Sports contests.

As I'm headed to Italy shortly to fly in the junior championships, I
had hoped that a few people who have flown contests both domestically
and internationally would weigh in on this issue. I've been wondering
what to expect, and if my experience in US contests has prepared me
for European contests.

While I'm interested to hear what people have to say, I can't leave
this post with out commenting on the unfortunate posts of Kevin and
Corey. As a fellow member of the junior community, I was disappointed
to read inappropriate and not well thought out posts from you both.
As potential members of the '09 junior team, I had expected more of
you. As many people have stated, Mitch is a valuable member of the
soaring community and has been a champion of juniors throughout the
years. I too have benefited from his generosity -- in fact a great
deal of my experiences/successes can be in one way or another
attributed directly to him, or from people I have met through him.
His question was merely intended to generate conversation on the
differences between US and international tasks, and if we are really
preparing our pilots for competition on the international front.
Belittling responses full of personal attacks and name calling are
merely childish. In the future, please think carefully before you
throw stones. Doing so does nothing for the soaring community,
especially the juniors, or for the opinions others have of you.

Kathy Fosha