Region 12 contest cancelled ....

"glidergeek" wrote in message
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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

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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