GETTING READY FOR COMPETITION

1
Getting Ready For Competition
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Topics

• Preparation
• Glider
• Pilot
• Expectations
• Practice
• What to Expect

3
Glider Preparation

• Be Sure Everything Works
• Annual/Condition Inspection
• Wheel Brake
• Fix dings, wax
• Instruments (keep it simple)
• Know how they work
• Know that they work
• Program PDA
• Relief (pee) System/Drinking Water
• Cockpit Comfortable
• Trailer (lights, hitch, tires, interior)

4
Pilot Preparation

• Task Area
• Turnpoints
• Map, Restricted Areas, SUAs
• Google Earth (where terrain a factor)
• Competition Rules-know them
• Read SRA, Moffat, Davis (see end)
• Local Field Protocol
• Crew Arrangement
• Physical Conditioning, Rest

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Map

• Why a map? I have GPS and a moving map on my
  PDA.
• Big picture
• Planning
• Familiarization with the area
• Reliability of glider electrical systems

6
Pilot Preparation

• Checklists!
• Before leaving home
• Glider
• Before Take Off
• After Landing

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Sailplane Racing Checklist

• W3
• PREFLIGHT
• Critical Assembly Check
• Batteries (charged)
• IPAQ (turnpoints loaded and charged)
• Cellphone (charged)
• Pee Thing connector
• Sunglasses
• Map
• Road Map
• Landing Cards
• Retrieve Numbers
• Grid Sheet
• Task Sheet
• Sun Screen/ChapStick
• Lunch
• Drinking Water
• Oxygen On
• Ridge Head Pad

• W3
• POSTFLIGHT
• Download flight log
• Turn Off
• GPS-Nav
• Instruments/Master
• Oxygen
• ELT (for trailering)
• Remove from cockpit
• IPAQ
• Landing Card
• Cellphone
• Batteries (to be charged)
• Camelbacks
• Lunch
• Return to Cockpit
• Sunglasses
• Dump valve tool
• Pee Connector

8
Expectations

• Competition often turns perfectly good pilots
  into idiots!
• Set realistic goals. You are probably not going
  to win your first contest.
• If you finish every day, you will surprise
  yourself with how well you do!

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Racing Strategy

• Not rocket science
• Set MacCready conservatively
• Pick a reasonable speed for the day and use that
  in cruise.
• Flying a little slower increases range for
  finding the next thermal.
• If you get low, survival, not speed is priority
• Minimize circling Fly lift lines

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Racing Strategy

• Focus on reaching goal(s)
• Next cloud, turnpoint, finish
• BUT, always keep several options in mind
• Think flexibly, dont become fixated
• Use other gliders. (Be sure they are really
  climbing!)
• If flight is not going well, evaluate other
  alternatives. Perhaps try something else.

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Practicing for Racing

• Racing (and XC flying) is a complex task
• Good start
• Finding centering thermals
• To circle or not to circle
• Gaggle flying
• Identifying best lift lines to next turnpoint
• Proper speed control
• Outlanding options
• Drink, eat and pee
• Final glide
• Finish and LANDING!

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Practicing for Racing

• Fly cross country every chance you get
• Whenever possible, set a task and try to complete
  it, preferably racing with several other pilots
• Vary task setting AST, TAT, MAT
• Analyze each flight, using SeeYou, etc. Identify
  areas for improvement
• Develop feel for starts and final glides

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Practicing for Racing

• On weak (non XC) days practice finding and
  centering thermals at low altitude.
• Practice picking landing fields, and visit later
• If your next contest allows water ballast, use it
  in practice on good days.

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Your First Contest
Stay ahead of the curve Eat a good
breakfast Assemble and CAC glider early Grid
early Use your checklist Comfortable in
cockpit Be ready to go with 4-5 gliders ahead of
you for tow
15
Your First Contest
16
Your First Contest
Stay relaxed, but alert Dont worry about the
weather. It is what it is. Create several
general strategies depending on task and
weather. Use your mentor. Ask questions. Discuss
your proposed strategies. Avoid Distractions
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Your First Contest

• Review the Task Area
• Map
• Terrain features, issues, aids
• Outlanding options

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Your First Contest

• Flying the task
• Dont start first, or last
• Use the skills you have learned and practiced at
  home.
• Avoid the onset of Contest Idiocy You dont
  have to follow those other guys streaking at a
  high rate of speed towards the ground!
• Watch weather trends, keep flexible, be ready to
  change strategy if conditions warrant.

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Your First Contest

• Flying the Task
• Use other gliders, but dont blindly follow them
• Flying to your next thermal (cloud), have a plan
  for the possibility it is no longer working.

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Your First Contest

• Finishing
• Plan to finish high (1000 ft agl) until you have
  a better feel for final glides.
• Dont miss the bottom of the Finish Cylinder
• If the finish looks marginal, keep landable
  fields within reach.
• After the Finish, focus on fitting in with the
  traffic, landing the glider and clearing the
  runway.

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Your First Contest

• Post Flight
• Glider clear of the runway
• Flight log to scorer
• Put the glider away for the night (Check List!)
• Have a beer and discuss your flight with the
  other pilots

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Other Reading

• SRA Guide to Soaring Competition
• http//sailplane-racing.org
• How to enjoy your first gliding competition,
  Sailplane Gliding,June-July 2004
• Cross Country Soaring by Helmut Reichmann
• Winning II by George Moffat

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Good Luck! Fly Safe!