[NSRCA-discussion] Competition Nerves

[Lisa & Larry]

I'm finding this thread very interesting.

 

I remember my first contest, my knees were knocking so bad I didn't know if
I could stand for the whole sequence.

 

I figured that if I flew far enough out the judges wouldn't see the wings
rock with every shake. Then Verne K. told me he couldn't see my plane so he
was going to start downgrading me until he could see it..LOL

 

I'm much better now.My knees don't knock as bad. I just have to worry about
the thumbs shaking the transmitter.

 

I don't try to memorize the sequence, just practice the maneuvers and the
timing and communication with Lisa calling. In building off one of the
threads, the calm flow of the process. I focus on one maneuver at a time
while working to improve airspace positioning. I let my caller (now wife)
keep track of where we are. I haven't missed a maneuver unless it was a dead
stick (which has been many). I have however, flown the wrong maneuver
followed by Lisa asking what was that, then the judges reply a Zero.LOL

 

As a reality check, you've seen me fly. I'm not a top of the pack guy and
continue to struggle in my class. Although competitive in nature, I try to
enjoy the event as a whole. For the most part, the contest is my practice
time and it shows. We will be working on it this year...

 

Looking forward to actually flying all the rounds in a contest instead of
having plane problems.Think we have it sorted out now.

 

Larry Diamond

 

  _____  

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Anthony
Abdullah
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 1:16 PM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Competition Nerves

 

I am trying to get myself ready for the upcoming pattern season and have
been evaluating my past performances. I made a list of the reasons I don't
do as well as I would like and learned some interesting things about myself.

 

Other than practice which was one through five on the list, I found that my
performance is sometimes hindered by nervousness. Sometimes I get so wound
up and the adrenaline gets pumping so much that my thumbs are a blur and I
go into brain fail safe. For example; one year at a the district
championship contest I was in a dogfight for the contest victory. I was
flying well and had won three out of five rounds. On flight six everything
was going great and I had made it through the toughest part of the pattern.
It should have been smooth sailing to a victory. Unfortunately I finished a
set of three maneuvers then dropped the gear and called landing. My caller
asked me if everything was alright and I assured her (my wife) that all was
well and it was time to come on home. On base to final she calmly reminded
me that I had three more maneuvers to do before I could call it a day DOH!!!
Can you say 0, 0, 0? I was so nervous that I managed to snatch defeat from
the jaws of victory. Fortunately it did not cost me the district
championship.

 

The point is, I have noticed that I am calm and focused during practice, and
extremely focused during a competition, but not calm. Other than practice is
there something that I can do to help calm my nerves? I am practicing Yoga
with the wife and am open to meditation, etc to help keep the mind calm but
focused. Is it just me or do some of you more experienced pilots experience
ventricular hyperactivity as well? I would be interested in hearing if that
is normal.

 

Signed

Spongebob Blurry Hands AKA The Galloping Ghost

 

 


 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.nsrca.org/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/attachments/20070222/f8d43661/attachment.html