Open Discussion; Creating XC pilots

Instructors can have a lot to do with a new pilot developing a fear of XC in that even if they aren't overtly hostile to XC, they convey their own fears of XC in many subtle ways such as tone of voice, body language, or just the way a training syllabus is presented. Primacy embeds this fear in students in a way that is very difficult to overcome later. The same is true of group dynamics. If the student is surrounded with club members who fear XC, (Perhaps because they were trained by an XC-hostile instructor.) it's likely they will pick up on this and become fearful themselves. Taken together, you have a self-perpetuating fear of XC.

The solution is to insist on instructors who are enthusiastic about XC and to elevate the status and influence of successful XC pilots so they tend to dominate group dynamics.

FAI badges can facilitate this. I'd like to see a club environment where badges are worn proudly - especially by instructors.