[LASS Soaring] Re: Soaring Digest, Vol 41, Issue 30

[Ben Wilson]

Well... the NATS will always have high-level competition, but if that is 
all that people expect of it, I think it's being sold short.  Almost all 
of the new guys there weren't there because they expected to get wood... 
they were there to learn from the whole experience.  Dave Beach from New 
Hampshire was new to the NATS.  In two-meter he flew a Spirit Elite and 
an Easy Glider!  It's all about the experience for probably 75% of the 
guys there.  That's something that needs to be broadcast more widely.  
It's what got me to my first NATS.  I remember Ed telling me what a 
great and huge experience it was... I got wood in handlaunch my first 
time, sure, but I wasn't expecting it at all :)

j.forney at insightbb.com wrote:
> Ben, Your coverage was really great.  I read it and copied it everyday.
> As to why more juniors and new people aren't at the NATs in the 
> soaring contests, I think it's the cost of a competative glider.  How 
> many can really afford the big bucks for the EU composits, before the 
> equipment goes in?
> John
>