Hero to Zero
No matter how many times we talk about this, it happens. Some of you might be following the FCC contest in Slovakia that finishes today. A club class pilot did it again. Won a day, then well, then he didn't win the next day, actually, he didn't make it home the next day.
Many of us are not mentally prepared to win yet. We are still working on our Mental preparation.
"If you are not mentally tough on game day you will get distracted, lose confidence, perform tight or hold back and make more mistakes." - Zoe Littlewood Author of a series on mental training for winning.
At least mental preparation is better than saying we used all of our luck on the task from the day before.
At the Standard Class Nationals in 2005, I was slowly climbing the score sheet with my daily score improving each day, finally winning my first day at a US Nationals. It was awesome. The next day my plan was to just do it again, knowing I could and would probably do it again.
Actually the next day I could not even really climb after tow and had to take a relight. Finally starting and straight to a field (see last week's newsletter regarding lawn darting). I do not think I really got to focus on the day, I was too wrapped up in how I was going to win again.
I flew the region 9 contest in Hobbs in 2004 and managed to win it. This was only the second contest I had flown that I made it back every day. In my very first contest, I made it back every day too but was 7th...out of 7.
After the regionals, I headed to Moriarty to the Junior Camp, where I came up 270 meters short of a 1000 km flight. I was fired up and ready, headed back to the Hobbs for the Standard Class Nationals. My plan was to show everyone how amazing I was. It was one of my worse showings at a US Nationals.
Then the Open Class Nationals in 2006. Day 1 I win the day, Day 2 the only person to landout. I had not prepared for placing so well after the first day. I got really greedy to win day 2 and did not recognize the signs that the lift in the next turn area was dead. It was so obvious (recapping the flight from the ground), the local guru came the opposite direction of me low. I watched him and thought clearly I know something he didn't know because I will be able to find something, I didn't. I was headed towards the only cu in the sky, with no other options for lift.
This has happened to most contest pilots I have flown with. Recognizing the mistakes leading you to a zero before it completely puts you in a field is crucial. My best advice on avoiding this is to study up at home on sports psychology.
Photo: Kawior
Garret Willat holds a flight instructor rating with over 8000 hours in sailplanes. His parents have owned Sky Sailing Inc. since 1979. He started instructing the day after his 18th birthday. Since then, Garret has represented the US Junior team in 2003 and 2005. He graduated from Embry-Riddle with a bachelor's degree in Professional Aeronautics. Garret represented the US Open Class team in 2008 and 2010 and the Club Class team in 2014. Garret has won 3 US National Championships.
