On Aug 27, 8:38*pm, 2G wrote:

Everybody likes to get back and tell their story about a low save; everybody OOHs and AWHs. Nobody says "You DUMB ****, YOU COULD HAVE KILLED YOURSELF!"

So in my first contest, there was a tough day trying to work our way
back uphill to higher terrain (and home). I ended up making 3 low
saves in a row, each only about 300' AGL. I could have soared out to
lower terrain if needed each time, but I was making thermalling turns
only a couple of hundred feet off the ground. When I got home, I was
chuffed that only Gary Ittner and I made it home (everyone else landed
out). Upon reviewing the traces it appears that he and I did
virtually the same thing, making low-save after low-save at almost
identical points on the route home (though I was 15-20 minutes behind
him).

Just a few weeks later I was at another contest, proudly relaying this
story to Tom Kelly ("711"). He basically said exactly the same thing
- that I was an idiot and could have killed myself quite easily, and
to get the hell away from him.

At first I was very hurt, and then I was really ****ed off. Wasn't
Gary a legend in the sport? Wasn't I "smart" to have figured this out
and emulated him (even if unintentionally)? Wasn't I skilled to have
pulled it off and gotten home? Here I was, a budding contest pilot,
doing well on a tough day and hanging (sorta) with one of the best
pilots around! Why the hell should I be raked over the coals for my
accomplishment??

Over time, I've come to the realization that Tom's attitude is a lot
closer to the right attitude. A lot of good, skilled, experienced
pilots do dumb things. Even if I am the hottest pilot in the universe
(breaking news: I'm not), it isn't always smart to mirror the behavior
of top pilots. Following someone else's lead into a trap is just
dumb. I'll admit that I still sometimes take moderate risks in my
contest flying; but I'm far more cognizant of them and I don't simply
use other pilots as a measuring-stick for safety or what's "right" to
do.

--Noel