And for real panic, imagine finally getting it up, then several hours
later as you finish the contest task, discovering whatever made it hard
to get up is now making it impossible to put back down.

Yes, this is why when I fly the Pegasus I make it a point to put the gear
down no lower than 2000' MSL, to give me more time to deal with it if
necessary.

I was warned that it might be stiff in cold weather (the surface temp was
60F -- blue norther conditions for AZ), so we'll see how it is when the
weather warms up.

This weekend, if I'm lucky and the gliderport remembers my request to charge
the battery, I'll get to fly with a Real Vario for the first time...

-tw