Help - Do I fly Reno, or Elmira w/DJ?

OK All,

I've been asking this question of some local pilots, and I haven't
heard an argument that's convinced me one way or another yet... So I'm
opening this question up for (hopefully) broader input. Your help is
much appreciated!

I'm a relative newcomer to the competition scene. I finished mid-pack
at the Region 12 contest early this year (my first contest), and
recently I took 5th out of 26+ competitors in a local 3-day contest at
Ephrata, WA (would have done better, but I lost my PDA and had to use
paper charts the whole time). I really enjoy task-oriented contest
flying and am seriously interested in doing a lot more in the future.
With any luck, I'll be competitive at the National level in a few
years (assuming my talent and skills can be honed enough).

The first thing I need to do is gain more practical experience (I've
already studied every competition book and manual online or in print
from the last 30 years)... My work schedule & vacation time is going
to permit me to fly at _one_ more contest this year. I have a tough
choice on where to go, as late July is my only window of opportunity.
I can either:
(a) Attend the entire Air Sailing contest up near Reno with my DG-300,
or
(b) Go fly for 1 or 2 days with Doug Jacobs in the Duo Discus at
Elmira.

I'm buying my first home right now, so I'm constrained by money as
much as by my vacation time. Doug/Elmira is an exciting opportunity,
but the cost of airfare and the cost/donation to fly in the Duo will
stretch my budget to the max, to fly for just 2 days (as a co-pilot/
guest/observer, and from the back seat at that).

Of course, the Air Sailing contest will not have nearly as tough of a
field and (I'm guessing) won't be very heavily attended, due to the
fact that it coincides with Elmira. BUT its a single day's drive from
Washington State (with my own DG-300 in tow), and I'd get 5 - 6 days
of contest task flying where I'm making all the decisions and having
to exercise all of the skill. Its a bit less of a financial strain
than Elmira as well.

So what do you think? Maximize my "stick time" and fly in Nevada? Or
take the opportunity to ride along with an expert like Doug and try to
glean knowledge - even though it will be for just 1 or 2 flights?

I appreciate any and all advice. Thanks!

--Noel
P.S. For those who want some context regarding my soaring, here's my
flightbook on the OLC:
http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0...t=olc&pi=35474
(2009)
http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0...st=olc&sp=2008
(2008)

On Jun 20, 12:17*am, "noel.wade" wrote:
OK All,

I've been asking this question of some local pilots, and I haven't
heard an argument that's convinced me one way or another yet... So I'm
opening this question up for (hopefully) broader input. Your help is
much appreciated!

I'm a relative newcomer to the competition scene. *I finished mid-pack
at the Region 12 contest early this year (my first contest), and
recently I took 5th out of 26+ competitors in a local 3-day contest at
Ephrata, WA (would have done better, but I lost my PDA and had to use
paper charts the whole time). *I really enjoy task-oriented contest
flying and am seriously interested in doing a lot more in the future.
With any luck, I'll be competitive at the National level in a few
years (assuming my talent and skills can be honed enough).

The first thing I need to do is gain more practical experience (I've
already studied every competition book and manual online or in print
from the last 30 years)... *My work schedule & vacation time is going
to permit me to fly at _one_ more contest this year. *I have a tough
choice on where to go, as late July is my only window of opportunity.
I can either:
(a) Attend the entire Air Sailing contest up near Reno with my DG-300,
or
(b) Go fly for 1 or 2 days with Doug Jacobs in the Duo Discus at
Elmira.

I'm buying my first home right now, so I'm constrained by money as
much as by my vacation time. *Doug/Elmira is an exciting opportunity,
but the cost of airfare and the cost/donation to fly in the Duo will
stretch my budget to the max, to fly for just 2 days (as a co-pilot/
guest/observer, and from the back seat at that).

Of course, the Air Sailing contest will not have nearly as tough of a
field and (I'm guessing) won't be very heavily attended, due to the
fact that it coincides with Elmira. *BUT its a single day's drive from
Washington State (with my own DG-300 in tow), and I'd get 5 - 6 days
of contest task flying where I'm making all the decisions and having
to exercise all of the skill. *Its a bit less of a financial strain
than Elmira as well.

So what do you think? *Maximize my "stick time" and fly in Nevada? Or
take the opportunity to ride along with an expert like Doug and try to
glean knowledge - even though it will be for just 1 or 2 flights?

I appreciate any and all advice. *Thanks!

--Noel
P.S. *For those who want some context regarding my soaring, here's my
flightbook on the OLC:http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0....html?sp=2009&...
(2009)http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0....html?rt=olc&p...
(2008)

Probably learn more flying with Doug, my personal concern would be
time and finances, that being the case I think I would fly at Air
Sailing. Attach yourself to one of the more experienced pilots (I
don't mean follow him around) but maybe talk to him about his thoughts
before and after and compare flight traces. JJ will probably be there
and he is a good one for a newbie to emulate.

gary