Open Discussion; Creating XC pilots

Before I offer my 2¢, let me first say congratulations to MB on a job well done. I would argue that all of our sport's problems (mostly membership and participation) would be solved if every club had a 'MB,' and equally important, for those clubs to support their MB's efforts.

In the USA, we do pretty well in attracting new members, but we are pathetic at keeping them. Why? Because most clubs focus on the wrong thing: low-cost basic training. But we ignore, and in many cases discourage, the progression to cross-country soaring. If clubs offered good equipment and training, and the freedom, support, and encouragement to fly further and farther, we would go a long way in growing our clubs' rosters by not losing the members we already have.

Soaring is a product, and it competes with other products for our target market's interest. Flying a 50-year-old glider above the airport may be fun for a year or two, but without a new challenge (that doesn't come with a $20,000+ entry fee) most are going to quit the sport.

Chris Fleming