Bob,

There are many "fun" contests held by soaring clubs around the country.
These are a good venue to "get your feet wet". Sometimes they're listed
in the back of _Soaring Magazine_. They might also be listed as "cross
country" camps. At these, there are daily safety and weather briefings
as well as assigned tasks to fly, if you choose. The Albuquerque
Soaring Club at Moriarty usually sponsors a "fun camp" when they're not
running a sanctioned contest.

Good luck!

Dan

On 1/30/2016 8:59 AM, Bob Pasker wrote:
as a glider pilot with some XC experience, and no contest experience, I can you what keeps me from contests: there is no 'on ramp'.

the only way that I know to participate in contests is to participate in contests.

What we really need is a way for people to learn about contests before actually entering one:

1. ground school -- 1 day covering eligibility, rules, launch & land procedures, strategy & tactics, traffic, equipment, etc

2. flight school -- non-competitive contests in 2-seaters

3. newbie buddies -- when you show up at a contest, team up with an experienced pilot who will be your mentor for the duration of the contest

Reno Air races has pylon school: http://airrace.org/event/racing/rookie-school/

--bob

--
Dan, 5J