Racing Your Mind
As glider pilots, we spend a lot of time fretting about instrument settings or dust and bugs on our wings. We read articles about maximizing that final glide or about how to tune the glider for maximum performance. On a contest or record flight, we factor wind conditions into the start and finish strategy and consider what course lines between the turn points might provide the best access to convergence. All of these are important aspects to consider (some more effective than others) when attempting to fly fast.
Just Keep Swimming
Since flying my first contest in 2003 in Hobbs, New Mexico, I’ve become aware that an important aspect of flying fast is the pesky voice in my head, and the attitude that I have when flying. I first became aware of this in high school where I was a competitive springboard diver. At a critical meet leading to the state championships, I was anxious and botched my first dive (out of 6) and was convinced that I had blown my chances at doing well. So for the rest of the comp, I decided to just have fun, staying under the water as my scores were announced and goofing off with my friends. I had a great time and was blown away when I realized that I had won the whole thing.
Relearning the Dynamic
I once again became aware of this dynamic in 2014 at the Sports Class Nationals at Texas Soaring Association, where on day 2, I flew around the task feeling miserable, frustrated, and grumpy. I was convinced that I had blown the day, with the most constant refrains being a compilation of, “you f#@%ing idiot”, “this is a sh!% day” and “what crap” or a mixture thereof. Not surprisingly, my speed and score that day were consistent with this assessment (and well below that of my competitors). Later in the comp, I had a great day, and I distinctly remember telling myself during the flight over and over again, “you're doing great… keep going!” and “good gravy, what an incredible day!”. I was bowled over when I landed, and most of my buddies said the day was terrible. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing based on the flight I had. However, when the scores were posted, I had snatched my first nationals day win! In typical fashion, I went from hero to zero, landing out the next day at cow pasture, but let’s not focus on that for now.
Tell Yourself the Right Story
What’s the point of this long winding yarn? As my crew at the most recent women’s world gliding championship, Jim Staniforth would say, “get on with it!” The bottom line is your mental state and the story you tell yourself about your ability, your capacity, and your skill on any given day, matters. It matters immensely.
You are Your Own Best Cheerleader
So be kind to yourself. Be in the moment, take a brief pause to notice the shape of the billowing CU in front of you, and be grateful for the thermal that it’s marking as well as the magic of it all. Cheer yourself on and keep going… fast. You’re doing great!
Strange Days, Indeed
While these strange times may have put a damper on some of our soaring adventures with contests being delayed or canceled, there are still many opportunities to put this into practice. So be aware of how you talk to yourself as you go about your day. Are you cheering yourself on, pushing to go fast, and make the best of the conditions, or are you spewing expletives and malcontent at yourself and the day? Be safe and be well. And, as my favorite ski hat says… GO FAST and HAVE FUN!
Kathy Fosha recently relocated to San Diego for work, not that it matters since most people are working from home at the moment. She lives downtown with her two cats, writing articles for W&W while wearing her favorite GO FAST and HAVE FUN ski hat and drinking bourbon while dreaming of her next contest. She most recently represented the US at the Women’s World Gliding Championships in Lake Keepit Australia in 2019-2020. She owns a Libelle 201b and an RV-6a and is super excited to add a new (to her) Discus CS “Zero Fox” to her fleet.