Instead of spending time outside of the the glider is my best recomendation to spend as much time as possible in the glider.

Yes you can tune the glider, but it will only give you at the best a few % better in performance.
You can easily gain 10% or more in points by knowing the glider and its performace better. Fly declared competitons tasks as training, do not give them up to easily, a few outlandings does not hurt more than lost prestige.

If you still feel the need to stay on the ground, put some attention to the instruments and the trailer, if they do not work are you in trouble.