On Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at 7:13:28 AM UTC-7, wrote:
"Seems to me that if you are in danger of spinning from a shallow turn in the landing pattern, you are going much too slow."

Exactly. Or, if you are going much too slow you are in danger from spinning from a shallow turn in the landing pattern.

If you are going much too slow you are in less danger from spinning from a medium/steeper turn in the landing pattern because at low speed most gliders run out of up elevator authority before reaching critical angle of attack.


If so, you have another problem -- the steep turn likely puts you below the speed at which the wings are creating enough lift to keep you in the air. At altitude, the nose will fall and you will pick up speed. Close to the ground, you may impact the terrain.