On Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 10:59:45 AM UTC-5, Bob Pasker wrote:
as a glider pilot with some XC experience, and no contest experience, I can you what keeps me from contests: there is no 'on ramp'.

the only way that I know to participate in contests is to participate in contests.

What we really need is a way for people to learn about contests before actually entering one:

1. ground school -- 1 day covering eligibility, rules, launch & land procedures, strategy & tactics, traffic, equipment, etc

2. flight school -- non-competitive contests in 2-seaters

3. newbie buddies -- when you show up at a contest, team up with an experienced pilot who will be your mentor for the duration of the contest

Reno Air races has pylon school: http://airrace.org/event/racing/rookie-school/

--bob

Hi Bob,

All that has been going on for literal decades in the Eastern US, where are you? (You don't show up on SSA.org)

Every single contest I've flown has had mentors available for the guys that want 'em, even the Nationals.

Some venues are better than others, some years are better than others, but there are a reasonable number of opportunities here for the guy who is motivated.

As far as rules complexity goes... that's a red herring. The scoring rules are complex (handicaps, devaluing for incompletions and short tasks, etc.) but the flying rules are simple enough. There's a "competition guide" which covers all you as a pilot need to know to compete without problems or penalties, that is very much simpler than the rules themselves.

best regards,

Evan Ludeman / T8