1. Getting Ready For
Competition

2. Topics
Preparation
Glider
Pilot
Expectations
Practice
What to Expect

3. Glider Preparation Be Sure Everything Works
Annual/Condition Inspection
Wheel Brake
Fix dings, wax
Instruments (keep it simple)
Know how they work
Know that they work
Program PDA
Relief (pee) System/Drinking Water
Cockpit Comfortable
Trailer (lights, hitch, tires, interior)

4. Pilot Preparation Task Area Competition Rules-know them
Turnpoints
Map, Restricted Areas, SUA’s
Google Earth (where terrain a factor)
Competition Rules-know them
Read SRA, Moffat, Davis (see end)
Local Field Protocol
Crew Arrangement
Physical Conditioning, Rest

5. Map Why a map? I have GPS and a moving map on my PDA. Big picture
Planning
Familiarization with the area
Reliability of glider electrical systems

6. Pilot Preparation Checklists! Before leaving home Glider
Before Take Off
After Landing

7. Sailplane Racing ChecklistW3
PREFLIGHT:
Critical Assembly Check
Batteries (charged)
IPAQ (turnpoints loaded and charged)
Cellphone (charged)
Pee Thing & connector
Sunglasses
Map
Road Map
Landing Cards
Retrieve Numbers
Grid Sheet
Task Sheet
Sun Screen/ChapStick
Lunch
Drinking Water
Oxygen On
Ridge Head Pad
Landout Kit
ELT armed W3
POSTFLIGHT:
Download flight log
Turn Off:
GPS-Nav
Instruments/Master
Oxygen
ELT (for trailering)
Remove from cockpit:
IPAQ
Landing Card
Cellphone
Batteries (to be charged)
Camelbacks
Lunch
Return to Cockpit
Sunglasses
Dump valve tool
Pee Connector
Clean off bugs
Secure glider in trailer

8. Expectations
Competition often turns perfectly good pilots into idiots!
Set realistic goals. You are probably not going to win your first contest.
If you finish every day, you will surprise yourself with how well you do!

9. Racing Strategy Not rocket science Set MacCready conservatively
Pick a reasonable speed for the day and use that in cruise.
Flying a little slower increases range for finding the next thermal.
If you get low, survival, not speed is priority
Minimize circling; Fly lift lines

10. Racing Strategy Focus on reaching goal(s)
Next cloud, turnpoint, finish
BUT, always keep several options in mind
Think flexibly, don’t become fixated
Use other gliders. (Be sure they are really climbing!)
If flight is not going well, evaluate other alternatives. Perhaps try something else.

11. Practicing for Racing Racing (and XC flying) is a complex task
Good start
Finding & centering thermals
To circle or not to circle
Gaggle flying
Identifying best lift lines to next turnpoint
Proper speed control
Outlanding options
Drink, eat and pee
Final glide
Finish and LANDING!

12. Practicing for Racing Fly cross country every chance you get
Whenever possible, set a task and try to complete it, preferably racing with several other pilots
Vary task setting: AST, TAT, MAT
Analyze each flight, using SeeYou, etc. Identify areas for improvement
Develop feel for starts and final glides

13. Practicing for Racing
On weak (non XC) days practice finding and centering thermals at low altitude.
Practice picking landing fields, and visit later
If your next contest allows water ballast, use it in practice on good days.

14. Your First Contest Stay ahead of the curve Eat a good breakfast
Assemble and CAC glider early
Grid early
Use your checklist
Comfortable in cockpit
Be ready to go with 4-5 gliders ahead of you for tow

15. Your First Contest

16. Your First Contest Stay relaxed, but alert
Don’t worry about the weather. It is what it is.
Create several general strategies depending on task and weather.
Use your mentor. Ask questions. Discuss your proposed strategies.
Avoid Distractions

17. Your First Contest Review the Task Area Map
Terrain features, issues, aids
Outlanding options

18. Your First Contest Flying the task Don’t start first, or last
Use the skills you have learned and practiced at home.
Avoid the onset of “Contest Idiocy” You don’t have to follow those other guys streaking at a high rate of speed towards the ground!
Watch weather trends, keep flexible, be ready to change strategy if conditions warrant.

19. Your First Contest Flying the Task
Use other gliders, but don’t blindly follow them
Flying to your next thermal (cloud), have a plan for the possibility it is no longer working.

20. Your First Contest Finishing
Plan to finish high (1000 ft agl) until you have a better feel for final glides.
Don’t miss the bottom of the Finish Cylinder
If the finish looks marginal, keep landable fields within reach.
After the Finish, focus on fitting in with the traffic, landing the glider and clearing the runway.

21. Your First Contest Post Flight Glider clear of the runway
Flight log to scorer
Put the glider away for the night (Check List!)
Have a beer and discuss your flight with the other pilots

22. Other Reading SRA Guide to Soaring Competition
“How to enjoy your first gliding competition”, Sailplane & Gliding,June-July 2004
Cross Country Soaring by Helmut Reichmann
Winning II by George Moffat

23. Good Luck!
Fly Safe!