For those who wonder why the US doesn't do better in WGC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ74...ature=youtu.be

So endith the lesson.

280,000 euros a year

Besides the budget they have 12 competitive gliders for team members to train and compete with.

On Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 2:45:17 PM UTC-8, Tony wrote:
280,000 euros a year

You should fly at St Auban and you will experience the support that the team enjoys. I have flown there several times and Eric is very involved with the guest pilots as well as his team. The infrastructure at St. Auban is mind boggling for a U.S. pilot. The planes, the tow planes, the hanger space, the maintenance facilities and people, the dormatories, rec halls, dining facilities, classrooms, it goes on and on and on. It is a military base for sailplanes.

Careful you might begin to sound envious of policies which come dangerously
close to socialism. I know you in good ol US of A wouldn't want that. :-)






At 22:45 14 January 2017, Tony wrote:
280,000 euros a year

The French are fortunate in the state support they get for competition
gliding, but are very much an exception.

British and German glider pilots have little or no direct support of that
kind;
it doesn't stop them having similar levels of success at WGC level. Both
do
however have a very active level of support within the sport for
encouragement and coaching of young pilots. How often do you have a
USA Junior Championships? (Yes, I know there is a geographical
disadvantage when clubs can be 3,000 miles away).

At 10:23 15 January 2017, Mike Oliver wrote:

Careful you might begin to sound envious of policies which come
dangerousl
close to socialism. I know you in good ol US of A wouldn't want that. :-)

At 22:45 14 January 2017, Tony wrote:
280,000 euros a year

Hey, you got me thinking how much better the British Team could achieve
with that level of financial support.

I have always considered a (the?) major difference between the US teams and others that rank high in the worlds is team flying being allowed in contests in other parts of the world. While our (US) pilots team fly in the worlds, it's hard to beat a pair that has been doing it all the time for a decade.
A parallel is working in the shop with a person all the time. We sorta keep an eye out on the other and can anticipate what they need/want before they ask. Outsiders see a lot of work getting done with little conversation that is related to the work.

A bit lower on the "difference list" is the state support for soaring in some countries followed by the way some countries pursue training/mentorship in XC and contest flying. The support would also include the amount of time pilots can afford to fly. Seat time is hard to beat but I feel team flying makes more of a difference at the level of the worlds.

I don't think the types of tasks we fly in contests is as much of an issue (as what I listed above) regardless of what some may "discuss" in various places.

The US has fielded some good teams but I'm on the fence about allowing team flying in our contests. While it will help in the worlds, our large geography may skew US contest results if some teams can make it while others can't.

I think Charlie is right on target.
Team flying is so very different than the American solo pilot model.
The French team lives and trains together virtually year round.
The support system for them at St. Auban is the gold standard.
At least they allow us to enjoy their facilities as renters.

Le samedi 14 janvier 2017 16:12:15 UTC-5, a écritÂ*:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ74...ature=youtu.be

So endith the lesson.
Hi

I flew in St-Auban at peak season. You have to reserve months in advance.
St Auban is also big business. Income of 1 000 000 euros a year would not surprise me.
Gilles

On Sunday, 15 January 2017 18:40:06 UTC+2, wrote:
I think Charlie is right on target.
Team flying is so very different than the American solo pilot model.
The French team lives and trains together virtually year round.
The support system for them at St. Auban is the gold standard.
At least they allow us to enjoy their facilities as renters.

Many teams fly competitions without practise before, and still take the medals. I see same US guys flying in same class/team for many WGCs, there would have been countless hours of flying time available for honing team flying skills during this period. I think the reason is culture and way of thinking. You (and me) view it as individual sports, but most succesful countries view gliding as a team sport (like cycling, which is respectively popular in those countries). And it is, there is huge advantage to be gained from team.