Contest participation

To all of you who are interested in contests but have not yet flown one: Just Show Up! Every sports class regionals is designed as an entry level affair. Go to the practice day, explain that it's your first contest, and you'll get all the help you need. Yes, it would help to read the rules appendix and guide to competition, and have a vague idea of what the task types, start and finish procedures are. But even so, you'll get a "mentor" who can help explain everything to you. There will be several other first-timers. The camps, clinics and so forth are even better, but they are really not necessary before you go to a sports regionals. Just Show Up!

John Cochrane BB

Based on my experience, BB is right on!

The SSA website has one or more "flying your first contest" documents that have great information. Read those first. Then show up.

I've been to 4 contests in the last 2 years and everyone, to a person, has been exceedingly helpful. Strategy, instruments, flying in tough conditions - you name it - help was there for the asking.

The biggest hurdle for me was being willing to land out. It happens. Be trained and ready - both skills and mentally. Then go fly!

The old adage about contest flying improving your soaring skills is also spot on. In my last contest, I spent 22 minutes at 1200 feet trying to stay up (yes, I had a landable field right underneath me.) I managed to get away on that one. I would never had worked that hard at my home field.

Finally - to every experienced contest pilot who has mentored a "newbie" - thank you very much!

Lou

PS - See you at the Region 7 contest in Albert Lea! It will be a great one this year!

On Sunday, January 31, 2016 at 12:01:30 PM UTC-5, John Cochrane wrote:
To all of you who are interested in contests but have not yet flown one: Just Show Up! Every sports class regionals is designed as an entry level affair. Go to the practice day, explain that it's your first contest, and you'll get all the help you need. Yes, it would help to read the rules appendix and guide to competition, and have a vague idea of what the task types, start and finish procedures are. But even so, you'll get a "mentor" who can help explain everything to you. There will be several other first-timers. The camps, clinics and so forth are even better, but they are really not necessary before you go to a sports regionals. Just Show Up!

John Cochrane BB

I will add, it seem's (to me) whenever the SSA/Soaring magazine has done a pole (about Soaring content), the majority of SSA members complain about the level of reporting of contest's/contest reporting/contest (basically too much) info.

So, for some SSA members (mostly here on RAS) that seem like there is a dearth of contest info (in any form), maybe some of it the SSA is responding to those that make the most noise?
Not saying good or bad, just saying I've been around long enough to have seen multiple SSA/Soaring poles over ~30+ years.

As I've stated before, I started by crewing for much better pilots, then did "Little guys meets" in the NE US, followed by actual contest's.
Yes, I had "on field mentors" along the way as well. Maybe I'm in the 0.1% of the group in the US.


As a XC/contest pilot/CFIG, I've never "blown someone off" that had XC/contest questions.

On Sunday, 31 January 2016 10:01:30 UTC-7, John Cochrane wrote:
To all of you who are interested in contests but have not yet flown one: Just Show Up! Every sports class regionals is designed as an entry level affair. Go to the practice day, explain that it's your first contest, and you'll get all the help you need. Yes, it would help to read the rules appendix and guide to competition, and have a vague idea of what the task types, start and finish procedures are. But even so, you'll get a "mentor" who can help explain everything to you. There will be several other first-timers. The camps, clinics and so forth are even better, but they are really not necessary before you go to a sports regionals. Just Show Up!

John Cochrane BB

Read the Appendixes of the rulebook, great primer. Someone mentioned crewing for an experienced pilot but also volunteer to assist with organizing and running a contest. If we do not continue to foster organizers and volunteers events will not occur.

I've been reading this thread with interest. You see.. I think I'm a prime candidate for this idea. I have my CFIG and commercial. I got it 20 years ago in college. Almost all of my soaring experience is 20 years ago. Almost the entirety of my experience is intro soaring, and acro rides when I was in college (that's was flying that someone else was paying for... good enough in my late teens)

I had some good flying in CSA's 1-36. I think my best ever was a 2.5 flight out of Bob Lee in Deland FL. I got beyond gliding range from the airport for the first time. Nothing serious... just one flight of.. oh... I gotta go here, then there then I can get back.

Now here I am in my early 40s. Time, and disposable income are both on my side for once. I joined a club late in the summer. I checked out to tow and teach. Knocking the rust off my skills was fun. I got some good instruction in ridge soaring, got a taste of wave too.

So, here I am.. What now!?

I decided that I need to learn. So after one false start ( tried Minden, but they decided they'd stay closed in March when I have vacation) I booked 4 days in Williams CA. Told them I want to learn how to thermal better, and get some cross country instruction.

I've been reading some soaring books. Started with 'the soaring engine'

I've got plans to go to Elmira. A college age friend grew up at contests, and he and his kids now are flying contest. I feel I'm so far away from being qualified to even show up!

I'm sure it's like anything.. I just have to DO it.

I bought a quarter share of a 1-35. I'm anxious to get out and learn the skill set. As of now, I'd say I wouldn't be interested in a contest until 2017. Is that realistic.. a whole year of getting ready? The 'on ramp' sure looks steep from where I'm sitting. I'm determined to keep going, and see if I enjoy this type of flying. But for someone who's never done it. It sure seems like a extraordinary amount of time, effort, and money getting into a new hobby. I'm game to try for a while and see how I like it.

Jason

There are some problems you can not solve - you just need to battle constantly against the tide lets just be tenacious and keep trying/be open to new ideas...... he small number of contest pilots compared to SSA membership and the shrinking number of pilots ............. All Orphan Sports share the same problem.

IDEA: we have Nationals (worth 100) - Regional s (worth 92) - lets make a Contest that is 4 days (worth 70).

One operator I spoke to really like the idea of doing a contest that was easier and required less man hours to run. This would help his operation and maybe get a few people to try a contest who can not give up their vacation..

I think in the end we are looking for pilots to get "bitten by the bug". Until Red Bull decided to sponsor our contests....... main stream media may be a stretch (but getting a high end media sponsor is also not a bad idea )


WH1

ps.For me the emphasis in VSC on doing Badge Flights and the Governors Cup comp between the 3 clubs in our area - rally helped drive the XC itch.

Jason wrote - "As of now, I'd say I wouldn't be interested in a contest until 2017. Is that realistic.. a whole year of getting ready?"

If you focus on and accomplish your C, Bronze, and Silver badges in 2016, the plan to fly a contest in 2017 is quite realistic. Especially if you spend some time in the winter of 2016 - 2017 reading up on contest flying.

Go for it!

Lou

Since "on ramp" in regard to contests is becoming a meme, I feel the need to call BS. Where's the "on ramp" to college? Where's the "on ramp" for getting a job? Where's the "on ramp" for taking flying lessons? All of these instances require self-motivation and some initiative; they don't happen unless you do something. The same is true of contest flying.

Now I appreciate that some people are timid, or don't have a great deal of self-confidence, or might need a bit of a push. For them the best advice I can give would be to join a club that has pilots who do XC and fly contests.. Camaraderie and a bit of peer pressure can work wonders!

As others have said on this thread already, there are many venues and opportunities available for people to get exposed to contest flying. But you have to take advantage of them yourself, no one can spoon feed you into becoming a contest pilot.

-John, Q3

On Monday, February 1, 2016 at 12:47:17 PM UTC-5, John Carlyle wrote:
Since "on ramp" in regard to contests is becoming a meme, I feel the need to call BS. Where's the "on ramp" to college? Where's the "on ramp" for getting a job? Where's the "on ramp" for taking flying lessons? All of these instances require self-motivation and some initiative; they don't happen unless you do something. The same is true of contest flying.

Without starting generational war, which this may very well be part of the dilemma as well, I would argue that for those under 35, there were quite a few "on ramps" to College, jobs, and in many cases flying lessons... Not to mention if our goal is to sell and build the sport, the easiest way to fail in this endeavor is to tell people is to just spend the money, figure it out, and you might like it.

I understand that this is not how society always worked, but in many regards there were a lot less events vying for members time and money (how many forms of martial arts and after-school programs existed in 1960?). This is the exact same problem that juniors face in the highschool years, and why they simply cannot afford to spend all their time sitting around the gliderport watching old men drink.

Really? Just home before they cr a couple open a bottle. And who knows, you just might learn something while they're sober in daylight hours.

Sheesh. When did I become an old man? Seems 1 minute ago. That's the worst argument against accepting the huge generosity of those alcoholic old men I've ever heard.