wrote:

As a student pilot, thinking more about gliders lately, I started reading
this group. I can't help but notice that talk of contests seems to dominate
the subjects here.

I think I would enjoy gliders just for the fun of flying, and seeing what
you could do individually, and for the beauty of silent flight. Is it so
necessary to fly in contests to have fun?

How many people here just fly gliders without flying contests?

Role-Call?

Fly mostly in contests -

Fly occasionally in contests -

Never fly in contests -

Where do you all stand? Curious, I guess.

Writing as a(n apparently genetically) predisposed flying freak utterly
enamored of just about all forms of airborne flight, but lacking
sufficient time and means to indulge in all, I luckily bumbled into
soaring post-school,~'73, and have never gotten bored with it for the
myriad challenges (and rewards) mentally-enabled, solar-powered flight
contains.

As you and others have noted, contests are (but) a part. My 'contest
phase' lasted less than 5 years (during which time I participated in a
few 'fun' (i.e. unsanctioned by the SSA) contests. Enjoyed 'em, too, but
found it more enjoyable to compete against myself simply doing XC every
opportunity...weekends, weeklong camps, etc. I got in more soaring that
way...worked for me.

In my view sport flying afflicts such a tiny fraction of the population
(further culled by economics, family, and life in general), that we
should celebrate and encourage ALL of it. Internecine squabbling may
offer a future to some activities, but furtherance of sport flying - and
soaring sure qualifies! - sure isn't one. Some of the best writing to be
found in "Soaring" magazine in years past has been write-ups of national
and international contests...while some of the blandest has included
pro-forma contest synopses primarily of interest to participants and
family/friends/followers of same. (But it's all good, compared to
nothing at all.) Celebrate and savor the best; ignore the rest...and
contribute your own best, since - except for staff-generated content -
the magazine is 100% member-/volunteer-generated.

Writing aside, anyone ahead of you on soaring's grand learning curve is
a potential source of increased personal enjoyment, though not all will
have similar personal druthers. You'll even encounter a (very) *few*
buttheads along the way (though at a far lower percentage than in the
populution in general, IMHO); I've always found 'em easy to ignore.

So contests and contest participation are no more 'required' than is any
other form of participation or enjoyment in the sport...but I suspect
that lasting interest tends to spring from interests with lasting
challenges/variability, etc.

Bob W.