SOARING COMPETITION IS ALIVE AND WELL

[Ed]

SOARING COMPETITION IS ALIVE AND WELL
A report by Ed Anderson, President, Eastern Soaring League

The 2009 ESL season has drawn to a close and what a great season it
was. We had 16 hand launched contest days scheduled and 18 thermal
duration contest days scheduled.

Since this was my first year as President, I was interested to know
about the trend of participation we have seen over recent years. Are
we getting more pilot participation or are we trending down?

I keep hearing that interest in soaring is on the decline and that
people just aren’t interested in soaring contests anymore. So I asked
our score keeper, Luis Bustamante, if we kept participation records
over the years, and it seems we do.

In 2009 we had 99 pilots who participated in our thermal duration
contest series, not including Novices. Based on the registration
reports, in terms of total pilot registrations, we had been on a steep
decline from 2000 to 2005. However over the last 4 years
registrations have been on an upswing. Even in this year of a tough
economy our numbers are up, year over year, for the last 5 years.

In 2009 we had 77 pilots who participated in our hand launched contest
series, not including Novices. For hand launch we only have 5 years of
registration records. What I saw is that the hand launch division is
doing great! In fact, if the HL End of Season contest had not been
rained out, 2009 would have been the ESL’s best year in the last 5
years. I think that is an outstanding record!

Who says that interest in contest soaring is dying? It seems to be
doing quite well on the East Coast of the United States. www.flyesl.com

Is the ESL an anomoly? Are we the only ones seeing a rise in interest
in soaring?

I would love to hear how your league or your club is doing. How do you
promote your contests and what trends you are seeing?

[Gord...@aol.com]

Sorry for skewing your numbers Ed :-)

A couple of those were me !

For you guys  who have not traveled to other domains to soar, I attended my first ESL contest in York PA, and found the guys so much involved that I made it a point to attend them when ever possible.

 

Ed's field and club has some of the best guys and a really nice flying site, a bit of a challenge to get to from the rest of the world (on Long Island) but worth the trip.

Good report Ed!

Gordy

Louisville today, you?

 

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[Jack Womack]

I find, even after all these years, that I learn something every time
I go to a competition... At this years TNT... I learned to LISTEN TO
JIM FRICKE... and not the lying buzzards! 8^) Seriously, I learn a lot
by watching others fly, and seeing the decisions they make. And of
course... there's that "learning from our mistakes" thingy... 8^0...

Jack

[Jimmymac]

I'm thankful that guy's like Jack Womack take the time to teach a newby like me. I had a blast at TNT and did much better than I would have without his guidance.

I have been amazed at the way the competative pilots have been really helpful with advice, insight, history and recommendations. The numbers of pilots will surely increase if they are actively welcomed, mentored and challenged.

Guy's like Dan Ahearn, Tim Bennet, John Luetke and Henry of SLNT have done a good job of making sure they have someone to fly against in the future! :-)

From my perspective as the junior member of SLNT is that if you want to support your competition turnout, you have to enthusiastically engage the new pilots.

Spending days flying as a team with nationally competative pilots will assure that a guy goes to sleep at night thinking of that incredible low level save or perfect landing.

If the experts spend more time flying with the newbies, there will be plenty of competators in the future.

Still a rookie, but working on level III,

JimmyMac in Dallas


Sent from my iPhone

[Ed]

Thanks for the replies guys. It is good to know that the spirit of
soaring lives everywhere. ;)

Ed Anderson

[Ed]

Gordy,

We always look forward to your visits to the ESL contests. There are
pilots in our club, who flew Novice at a contest you attended. You
gave a number of them some of your attention. They still talk about
that day. Many have gone on to become avid contest pilots.

Hope to fly with you agian soon.

Ed