Competition lessons/notes

I took 4 pages of notes while reading Secrets of Champions. I need to review them almost everyday to make sure I learn as much as possible. I wrote them all in an e-mail prior to coming here. Here are the notes: The more airtime you get, the more current / better you will be. Practice thermalling in the lightest lift with VG Full. Your glider will climb better and higher. Concentrate EVERY moment, during EVERY circle. Adjust circles and Focus intently. Don't get dejected when you make a mistake. Getting upset works against you. Focus on the positive. When you are low and the wind is high, you will have to drift fast to keep up with a moving core. This is hard as you will be reluctant to drift so fast especially if you're trying to work upwind. On moist days, you can't rely on developed clouds. They stay after the lift is gone. On dry days, there is sometimes lift after the clouds disappear. Assess each day. Launch early unless there is high wind. Getting in the air early helps you assess the day. It is easier to go upwind under a line of clouds or thermals as the thermals block the wind. Remember BUBBA GOODMAN. Approach gaggles directly up or downwind. Multiple cores exist and they are usually lined up with the wind. Rember TOVE HEANEY. Pay attention to sideways drift. Thermals usually suck in air from all sides. Try to fly the toughest part of the course during the best part of the day. This works easier for faster pilots. Stay upwind of courseline during the best part of the day. That way you can go downwind when conditions weaken. Maybe trim you glider in a stall. Better to pull in than push out while thermalling. Be prepared to change direction instantly when working through an inversion or loosing lift. When you thermal, you spend HALF your time going in the wrong direction. Take long glides and leave thermals when they weaken if the day is strong. When thermalling low, remember the cloverleaf pattern. Use it to find the core of a light, low thermal. Extend one wingspan on the increased lift side and turn immediately if lift drops off. Remember surge thermalling. When you hit a half circle of stronger lift, push way out and "spin" up. This may work well in tight gaggles when you're trying to outclimb heavy traffic. Never give up. Fight, Fight, Fight. Know right away when to switch gears. Do it intuitively. If you fly through sink, make an immediate 45degree correction. If it doesn't improve, go the other way. Try to search out lifting lines. When leaving a thermal, Don't fly directly downwind. There is usually sink downwind of a thermal. This contradicts, approach gaggles directly up or downwind. (????) The faster you fly, the less you feel the air. Slow down a bit to feel the air better. When you're flying fast, be more tuned into the glider. Take longer glides and loose 3 to 4000ft. in a glide rather than 1 to 2000ft. Get good sleep. Don't party. Stretch and have a good attitude. If wife or family is around, make sure they aren't a distraction. Focus on safety. Drink water, take advil, take food, be prepared. It will keep you alert. Modify your thermalling for where you are flying. In florida you can "spin up", in Utah, you cannot. Follow the best competitors even if only for a few thermals. You can learn by watching them. Be very confident in your skills. Competition is 90percent mental. Temper your confidence with safety. Don't push conditions, LZ's etc. Get your gear together and in great shape. Scrutinize everything during your preflight and leave nothing to chance. PREPARE. Don't talk on the radio or to yourself. Totally concentrate. While you're flying, ask yourself, "Is there something better that I can fly to?" While waiting for the start, Plan out the thermals with your start time. You may have to leave lift while you're staging to put yourself at the top of the thermal right at the start. Practice getting low. Be confident and don't get worried when you get down to 3000ft. after being at 6000ft. all day. Don't slow down the last 15miles of a task to make sure you make it. I lost valuable time in Texas by "making sure" I was going to make goal. I need to read them everyday and remember them.