Hi Tom, I don't think the image of gliding in Australia is by any means perfect, but I just wanted to emphasise that the problem is not that there are too many 'youth-challenged' pilots --- indeed I think it is a positive thing that they are able to dominate the sport here if there isn't enough of a talent or representation in the other ranks. <duck!>
To me, it means that the sport has a very strong basis if healthy adults of all ages can credibly participate in competitions. Other sports like tennis and swimming are so much more about being at one's physical peak or even just being born with the right genetics, so the window of competitiveness is comparatively narrow, and most people are excluded from competing credibly just because they have the wrong physical characteristics. If the youngsters wanted a handicap in their favour then the rules could perhaps be changed to make pilots run the length of the field prior to launch! Or hike back from outlandings? :-) The public probably don't think that gliding is an old-person's sport in the way that they think lawn bowls is --- they just don't know much about what gliding has to offer as you point out. Most often the perception I hear from the public prior to taking TIFs is that it is a serene, relaxing and slow-paced activity akin to ballooning; of course gliding can be those things but the sporting side is far from that. Johnny On Sun, 2006-06-04 at 23:18 +0930, Tom Wilksch wrote: > Well, dont want into what ever argument is going on here. But just one > thing I would bring up. I am surprised you can say that you are happy with > the image that gliding has at the moment. Especially since in the next line > you point out the low numbers of juniors in the GFA! I would suggest that > this is due to the image that gliding has. > > I think the beginning of the NZ Gliding GP DVD says it all (it's extremely > good by the way). At some point in the past, the image of gliding and the > sport itself headed off down different parts. Today we have an incredible > fast technologically advanced and incredibly rewarding sport. But the > public has no idea about what gliding is! I'm amazed that anyone can be > happy with this situation! I'm not! > > We dont have to change anything (much) about gliding, we just have to make > people realise what it's about! > > Tom > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "david lawley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net> > Sent: Sunday, June 04, 2006 10:34 AM > Subject: [Aus-soaring] WC team > > > > G'day all > > > > How nice of Adam to "obviously" be aware of who or what I know/dont know. > > > > Actually Adam I am probably more aware of these guys' achievements and > > abilities than you assume despite only having met them very briefly at the > > recent muti-class nats. > > > > Just finished reading every AG back to 1950 and their record is clear > > obviously. > > > > As I said I have NO (Note for Adam- no means no) problem with the > > representation by these gentlemen. > > > > Whilst I wish them every success, and would love to see an Australian win > > the statistics are not on their side regrettably. > > > > I would like to know how old the oldest W/C winner ever was. Terry states > > George Moffat was 46, are there any older? Figures from a recent club > > class W/C indicate the majority of pilots in the 35-49 age group. > > > > Unfortunately for Adam I am already "sponsoring" my own junior, my son > > Ray. > > > > Furthermore slinging off at pictures of people my age in a glider as a bad > > image for gliding does nothing to encourage me to contribite to a junior > > team Adam, in fact the opposite. Remember these are the people who do most > > of the sponsoring of yourself and other juniors for such events. > > > > My point was I am relatively happy with the current image of gliding as it > > reflects the real situation "in the air" so to speak.(-: > > > > We have around 3,000 GFA members and only 60+ juniors registered on that > > group! > > > > It is regrettable that the high costs of comp flying are preventing you > > from competing Adam and I hope you are able to get to international comps > > again soon, we need more good pilots and results to have any hope of > > attracting significant positive media exposure for our sport. > > > > > > > > Regards > > > > Dave L > > > > > > > > > > > > > > David Lawley > > Computer Systems Manager > > Elizabeth Park Primary School > > Elizabeth East Primary School > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Aus-soaring mailing list > > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > > To check or change subscription details, visit: > > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > > > > > > -- > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.1/355 - Release Date: 2-06-2006 > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
