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| What is the BIGGEST reason that YOU would enter a hang gliding competition? |
| the thrill of competition, to try to be #1 |
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7% |
[ 5 ] |
| to fly with the best and improve myself |
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44% |
[ 29 ] |
| because it's fun to all fly together |
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12% |
[ 8 ] |
| because of the social aspects of competitions |
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4% |
[ 3 ] |
| to have fun, I don't care much about winning or losing |
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20% |
[ 13 ] |
| to accomplish flights that would likely be impossible by myself |
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4% |
[ 3 ] |
| to compare myself to other pilots |
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3% |
[ 2 ] |
| to compare equipment performance |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
| OTHER (please explain below) |
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3% |
[ 2 ] |
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| Total Votes : 65 |
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remmoore
3 thumbs up
Joined: 24 Jul 2008
Posts: 1311
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 Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 9:15 pm Post subject: |
 #41 |
I went team flying XC today. None of us were thinking about who would "win", but how we could help each other stay in the air. As usual it was alot of fun - we got to discuss conditions over the radio, found a convergence line, and made good use of it.
It was the opposite of competition, and major fun!
RM |
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peanuts
3 thumbs up
Joined: 08 Jul 2008
Posts: 1880
Location: virginia
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 3:04 am Post subject: |
#42 |
| remmoore wrote: |
| ..........It was the opposite of competition, and major fun!RM |
co-opetition |
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CHassan
3 thumbs up
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Posts: 4594
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 4:34 am Post subject: |
#43 |
During my competition flights I have learned more than I usually learn in 3 or 4 flights at the home field. I push myself just a little more. I pay attention just a little more, and I remember just a little more.
I'm not a hard core points pilot. I work to better myself and use the others as a gauge to do so. Matter of fact, during any comp I have been in I have tried to find pilots to hook up with so we can drag each other into goal, just like flying XC with my buddies back home.
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Nibs
3 thumbs up
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 2612
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 5:04 am Post subject: |
#44 |
| remmoore wrote: |
I went team flying XC today. None of us were thinking about who would "win", but how we could help each other stay in the air. As usual it was alot of fun - we got to discuss conditions over the radio, found a convergence line, and made good use of it.
It was the opposite of competition, and major fun!
RM |
Sounds a lot like how people fly in a competition. Most people in a comp team fly until nearing the last turn point. There are exceptions to that for any given day, but overall, the pilots stick together in gaggles and are constantly helping eachother on the radio... helping find the best parts of the lift, the best lines, the best climbs, etc. They thermal together and glide together. |
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old newbie
3 thumbs up
Joined: 02 Dec 2008
Posts: 812
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 6:21 am Post subject: |
#45 |
| remmoore wrote: |
I went team flying XC today. None of us were thinking about who would "win", but how we could help each other stay in the air. As usual it was alot of fun - we got to discuss conditions over the radio, found a convergence line, and made good use of it.
It was the opposite of competition, and major fun!
RM |
Sounds like a comp without a defined task. If you had made a task with a couple of turn points how would have the day been different?
Steve |
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remmoore
3 thumbs up
Joined: 24 Jul 2008
Posts: 1311
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 6:32 am Post subject: |
#46 |
| old newbie wrote: |
| remmoore wrote: |
I went team flying XC today. None of us were thinking about who would "win", but how we could help each other stay in the air. As usual it was alot of fun - we got to discuss conditions over the radio, found a convergence line, and made good use of it.
It was the opposite of competition, and major fun!
RM |
Sounds like a comp without a defined task. If you had made a task with a couple of turn points how would have the day been different?
Steve |
That's just it - we didn't make a "task". We made no rules, and set no turnpoints. We launched when/where we chose and landed when/where we wanted. We let conditions guide us - not a Task Committee.
Look - I'm not trying to convince anyone to not fly comps. I'm simply explaining why I have no interest in them. If competion floats your boat, go for it.
RM |
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Jason
3 thumbs up
Joined: 02 Jan 2007
Posts: 7533
Location: Stapleton, Colorado
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 7:03 am Post subject: |
#47 |
you dont need to enter comps to have little competitions
any time I get into a thermal with another pilot......I want to be the one that climbs faster.....
we all want to be top of the stack...
the two speedgliding "comps" (really just a bunch of people that liked going fast) that I did were more about fun then anything else.......hell.....the last one I entered I picked the entry category primarily because I wanted to race against other people that wanted to hit the alt control gates........I didn't expect to win......I just wanted to run the course my way against other people that were running it the same way...because that was more FUN
If I were to enter a competition.....I wouldn't really care about who went the farthest.......I would want to thermal with the "best" and see how they do it and try to keep up...... I tend to thermal fast though....so they would probably outclimb me
i don't know about anyone else......but I do this for fun, and thermaling to me is fun (and going fast)
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TSA, DHS, NDAA and SOPA Seig Heil! |
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AIRTHUG
3 thumbs up
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 6159
Location: Point of the Mountain, Draper, UT
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 7:15 am Post subject: |
#48 |
| Jason wrote: |
any time I get into a thermal with another pilot......I want to be the one that climbs faster..... |
 
I will always remember one of the first summer days after I moved here, it was a good South Side day (all day), and I was out there pretty much the whole day with Jeff OB. I was on my U2 160 and he was flying his Spectrum (his 'fun' South Side glider). He was out-climbing me thermal after thermal.... and not just by a few feet. I'd start to twist up and he'd just beam out!
Being the competitive spirit that I am, I was really bummed to have my ASS handed to me like that... but I was also humbled, and could plainly see why Jeff is as good as he is.
The coolest part was how he casually played it off... he made excuses for me, like "well I've got over 1,000 hrs on the South Side alone". Made me feel a little better...
At that time, the only other person that had been able to repeatedly spank me like that was when I flew with my dad... and he was doing it in an Eagle....
I've practiced a lot since that day with OB.... I want a rematch and see how much I lag him now... I bet it's not as much as before 
Although I'd bet he's gotten better since then, too 
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Ryan Voight
BLOG: www.AIRTHUG.com
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Southside
3 thumbs up
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 666
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 8:53 am Post subject: |
#49 |
| remmoore wrote: |
I went team flying XC today. None of us were thinking about who would "win", but how we could help each other stay in the air. As usual it was alot of fun - we got to discuss conditions over the radio, found a convergence line, and made good use of it.
It was the opposite of competition, and major fun!
RM |
Perhaps if you had attended a few comps beforehand you and your buddies might have flown 5, 10, 25...% further? By flying with the elite pilots you might have gotten a better sense of what you still need to learn -- if you didn't win then there is something to learn. And with being so up close and personal with so many good pilots perhaps you might have picked up a trick or two to get you to that next level. Maybe somethings that you could have shared with your XC buddies back home. |
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remmoore
3 thumbs up
Joined: 24 Jul 2008
Posts: 1311
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 10:15 am Post subject: |
#50 |
| Southside wrote: |
| remmoore wrote: |
I went team flying XC today. None of us were thinking about who would "win", but how we could help each other stay in the air. As usual it was alot of fun - we got to discuss conditions over the radio, found a convergence line, and made good use of it.
It was the opposite of competition, and major fun!
RM |
Perhaps if you had attended a few comps beforehand you and your buddies might have flown 5, 10, 25...% further? By flying with the elite pilots you might have gotten a better sense of what you still need to learn -- if you didn't win then there is something to learn. And with being so up close and personal with so many good pilots perhaps you might have picked up a trick or two to get you to that next level. Maybe somethings that you could have shared with your XC buddies back home. |
John,
There's truth to your comments, to be sure. My whole point, however, is that I don't want to think/fly/live like a competition pilot. My point has been that I'm not looking to be a better competitor - I can have plenty of fun and XC flying experiences without that mindset.
I know guys at "that next level" - most of them only fly on days when they have carefully calculated conditions will be conducive to optimal XC flights. I personally hope to never get to that point. Whatever "level" I'm on is focused on the pure experince, and free of any drive to beat others or only fly when it's best.
RM |
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Avolare
3 thumbs up
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Posts: 283
Location: NC
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 11:03 am Post subject: |
#51 |
RM, you are fortunate with your time/location/ and most importantly your flying companions. You are a lucky guy.
My reason for answering the poll with trying to improve myself is competitions offer a weeklong of learning in various conditions. I think I improve when I can see how it's done with the best. I would like to think a world team member is inside me, but the truth is, I don't have the time to dedicate to hang gliding to get to that level.
If I could ever achieve the skills to get to the top 20 pilots or so, most of my flying would be just like yours. Because, I have just one of the perfect trifecta (the important one) that I assume you have.
I wonder if most don't already fly as you already, just without the prior coordination?
I wonder what, if anything USHPA can glean from this thread. Because, if you haven't heard, the sport is shrinking........ TTT tried to have a long competition (forget what they called it) but had poor timing relative to the economy. |
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remmoore
3 thumbs up
Joined: 24 Jul 2008
Posts: 1311
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 11:19 am Post subject: |
#52 |
Avolare,
Trust me - I'm not special. I make no claims of possessing any amazing skills, nor does my flying history indicate a heightened ability.
I just know what I like, and what I don't.
RM |
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Hangskier
3 thumbs up
Joined: 10 Jan 2011
Posts: 852
Location: Eastern NC, USA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:26 pm Post subject: |
#53 |
Might somones reason for competing change as they competed more? Someone may have only one reason for their first comp, then may change or have more reasons with their 10th comp, and so on.
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Aspiring Pilot for LIfe and Focused
1st Flight/Solo Nov 1993 |
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SKYSHARK
3 thumbs up
Joined: 04 Mar 2011
Posts: 27
Location: Santa Barbara
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:58 pm Post subject: |
#54 |
| Looks like the cocoon will be getting a little break from the sky... |
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