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Competition Diagnostic Survey

By George B. Moffat (click here to download Word version)

Practice Techniques

  1. Number of cross country miles normally flown before the first big contest of the year (not counting flights of under 100 miles). ________
  2. Typical length of flights in miles ________ hours ______
  3. Are flights normally races against other pilots?    Yes / No
  4. Geographical area in which you usually train _____________
  5. Specific problem areas you have worked on (e.g. weak weather flying, starts, final glides, etc.
    a.
    b.
    c.

Techniques used?

 

Ship Preparation                                      

If you feel that neither Dick Johnson nor Wil Schuemann could find anything to improve, give yourself a 1.  If the ship is "as is," straight out of the container give yourself a 5.

     a. List the improvements you plan in order of priority:

 

  1  2  3  4  5 

Instrumentation:

1. Does it all really work? Reliably?

2. What changes or upgrades are planned?

 

 

 1  2  3  4  5 

 

Contest Techniques

In this and the following questions assess yourself as compared to the three best pilots you normally fly against).  1 = major strength, 5 = weakness  

1. Do you make productive use of the time between launch and start?

a. Techniques used?

 

 1  2  3  4  5 

2. Thermaling

Over all is your thermaling a strength or a weakness?
(Keep in mind that some great pilots, Reichmann for example, have been mediocre in thermals)

 1  2  3  4  5 

a.    Entering and centering ability.

       Techniques used?                   

  1  2  3  4  5 

b. Utilizing other ships in thermals?

  1  2  3  4  5 

c. Relative comfort in crowded thermals (a sense you will gain/lose in these conditions)?

  1  2  3  4  5 

d. Ability to pass other gliders in crowded thermals?

  1  2  3  4  5 

e. Ability to thermal automatically while planning next inter-thermal moves.

 1  2  3  4  5 

f. Decisiveness in leaving thermals?

  1  2  3  4  5 

3. Inter-thermal Flying

Over all a strength or weakness (very much a strength with Reichmann)

  

a. Use of clouds

  1  2  3  4  5 

b.    Use of gaggles                                                                   

  1  2  3  4  5 

c.    Use of streets

       1. Recognition and use of dry streets                                 

 1  2  3  4  5 

 1  2  3  4  5 

d. Confidence and effectiveness in ridge flying (Karl Striedieck = 1+)

  1  2  3  4  5 

e. Confidence and effectiveness in mountain flying

  1  2  3  4  5 

f. Effectiveness in dolphin flying (it works in reverse if not skillfully executed)

  1  2  3  4  5 

g. Recognition of and effective use of operating altitude bands (Ingo Renner and DJ are outstanding)

  1  2  3  4  5 

h. Other special abilities in inter-thermal flying.

    Describe:

 

  

 

Weather Preferences

Which sorts of weather make you feel most, or least, confident relative to other good pilots? Assume it's the last two days of a major contest, and you are 50 points out of first place. You would feel the most confident (1) or least confident (5) of gaining the needed points in which of the following and to what degree?  

a. Strong (600+ fpm) thermals, cu and streeting

 1  2  3  4  5 

b. Strong thermals, scattered cu

 1  2  3  4  5 

c. Strong thermals, blue

  1  2  3  4  5 

d. Moderate thermals with streeting

  1  2  3  4  5 

e. Moderate thermals, scattered cu

  1  2  3  4  5 

f. Moderate thermals, blue

  1  2  3  4  5 

g. Weak (Under 150 fpm) with cu

  1  2  3  4  5 

h. Weak, blue

  1  2  3  4  5 

i. Extensive ridge Flying opportunities

  

j. Extensive wave flying opportunities

  1  2  3  4  5 

k. Mountainous terrain (e.g. Minden)

  1  2  3  4  5 

l. Hilly terrain (e.g. Elmira, Sugarbush)

 1  2  3  4  5 

m. Plains (e.g. Texas or New Mexico)

  1  2  3  4  5 

n. Other (specify)

  1  2  3  4  5 

o. Modified Assigned Task

  1  2  3  4  5 

p. Assigned Task

  1  2  3  4  5 
q. Turn Area Task
   1  2  3  4  5 

 

Attitude and Psychological Preparedness

1.  General optimism in contests
     (Remember, there's those that go out to get and those, who go outto get got!) 

 1  2  3  4  5 

2.  Speed with which you recover, in terms of attitude, from low saves, near misses, tight situations, etc.

 1  2  3  4  5 

3.  Ability to recover from a bad day.

  1  2  3  4  5 

4.  Ability to feel at home flying in I strange sites, strange conditions, strange countries.  

  1  2  3  4  5 

5.  List the three most helpful sports psychology books you have read with brief notes on why/how you found them effective.

 

 

  

 

     Sports Psychology Selected Readings

Attached Files   

Competition Diagnostic Survey.doc WE Dec 28, 2009 71 KB
Self-Assessment Form by George Moffat

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