www.yccc.org

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So, How can I Compete?

[Little ol’ me?]

Jim Idelson K1IR

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Many Levels of Competition

• “Big Gun” Competition• Win or set a record in a major category

• “Climber” Competition• Win or place in a smaller category

• “Starter” Competition• Beat your own personal goals!

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“Starter” Competition

• Compete with a friend• Join an ‘inside-the-club’ competition• Compete with ‘past results’• Compete with yourself

• Set a personal goal and make it!• Learn how to motivate yourself.

Secret of the champs:Competing with yourself is how you win.

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Your First Contest

• What kind of operating do you enjoy most?• Low bands? High bands? SSB? Digital?

Domestic? DX?

• Find the contests that focus on this kind of operating.• Pick a contest, a category, and get started!

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Your First Contest

• Do your homework• Look at past scores in the contest

• What’s a great score from your area? A good score?• Note how many hours each entrant put in

• Talk to others who have experience• What kind of station capabilities are helpful?• How does a good operator approach this contest?• How many hours do they put in, and which are the best hours?

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Your First Contest

• Set your goals• Set a few different goals – primary and secondary

• Have fun [PRI]• Hours you commit to operate – “Chair Time” [PRI]• Learn a new operating skill – how to S&P [PRI]• Commit to submit your score [PRI]• Total QSOs you hope to make [SEC]• Learn how your station and antennas perform [SEC]

• It’s your FIRST contest!• Make your goals achievable . . .• Be a success in your first outing!

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Your First Contest

• After the contest• Post your score on 3830• Submit in your log• Assess your performance against your goals• Write a narrative describing what you did, what went well, what

did not• Think about areas to improve and goals for next time, and

write them down

• Do all of this while the experience is fresh in your mind

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Ways to Have More Fun

• Don’t do it alone• Do it with a friend

• Someone who is at the same stage as you• You could both single-op or do a multi

• Find a mentor• Someone with experience who will assist you in setting good

goals, staying motivated, getting prepared and analyzing your performance when its all over

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Ways to Have More Fun

• Clear the decks• Be focused 100% on the contest

• Let everybody who wants/needs your time and attention know that you will not be available during the contest

• Use a computer• You can log your first contest with paper and pencil

• You will have fun, but• Logging with a computer is way more fun

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Ways to Have More Fun

• Commit to Having Fun• Fun is a state-of-mind

• Things will go wrong . . .• You might not achieve all your goals . . .

• If you let these things get to you, the fun will be hard to find . . .• But, if you remember that contesting poses new challenges at

every level . . . • You will always have fun!

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A Winning Attitude

You can win your first contest!1. Do what you enjoy2. Set goals that you can achieve3. Stay focused4. Stay motivated5. Have fun6. Exceed your goals7. Repeat