On Nov 25, 11:46*am, MickiMinner wrote:

Also, I wanted to warn you that there are several types of regional
competition pilots.
1. *There are those that are just trying to get points to keep up
their ranking, and want to eventually fly in Nationals. *These are the
serious, I don't have time to mentor pilots. *They are great, but
really they would never tell you they don't have time, but they really
don't. *They have a serious agenda, nothing wrong with it, just be
aware!

No one else responded to this so I'll jump in. I'm not sure I
understand what this category is. If it's a small number of pilots who
hope to improve and don't have time to help others do so, then yeah, I
guess there are a few like that. But if it's the group of experienced
pilots who do well regionally and, often, nationally, then they can
make great mentors, too, despite the fact that they enjoy competing
against each other fiercely. I don't think Micki intended to say that
the better pilots make lousy mentors (or that good mentors make lousy
pilots!) but that's sort of how one could interpret her original
posting.

The atmosphere at most regionals (all?) is dialed back a notch
compared with the nationals. So there's often a bit more time and
something less at stake there for the "big guns." For example, some of
the best mentors at New Castle this fall were national-caliber pilots
(including, from memory, at least two national champions) who love
competition...so much so that they also enjoy mentoring less
experienced pilots who might grow to love it, too. That doesn't mean a
newbie can show up expecting someone to explain how to do everything.
Years ago, I believe it was George Moffat who wrote that there are a
few pre-requisites for entering your first contest. Know your glider
and your equipment. Know the rules. Know how to stay up. Know
something about how to fly cross country (navigation being much less a
requirement now than it was before GPS). And, importantly, know how to
thermal safely in close company with other gliders. A mentor isn't
going to enjoy explaining the basics of how to thermal. But a good
mentor will be able to discuss the strategy for a given day and task,
the likely weather and timing of the start, how to use the terrain and
other gliders to best advantage, the rules, etc. So don't assume that
just because a pilot is a "name" that he/she won't make a good mentor.
Hank Nixon (UH)s, for example, has a long record of instructing
newbies on how to fly contests and anyone who's been fortunate to have
that experience is a better pilot for it.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
USA