Why is Soaring declining

At 00:00 31 December 2004, Lou Frank wrote:
I share John Sinclair's view.


At the risk of being labeled a 'Luddite' (see UK Industrial
Revolution), and
stirring up a hornets nest, may I suggest to all pilots
possessing pockets
deeper than the depth of their ability, that getting
more gadgets on the
panel will do little to improve your knowledge, judgment,
or skill as a
pilot though, like Viagra, they may well improve your
performance.

Errr, ok that has some validity I suppose...but not
sure how that ties into the discussion here.


Please do not misunderstand me: I am astonished and
incredibly impressed
with the progress of all technology, not least glider
design and
instrumentation. Now we have 'Thermi'... There is
no stopping progress:
more strength to it - and to the many helpful suppliers
who keep us informed
on this forum! But it seems to me that with the enormous
strides in
technology, winning Regional, National, and International
Contests today is
less dependent on pilot ability - despite 'Class' definition
- and more
dependent upon using the latest 'cutting edge' equipment,
be it hull or
instruments. More importantly, the cost of this is
beyond the reach of many
(most?) would-be talented pilots. This is not to deny
the prowess of
National and World-class Champion pilots who stretch
the envelope and
exploit the new tools to the maximum They deserve their
titles - but at what
price?

Well 95%+ of glider pilots don't race...so if 5% wanna
have expensive panels...more power to them.

The cost of a state-of-the-art panel today will buy
a SG 1-26 - and
as a measure of pilot ability rather than size of billfold,
check out the
number of pilots who have gained all three Diamonds
in a 1-26.

I see a lot of 1-26's with nice panels...

This state of affairs has, of course, always been,
and always will be so,
but as soaring technology accelerates, so also does
the inability to afford
it in the eyes of the would-be pilot. On the one hand
we acclaim the latest
(costly) soaring records, and on the other we deplore
the decline of the
sport.

I saw this in windsurfing...the sport started with
the stock Windsurfer and then mutated to wave and slalom
boards.


We are in danger of becoming more polarized. If we
are really serious about
attracting newcomers to the sport we must place more
emphasis on the
affordability of owning and flying gliders,

Hmm, not sure I agree there...about the owning part.


competing,

This sure gets pushed, so we double the racers and
get 10% of glider pilots active?

and plain having fun
on a budget within the reach of the man/woman in the
street who is seeking
adventure.

Google for some lengthy threads of what it costs to
build a glider these days...



Much worthwhile sponsored effort has been expended
on introducing youth to
soaring - but how many can continue, what follow through?



If we want a less costly and more level playing field
in which to compete,
look to the 1-26 Association and the World Class PW5
Contests. Let us bring
back the Olympic spirit and measure the pilot not the
pocket. That's the
spirit we should light a fire under!

Okay, gliding back in the Olympics? One-Design? I
would say lets sort out the PW5 situation first.



Maybe, just maybe, that's the way to grow the movement
AND produce World
Champions!



And now I'll shut up.



Lou Frank



'John Sinclair' wrote in message
...
I look at soaring's lack of groth from a purely economic
point of view. When I got into the sport (1970) one
could buy a competitive sailplane for about the cost
of a 4-door family car ($10,000) Now days a competitive
sailplane costs almost 5 times as much as the family
car. Little wonder we can't attract new blood.
JJ