How to Win Your First Contest - A Rookie's Experience at the 2019 1-26 Championships

摘要

How does one win a soaring contest, especially one that is national in scope, one that brings together the best glider guiders in their class from all points in North America? It has been said that a couple of days of contest flying will teach a guy more about crosscountry flying than years of striking out solo. As a multi-decade, low performance, cross-country flier, but first-time competitor, I can attest to the truth of that axiom! I had the joy of competing and learning in my first soaring contest. In this case, it was the 2019 1-26 Championships held at Moriarty, New Mexico, the only true one-class sailplane racing available in the United States.