OLC CONTEST WITHIN A CONTEST

by George Powell

   In the spring of 2006, Bob Spielman, VP West, challenged the 1-26 pilots from Warner Springs’ Skid Row Squadron to a contest.  As we understood the proposal, we would mutually agree on a contest date and the pilot who flew a 1-26 the longest distance on the designated day would be declared the winner.

   In keeping with an honored and long-standing 1-26 tradition, lively discussion ensued concerning certain variables. For example, on the chosen day, weather conditions might differ significantly between Minden and San Diego .  Wave conditions might exist at one site and not at the other, etc. These differences could give one soaring site a decisive advantage over the other.

     In an attempt to level the playing field, it was decided that the proposed contest should be a monthly event in which all 1-26ers across the country could participate.

      To encourage posting flights for the 1-26 Association OLC team, it was agreed that the OLC would be used to score the flights. Wayne Walker made the suggestion that the best two flights of the month be counted,

   At the conclusion of our discussions, negotiations and a little fine tuning, the following rules were agreed upon:

1.    On Line Contest (OLC) rules will be used to score the flights.

2.    The 1-26 pilots who post the highest number of OLC points for the 1-26 Association in their two best flights during the month will be the winners.

3.    First, Second and Third highest scorers in the U.S.A. will be declared winners.

Thus began the unofficial, unsanctioned, fun “Contest Within a Contest.”