On Mon, 26 Nov 2018 08:59:28 -0800, John Foster wrote:

On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 1:49:38 PM UTC-7,
wrote:
As a fairly new contest pilot but one that enjoys the entire sport.

It is interesting to me that Nephi OLC/XC Camp set for next June has a
wait list and the Sr's is already has 39 pilots registered - yet
Mifflin and Elmira have less then 10 total.

I have looked at the pilot survey and have chatted allot abut Soaring
and the focus. Since I have experience in the Olympic movement, saw
how it evolved and have no current/future desire to see it move further
- I think Soaring as a sport could be at a cross roads.

Do we (all Soaring) put our effort/strategy into producing a World
Champion or do we increase our population hoping that increase in
numbers produces a World Champion. (or does a WC even matter?)

Just a thought as I entered my next years contests

WH

ps - I do not believe great Soaring geography is the key - I am on my
4th Sr's - the Soaring is not spectacular like UT - so I rule out
geography IMHO

From the perspective of a new glider pilot, I think we should focus on
our base. We need more people flying gliders. As the base grows, we
will have more to draw from in the contest arena.

XC flying and competition flying are probably two of the main reasons why
pilots don't vanish after learning to fly and getting bored with local
flying. That's one reason that UK clubs promote going for badges to a
newly soloed pilot: almost immediately converting them to a single seat
glider and starting to work toward getting their bronze and silver badges
with gold and diamonds a more distant goal.


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org