[NSRCA-discussion] Mandatory Advancement

Tue Feb 3 17:09:03 AKST 2009

Jim

Eddie Batchelor here from D-6

I can TOTALLY relate to your story.  Here's mine :

First I don't get to practice like I need to and I am lucky to get to go to
3 or 4 contests/year.

My 1st year I flew 1 contest and did about normal for anyone's 1st one :-)

The next year I stayed in Sportsman because I knew I needed to. I did Ok
,but not great, but I did manage to come in 2nd at one contest. I knew the
rules required me to move up  BUT the idea of flying Intermediate scared me
silly.

I worried about it all winter then decided to go for it. As luck would have
it I had a horrible spring at work and didn't get a single flight until 1st
of June. I went to my First Int contest in June actually feeling like I was
gonna be in peoples way. Everyone there  greeted me so warmly that I felt
better after getting there but I was still nervous. I decided to fly and
just concentrate on trying to learn the sequence (and not crash -
seriously). Well I  was terrible but each round was easier than the previous
one and I didn't crash or hurt anyone :-).  Going home I thought back on the
weekend. I realized I had progressed further in those 6 flights than  I
thought possible considering I had NOT even flown the sequence before
arriving at the contest.

Well the next year I stayed in Int since I'd only been to 2 contests. I got
to go to 4 that year and managed to come in 3rd place once. No one said
anything to me about moving up - but then my flying might have made it too
obvious I shouldn't.  LOL

Now I come to this year and I am contemplating the move to Advanced. I
haven't flown a flight since last Sept in fact I don't even have a plane
airworthy at this time, so I have no idea when I'll get to start practicing.
Now if I decide to stay in Intermediate one more year I feel like I can be
competitive and maybe even win one or two and I don't feel threatened to be
forced up.  Up until I said this just now. Some people in D-6 may get after
me now If I don't move up  VBG

Now if you've read all this then bear with me just a little more as I have
two points to this :

1.	If you really fear the move to Advanced so much you will not fly
maybe you should stay in Intermediate and I doubt anyone will say different.
2.	BUT   before you decide on #1  really give it some honest
reflection.  What is YOUR reasons to go. Do you want to improve your flying
no matter what place you end up in or is being "competitive" and in the hunt
for 1st more imtportant.

      My moving up to Intermediate before I was ready taught me more in the
3 contests I got to attend than all the practice in Sportsman could have
ever done.

If you really want to get better quick, it is possible that flying Advanced
may well do it for you.

If you want to really be on the Top of the competitive edge In your class,
gunning for 1st every time  then stay in Intermediate and enjoy it.

It all boils down to what you want to get out of it. And it has been my
experience that either way your friends will support you.  Mine sure have !

Good luck

Eddie 

  _____  

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Jim
Gruntkowski
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 4:20 PM
To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Mandatory Advancement

Hello everyone. My name is Jim Gruntkowski and I'm relatively new to
pattern. I flew my first contest in May of 2007 in sportsman and met a great
bunch of people that gave me more help than I can actually take in at one
time. I flew 4 contest that year and was told to move up to intermediate
which was okay because there is more competition in intermediate. 2008 was a
very busy year at work which didn't leave much time for practice but we went
to contest anyhow so I can show my wife whata fool I can make out of myself.
Mostly the reason we went to contest the 2008 was to get away for a long
weekend and spend time with new friends. I can honestly say that I didn't
enjoy myself as much as I should have due to the fact that I just wasn't
ready to compete in intermediate. It was a little depressing before the last
contest I told my wife maybe we should just skip the last contest because it
wouldn't be worth the money for the travel and hotel and not be competitive.
We did go and we had a great time. Did I mention my wife is my caller. But
if someone told me I had to move up to advance this coming season I would
probably take a year off. This is a hobby and I love it but I also want to
be competitive. I have other hobbies that are competitive and have seen all
types of sand baggers but that's just a part of life. I honestly believe
that people know they're flying abilities and what class they should be
flying in and if they stay in the class just because they know they can win
contests then so be it. I will still go to contest and have fun. If someone
told me I had to move to advanceIwould probably take a year off to practice
but that wouldn't help attendance at local contest would it so it doesn't
make sense to me why you would force someone to move up that doesn't have
the ability to fly in the next class.

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