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#1
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As a one time (long ago) junior who had to give up for a while, I think we're missing the big picture here. Not big team training sessions, not nationals.
If you're a junior, and sort of by definition can't afford to own a glider, where do you get access to a relatively modern glider suitable for learning cross country and contest skills? European clubs have glass single seat gliders, and encourage memebers to go cross country in them. The vast majority of American clubs don't have glass gliders, and heaven forbid anyone should take one cross country, least of all the "new kid." The exceptions -- Harris Hill with both good gliders and a strong junior program, for example -- prove the rule. John Cochrane |
#2
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On Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 4:20:14 PM UTC-4, John Cochrane wrote:
As a one time (long ago) junior who had to give up for a while, I think we're missing the big picture here. Not big team training sessions, not nationals. If you're a junior, and sort of by definition can't afford to own a glider, where do you get access to a relatively modern glider suitable for learning cross country and contest skills? European clubs have glass single seat gliders, and encourage memebers to go cross country in them. The vast majority of American clubs don't have glass gliders, and heaven forbid anyone should take one cross country, least of all the "new kid." The exceptions -- Harris Hill with both good gliders and a strong junior program, for example -- prove the rule. John Cochrane From what I see, most Harris Hill juniors do their first cross countries in the 1-26 or the 1-34. Mostly the 1-34. I think it is not at all important to have glass available for early cross countries. For early contests, a 1-34 is fine in sports as long as tasking takes it into account. It is "just" more work to rig and derig. Liz Schwenkler, from HHSS, won her first regional in the 1-34 and later was the first woman to win a US Nationals since the 1950's. Along the way, she had loaner gliders as she needed them. It isn't the ships, it's the culture. UH |
#3
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On Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 6:58:03 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 4:20:14 PM UTC-4, John Cochrane wrote: As a one time (long ago) junior who had to give up for a while, I think we're missing the big picture here. Not big team training sessions, not nationals. If you're a junior, and sort of by definition can't afford to own a glider, where do you get access to a relatively modern glider suitable for learning cross country and contest skills? European clubs have glass single seat gliders, and encourage memebers to go cross country in them. The vast majority of American clubs don't have glass gliders, and heaven forbid anyone should take one cross country, least of all the "new kid." The exceptions -- Harris Hill with both good gliders and a strong junior program, for example -- prove the rule. John Cochrane From what I see, most Harris Hill juniors do their first cross countries in the 1-26 or the 1-34. Mostly the 1-34. I think it is not at all important to have glass available for early cross countries. For early contests, a 1-34 is fine in sports as long as tasking takes it into account. It is "just" more work to rig and derig. Liz Schwenkler, from HHSS, won her first regional in the 1-34 and later was the first woman to win a US Nationals since the 1950's. Along the way, she had loaner gliders as she needed them. It isn't the ships, it's the culture. UH I tend to agree with Hank. We're making it so much more complicated than it is. It starts with some really hard work - instructing, encouraging, retrieving, etc. The culture comes first. It's a grass-roots effort. That's not to suggest that a common playbook and institutional support won't be necessary - it will. But first, we have to start with a culture that welcomes and encourages juniors ON THEIR TERMS with support and the rest will follow. I'll put my money where my mouth is and commit to a Region 2 Junior confab and XC camp in the next 2 years. If each of the 12 regions in the US did this with only 5 kids, there's your 60 juniors! P3 |
#4
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This guy, Maximillion Seis, just won the day at the Sailpane Grand Prix Final today in Italy and is in first place overall at current. He is 21 years old, French. TWENTY ONE!
I wonder when he started flying cross country? Amazing. FAI RANKING PROFILE: http://rankingdata.fai.org/SGP_displ...p?pilotid=6795 SGP FINAL RESULTS: http://www.sgp.aero/final2015.aspx?contestID=6157 We need to figure this out and start developing some junior pilots. We need to get out of their way! |
#5
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It's as simple as that, let's all work together to build a program for Juniors. The ultimate goal should be a Jr Nationals / party / training session. We should also have a Juniors in Florida before the Seniors around spring break every winter.
Etc, etc. We need ideas, a plan, and everyone pointed towards the same goal. But we need a leader...too! Someone who is really motivated and well liked, etc, etc, etc to light the flame and carry the torch. The SSA has to take a leadership role as well AT ALL LEVELS. Most important the Jrs need to be involved heavily. They are trying hard, and great kids. So are the guys trying to help them... |
#6
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On Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 6:24:04 PM UTC-7, Sean Fidler wrote:
It's as simple as that, let's all work together to build a program for Juniors. The ultimate goal should be a Jr Nationals / party / training session. We should also have a Juniors in Florida before the Seniors around spring break every winter. Are you volunteering to take on leading this effort? If so, good for you! Andy 9B |
#7
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On Friday, September 11, 2015 at 1:17:57 AM UTC-4, Andy Blackburn wrote:
On Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 6:24:04 PM UTC-7, Sean Fidler wrote: It's as simple as that, let's all work together to build a program for Juniors. The ultimate goal should be a Jr Nationals / party / training session. We should also have a Juniors in Florida before the Seniors around spring break every winter. Are you volunteering to take on leading this effort? If so, good for you! Andy 9B A Greek proverb: "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in." A similar Chinese proverb and appropriate to this thread: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." It's time stop to churning up the dirt to see if there is any life to be salvaged in our dwindling contest scene. Start the process of renewal, turn a few spades and plant some trees. |
#8
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On Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 4:20:14 PM UTC-4, John Cochrane wrote:
As a one time (long ago) junior who had to give up for a while, I think we're missing the big picture here. Not big team training sessions, not nationals. If you're a junior, and sort of by definition can't afford to own a glider, where do you get access to a relatively modern glider suitable for learning cross country and contest skills? European clubs have glass single seat gliders, and encourage memebers to go cross country in them. The vast majority of American clubs don't have glass gliders, and heaven forbid anyone should take one cross country, least of all the "new kid." The exceptions -- Harris Hill with both good gliders and a strong junior program, for example -- prove the rule. John Cochrane And Aero Club Albatross. Eternally grateful for the amount of latitude I had with the club equipment from Day One. As for Erik, he is also working on spawning a junior into the mix. He is training his son and I'd imagine he'll be tearing up the sky in no time. The discussion regarding equipment is somewhat moot. 1-26s, 1-34s, Glass ships, it really doesn't matter. The bigger issue is the difficulties in logistics and support. Many juniors can't even drive and getting access to a tow vehicle with a hitch is quite difficult. For a year, my "commute" to the airport was three hours one way, taking trains to get to Newark and two club members driving me the rest of the way. Those two club members, Steve and Intis made all the difference for me at that time. They also both crewed for me for my first several cross country flights, with Steve participating on the whimsical retrieve on my Silver Distance. A story for another time. On the other hand, a good friend of mine at another club who got access to a high performance glider was unable to get this sort of support and did not get involved with cross country flying for quite a while. He just did two cross country flights and his first outlanding. His last flight was 170 miles on quite a challenging day and now is totally hooked. Another junior pilot found his club to be very hesitant in crewing for him or landing away from his airfield. He does very little cross country flying out of his homebase, most of it in camps and in contests. This is by far the most difficult hurdle to cross as a junior pilot. I had been very lucky with the resources I have had and the support I received. I hope that other juniors will experience these things and it would be an honor for me to have the opportunity to give back to future junior pilots in a similar capacity. It sure made a difference in my flying. Best Regards, Daniel |
#9
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John hit the proverbial nail on the head. I believe the SSA should encourage clubs to add single place glass ships to their fleets and do more to encourage cross-country instruction/mentoring across the board. I think proactive policy decisions along these lines (at both the SSA and member club levels), will lead to a more engaged membership and greater retention of pilots (especially younger pilots).
I know a lot of european clubs have refurbished Standard Cirrus, Discus, ASW-20, LS4, etc. that are used by pilots and Juniors alike to persue cross country with. I think this approach not only fascilitates Junior participation but leads to retaining Millenials and GenX that may not be quite ready to buy the $90-150k sailplane of their dreams until the kids are all out of the house. In the meantime, both the mean age for a Regional or National contest here in the US continues to approach the geriatric threshold, which in the long run will make it more difficult to sustain sport, the SSA and many of the clubs that exist around the country. -Christopher Schrader |
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