I did my first Newcastle contest 22 years ago, how do I know? My son was about 4 months old and we rented a hunting lodge.

Yes, great site, I had good mentors (UH, KS and others).

It was worth paying for a power plane area view by John Malumphy(sp?) to see general area a well as "contest finish" routes from a glider view.
Well worth the cost.

Notes.....
If coming back from Blacksburg on the ridge, do NOT dive off the ridge to do a speed finish!
Ever!
Unless you have a death wish or a ASW-17 with 15M tips (which I believe has no redline) because you WILL exceed redline!

If you get to the front ridge, listen to notes about "Jessie's knob", I heard about it the day AFTER I got low there.......not fun.

The Blacksburg tunnel run can be fun with "flexie wings" and tight belts. Sorta common run if nothing else works, low, fast, rough, dry.... Figure on about 120MPH+ for this, so, about an hour on course. Reread comment on bailing off the ridge for a low speed finish.......!

Social aspect is great.
Local peeps are great, fun local stuff to do.
Have a Teflon stomach, ask about "shine"!

Really, east coast soaring, Newcastle flying is great to do at least once, most sign up for the following year before leaving the current contest.

Wanting to go back......soon......