At 19:29 30 June 2008, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Jun 30, 12:47=A0pm, "noel.wade" wrote:
Ryan -

Along with what the others have said (flying regularly and buying
Knauff's books), I encourage you to check out different authors and
different sources of gliding knowledge. =A0There are many books by
good
authors (inlcuding Reichmann, Wander, and others) that are excellent,
and its always good to get different perspectives on flying
technique.

Hanging out around glider operations (even if you aren't flying) is a
good idea. =A0Wing-run and check out various takeoff techniques.
=A0Note
what seems to work and what things tend to get people in trouble.
Hang out with the pilots in your club that go cross-country.
=A0They'll
have lots of experience, and even if they aren't good teachers you
will learn some things just by osmosis. =A0Never stop asking
questions,
and never stop trying to think ahead to "what can I work on, to get
better today?"

Take care,

--Noel

Hang out and watch and assess downwind, base, final, and landings. It
never gets old and is the second most important part of flying XC.

Might even be the first; this is the part you have to get right.