Standing corrected. Let me clarify. I meant they were not part of a strong national junior development program since early youth. They had to be lucky enough, talented enough, dedicated enough and determined enough to develop the skills to fly cross country at this level without an organized national junior program, system and culture, like the other major soaring countries seem to have. That is a significant handicap that we can eliminate for them and those coming up behind them.

Great point about why don't we have some 15, 16, and 17 year olds over there experiencing the event and being motivated by the accomplishments of their older peers to achieve this level. Very good point...

It all comes down to an organized, strategic program to accomplish a goal in terms of US junior soaring and the US junior soaring team...

Sean