Sean said: Many (most?, but not all!) glider "instructors" simply never learn XC skills and therefore never really teach it (or meaningfully encourage it).

I don't know to what extent this is true. I suspect many have some XC experience even if they don't practice it regularly, in particular because they enjoy and spend most of their cockpit time instructing.

That said, my father was always a very popular instructor at our club when I was growing up in part, I believe, because he taught soaring whenever possible, not just gliding. I enjoyed this popular demand during the brief years when I did some instructing, as well. The best way to learn for most is hands-on, either dual or lead-follow.

While I've never encountered an instructor who spoke against XC or competition per se, I did run across a fellow who was seeking a signoff for his CFI-G check ride. We got off tow on a dismal day and stumbled into a weak thermal. "Hey," I said, surprised, "Let's see if we can work this back up."

His voice was uncertain as he confessed he really didn't know how. He was a perfectly adequate pilot in every other respect and had been flying at our club for years, although (in retrospect), mostly rides and end-of-the-day smooth air flights.

It's been way too long since I took a written test so I don't know how many questions relate to soaring or XC but I suspect most examiners don't test for those skills. Getting that changed sounds like an imposing obstacle that will not easily be surmounted. Better to work within the model so ably proven by Hank Nixon, Erik Mann/Aero Club Albatross, Harris Hill Soaring, and others in this country. If your club/organization has the equipment and the intent but you're not getting comparable results, maybe a change in tactics is in order. I've seen the thriving XC/competition cultures at Blairstown/ACA and Valley Soaring up close and they work.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
U.S.A.