On Aug 28, 12:33*pm, Ramy wrote:
On Tuesday, August 28, 2012 12:20:10 PM UTC-7, noel.wade wrote:
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

This is exactly why those kind of discussions on RAS are so important. You will hear opinions that you will normally wouldn't hear elsewhere or face to face. I will definitely think twice next time before deciding to thermal below 500 ft AGL.
Sad news but great discussion.

Ramy

I agree. John C's description of low altitude dynamics and perception
was an eye opener.

I have a hard deck limit on thermalling, but it is different dependent
on terrain.

Brad