Sandy,

If you are just starting, be sure to spend time at John Cochrane's web
page:

http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...Papers/#corner

There you will find the "Just a Little Faster, Please" article that
Mike the Strike mentioned. The thing to take away from the article is
that small differences in your ability to pick the best lift have a
far greater impact on your x/c performance than what you do with your
STF decisions.

Or you can do what I do and follow 9B!

2NO