In the past we have run soaring courses, task weeks and racing weeks at various times of the year. This year I thought we could kick of with something slightly different, early in the season.
Choosing the right week is not easy, a few of cross countries have already been done but it would be too early to count on a week of good weather. However I would like to organise a week early enough to help people prepare for the main bit of the season. So I’m planning for the last week of April, beginning Monday, the 24th of April and ending on the following weekend. Whether we use the last weekend we can decide depending on the weather.
The format I’m suggesting is a bit of a blend of the types of weeks we’ve had in the past, a sort of tutored task week.
When the weather is suitable we will set tasks each day for the full range of abilities. At the end of the day or the next day's briefing we will analyse the tasks and look for ways to improve. On those days where cross-country is not possible but local soaring is, we can assist those who need it, with basic soaring skills and on the days when the weather does not play ball we will have a series of lectures covering all the basic issues around cross-country flying and any other issues that people wish to have covered, instrumentation, glider prep, retrieve prep, etc.
The weather at that time of year can offer up some great days, but it can of course also give us the opposite. However, even if the weather is not great I am hoping that we can help get ourselves prepared for the rest of the season. I’ll be running the course with the help of Guy Corbett (depending on the delivery of his grandson) and will also be looking for the help of one or two other cross-country pilots, if you’re interested in helping please let me know.
It is obviously only worth running the week if there are sufficient people interested, so if you are, can you please drop me an email to my personal email address, mark@urbanomics.co.uk preferably by the the 24th March. Please do NOT hit "reply" to this address.
Mark Newland-Smith