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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'>Jim<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'>Eddie Batchelor here from D-6<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 can TOTALLY relate to your story.
Here’s mine :<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'>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.<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'>My 1<sup>st</sup> year I flew 1 contest
and did about normal for anyone’s 1<sup>st</sup> one </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Wingdings;color:navy'>J</span></font><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'>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 2<sup>nd</sup> at one contest. I knew the rules required me to move up
BUT the idea of flying Intermediate scared me silly.<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 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 1<sup>st</sup> 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 </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Wingdings;color:navy'>J</span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>. 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.<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'>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 3<sup>rd</sup>
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<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'>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<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'>Now if you’ve read all this then
bear with me just a little more as I have two points to this :<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>
<ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>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 1<sup>st</sup> more imtportant.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ol>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>
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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>If you really want to get
better quick, it is possible that flying Advanced may well do it for you.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>If you want to really be
on the Top of the competitive edge In your class, gunning for 1<sup>st</sup> every
time then stay in Intermediate and enjoy it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><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'>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 !<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><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'>Good luck<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'>Eddie <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'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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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>Jim Gruntkowski<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, February 03, 2009
4:20 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b>
nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [NSRCA-discussion]
Mandatory Advancement</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>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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