On 3/17/2013 11:14 PM, Morgan wrote:
Solid observation. I recently got an email from a club member about our
upcoming contest asking about ways to let people fly during the contest
that didn't want to compete. What struck me most was the use of terms like
"top guns" or "elite" in reference less experienced pilots not wanting to
get in the way.

We are fortunate to have a small low key contest that attracts some big
names, in part due to the fact they live within several hours drive. My
experience as a competitor and contest organizer has been that none of the
"elite" act remotely elite. You could hang out and never realize that
you're surrounded by 3 or 4 national champions or world team members.

One reason for people feeling this way is probably due to the fact that
many of the top pilots have been competing for quite a while and contests
are like reunions of sorts where they get to see old friends. Other top
guns, and of course, you take the opportunity to hang out. That can
probably make it seem hard to break into that circle or make it seem like
there are different cliques.

So far, I have never been turned away from a post flying BS session or a
pre-flight talk because I hadn't been to a Nationals or flown an official
regional. Just drumming up the courage to walk across the field and sit
down with a group of champions is usually enough to earn you a beer, wine,
water or whatever and a chance to make new friends.

We make up most of the walls and hierarchies ourselves.

If people don't want to compete, that's perfectly fine, but I would like to
figure out how to help them break down the walls they have built.

Morgan




On Saturday, March 16, 2013 6:27:45 PM UTC-7, wrote:
As I get older, one of the frustrations is the sense I get that the part
of soaring that has been most rewarding for me--competition--is still
viewed by some as elitist and exclusionary. Even the perception that
competition pilots--especially the better pilots--may consider themselves
to be above the rest of us might inhibit many from trying their hand at
competitive soaring.



The same kinds of real and imagined hierarchies exist in other sports.

Thoughtful stuff snipped to scoot to excellent/thoughtful/pertinent link

http://m.runnersworld.com/race-train...nd?page=single



I hope you enjoy it and, if you haven't yet entered your first contest,
that you set yourself a goal of doing so this year.



Chip Bearden

ASW 24 "JB"

U.S.A.

Writing as a non-competition pilot, "What Morgan and Chip said." I first
encountered what I seriously suspected were "self-constructed/self-inflicted
walls" in the 1990s, some 20+ years after discovering the sport. Even wrote a
prolix article about it which found its way into "Soaring" mag in February 1999.

If you know of any SSA members whom you think might be working behind
self-created walls, feel free to point 'em in the direction of the article; if
nothing else maybe they'll learn about the awesome online magazine archive!

Bob W.