At 21:22 06 October 2015, wrote:
On Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 5:40:06 PM UTC-4,
wr=
ote:
Let me suggest that you take a longer term approach to a Junior
Nationals=
like a 5 year or 10 year time frame. Even though our club has 35
Juniors,=
there's just one I know of that could participate in a Junior Nationals
th=
is year. If he's busy during that time, we'd send zero. I suspect other
c=
lubs would be in the same boat.
=20
Why don't you consider a Junior XC soaring event as a way to prime the
pu=
mp for a nationals that follow a year or two later? For example, every
two=
years, we take our Juniors to Mifflin -any skill level, and bring
several
=
gliders and instructors. We fly 2-33's, 1-26's ASK-21's and Duo Discus
and=
our Discus CS. We camp on the airport for several days and give the
kids
=
a chance to fly at a different airport, experience XC ridge soaring and
so
=
on. They absolutely love it.
=20
You could do the same. Arrange to have several XC instructors and
aircra=
ft come to a location (perhaps an East and a West event would be best due
t=
o distance). The intent of the session should be to stimulate interest
in
=
cross country flying for Juniors of varying skill levels. You can
bracket
=
the kids and have a few fly competitively while others learn XC. Start
smal=
l, limit attendance -perhaps to those who have soloed or have a private
pil=
ot certificate and see how it goes. Do something crazy like vette them
onl=
ine using Condor ahead of time.
=20
Keep in mind that whatever you do, it needs to be a parent friendly
event=
.. Younger Juniors don't have transportation and for those who do,
today's
=
parents aren't going to hand them the keys to SUV with a glider on the
back=
and wave goodbye as they head cross country for the event. Kids are far
m=
ore controlled and protected than you and I were at their age and even at
a=
ge 18 and older. Giving parents a chance to help out or do something
with
=
their kids while there and making it a turnkey event with gliders to fly
an=
d instructors to help out will be important.
=20
A year or two of an event like that should give you a much better idea
of=
how to stimulate Junior XC interests.

We're beginning to lay the ground work for 2016 in R2/R3. Since R2N at
Wurt=
sboro will be replaced by the Club Nationals our common venue for newbie
2
=
seat flying will need to move for 2016.
I'm sure Dansville will be stepping up with R3 in August. I'm planning on
b=
ringing K21 with my 2 hottest juniors from '14, and maybe one more. I
hear
=
P3 is looking at bringing Ethan and the Grob. Hopefully we can get Harris
H=
ill to bring a 21 or 2 with some juniors. I'ts only 50 miles away.
Dansvill=
e has a '21 and some live juniors.=20
We should be able to get enough for a Bus Class.
If we do a bit of organizing, I expect we could have 10-12 newbies at
that
=
event, most of them Juniors.=20
This is pretty much like what we have been doing, but by making it closer
t=
o Elmira maybe we can suck them in.
UH
UH
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Huge thanks to Sutton Bank for hosting the latest round of the Winter
Series. A very warm welcome, friendly club members and a stunning view
from the top of the ridge!!!

Despite the pretty average weather forecast around 60 Juniors plus
another
20 more senior pilots headed to YGC for the weekend.

A mixture of ridge/wave followed with 75 aerotows across the weekend and
a
pretty hefty bar bill as well!

Thank you to those that dragged 2 seaters up to help us out. As ever, we
cannot do it without you!

We will return to the Long Mynd in early February. If anyone is
interested
in bringing a 2 seater along please let us know.

Cheers

UK Junior Gliding Development Team