[LASS Soaring] 'Talking Timer ...S"

[GordySoar at aol.com]

Why a talking timer (Gordy or Ben or Ed) can be instrumental to your  success 
I find that many times, i.e Orlando I did just fine with just a stop  watch.  
In other words I plan to be less dependent on ground control from  others and 
besides since we will be flying primarily out of the same group you  couldn't 
time for me anyway.
 
Just to clarify :-)
 
A Talking Timer the watch that talks  and is a critical tool  for practicing 
the task, because during a contest task you have a  person 'talking' your time 
to you.  To practice the task you want to  recreate as closely as possible 
the conditions that will emulate that during a  contest flight. It is considered 
bad form to have the Talking Timer's voice on  during a contest by the way, 
it is a distraction to other pilots.
 
A talking timer in the context that Tony mentioned can fit three  categories. 
 
 
Coach:
The second talking timer is commonly referred to as a 'coach', he helps  
newer pilots find air, stay in air, correct his control errors, and optimize  
camber, etc.  Also  to help the pilot lean to develop a  strategy for searching 
air and for setting up for a timely landing.
 
 
Caller:
The second level of taking timer is one where the timer not  only supplies 
the time , but monitors the competitors air and status in order to  provide the 
pilot with information that will aide his strategy.
 
There is always a benefit to having a talented 'caller', but they are not  
always available (KEN!!!!).

 
Just the Time:
The guy keeping your time and reading it to you in the format that you  
prefer,.
This is what you get when you don't have a dedicated, or skilled pilot to  
call or coach.  He gives you just the time. 
Here is my instructions to a Timer:
Count down every minute, 
at 1 minute left, every 5 seconds to 40 seconds,
 then every second, stop at 10 seconds left (don't need the  distraction when 
I am going for the 100 spot.)
(unless the scores are really close, then I want every second to  zero)   
This system that I use produces landing times that average plus or  minus 2 
seconds off perfect at the end of the year and almost always   produces 'wood' 
at a contest  
 
But you can chose to use some other system that produces like results.  
However if the system you are using does not produce near exact times, change  
it...or live with the results :-)
 
Each pilot has a choice of each type of 'talking timer'. 
In the beginning there is a definite benefit to using a coach, it is  NOT a 
sign of manhood to avoid a coach, you will never progress without a  teacher.
 
On average, you hope for at minimum is a guy who can read the  clock as you 
have asked....that doesn't always happen  :-).
Gordy

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