My favorite teacher, Mr. Cummins, once gave me an assignment that, at the time, seemed like just another school task. It was to create a “critical path” - a structured sequence of steps to complete a complex task in the shortest amount of time. A lesson in efficiency, focus, and precision. Naturally, I chose the topic of gliding. What I didn’t realize then was how deeply that one assignment would influence

In the world of sports psychology, the concept of ‘performer self’ plays a significant role in shaping an athlete’s mindset, focus, and overall performance. Whether in traditional sports or specialized disciplines like gliding, understanding and optimizing the performer self can provide a competitive edge. For pilots involved in racing gliders, the mental aspect of the sport is as critical as the physical

I'm at the Australian 20m nationals at the moment, and the competition is really heating up. We've adjusted the handicaps & the Duo-Discus & DG1000s are really giving us new flapped machines a run for our money, so to speak! So far the weather has given us all blue conditions to approx 5000'. Like all competitions, I'll have to be smart to end up on the top step!

You've probably heard it over & over

Success on any given day often hinges on how well you begin. A solid start can set the tone for the rest of the race, positioning you for optimal performance to use all conditions optimally. Here’s a guide to help you make a good start and build a strong foundation for success.

Understand the Rules and Task assigned

Before the race begins, ensure you’re fully familiar with the task details and competition

The gliders we now fly are highly sophisticated and are able to travel huge distances and speeds in excess of 250kph using only Earth's natural energies. These energies are generated by the sun, wind, and topography.  As a glider is always sinking towards the Earth, we as pilots seek out areas where the airmass is moving upwards, this enables us to gain our energy through height which we can then