1000km flights

I always thought that physical and mental endurance was a key factor that nationals and Worlds are meant to test? I thought that is exactly what the longer contests are for. Flights of 5 plus hours were common along with a hell of a lot more long days/nights making retreaves. I think the written words of Moffat, Johnson, Butler, Gimmey, and good ole Wally Scott would back me up on this point.

If tests of mental and physical endurance are not a major factor of what contests are all about, and the trend to midigate all the "risk" factors continues, then why not just eliminate the ships all together, set up the contest scenarios on simulators with 3 hour MAT's and see who wins. Geesh, what has happened to our sport.

Exactly! 1.000km in competition is another thing than flying long-range in Africa/Namibia! Thank you for clarification!

On Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at 7:29:03 AM UTC-6, wrote:
I think Sebastian Kawa was referring to the combination of 1000km flights and racing. The African camps (I have not flown in Namibia but have flown from Gariep in South Africa) are very relaxed and laid back. Most gliders are self-launchers or at least fitted with sustainers so long retrieves are not an issue. Everybody assists everybody and pilots set their own tasks according to their mood/attitude/experience for the day. Pilots think nothing of taking days-off and experiencing the wildlife or just relaxing by the pool between flying days. Competitions are a bit different - it's a far more stressful environment. Now combine 1000km tasks into the competitive racing environment - and Sebastian is then correct when he states its a recipe for accidents.

That's exactly what Sebastian was referring to: the competition flying. My remark was a reaction to Jonathan's opinion that 'On a 17,500 foot day, tasks of 3 or 4 hours do not do Nephi justice.' And he is probably right in this specific case, but generally, the golden mean has to be found between number and length of the tasks flown in an area with consistently excellent conditions.
The interview I had is mind can be watched here (for Sebastian's opinion in question please start at 14:00):

https://youtu.be/mH6YVbUotDQ?t=826

Thanks for posting that Kawa interview. Competition dynamics has definitely changed since the days of Moffat and Reichman. Kawa would be considered a pussy if he had to race here during the late 70's lol. Its apparent he prefers short and fast tasks. Those type tasks may play to his particular skill set. In my opinion, that only "tests" one aspect of cross country competative flying. Another aspect is the ability to make critical decisions over an extended period of time and interaction with changing wx conditions along course. Those two aspects only start to come out during longer tasks as well as multiple days of longer tasks.

A decision needs to be made whether competition soaring is meant to be a test of "sprinting" ability or a test of "marathon" ability. Hopefully it will be somewhere in between, but lets not jettison the "marathon" aspects (both mentally and physically) of competative soaring.