On Friday, April 8, 2016 at 2:27:26 PM UTC-4, wrote:

...many pilots may only make 10 or so flights in an entire season. I suspect
this is killing pilots

I think I would fall into this trap if I did not have my glider sitting assembled in a hangar ready to fly for an hour on a weak and challenging day. Those days are easy to make happen and sometimes they seem to be the most fun... and I enjoying hanging out at the airport. I might do something else in the morning.

Epic XC is fine, notable, to be lauded, admired and sought after... but there are so many other ways to enjoy soaring that are treated like the poor cousins of the king.

I see that our under-20 pilots find great pleasure in flying on weak days for an hour. That tells me that I'm on the right track. Don't lose 'Beginner's Mind'.