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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I’m finding this thread very
interesting…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I remember my first contest, my knees were
knocking so bad I didn’t know if I could stand for the whole sequence.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I’m much better now…My knees
don’t knock as bad. I just have to worry about the thumbs shaking the
transmitter…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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...<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Looking forward to actually flying all the
rounds in a contest instead of having plane problems…Think we have it
sorted out now…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Larry Diamond<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org] <b><span style='font-weight:
bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Anthony Abdullah<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, February 21, 2007
1:16 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> NSRCA Mailing List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [NSRCA-discussion]
Competition Nerves</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Signed<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Spongebob Blurry Hands AKA The Galloping Ghost<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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