[NSRCA-discussion] Competition Nerves

[Ed Deaver]

Hey Anthony, several things that worked for me over the years include;
  1)     Listening to my walkman, with music I liked and going to the bathroom 2 pilots ahead and just "CALMLY" visuallizing the flight.  All of it for that matter (humor:):)
  2)    Treating practice that same as a contest the first flight!  I used to go through a different routine while practicing and if I blew a maneuver, falling out of the sequence to redo it.  I found that this wasn't effective for contests so started to adopt a theory, the first flight of the day is a hands-down bonifide competition flight.  Start up, run up, procedure turn, etc straight into the pattern, calling the box out loud etc etc to simulate the stress of a competition flight.
  3)    This may be the most helpful.  Pick spots in your sequence to take a deep breath!!!  When I call for anyone (except FAI guys) I find a straight and level spot and tell the pilot take a deep breath.  The results are amazing, suddenly the pilot feels more relaxed then.  Sometimes we need to get our mind on something else just for a split second so we can excell at the rest.
  4)    Contests, contests, contests.  One year I actually flew in 16 Pattern and IMAC contests(wasn't married then but saw lots of country.)  The more you fly in front of judges the easier it gets.
  Hope this helps.
  Ed

Ed Miller <edbon85 at charter.net> wrote:
  Anthony;
In 2003 I moved from Advanced to Masters and flew 2 contests in Masters. 
Then in '04 and '05 due to a move from NY to TN I flew only 40 flights total 
in 2 years. So of course in '06 I decided to fly at the Nats in Masters 
since I was so well prepared. Although I had always had a bit of the 
"shakes", especially the first flight of a contest, it was really bad in '06 
both while practicing and at the Nats. While practicing Sunday at site 1 in 
Muncie Danny Landis was calling for me and asked if I was OK, I was shaking 
so hard. What has worked for me is eliminating caffeine altogether, a side 
benefit is I seem to sleep better. Also getting into the mindset that "it's 
just another day at the field" has helped a lot. By the Gay Ga. contest in 
October '06 my shakes had subsided and my scores moved up a bit. The 
pressure of competition is felt by all, the trick is to do things to 
minimize it. Dean Pappas also recommended and I agree is to eat normally at 
a contest, don't try and fly hungry or on a stomach full of Little Debbie 
goodies or doughnuts.
Ed M.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Anthony Abdullah" 
To: "NSRCA Mailing List" 
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 2:16 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
>
>
>
>
>


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