Contest Nerves

I am probably one of the least experienced contest fliers around. This year I have already flown in two contests bringing my total to 5 in the last 4 1/2 years. I think with my trembling knees and shaking hands, my plane flies perfectly level upright or inverted without the hunting I normally have.

Do the nerves ever settle down or, and I'm sure it is, different from person to person. I think I flew ok but I was really churning inside while making my official flights. Are there any remedies that have worked for some or is this just the way it is. I will state my awarness of the nerves made my concentration and focus very high.

Any help or suggestions would be great.

>I am probably one of the least experienced contest fliers
>around. This year I have already flown in two contests
>bringing my total to 5 in the last 4 1/2 years. I think
>with my trembling knees and shaking hands, my plane flies
>perfectly level upright or inverted without the hunting I
>normally have.
>
>Do the nerves ever settle down or, and I'm sure it is,
>different from person to person. I think I flew ok but I
>was really churning inside while making my official flights.
> Are there any remedies that have worked for some or is this
>just the way it is. I will state my awarness of the nerves
>made my concentration and focus very high.

That's pretty much how it works for me. I still get somewhat nervous, particularly at the NATs and TT. But my biggest problem is managing to keep concentration for an entire flight, and the nervousness seem to help my focus.

Having participated as a performing musician early in my life, I had some practice at working through the jitters or performance anxiety. (no comments here please

THe trick is to channel the nervous energy into improved awareness and concentration on the task at hand.

I get pretty "keyed-up" going into official flights. The only thing I consciously try to do is just before the release, and again right after the takeoff and 2 laps, I take a couple of deep breaths to clear my head. Seems to help settle me down.

AS you do more events, the familiarity of the contest circle protocol and processes will reduce some of the jitters as well.

FWIW

Z2,
It is nice to hear, from Brett's thread, that even the expert's get nervous once in awhile as well. I always try different methods to try to calm myself down before a contest. I double check all related equipment before leaving the house, check it again on the practice day or morning of the contest and then leave it alone. I have observed many people with a nervous habbit of constantly checking one's stuff, which hinders the thought and visualization process. I sometimes meditate by visualization of the entire pattern before heading out to the contest site. We are all at different stages of development in this event and there most CL flyers will lend a hand when a 'crisis' or problem occurs. Once my 'official' flight is in the air and I have completed the reverse wing-over, nothing else seems to exist besides myself, the plane and the judges, in fact the center of the circle becomes silent. I realized this occurance back in high school wrestling. The center of the mat has a strange silence Treat a contest as 'additional' practice. I think to myself, 'ok this is just like weekdend practice with the guys' Good luck!

....Treat a contest as 'additional' practice. I think
>to myself, 'ok this is just like weekdend practice with the
>guys' Good luck!

That's interesting....we treat our practice like a contest!

Good stuff here.

Zuriel,

We all get nervous. But you and Brett are right, if you can focus that nervousness to the task at hand, it can improve concentration. I spent several years competing in international track and field (high jump and triple jump). Even in small track meets, my heart was in my throat. But over time you learn to dial that nervous energy into an intense focus that can really help your performance.

But at least for me, it never really goes away.

I got so keyed up in HS that I threw up before every football game when we came in from warm ups. Got to be a ritual, when I came back into the dressing room, everyone knew it was time to hit the field! LOL!!
The nerves never really went away, it happened in all the sports I did through out college, but at least the nausea settled down!
I had my knees knocking before my officials at the last NATS I flew in, but when I took off there was total silence except for the engine. I didn't know there was another person on the planet!
A friend launched me at Brodak (Aaron was having to change a broken prop, another story) and he mentioned how I looked real calm during the flight. Could'a fooled me! LOL!!
I guess the years upon years of athletic competition gave me an ability to focus with out my awareness of it. I sure wouldn't *feel* right if the gitters didn't set in before an official.
So, Zuriel, it will get better!
Bill <><

Just enjoy it, it can be a wonderful high, and like everybody says, try to focus all that energy on the flight. I can always tell when I'm ready for a combat match. My hand shakes a good quarter inch when I try to hold it steady. If it ain't shaking, I ain't ready. I need those hyped nerves to get the reflexes up to speed.

I guess I should point out I scored higher than I have ever scored. The strange part is I knew I had flown very well. I didn't mention the silence in the circle. It was unreal. My engine sounded great and I was very aware of the wind location on each manuver. It was very fun too.

>If it ain't shaking, I ain't ready. I need those
>hyped nerves to get the reflexes up to speed.
Hey Phil,
Ay our age, we need all the adrenaline we can get to HAVE any reflexes!!!! LOL!!!!! Those young guys sure got it easy.
Bill <><

Jack Daniels won't help, so use the nervous energy to concentrate.

I think I get more nervous the more I fly.

Randy is correct, he gets nervous at contests.

But I have found an excellent way to focus his nervous energy: Wait until he has managed, somehow, to catch a lower jacket button in the leadouts on his handle and flown in a most radical manner for a minute or so while trying to free himself, handle held at near groin level.

At this point what works for me is to run into the center circle, very sharp knife drawn, and to innocently ask if he wants to be cut loose.

Now we're talkin' focus!!

Well, I flew F1A Nordic (Towline) Glider for 15 years, and the two deep breaths is a good start. Getting your "system" all worked out is what helps a bunch. Double knot those shoe laces, get the right glasses, the familiar hat, lose that parka with all the buttons...
Steve

My problem is over the years as I get better at the Nats my nerves are getting worse. Almost to the point where the fun is gone. I get nervous the night before officials on Wednesday and dont sleep well. Then on Wed AM I am not eating until after my flight. My stomach is knotted and I am just waiting. Hating every minute of it. Fuel the plane a few deep breaths and start the motor. At that point it is on and I am feeling fine the nrves are gone and the fun starts. A good rock out sign to my brother and it is in the bag. Land the plane and the nerves come back full swing for the rest of the day. I hate it and wish I could get a handle on it. It didnt used to be this way. But for some reason at the Nats the nerves are getting worse. Anyone have any ideas. I dont get nerves anymore at all in a local meet. No matter where it is. Just at the Nats.

At the 02 Nats I only slept about 2 hours on Friday night. I was tired on Saturday morning. I mentioned it to PW and he said at his first flyoff he was so nervous he didnt think he would be able to hold the handle. I actually slept under the tent at the field while the first round was in motion. I was wiped out. But that little nap helped me to calm a little. I did notice I can focus like a son of a gun when I am that keyed up. I asked Ted about it on Wed of 02 and he said that Wed was worse for him than Sat. He said he is so ready to get on with it that waiting just keys him up. I guess everyone is effected differently. I just wish mine would get better and not worse as the years go by.

What, Zuriel nervous??? Did he happen to mention he WON ADVANCED AT DALLAS LAST WEEKEND??? Couldn't prove it by me. He flew great.

Uh, Doug. When it hurts when you do that, stop doing that!! Don't go to the NATS. Yeah right! Say, isn't Dr. Phil from Texas? Ask him! ha ha ha (note, no faces so Da Dirt can figure this out)

Unfortunately, I am not a very nice person in the hour or two prior to a flight as some of you may have discovered. The same "game face" that has served me well through over 4 decades of competitive pursits just happens naturally complete with an absolute intolerance of anyone or anything which I percieve to be a distraction.
This "game face" usually converts into concentrated focus for the competitive task at a hand whether a 5 minute flight or a 4 hour golf match.
Following the flight, I am unusually mellow, ready for a beer and fellowship. The mellowness is magnified if I feel I have put in an exceptional flight.
Whether the game face is good or bad, I can't say. I've always had it and always will, I suppose.

My question is, where does all the saliva in my mouth go when I walk out to pick up the !@!~! handle??? And what is with the bouncing in my knee when I try to put weight on it as I turn in the circle?

Funny thing I noticed about me & Contests... :

...The ones I practice like mad for and think I've got my stuff together for are the ones where something goes inevitably wrong. (pattern points, over run or just plain ugly pattern etc.)

...Then there are the ones where my buddies will egg me on into to going, and I get there and I tell 'em, nah I think I'll just watch today, or some such attempt at copping out. More egging and needling and I finally succumb and register to fly. Low and behold I put up a relaxed "who gives a rats booty" flight and I'm in the money, or at least getting a much more respectable score than usual.

Conclusion - I psyche myself out. Bummer. Maybe it goes away after time, or more experience, but I'm still one of the younger crowd,(well, compared to the average C/L'er, anyways) have a family, business and commitments to take priority, so I don't make many contests.

Biggest looming Contest related fear? - (aside from carbon fiber & APC props) That by the time I retire / or have time to give this a decent shot, my best years and reflexes will be long behind me. (though Werwage & The Bear give me hope, they were already top flyers at half my age)

That's why I think you have to really be into this for the pure enjoyment, because the trophy alone just can't be that rewarding in the long run. It's the friendships, the excitement / fascination over favorite designs coming to life & feelings of accomplishment etc. that keep people in competition long term. That way, weather winning or loosing the trophies, we still win, because we get out of the experience what we came for.

Eric(Even being aware of all that, I still psyche myself out)Viglione

I take a Viagra, myself. It gives me a certain confidence for my overall pattern, and provides that award winning hardness in the corners that impress the judges. I enter the wingover, and that baby goes straight up, I tell ya. 90 degrees, by golly.

And I don't wear my watch. It doesn't stop my hand from shaking on the inverted flight portion, but at least the rattling of the band doesn't distract me so much.

My best bet was always physical exertion until I was gulping for breath. Just takes the heebiejeebies right away and enables me to focus. About 100 jumping jacks will do it-or 10 or so squat thrusts.
As an AAU wrestler-or before giving a presentation-or test anxiety, this always worked for me.
I never had much anxiety about competing in an airplane contest as my attitude is - this is not a life threatening situation-in fact it is not even a socially significant activity(in the grand scheme of things) It is an individual-non contact (most of the time) sport/hobby and you are really only competing against yourself.
Self talk to get it in perspective. Tell yourself to "calm down" or "getting nervous is only going to make me screw up".
Take a deep breath and let it out slowly to the count of ten.
Enjoyed others take on it.

>That's why I think you have to really be into this for the
>pure enjoyment, because the trophy alone just can't be that
>rewarding in the long run. It's the friendships, the
>excitement / fascination over favorite designs coming to
>life & feelings of accomplishment etc. that keep people in
>competition long term. That way, weather winning or loosing
>the trophies, we still win, because we get out of the
>experience what we came for.
>

Well said...

I think I enjoy flying as much as anyone. I will also admit I am very competitive too. I am not attending contests to "Beat" anyone. I do want to fly my best when I fly and I think since I do not have any competitiors near me or that I fly with it makes the nervousness even greater. I look up to the Dale Gleasons, Craig Beskows, Marvin Dennys and others of the hobby and enjoy the chances I get to talk with them and see them fly. At contests I think I spend more time visiting and watching others fly since I do not get the opportunity very often. But it is my personal goal to get better and learn all I can about competitive flying. As a kid in the 60's and 70's I would read the AAM magazines and wanted to fly like the guys winning the Nats and the World Championships. Now that I am an older child, I still have the same desires and have since been able to watch my hero's fly. That's just too cool. Flying on the circle next to these guys does not help the nervousness at all. I'm sure I am the only one who ever felt this way though.

As a matter of course I don't have much in the way of "contest nerves," but when I do the simplest thing seems to just give them away to someone else.

For example, Chris Cox has a tendency to tighten up in a contest flight, this exhibited by a death grip on the handle. So just before one of his flights I always tell him, "Okay, now get a good, solid grip on the handle before release of the model."

Sometimes it helps to casually mention to your closest competitor, "Ya know, it seems like you're packing quite a lot of extra tip weight."

A lot of people "feel for a bump." When launching for someone who does this, wait until they signal judges for beginning of flight period and then ask, "When you checked for a bump, didn't I hear that little click that usually indicates a loose prop?"

My new one for Randy Powell will be, "Are you sure you don't want to wear a jacket in this weather?"