JWGC USA update

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the support and enthusiasm along the way. We definitely kept track and we really appreciated it. As far as takeaways from the contest, we learned a tremendous amount and are really excited going into the future.. I am doing a write-up for the US Team and future junior pilots as far as lessons learned and what worked, etc.

This biggest implication of the US vs. FAI rules has little to do with the mechanics of starting, finishing or the like. The adjustments were easy, including doing a direct finish instead of the finish sectors we have. The biggest difference is the gaggle dynamic that exists and gets reinforced due to the point structure in place in FAI rules. We learned that it is very costly to try to outsmart the gaggle.

The Club Class Nationals at Hobbs were great practice for the Junior worlds.. The tasks seemed to be as intense and reasonably reflected the difficulty in tasking we experienced. I would definitely like to see more Nationals conducted in such a manner, with the variety of Assigned and Area tasks that we had there.

The other major takeaway is the need to practice team flying. I am now a complete convert. Team-flying can be extremely effective and we were able to fly a lot better because we did this. We were all amazed that we were able to stick together so well. Going into 2017, JP and I plan on practicing team-flying as much as we can. We would like to make informal weekend meets at Mifflin where we can fly with John Good and do ground school on tactics and strategy so that we can perform better in the upcoming Junior Worlds.

Our idea is to also expand this to other serious juniors within a reasonable radius of Mifflin and hopefully make this the basis of a consistent junior racing contingent.

Something that would be helpful to us developing skills and tactics for future world competitions is if team-flying were to be allowed at the National level. It would certainly be a great way to implement the practice we intend on doing during the off-season in a racing environment.

Best Regards,
Daniel

The other major takeaway is the need to practice team flying. I am now a complete convert. Team-flying can be extremely effective and we were able to fly a lot better because we did this. We were all amazed that we were able to stick together so well. Going into 2017, JP and I plan on practicing team-flying as much as we can. We would like to make informal weekend meets at Mifflin where we can fly with John Good and do ground school on tactics and strategy so that we can perform better in the upcoming Junior Worlds.

Our idea is to also expand this to other serious juniors within a reasonable radius of Mifflin and hopefully make this the basis of a consistent junior racing contingent.

Something that would be helpful to us developing skills and tactics for future world competitions is if team-flying were to be allowed at the National level. It would certainly be a great way to implement the practice we intend on doing during the off-season in a racing environment.



i would love to come down to mifflin with my sailplane to take part in this!

Congratulations to all participants. I'm looking forward to your next JWGC in Lithuania.
Here are some thoughtful comments about the final day by Tom Arscott. Very insightful regarding tactics and risk.
https://www.facebook.com/britishglid...72053282851635

"Big sectors, close together in a relatively short AAT can be a recipe for a bit of a lottery, and there was a lot to be gained or lost on the last day." Well said kid! A "bit" of a lottery? You don't say! ;-)

Great report. These are all extremely bright kids, especially our US guys who don't yet have all the tools and practice opportunities that many of these other top junior teams enjoy. If we can somehow narrow this margin, our juniors will be right in there in 2017. They also get a final chance in 2019. What a great goal! As a country, the USA would really benefit from increasing the support for our Junior team (and expanding it) moving forward.

On Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 8:33:42 AM UTC-7, Craig Reinholt wrote:
Congratulations to all participants. I'm looking forward to your next JWGC in Lithuania.
Here are some thoughtful comments about the final day by Tom Arscott. Very insightful regarding tactics and risk.
https://www.facebook.com/britishglid...72053282851635

Just an excerpt from the young winner's thank yous:
Firstly, on behalf of the whole team, I need to thank our generous sponsors, without whom this would not have been possible. The British Gliding Association for all their support, including entering us in to the comp and transporting our gliders, British Airways for flying the whole team across the world, Land Rover for providing us with a Discovery for the comp, Apogee for lending and fitting us out a container to transport all of our equipment, and Sydney Charles, Lasham Gliding Society, Naviter and Navboys for supporting the team throughout the year.
Where are the US team sponsors? Jeep, Delta Air Lines, a US shipping company, etc. Hello? Is there any marketing benefit to these organizations to sponsor a US team in the future? Any marketing gurus out there that might want to tackle this? Or do we want soaring in the US to remain a middle aged (and up) guys' sport for those who can afford it?
Gene

Exactly right. We must have 25 Delta pilots in our ranks. If its a value to BA, its probably of some value to Delta (or some of the others). And so on, and so on, and so on...

You miss 100% of the shots you do not try................

Sean

On Monday, December 21, 2015 at 10:34:27 AM UTC-5, GeneReinecke wrote:
On Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 8:33:42 AM UTC-7, Craig Reinholt wrote:
Congratulations to all participants. I'm looking forward to your next JWGC in Lithuania.
Here are some thoughtful comments about the final day by Tom Arscott. Very insightful regarding tactics and risk.
https://www.facebook.com/britishglid...72053282851635

Just an excerpt from the young winner's thank yous:
Firstly, on behalf of the whole team, I need to thank our generous sponsors, without whom this would not have been possible. The British Gliding Association for all their support, including entering us in to the comp and transporting our gliders, British Airways for flying the whole team across the world, Land Rover for providing us with a Discovery for the comp, Apogee for lending and fitting us out a container to transport all of our equipment, and Sydney Charles, Lasham Gliding Society, Naviter and Navboys for supporting the team throughout the year.
Where are the US team sponsors? Jeep, Delta Air Lines, a US shipping company, etc. Hello? Is there any marketing benefit to these organizations to sponsor a US team in the future? Any marketing gurus out there that might want to tackle this? Or do we want soaring in the US to remain a middle aged (and up) guys' sport for those who can afford it?
Gene

Good point Gene.
Did you know about the prizes that were made available?

The GFA M&D department managed to put together an incredible package of prizes;

Brietling hats (which sell on eBay for a good price),
Milvus trousers,
CloudDancer wing covers and canopy covers,
Smart watches
and in addition for the winner of each class a one week all expenses paid trip to South Africa to fly a JS1.

A class act.
Jim


On Monday, December 21, 2015 at 7:34:27 AM UTC-8, GeneReinecke wrote:
On Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 8:33:42 AM UTC-7, Craig Reinholt wrote:
Congratulations to all participants. I'm looking forward to your next JWGC in Lithuania.
Here are some thoughtful comments about the final day by Tom Arscott. Very insightful regarding tactics and risk.
https://www.facebook.com/britishglid...72053282851635

Just an excerpt from the young winner's thank yous:
Firstly, on behalf of the whole team, I need to thank our generous sponsors, without whom this would not have been possible. The British Gliding Association for all their support, including entering us in to the comp and transporting our gliders, British Airways for flying the whole team across the world, Land Rover for providing us with a Discovery for the comp, Apogee for lending and fitting us out a container to transport all of our equipment, and Sydney Charles, Lasham Gliding Society, Naviter and Navboys for supporting the team throughout the year.
Where are the US team sponsors? Jeep, Delta Air Lines, a US shipping company, etc. Hello? Is there any marketing benefit to these organizations to sponsor a US team in the future? Any marketing gurus out there that might want to tackle this? Or do we want soaring in the US to remain a middle aged (and up) guys' sport for those who can afford it?
Gene