Different people soar for different reasons. Some live for contests,
some like the challenge of badge work, and some like Bumper and me just
love to soar for the sake of soaring, with no predefined route. That
way, when we get up and see better conditions somewhere they weren't
expected, we can strike out in that direction instead of being confined
to a declared route.

While that is my preferred mode of soaring, I am thankful for all the
different types attracted to this sport. We are few enough in number
that we need to value every addition. And, even if that weren't the
case, it's absoultely understandable that different people soar for
different reasons. I was glad to see that this thread hadn't
degenerated into a "But that isn't REAL soaring," kind of thing. There
are probably as many perceptions of what constitutes "real soaring" as
there are glider pilots.

Martin