2017 Junior Camp and Contest Summary

Based on the article published in the November 2017 issue of soaring magazine

The combined Junior Camp/Contest and Region 3 Contest were held at Harris Hill, Elmira, NY July 1-8, 2017. 6 instructor pilots were present to coach the 39 pilots who included 12 flying single-seat gliders, 12 receiving dual cross-country instruction, and 15 flying the Region 3 Sports Class Contest. The Junior Camp/ Contest was organized by the SSA Youth/Junior Committee in cooperation with the Harris Hill Soaring Corporation. The event was largely funded by the SSA and the Rick Walters Scholarship Fund, thus minimizing the required contribution from each Junior pilot.

Andy Brayer instructing in thermal technique.

Hank Nixon teaching thermal entry.

Practice Day, Saturday, July 1

It was a hot humid day with rain storms in the area. Check rides were the extent of the flying but a hearty social hour was enjoyed by all as the juniors made introductions around the evening camp fire.

A beautiful evening welcomes pilots to the Hill.

Day 1 Region 3 and Practice Day 2 for Juniors, Sunday, July 2

A promising start to the day progressed to overdevelopment and rain showers, causing some difficulties for the contestants. Region 3 pilots were assigned a two hour turn area task with a nominal distance of 98 miles to Avoca (15 mi) and Mansfield Bridge (15 mi).  Two pilots finished (John Seymour and Bill Hanson), and a number of pilots visited the local Corning-Painted Post airport. The Junior pilots were assigned a practice turn area task of 56 mi nominal.  Only one finished, while a number of Junior pilots also ended up at Corning-Painted Post. The Junior two-seater gliders had a successful day with twelve completed cross-country instruction flights. Seven Junior pilots had their first cross-country flight ever.

A rare sight in US contests – a full grid.

Day 2 Region 3 and Day 1 Junior Contest, Monday, July 3

The Juniors were assigned a two hour TAT with a nominal distance of 57 mi to Hammondsport (15 mi) and Caton (3 mi).  All but one of the Junior pilots finished the task, with five celebrating their first ever contest finish!

Harris Hill Duo ready to go!

Karl Striedieck and Liam Kent preparing to launch.

The two-seater fleet had another successful day with ten flights and lots of grins on the Junior cross-country students.

Day 3 Region 3 and Day 2 Junior Contest, Tuesday, July 4

We had an ideal upstate NY summer day with cloud base near 6500 feet and light northerly winds.  The Region 3 task was a three hour Assigned MAT with assigned turn points Monterey, Dansville, Cameron, Elkland Bridge and Mansfield Bridge. This wonderful soaring day and the Fourth of July were appropriately celebrated with one of the famous Harris Hill dinner-picnics at the Youth Camp complete with musical entertainment by Tom Olson and David Hart (DG), plus fireworks by Andy Brayer!

Day 4 Region 3 and Day 3 Junior Contest, Wednesday July 5

The weather looked a bit questionable early in the day, with high pressure moving east and a SE flow.  The Juniors were assigned a two hour TAT to Monterey, Van Etten and Millerton for a nominal distance of 69.7 mi.  It was quite a tricky day with eclectic conditions.  Despite this, all the Junior pilots completed the task, with Daniel and Noah team flying to first and second (95 mi @ 45 mph), and the two-seaters had a good day as well. Region 3 was assigned a two hour TAT to Monterey, Richford and Millerton with a nominal distance of 108.1 mi.  Launching second, the Region 3 pilots had a bit of a struggle, resulting in several landouts, but some still found success. Weather canceled Thursday’s flying, but the Juniors pulled one of their best pranks yet: assembling John Bird’s Russia inside the Harris Hill Flight Center.

Friday was officially canceled as well due to the forecast, but a few brave pilots did some local flying before the start of rain in the afternoon.

Time to land and put the gliders away!

Day 5 Region 3, Saturday July 8

A squall line forecast delayed the grid to 1315, but after the thread passed, cumulus streets developed, and the ridge began working with a NW wind! Region 3 was assigned a two hour TAT to Jolamtra, Mansfield Bridge, Cameron and Caton with a nominal distance of 118.9mi.  Climbs averaged 3-4k knots with some as high as 6 knots, although some blue holes and difficulties were reported down low. The Junior task was canceled due to the late launch and poor conditions on part of their route, but they had a fun day playing on the Harris Hill ridge along with the two-seater bus class, giving many Juniors their first taste of real ridge.

Personal Impressions – Phil Chidekel

The Junior Camp at Harris Hill was a resounding success on a number of levels. In terms of the actual flying, it offered something for everyone. For me, it was a friendly introduction to the format and pace of contest flying, as well as an opportunity to test my decision-making against the foremost junior pilots in the United States. For those just beginning their adventures in cross-country soaring, it was the chance to learn from some of the most experienced pilots in the United States. At the end of a contest day, everyone had something valuable to discuss, and the entire group of juniors—regardless of skill or experience—was excited to listen.

My most memorable flight occurred on the first contest day. Unforgiving weather was dealt, and I watched the day develop with frustration as I tried to start the 2-hour TAT. I couldn’t climb! None of the gaggles within the start cylinder seemed to be going up, and after scratching as high as I could, I pointed my nose into the 14-knot headwind and committed to the first cloud on course. It worked! I decided to continue directly into the wind, thinking that a street ought to form. It did, and on my way into the first turn, the ASW-15 was out-running Discuses and LS-4s. I bumped along as far as I could into the sector, and when my line ended, I decided to turn around and hit the steering turn. Although I underestimated the awesomeness of the tailwind/cloud street combination and finished under time, I flew effectively and competitively.

Many thanks are due to the folks who made the Junior Camp-Contest a successful reality: JP Stewart as the organizer, Competition Director Tim Welles, Chief Instructor Hank Nixon, and two seater instructors Roy McMaster, Dave Welles, Karl Striedieck, Sean Murphy and Andy Brayer.  US Team member Sean Fidler (7T) also contributed by flying several days coaching the Junior Team members.  The combined instructing and contest flying experience of the mentor group was over 200 years!

The Harris Hill Juniors were indispensable helping with gridding, launching and sailplane recovery.  Many also got a two seater flight during the week.  Thanks go out to them, as well as the tow pilots and contest management.

The Harris Hill Junior Launch Team

A few notes from the contest manager and SSA Youth/Junior Committee Chair – JP Stewart

This event is a landmark in the development of junior soaring in the US. Having only started the year before with 8 pilots, it has more than doubled in one year to 24 pilots with juniors traveling from Alaska, California, and even Canada to participate and is on a trajectory to match the participation and quality of similar events held in some of the most successful soaring countries within the next few years. 

“This has been one of the best weeks in a long long time and thank you all for being a part of it.” – a camp participant in a message to the contest chat

The success of both, the 2016 and 2017 Junior Camp-Contest would not have been possible without the financial support of the SSA and the Rick Walters (3R) Junior Scholarship Fund. Both of these organizations recognize the importance of the development of Junior Soaring to the future of this sport and set an amazing precedent by making this contest affordable to anyone who wanted to be there. In addition to financial contributions, it took a village of people who donated their time and talent to the cause. They were rewarded with the experience of seeing a newfound sense of wonder from the junior’s many firsts: first XC flights, first contest task finishes, first landouts, etc.