first Comp

[Neil Croxford]

folks
I am entering my fist Comp flying an LS4 in June 2019

Now i know i am not going to win and it is all about taking part, but
what can i do to the glider to gain more points

[Tom Kelley #711]

On Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 1:00:04 PM UTC-7, Neil Croxford wrote:
> folks
> I am entering my fist Comp flying an LS4 in June 2019
>
> Now i know i am not going to win and it is all about taking part, but
> what can i do to the glider to gain more points

Go here: http://www.dragonnorth.com/djpresentations/

Then scroll down to Andy Davis articles. A good read for first-timers.

Best. #711.

[David Hirst]

>
> Now i know i am not going to win and it is all about taking part, but
> what can i do to the glider to gain more points

Hi Neil,

Congrats on entering - that's often the biggest psychological hurdle. Quick answer to your question: point the glider in the right direction.

OK, flippancy aside, there is only so much you can do to the actual glider to prepare it for flying, and after a while you invoke the law of diminishing returns. What really helps is to have confidence that the glider is prepared properly, so you can focus on flying it to the best of your ability (and thus gain more points). The Andy Davis articles that Tom mentioned are a really good overview but here are some points I'd like to stress.

There's a lot to be gained from cleaning the glider (seriously, and a lot of gliders - especially club gliders - come back from contests cleaner than when they left), polishing it and doing your best to remove all the little functional niggles that will distract you from the actual flying. Leaky dump valves are annoying. Gear doors that don't quite close properly are annoying. Seat cushions that stop you getting comfortable are annoying. Flapping loose ends of wing tape are annoying. Etc. etc.. Make sure that everything works and you'll get in the glider relaxed and happy.

Make sure that the instruments all work and that you know how to use them - especially true of electronic varios and fancy flight computers. Trying to figure out something in flight will distract from your actual flying (see how your average thermal climb rate goes down when you're ditracted). When in doubt, fly the glider and figure it out later.

Once you know that everything works and that you know how to work everything, you'll be in a much better frame of mind in which to head off into the unknown. It's a blast! Enjoy!

DH
TX

[Per Carlin]

Instead of spending time outside of the the glider is my best recomendation to spend as much time as possible in the glider.

Yes you can tune the glider, but it will only give you at the best a few % better in performance.
You can easily gain 10% or more in points by knowing the glider and its performace better. Fly declared competitons tasks as training, do not give them up to easily, a few outlandings does not hurt more than lost prestige.

If you still feel the need to stay on the ground, put some attention to the instruments and the trailer, if they do not work are you in trouble.

[Tango Eight]

On Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 3:00:04 PM UTC-5, Neil Croxford wrote:
> folks
> I am entering my fist Comp flying an LS4 in June 2019
>
> Now i know i am not going to win and it is all about taking part, but
> what can i do to the glider to gain more points

Give the glider just as much XC practice as possible :-).

T8

[Matt Herron Jr.]

On Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 12:00:04 PM UTC-8, Neil Croxford wrote:
> folks
> I am entering my fist Comp flying an LS4 in June 2019
>
> Now i know i am not going to win and it is all about taking part, but
> what can i do to the glider to gain more points

If you have a moving map like Oudie, I would strongly recommend learning how to use it and set it up the way you want by hooking it up to Condor and flying some virtual tasks. These things are complex and sometimes finicky. It will be stressful enough at the start line without the need to figure out how to restart a task on the flight computer, etc. Practice starts, final glides, and MATs on the flight computer. ITs fun!

Matt

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

For most mere mortals, know your equipment and then seat time.
As others stated, know how to make your instruments do what you want, knowing they work well, then......seat time.
Way back when, it was, "40+ hours seat time in the glider you will compete in BEFORE the first contest day....that season".
This basically means the basics of flying "just sorta happens" so you can figure out where to go and when as well as watch for others.

If the basics of the ship are OK, then for most peeps, the minor gain of "prepping the ship" is nothing compared to the nut behind the stick.

[Jim White[_3_]]

Read the rules. Best way to spend points is to infringe them!

[John Godfrey (QT)[_2_]]

On Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 3:00:04 PM UTC-5, Neil Croxford wrote:
> folks
> I am entering my fist Comp flying an LS4 in June 2019
>
> Now i know i am not going to win and it is all about taking part, but
> what can i do to the glider to gain more points

Hi Neil,
Welcome to the competition circuit!
Suggest that you read https://www.ssa.org/files/member/SSA%20Guide%20to%20Competition%202011.pdf

See you out there
QT

[gkemp]

On Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 1:00:04 PM UTC-7, Neil Croxford wrote:
> folks
> I am entering my fist Comp flying an LS4 in June 2019
>
> Now i know i am not going to win and it is all about taking part, but
> what can i do to the glider to gain more points

Finish every task

[Roy B.]

Don't worry about the glider - get yourself in shape:

1) Practice setting a task on every flight, then fly that task, then analyze that flight on SeeYou. What could you have done better?

2) Try to crew for somebody else experienced (even if only for a couple of days) before your first comp. You will learn a lot in a more relaxed atmosphere than when you are competing.

3) Get the contest waypoint & airspace files downloaded early and study them. Download comp flights from the last contest at that location and see the lines that successful competitors used. Learn where the airport and land out options are.

4) Have fun and be mindful of Gary Ittner's saying: Competition is just flying cross country as efficiently as possible.

ROY

[Andy Blackburn[_3_]]

On Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 12:00:04 PM UTC-8, Neil Croxford wrote:
> folks
> I am entering my fist Comp flying an LS4 in June 2019
>
> Now i know i am not going to win and it is all about taking part, but
> what can i do to the glider to gain more points

Welcome to the addiction Neil.

It would help a bit if you mentioned what country and contest you are flying. National rules vary from country to country (UK, Australia, and US are all different for instance). Read the rules for your country - particularly starts, finishes and penalties.

I agree with others, knowing how to use your flight computer under pressure is the most important thing. Second is making sure all the bits on your glider that need to work in a contest do in fact function well so that you aren't running around like a chicken with your head cut off prior to grid time. After that, if the finish on your glider is shot, getting things smoothed out as best you can would help. If seals are missing that's next and beyond that don't forget gap-sealing tape. If your pneumatics are shot and you can't get energy compensation to work you will end up in crappy thermals, so a few flights doing pull-ups and watching the vario (if you haven't already) would be useful. Beyond that, take starts on the early side so you get home and study the weather forecast (get a subscription to one of the glider forecasting services).

Best of luck,

Andy Blackburn
9B

[krasw]

Looking back at my first comp it was all about learning to fly a lot faster than alone. Learning curve is pretty steep, it is much easier to find yourself a nice gaggle and see what others do, learn the rhytm of fast flying and see some uncomfortable decisions, low saves etc. that you would mostly avoid flying alone. It takes some practise to keep up with fast group, after that you can learn to do things yourself.

All of this of course if your aim is to get most points.

If you want a fast lane to comp flying, get a good twin (Duo etc.), national level pilot to the backseat and fly with him.