Region 12 contest cancelled ....

As a relative newcomer to the sport, my 2 cents on why there's a general decline in participation in contest soaring is that there is a general lack of a structure and interest of "passing XC knowledge" along in the soaring community to new guys. Folks just want to go to the gliderport on Saturday, assemble and fly, and I can't necessarily blame them.

Frank Paynter detailed many of these problems very precisely in the latest issue of Soaring Magazine in the Condor column. Go read it...I've encountered most of the problems he highlights and in fact have communicated with him about my experiences and thoughts.

I started a thread about obtaining XC instruction a while back on this forum in search of info. Sure, it's out there commercially if I want to drop 3 grand (plus airfare and expenses) for a week's instruction....or if I want to trailer my rig 1/2 way across country I might be able to attend some "XC camps"...but why shouldn't we be able to obtain some of this knowledge "locally" (or regionally) or perhaps by doing some online training sponsored by the SSA? I don't want to "learn under fire" by participating in a actual contest without picking up basic skills to keep me out of trouble first.

You want more contest participation? Get more guys comfortable with leaving the local area and going XC and I'll bet contest participation will increase as well.

I'm not anywhere near ready to fly a contest yet...but I want to be! But, from my perspective, it appears the barriers to "getting there" on developing good XC skills currently require a level of commitment (in time and money) that many weekend flyers look at...and walk away from.

Frank's article confirms this and offers some thoughts on fixing it (Condor)...but that won't solve all the problems. Maybe every Region should sponsor a Thermal/XC course for newbies (something like the folks up at Air Sailing put on) before each contest season????? Sounds like a good idea to me..


RS

What is stopping you from following one of the more experienced pilots as he
goes out on a task? What stops you from asking questions?

When I was learning to "cut the cord", that's what I did. Some of the
pilots were real snobs and had no time to talk with inexperienced guys,
others were open, friendly, and helpful. Find them. Don't let the lack of
"cross country instruction" keep you from enjoying the benefits!


"RAS56" wrote in message
...

As a relative newcomer to the sport, my 2 cents on why there's a general
decline in participation in contest soaring is that there is a general
lack of a structure and interest of "passing XC knowledge" along in the
soaring community to new guys. Folks just want to go to the gliderport
on Saturday, assemble and fly, and I can't necessarily blame them.

Frank Paynter detailed many of these problems very precisely in the
latest issue of Soaring Magazine in the Condor column. Go read it...I've
encountered most of the problems he highlights and in fact have
communicated with him about my experiences and thoughts.

I started a thread about obtaining XC instruction a while back on this
forum in search of info. Sure, it's out there commercially if I want to
drop 3 grand (plus airfare and expenses) for a week's instruction....or
if I want to trailer my rig 1/2 way across country I might be able to
attend some "XC camps"...but why shouldn't we be able to obtain some of
this knowledge "locally" (or regionally) or perhaps by doing some online
training sponsored by the SSA? I don't want to "learn under fire" by
participating in a actual contest without picking up basic skills to
keep me out of trouble first.

You want more contest participation? Get more guys comfortable with
leaving the local area and going XC and I'll bet contest participation
will increase as well.

I'm not anywhere near ready to fly a contest yet...but I want to be!
But, from my perspective, it appears the barriers to "getting there" on
developing good XC skills currently require a level of commitment (in
time and money) that many weekend flyers look at...and walk away from.

Frank's article confirms this and offers some thoughts on fixing it
(Condor)...but that won't solve all the problems. Maybe every Region
should sponsor a Thermal/XC course for newbies (something like the folks
up at Air Sailing put on) before each contest season????? Sounds like a
good idea to me..


RS




--
RAS56

On Sep 7, 6:56*am, "Dan Marotta" wrote:
What is stopping you from following one of the more experienced pilots as he
goes out on a task? *What stops you from asking questions?

When I was learning to "cut the cord", that's what I did. *Some of the
pilots were real snobs and had no time to talk with inexperienced guys,
others were open, friendly, and helpful. *Find them. *Don't let the lack of
"cross country instruction" keep you from enjoying the benefits!

"RAS56" wrote in message

...









As a relative newcomer to the sport, my 2 cents on why there's a general
decline in participation in contest soaring is that there is a general
lack of a structure and interest of "passing XC knowledge" along in the
soaring community to new guys. Folks just want to go to the gliderport
on Saturday, assemble and fly, and I can't necessarily blame them.

Frank Paynter detailed many of these problems very precisely in the
latest issue of Soaring Magazine in the Condor column. Go read it...I've
encountered most of the problems he highlights and in fact have
communicated with him about my experiences and thoughts.

I started a thread about obtaining XC instruction a while back on this
forum in search of info. Sure, it's out there commercially if I want to
drop 3 grand (plus airfare and expenses) for a week's instruction....or
if I want to trailer my rig 1/2 way across country I might be able to
attend some "XC camps"...but why shouldn't we be able to obtain some of
this knowledge "locally" (or regionally) or perhaps by doing some online
training sponsored by the SSA? I don't want to "learn under fire" by
participating in a actual contest without picking up basic skills to
keep me out of trouble first.

You want more contest participation? Get more guys comfortable with
leaving the local area and going XC and I'll bet contest participation
will increase as well.

I'm not anywhere near ready to fly a contest yet...but I want to be!
But, from my perspective, it appears the barriers to "getting there" on
developing good XC skills currently require a level of commitment (in
time and money) that many weekend flyers look at...and walk away from.

Frank's article confirms this and offers some thoughts on fixing it
(Condor)...but that won't solve all the problems. Maybe every Region
should sponsor a Thermal/XC course for newbies (something like the folks
up at Air Sailing put on) before each contest season????? Sounds like a
good idea to me..

RS

--
RAS56

"What is stopping you from following one of the more experienced
pilots as he
goes out on a task? What stops you from asking questions?"

Dan I'm a bit of an experienced xc pilot. If you haven't noticed most
highly experienced xc pilots (don't include me on this or maybe you
either) don't have the time or want to extend the time to mentor low
time pilots (some do & will). Following? How does a new guy follow an
experienced pilot that's hot to go? Most have the mentality of "hey
learn it yourself, I had to and there's books on this subject". Yes
the other option is spend a few hundred or a couple thousand $'s on
training. Also look at a guy like Tony Smolder (excellent pilot), when
he lived in Arizona he couldn't fly under 500k per flight, he's back
east now and he has a hard time getting a flight over 300k.back east.

Timing and location. Keep launching and looking for thermals, ask
questions if you can't get an answer ask someone else.
RS it will come with time and experience keep at it fly often

"glidergeek" wrote in message
...
On Sep 7, 6:56 am, "Dan Marotta" wrote:
What is stopping you from following one of the more experienced pilots as
he
goes out on a task? What stops you from asking questions?

When I was learning to "cut the cord", that's what I did. Some of the
pilots were real snobs and had no time to talk with inexperienced guys,
others were open, friendly, and helpful. Find them. Don't let the lack of
"cross country instruction" keep you from enjoying the benefits!

"RAS56" wrote in message

...









As a relative newcomer to the sport, my 2 cents on why there's a general
decline in participation in contest soaring is that there is a general
lack of a structure and interest of "passing XC knowledge" along in the
soaring community to new guys. Folks just want to go to the gliderport
on Saturday, assemble and fly, and I can't necessarily blame them.

Frank Paynter detailed many of these problems very precisely in the
latest issue of Soaring Magazine in the Condor column. Go read it...I've
encountered most of the problems he highlights and in fact have
communicated with him about my experiences and thoughts.

I started a thread about obtaining XC instruction a while back on this
forum in search of info. Sure, it's out there commercially if I want to
drop 3 grand (plus airfare and expenses) for a week's instruction....or
if I want to trailer my rig 1/2 way across country I might be able to
attend some "XC camps"...but why shouldn't we be able to obtain some of
this knowledge "locally" (or regionally) or perhaps by doing some online
training sponsored by the SSA? I don't want to "learn under fire" by
participating in a actual contest without picking up basic skills to
keep me out of trouble first.

You want more contest participation? Get more guys comfortable with
leaving the local area and going XC and I'll bet contest participation
will increase as well.

I'm not anywhere near ready to fly a contest yet...but I want to be!
But, from my perspective, it appears the barriers to "getting there" on
developing good XC skills currently require a level of commitment (in
time and money) that many weekend flyers look at...and walk away from.

Frank's article confirms this and offers some thoughts on fixing it
(Condor)...but that won't solve all the problems. Maybe every Region
should sponsor a Thermal/XC course for newbies (something like the folks
up at Air Sailing put on) before each contest season????? Sounds like a
good idea to me..

RS

--
RAS56

"What is stopping you from following one of the more experienced
pilots as he
goes out on a task? What stops you from asking questions?"

Dan I'm a bit of an experienced xc pilot. If you haven't noticed most
highly experienced xc pilots (don't include me on this or maybe you
either) don't have the time or want to extend the time to mentor low
time pilots (some do & will). Following? How does a new guy follow an
experienced pilot that's hot to go? Most have the mentality of "hey
learn it yourself, I had to and there's books on this subject". Yes
the other option is spend a few hundred or a couple thousand $'s on
training. Also look at a guy like Tony Smolder (excellent pilot), when
he lived in Arizona he couldn't fly under 500k per flight, he's back
east now and he has a hard time getting a flight over 300k.back east.

Timing and location. Keep launching and looking for thermals, ask
questions if you can't get an answer ask someone else.
RS it will come with time and experience keep at it fly often

----------------------

After some 25 years of XC gliding, I still don't consider myself "expert".
I recall following one of the "experienced" guys (and gals) until losing
sight and then picking up on another one of them or chickening out and going
home. Those who have no time to mentor are quickly identified and ignored.
Above all, ask questions and listen to the answers and evaluate and follow
or ignore the advice.

Example: My club at the time was having a weekend contest and, on the
practice day, I started following one of the women out on task. She quickly
left me behind, finishing the 100 km or so task more than an hour faster
than I did. So, on the ground afterwards, I asked her how she finished so
quickly compared to my time. She said, "Don't circle so much. Leave the
thermal and head out." The following weekend at the contest, I took first
place in sports class simply by following her advice. BTW, I beat her that
time, too!

My opinion is that XC flying can't be taught. Theories can be taught, but
it's up to the pilot to put them into practice. My biggest concern with XC
flying is landing out. Not the landing itself - that's an adventure and, if
you're sensible about where you fly, it's not much more dangerous than
landing at home. My concern is that I generally don't have a crew to come
and get me so I have to fly more conservatively.

Read Reichmann's book, "Cross Country Soaring". Not only will you learn a
LOT, but you'll really enjoy it.

Dan

On 07/09/2011 02:32, RAS56 wrote:
As a relative newcomer to the sport, my 2 cents on why there's a general
decline in participation in contest soaring is that there is a general
lack of a structure and interest of "passing XC knowledge" along in the
soaring community to new guys. Folks just want to go to the gliderport
on Saturday, assemble and fly, and I can't necessarily blame them.

Frank Paynter detailed many of these problems very precisely in the
latest issue of Soaring Magazine in the Condor column. Go read it...I've
encountered most of the problems he highlights and in fact have
communicated with him about my experiences and thoughts.

I started a thread about obtaining XC instruction a while back on this
forum in search of info. Sure, it's out there commercially if I want to
drop 3 grand (plus airfare and expenses) for a week's instruction....or
if I want to trailer my rig 1/2 way across country I might be able to
attend some "XC camps"...but why shouldn't we be able to obtain some of
this knowledge "locally" (or regionally) or perhaps by doing some online
training sponsored by the SSA? I don't want to "learn under fire" by
participating in a actual contest without picking up basic skills to
keep me out of trouble first.

You want more contest participation? Get more guys comfortable with
leaving the local area and going XC and I'll bet contest participation
will increase as well.

I'm not anywhere near ready to fly a contest yet...but I want to be!
But, from my perspective, it appears the barriers to "getting there" on
developing good XC skills currently require a level of commitment (in
time and money) that many weekend flyers look at...and walk away from.

Frank's article confirms this and offers some thoughts on fixing it
(Condor)...but that won't solve all the problems. Maybe every Region
should sponsor a Thermal/XC course for newbies (something like the folks
up at Air Sailing put on) before each contest season????? Sounds like a
good idea to me..


RS





There are plenty of very good cross-country courses that one may take,
given the inclination, time and money. However, empirical evidence
suggests that the difficulty of transition of glider pilots to
cross-country is a significant issue to our sport and most probably
negatively influences its development.

From a global perspective, it becomes apparent that every country has
its own training syllabus and path to pilot certification. This is even
true in Europe, where Gliding remains (for the moment) the only
non-standardized pilot certificate across EASA. Some countries have very
extensive and methodical training programs, while others with less
resources in their gliding communities have simpler courses.

What is common across every single country --to my knowledge at least--
is that pilot training stops with the achievement of a pilot
certificate, which while giving cursory attention to things like
thermaling and weather, does not thoroughly address the skills required
for cross-country.

From there, the path to cross country differs. In most cases, while
there may be recommendations at the national level, procedures and
programs rest with the club, i.e. cross-country endorsement to use the
club single seater, or pilot briefing flight to fly your sailplane from
the site. Some countries offer Bronze Badge preparatory programs
followed by a Silver Badge target for the pilot. However, these an not
fully fledged instruction programs but most often just hoops to jump
through in order to be able to take your glider cross-county.

There are basically two paths available in most cases: join a
cross-country course somewhere, or progress on your own. Some people are
lucky enough to be in a club or soaring community which offers
cross-country training, but in my understanding this is a minority.

While some people seek gliding as a primary way to learn to fly and then
progress to other forms of aviation (and this is something to be
encouraged as it is a very rewarding path), I would suggest that the
great majority of people who will stick with gliding for the long term
are those who will later pursue cross-county. Given this, I find little
excuse for not having cross-country training (with full and practical
instruction in cross-country flights) as part of the official training
syllabus for the acquisition of a gliding pilot certificate.

Surely, from a regulatory perspective, instruction in the safe and
effective conduct of the aircraft is the threshold for the acquisition
of a license, but beyond that, the national gliding committees should be
pushing for a training syllabus on cross-country to be incorporated in
the training program. Why stop at the minimum requirement imposed by the
regulator --which is what should be tested for in the CAA examination--
and not also include instruction in the necessary skill for advancement
in the sport which will also enhance the safe operation of the pilot in
the future?


Alexander Georgas

On Sep 6, 6:32*pm, RAS56 wrote:
As a relative newcomer to the sport, my 2 cents on why there's a general
decline in participation in contest soaring is that there is a general
lack of a structure and interest of "passing XC knowledge" along in the
soaring community to new guys. Folks just want to go to the gliderport
on Saturday, assemble and fly, and I can't necessarily blame them.
RS

--
RAS56

This is exactly what a sports class regional is set up to accomplish!

I think there's a huge misunderstanding here about what it takes to
"be ready" to go to a sports class regional. No, you don't have to
profile the wings, install a new computer, and get a thousand hours of
cross country. You need one silver badge distance flight or its
equivalent on OLC. Period. That's not much!

Then, the whole point of sports class regionals is to bring new pilots
who are just getting going, and provide exactly the mentoring you're
looking for. Every regional provides a "mentoring" sytsem where you
will have your own personally assigned buddy. Many have explicit
"newbie" classes in the mornings.

The structure and interest for passing on knowledge is there! It's
called a sports class regionals.

John Cochrane

I really enjoyed the Chicago Memorial Day contest a couple of years ago and
also learned a ton. I'd love to try my hand a a full week regional contest,
but it's been several years since anything has been done in region 7 other
than the contest at Sky Soaring.

I'd love to fly in a regional, but I don't want to have to drive 1,000 miles
to go there.

Pete

"John Cochrane" wrote in message
...
On Sep 6, 6:32 pm, RAS56 wrote:
As a relative newcomer to the sport, my 2 cents on why there's a general
decline in participation in contest soaring is that there is a general
lack of a structure and interest of "passing XC knowledge" along in the
soaring community to new guys. Folks just want to go to the gliderport
on Saturday, assemble and fly, and I can't necessarily blame them.
RS

--
RAS56

This is exactly what a sports class regional is set up to accomplish!

I think there's a huge misunderstanding here about what it takes to
"be ready" to go to a sports class regional. No, you don't have to
profile the wings, install a new computer, and get a thousand hours of
cross country. You need one silver badge distance flight or its
equivalent on OLC. Period. That's not much!

Then, the whole point of sports class regionals is to bring new pilots
who are just getting going, and provide exactly the mentoring you're
looking for. Every regional provides a "mentoring" sytsem where you
will have your own personally assigned buddy. Many have explicit
"newbie" classes in the mornings.

The structure and interest for passing on knowledge is there! It's
called a sports class regionals.

John Cochrane

On Sep 7, 12:07*pm, John Cochrane
wrote:
On Sep 6, 6:32*pm, RAS56 wrote:

As a relative newcomer to the sport, my 2 cents on why there's a general
decline in participation in contest soaring is that there is a general
lack of a structure and interest of "passing XC knowledge" along in the
soaring community to new guys. Folks just want to go to the gliderport
on Saturday, assemble and fly, and I can't necessarily blame them.
RS

--
RAS56

This is exactly what a *sports class regional is set up to accomplish!

I think there's a huge misunderstanding here about what it takes to
"be ready" to go to a sports class regional. No, you don't have to
profile the wings, install a new computer, and get a thousand hours of
cross country. You need one silver badge distance flight or its
equivalent on OLC. Period. That's not much!

Then, the whole point of sports class regionals is to bring new pilots
who are just getting going, and provide exactly the mentoring you're
looking for. Every regional provides a "mentoring" sytsem where you
will have your own personally assigned buddy. Many have explicit
"newbie" classes in the mornings.

The structure and interest for passing on knowledge is there! It's
called a sports class regionals.

John Cochrane

John is quite correct.
Sports Regionals are a training ground.
Entry requirements are not restrictive. Silver distance or OLC
documented equivalent.
I've been running "rookie schools" in the Regionals I attend for more
than 20 years. We do ground school and mentor
pilots every day.
WE also try to regonize the best rookie pilot flight in the daily
meetings. Commonly, these are more interesting than the ones by the
experienced pilots.
I have also done a ride program similar to KS to show what it is like.
We let it be known that we are doing this and get good participation.
Walt Rogers communicated with me about R12 and had planned to possibly
do such a school. In addition, his plan was to task the Sports and the
"BIg Guys" quite differently so that newbies would not be intimidated
and would have a good time.
I guess that message didn't get received or there really was no
interest. I thought he was on the right track.
The US rules committee is planning on adding a second poll this year,
in addition to the usual rules topic poll, to get feedback from the
pilot population on the topic of contest participation.
UH

RAS,

I come down between John Cochrane and Alexander Georgas, and more with
Dan Marotta - I suggest learning XC yourself. Please note that I’m
limiting the discussion to learning XC in areas such as eastern
Pennsylvania, under thermic conditions, nowhere near mountainous
terrain, and with plenty of landable fields. Then, there are only 7
steps you need to take to safely fly XC - 2 attitudinal, 3 flying, and
2 organizational.

The first step is deciding that you absolutely, truly want to fly a
glider XC. There will be some discouraging times, and you must make a
firm, unswerving commitment to keep on trying. The second step is
firmly believing that thermals are everywhere. If the day is
developing such that thermals are all around your home airport, you
must have unquestioned confidence that they are also out there beyond
gliding distance.

The third step is practicing thermalling until you are able to keep
the glider up several times for 3 hours, with a few climbs from down
low each flight. This give you the confidence that you can not only
find and work thermals, but that you won’t get rattled when you need
altitude. The fourth step is practicing landing until you can put the
glider down and stop it inside of a 300 foot distance, every time, no
excuses. This gives you the confidence that if you can’t stay up, you
have the skills needed to land the glider in a farmer’s field. The
fifth step is identifying from the air suitable off field landing
sites (I use the SSSSLOWW mnemonic - size, surface, slope,
surroundings, livestock, obstructions, wind, wires). Good fields
change with the season, and you must drive out afterwards to validate
your choices until you don’t make mistakes

The sixth step is always having a gassed up vehicle hooked up
mechanically and electrically to a suitable trailer for retrieves. You
are eventually going to land out somewhere where an aerotow isn’t
possible, so always be prepared. The seventh step is always arranging
with someone at the home airfield to retrieve you if it becomes
necessary. The friend you think you can always rely upon to get you if
you simply call him up might be on a business trip that day.

That’s all you need! I don’t like the sorts of courses Alexander
suggests, because in my view one tends to get quite discouraged,
thinking that there is so much to learn that XC must be very difficult
to do. John’s suggestion of a sports class regional is good, but only
after you’ve learned how to fly XC. I was quite intimidated and very
nervous during my first sports class regional, which if I’d had less
confidence in my ability to fly an XC task would have been a deal
breaker. Dan’s suggestion of asking questions of experienced XC pilots
is quite good, and you should definitely do that. But I believe XC is
something that you need to teach yourself, and you improve in direct
proportion to the number of times you go out and do it.

Whatever way you decide to go, though, RS, do make an attempt to try
XC flight. It’s an amazing feeling of accomplishment, and it’ll open
up a new soaring world for you.

-John

On Sep 6, 7:32 pm, RAS56 wrote:
As a relative newcomer to the sport, my 2 cents on why there's a general
decline in participation in contest soaring is that there is a general
lack of a structure and interest of "passing XC knowledge" along in the
soaring community to new guys. Folks just want to go to the gliderport
on Saturday, assemble and fly, and I can't necessarily blame them.

Frank Paynter detailed many of these problems very precisely in the
latest issue of Soaring Magazine in the Condor column. Go read it...I've
encountered most of the problems he highlights and in fact have
communicated with him about my experiences and thoughts.

I started a thread about obtaining XC instruction a while back on this
forum in search of info. Sure, it's out there commercially if I want to
drop 3 grand (plus airfare and expenses) for a week's instruction....or
if I want to trailer my rig 1/2 way across country I might be able to
attend some "XC camps"...but why shouldn't we be able to obtain some of
this knowledge "locally" (or regionally) or perhaps by doing some online
training sponsored by the SSA? I don't want to "learn under fire" by
participating in a actual contest without picking up basic skills to
keep me out of trouble first.

You want more contest participation? Get more guys comfortable with
leaving the local area and going XC and I'll bet contest participation
will increase as well.

I'm not anywhere near ready to fly a contest yet...but I want to be!
But, from my perspective, it appears the barriers to "getting there" on
developing good XC skills currently require a level of commitment (in
time and money) that many weekend flyers look at...and walk away from.

Frank's article confirms this and offers some thoughts on fixing it
(Condor)...but that won't solve all the problems. Maybe every Region
should sponsor a Thermal/XC course for newbies (something like the folks
up at Air Sailing put on) before each contest season????? Sounds like a
good idea to me..

RS

--
RAS56

On 07/09/2011 20:59, jcarlyle wrote:
RAS,

I come down between John Cochrane and Alexander Georgas, and more with
Dan Marotta - I suggest learning XC yourself. Please note that I’m
limiting the discussion to learning XC in areas such as eastern
Pennsylvania, under thermic conditions, nowhere near mountainous
terrain, and with plenty of landable fields. Then, there are only 7
steps you need to take to safely fly XC - 2 attitudinal, 3 flying, and
2 organizational.

The first step is deciding that you absolutely, truly want to fly a
glider XC. There will be some discouraging times, and you must make a
firm, unswerving commitment to keep on trying. The second step is
firmly believing that thermals are everywhere. If the day is
developing such that thermals are all around your home airport, you
must have unquestioned confidence that they are also out there beyond
gliding distance.

The third step is practicing thermalling until you are able to keep
the glider up several times for 3 hours, with a few climbs from down
low each flight. This give you the confidence that you can not only
find and work thermals, but that you won’t get rattled when you need
altitude. The fourth step is practicing landing until you can put the
glider down and stop it inside of a 300 foot distance, every time, no
excuses. This gives you the confidence that if you can’t stay up, you
have the skills needed to land the glider in a farmer’s field. The
fifth step is identifying from the air suitable off field landing
sites (I use the SSSSLOWW mnemonic - size, surface, slope,
surroundings, livestock, obstructions, wind, wires). Good fields
change with the season, and you must drive out afterwards to validate
your choices until you don’t make mistakes

The sixth step is always having a gassed up vehicle hooked up
mechanically and electrically to a suitable trailer for retrieves. You
are eventually going to land out somewhere where an aerotow isn’t
possible, so always be prepared. The seventh step is always arranging
with someone at the home airfield to retrieve you if it becomes
necessary. The friend you think you can always rely upon to get you if
you simply call him up might be on a business trip that day.

That’s all you need! I don’t like the sorts of courses Alexander
suggests, because in my view one tends to get quite discouraged,
thinking that there is so much to learn that XC must be very difficult
to do. John’s suggestion of a sports class regional is good, but only
after you’ve learned how to fly XC. I was quite intimidated and very
nervous during my first sports class regional, which if I’d had less
confidence in my ability to fly an XC task would have been a deal
breaker. Dan’s suggestion of asking questions of experienced XC pilots
is quite good, and you should definitely do that. But I believe XC is
something that you need to teach yourself, and you improve in direct
proportion to the number of times you go out and do it.

Whatever way you decide to go, though, RS, do make an attempt to try
XC flight. It’s an amazing feeling of accomplishment, and it’ll open
up a new soaring world for you.

-John

On Sep 6, 7:32 pm, wrote:
As a relative newcomer to the sport, my 2 cents on why there's a general
decline in participation in contest soaring is that there is a general
lack of a structure and interest of "passing XC knowledge" along in the
soaring community to new guys. Folks just want to go to the gliderport
on Saturday, assemble and fly, and I can't necessarily blame them.

Frank Paynter detailed many of these problems very precisely in the
latest issue of Soaring Magazine in the Condor column. Go read it...I've
encountered most of the problems he highlights and in fact have
communicated with him about my experiences and thoughts.

I started a thread about obtaining XC instruction a while back on this
forum in search of info. Sure, it's out there commercially if I want to
drop 3 grand (plus airfare and expenses) for a week's instruction....or
if I want to trailer my rig 1/2 way across country I might be able to
attend some "XC camps"...but why shouldn't we be able to obtain some of
this knowledge "locally" (or regionally) or perhaps by doing some online
training sponsored by the SSA? I don't want to "learn under fire" by
participating in a actual contest without picking up basic skills to
keep me out of trouble first.

You want more contest participation? Get more guys comfortable with
leaving the local area and going XC and I'll bet contest participation
will increase as well.

I'm not anywhere near ready to fly a contest yet...but I want to be!
But, from my perspective, it appears the barriers to "getting there" on
developing good XC skills currently require a level of commitment (in
time and money) that many weekend flyers look at...and walk away from.

Frank's article confirms this and offers some thoughts on fixing it
(Condor)...but that won't solve all the problems. Maybe every Region
should sponsor a Thermal/XC course for newbies (something like the folks
up at Air Sailing put on) before each contest season????? Sounds like a
good idea to me..

RS

--
RAS56


Let me add a seventh step: Fly tasks with other people over the
internet on the Condor flight simulator during the winter. You will be
surprised with yourself come springtime.