1st Contest. Where Should I Go?

.. There seems to
be fewer regional’s than years past. Perhaps more will be scheduled
later in the year. Any recommendations would be appreciated.


Barry, I would make a few recommendations for your first contest. My
specialty is indoctrinating newbies into soaring competition. I would
look for a contest (and there are many that do this) that have a
ground school/strategy class for all pilots. I would look for a
contest where you can fly with a more experienced "buddy". I would
also look for a contest that teams you up with a "mentor". The last
three things I mentioned are happening with MUCH more regularity than
ever before. I have so much fun putting experience together with new
and raw enthusiasm. It creates an excitement. I would also say, that
dont' worry about winning the first few contests, just worry about
learning the ropes and soaking up all the knowledge you can. You will
have sooo much fun.

NUMBER ONE RECOMMENDATION: Bring CREW....I generally pass around a
list for the "crewless and clueless". But as a newbie, you NEED the
help, and the retrieves!

Also, I wanted to warn you that there are several types of regional
competition pilots.
1. There are those that are just trying to get points to keep up
their ranking, and want to eventually fly in Nationals. These are the
serious, I don't have time to mentor pilots. They are great, but
really they would never tell you they don't have time, but they really
don't. They have a serious agenda, nothing wrong with it, just be
aware!
2. There are those that LOVE competing against themselves and
nature. They compete as much against themselves as others in the
contest. These are the experienced pilots that I LOVE to assign as
mentors. These pilots will give you the shirt off their backs, their
equipment, anything to add you to their passion filled experience.
3. There are those pilots that are still not comfortable with
competition, those are the pilots that have flown a few times in
competition, but not really my recommendation to ask for help or
mentoring. They have just graduated from the needing a mentor state,
but still trying to find their own way. These are the ones, that I
like to sit back, let them explore, and ask if they want any guidance,
but let them decide for themselves.
4. The last type of pilot is like yourself, excited, want to try, and
need some hand-holding. You are the type of pilot that I am most
thrilled about in competition soaring!

I think that you will find that there are many organizers out there
who do these exact things that I do at my contests. The reason that I
manage contests is to "grow" the sport and reach out to the
"newbies". However, each contest has to be worked so that all types
of pilots can accomplish what they need. It's a tough job. Which
answers the other question, why are there no regular regionals in
Region 7? Because the organizers are strictly volunteer
organizations, there is no requirement from the SSA to force every
region to have a yearly contest. I live in Region 9, however, I
manage contests all over the country (now).

Some sites like Mifflin PA, Cordele GA, Ephrata WA, New Castle VA are
GREAT places, and always crowded, so the organizers can run a contest
and not lose money. Their organizers are excellent, and any of those
contests would be good for a newbie for training and learning. Except
that Mifflin has some pretty tough terrain for a beginner, but the
knowledge and experience you get from someone like Karl Streideick is
impossible to get anywhere else.

I would also recommend that you make sure that you attend a contest
that is a stickler for the rules, I would also recommend that you look
for a CD (competition Director) that is himself a rated glider pilot.
LOTS of those around..an example, is my husband who usually CD's for
my contests. Because he himself is a glider pilot, he can see what
the new pilots are doing or not doing, and offer to have someone with
expertise in the newbie's trouble spots to help him.

Most of the contest sites mentioned do really great jobs at these
things to help newbies. So, view locations on the SSA contest
schedule, look for the dates, the experience of the organizers, and
find out which ones your local club friends are going to, and go
together!
Micki Minner

NUMBER ONE RECOMMENDATION: *Bring CREW....I generally pass around a
list for the "crewless and clueless". *But as a newbie, you NEED the
help, and the retrieves!


In the meantime . . . You could offer to crew for a competition
pilot.
You can learn much about procedures, rules and racing techniques just
listening at the pilot briefings and the pool-side debriefings.
By listening and observing, you can also figure who are the mentors
and who are not.

Burt
Marfa, west Texas USA
www.flygliders.com

On Nov 25, 11:46*am, MickiMinner wrote:

Also, I wanted to warn you that there are several types of regional
competition pilots.
1. *There are those that are just trying to get points to keep up
their ranking, and want to eventually fly in Nationals. *These are the
serious, I don't have time to mentor pilots. *They are great, but
really they would never tell you they don't have time, but they really
don't. *They have a serious agenda, nothing wrong with it, just be
aware!

No one else responded to this so I'll jump in. I'm not sure I
understand what this category is. If it's a small number of pilots who
hope to improve and don't have time to help others do so, then yeah, I
guess there are a few like that. But if it's the group of experienced
pilots who do well regionally and, often, nationally, then they can
make great mentors, too, despite the fact that they enjoy competing
against each other fiercely. I don't think Micki intended to say that
the better pilots make lousy mentors (or that good mentors make lousy
pilots!) but that's sort of how one could interpret her original
posting.

The atmosphere at most regionals (all?) is dialed back a notch
compared with the nationals. So there's often a bit more time and
something less at stake there for the "big guns." For example, some of
the best mentors at New Castle this fall were national-caliber pilots
(including, from memory, at least two national champions) who love
competition...so much so that they also enjoy mentoring less
experienced pilots who might grow to love it, too. That doesn't mean a
newbie can show up expecting someone to explain how to do everything.
Years ago, I believe it was George Moffat who wrote that there are a
few pre-requisites for entering your first contest. Know your glider
and your equipment. Know the rules. Know how to stay up. Know
something about how to fly cross country (navigation being much less a
requirement now than it was before GPS). And, importantly, know how to
thermal safely in close company with other gliders. A mentor isn't
going to enjoy explaining the basics of how to thermal. But a good
mentor will be able to discuss the strategy for a given day and task,
the likely weather and timing of the start, how to use the terrain and
other gliders to best advantage, the rules, etc. So don't assume that
just because a pilot is a "name" that he/she won't make a good mentor.
Hank Nixon (UH)s, for example, has a long record of instructing
newbies on how to fly contests and anyone who's been fortunate to have
that experience is a better pilot for it.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
USA

On Nov 30, 12:16*pm, Chip Bearden wrote:
On Nov 25, 11:46*am, MickiMinner wrote:


other gliders to best advantage, the rules, etc. So don't assume that
just because a pilot is a "name" that he/she won't make a good mentor.
Hank Nixon (UH)s, for example, has a long record of instructing
newbies on how to fly contests and anyone who's been fortunate to have
that experience is a better pilot for it.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
USA

You are right...It did get worded wrong. Not that those experienced,
looking for national seeding pilots wouldn't make GREAT tutors/
mentors...just that they may not want to be or have time for it, if
they are looking to increase their ranking for nationals....thanks for
pointing out the difference! Uncle Hank was the BEST example to
use...he always seems to have time for mentoring/educating no matter
how difficult his hunt for a national title is. We owe a lot to his
mentoring skills!
Micki