[NSRCA-discussion] Competition Nerves

[mwaustin54 at cox.net]

Steve,

Can't believe you forgot the name of drugs you lived on at a contest. It was Inderal !! LOL Dr. Phil gave you some and you even gave me one, course it put me to sleep and I don't remember much about that contest.. Ha

Mike
---- Steven Maxwell <patternrules at earthlink.net> wrote: 
>  Anthony one of the things I've been preaching sense returning to RC and Pattern is to NOT GET TO INTO WINNING,  real simple the more you try to force yourself to do better can be devastating for many while some thrive on it. So don't look at scores, because they can have a backwards effect, you may see you got say all 6's or 7's and think you done much better than that, but your competitors may only be getting 4's and 5's, so don't look at score till after contest to see what you need to work on most.
>  Be confident you know the rules and judging. RELAX have fun and enjoy, you'll have a much better time and will do better to boot.
>  In the 80's I would watch the scores and check score sheets and was always a nervous wreck, to the point that a DR. friend gave me meds to relax my nerves, don't remember the name now but they was what the Olympic shooters used to calm there nerves.  
>  The very best thing for nerves is practice to the point where it comes natural to do your flight.
>  How many times have you seen people try to win and blow it (myself included) instead of just relaxing and letting it flow.
>  
> Steven Maxwell
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Anthony Abdullah 
> To: NSRCA Mailing List
> Sent: 2/21/2007 2:16:24 PM 
> 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
> 
> 
> 
>