Recap
Main three points from the last chat:
1) Explore stepping into the deeper end of the pool - launch and fly in stronger conditions (but not go over board).
2) Learn to use the gaggle, not avoid it.
3) Try to capitalize on coaching during the trip.
Debrief of Trip
Stronger conditions are coming along. Comment from counterparts after one flight noted that I was diving into the Cauldron a lot closer than several of them would have personally done. But like many things, this still needs work - especially in cases where I take a series of collapses in rapid succession early in a flight.
The gaggle aspect is pretty solid at this point. I was quite comfortable with the aggregate of our crew, the Norwegian contingent, and the 90+ pilot Brazilian comp on the day of my Personal Best (PB).
Coaching was the most challenging aspect both because of the size of our group (having only 2 coaches available across a dozen pilots) and because I appeared to sit between the two groups that the coaches were working with -> quite comfortable striking out on my own without assistance, but not quite good enough to keep up with the hotshots. The day I was able to capitalize on Robins time helped to set up the preconditions for the aforementioned PB day that followed. Moving forward, it is quite clear I need to look for in air coaching options that are as close to 1:1 as possible vs. larger tours.
After debriefing my observations with Pat, we identified what next to work on.
Next Steps
Physical Preparation
Thermalling Efficiency
I noticed that even if we were in a decent climb, our guide Robin would oft times widen out his turn. I gathered it to mean that he was looking for something even better. Pat mentioned that the Oudie could prove invaluable for this - it can track the best climb for the day, the last climb I was in, and the average of my current climb. If my current climb is 2.0 m/s while my last was 2.9 and the best 3.5 - odds are there is something better nearby (especially if multicore thermals are the norm for the site). The Oudie does show a 'heat map' with arcs coloured to denote relative climb rates - indicating that the pilot shift the turn towards the 'warmer' arcs and possibly a better core (if not a better part of the same core). It is time that I relegate the 'leGSBip' to silent backup and start leveraging the Oudie more as my primary vario. Work on a plan to develop explicit thermalling exercises to dial things in.
Speed Bar Usage
I see bar as a means to maximize glide ratio - which is a solid decision when flying conservatively. If I have a tail wind, I will often avoid bar altogether and apply brake to squeeze every last point of glide I can. But in doing so, I was finding myself constantly getting left behind by the lead gaggle. Pat pointed out that while I would lose some glide by applying bar in this situation, I would stay with the gaggle and be able to leverage their ability to find climbs faster - mitigating the risk and increasing my overall XC speed. This discussion resulted is a simple exercise to add to my 'homework'- if not in a climb, be on 1/3 to 1/2 speed bar constantly. Change the use of bar from a decision to an instinct.
Tasks and the Oudie
I am quite comfortable entering tasks into the Oudie and following them in the air. But all of the tasks I have flown with it have been XC tasks - not Race to Goal (RtG) tasks. Nationals is just around the bend and it will be a RtG event. This means using the Start Gate and Final Glide capabilities of the Oudie. If I want to put all of my focus into the flying, I cannot afford for any of it to be spent trying to sort out what my flight computer is telling me (I recall the first time my Flymaster reported that I had tagged a cylinder - I was at a complete loss as to what the chirping meant). Become familiar with the Start Gate and Final Glide aspects of the Oudie before Canadian Nationals - including practice using them on the ground. Create small tasks to be run at the local hill.
Final Glide in Flight
Like most pilots, I end up at the LZ with a boatload of height to spare. At Nationals this height will be a waste as it represents untapped potential speed. Get used to going on final glide without the goal of having a massive amount of residual height at the end. Leverage the Oudie. Our local LZ @ FlyBC is surrounded by a swath of farmland within which the odd out landing is tolerated (at the cost of $20) - so coming up short will hurt little more than pocket change and can provide invaluable insight into just how much I can push bar and still make it. Make every trip to the LZ a final glide exercise.
Flying the sky
During the trip, I started developing a sense of flight phase altitudes. One day in particular, I determined that below 1200 m, I would take any climb I could, below 1500 m - nothing less than 2.0 m/s, and above 1500 m it had to be 4.0 m/s - otherwise continue on. The problem was that I was not readjusting these numbers as the day went on and conditions shifted to stronger and then weaker. So I was flying too slow at first and too fast at the end. Work on becoming aware of the shifts in the day and when gear changes are needed.
Mental Preparation
Routine on launch
Build a routine when arriving at launch. Have everything ready to go with the glider in the concertina bag. That way when things turn on, be ready to go. I follow this pretty well but have been caught out once or twice. Time to make routine a religion.
Weather
Be prepared, do not rely on the guide or task committee to tell me what the conditions are - arrive knowing the weather (including the sounding). Knowing the sounding will help better judge cloud formation and the subsequent decision to either skirt in under that tower or give it a wide berth. Remove doubt through foreknowledge.
Focus
I mentioned to Pat that on the trip it was taking upwards of 30 minutes to get into my groove/flow state - the point where I lose track of time (at home it typically takes about 10 minutes). If things go sideways during this adjustment period (equipment problem, rough air, nausea), I will start considering abandoning the flight - especially at home, since I know another ride up the hill is readily available. Being able to recenter and push through this adjustment phase will help at sites where the air is crowded and rough. Revisit common sports psychology mental training techniques.
So far ...
All in all, another great session with Pat to review progress and focus in on what I need to start working on next. All of this 'homework' is going to make for a busy spring - now if only the weather would cooperate.
