Soaring in general doesn't appeal to many people. And, sorry, it never will.. It's expensive, takes a lot of time, is relatively difficult to learn (you can't teach yourself by bashing down the ski slope or across the waves falling all over the place and then getting back up to try again), more frustrating than most sports (one minor mistake can put you on the ground, not for a few minutes but for the rest of the day), and retrieves are a real pain. Yeah, we can probably increase the number of people coming into the funnel but the yield will always be very low.

A tiny fraction of those who do "stick" will gravitate to competition. To them, it's the best part of soaring, for a variety of reasons: wanting to win, the challenge of competing against the best, the adventure, the social aspects, etc. Just point them in the right direction and help as needed, then get out of the way.

Then there are those in between, pilots who made it to the solo stage but aren't convinced they can or wish to fly cross country, much less to compete.. Some may be intrigued but think they can't. Some try it and decide it's not for them. Some wish to but aren't willing to put soaring at the top of their priority list. Everyone is different. There are a lot of other demands on our time these days and plenty of alternatives for it. But this is the group that I think the Hank Nixons and Erik Manns of the world do such a great job with, that and helping train the incoming pilots who might end up in this group. You can't make someone fall in love with soaring any more than you can make them fall in love with another person. What you can do is help make it possible for them to pursue that love.

I got into competition almost 50 years ago because my father--my instructor and also a contest pilot--not only made it possible, he was my coach and support system. Later, thanks to some early gratification in the sport and a career that took off and made it possible financially, competition went to the top of my list of priorities and stayed there for many years. These days, it's still very important but I find it's easier to get sidetracked and/or discouraged by all the "stuff" facing us in life. As it happens, both Erik and Hank have played key roles in getting me back into soaring on three occasions after enforced layoffs. If not for the two of them, I probably wouldn't be flying today, looking forward to another competition season. Thanks, both of you; I haven't said that often enough but I owe you a lot.

I'm not sure why they do it. And I have no idea of the number of people these two guys are personally responsible for introducing to competition and/or keeping them going in it. I know there are others like them at other clubs and locations but we can use more.

I like Erik's message: "Think global. Act local." We can expose soaring to more people and increase the number who decide to take lessons. But helping that small number (and it will always be a small number) who are receptive to competition and just need help is probably the most fruitful endeavor. And that's a very hands-on process.

Access to better gliders certainly helps, especially those who are in school or just starting out. And, again, these two guys have done a huge amount to make it possible. But it's no guarantee. I know of many juniors who get excited about soaring for a while and then walk away when university life, jobs, the opposite sex, cars, or whatever become more intriguing or just easier to enjoy.

How many high-performance club gliders sit on the ground much of the time for want of seriously interested pilots? Is that anyone's "fault"...or is just the nature of soaring?

Chip Bearden