At 02:56 22 May 2020, wrote:
Do you train to avoid making mistakes or do you train as if
you will make
m=
istakes?

Who=E2=80=99s has the ultimate authority over glider
operations in the US?
=
The FAA, the pilot in command, the contest director, the SSA,
SSF, club
chi=
ef instructor, DPEs...?

Stuff to think about

Late to this thread but years ago a discussion as to what to
hold with your left hand got many replies that it was
potentially dangerous to hold the release knob! (Sounds
rubbish to me). The thinking was that the pilot might
accidentally release the low. In the UK I was taught (many
many decades ago) to hold the release. A surprising number
of people said this was wrong?
A quick trawl of YouTube videos shows most pilots not holding
the release during the launch!
I've never heard of or seen an accidental release; doubtless
they happen but the results are not, I assume, fatal for the
poor tug pilot.