8th FAI Junior WGC - Leszno, Poland
July 28th through August 10th, 2013
Standard Class / Club Class

TBD: Standard Class

TBD: Standard Class

TBD: Captain

Junior Class Background

The Junior category is a relatively new addition to the growing roster of FAI Championships. A first international "student" meet was held by the Dutch at Terlet in 1985, as a way for young glider pilots to fly competitively among peers. Further contests established a tradition of European competition every two years.

The idea of a fully sanctioned youth contest grew with each event until the first FAI World Junior Gliding Championships were held in 1999, once again in Holland. The USA has not missed a chance to compete on this international stage since 1989. There are typically two Classes (Standard and Club) but adding Classes has been discussed frequently. The Junior Soaring Team is made up of pilots all under age 26. Team candidates are selected based upon their performance in any U.S. national competition. To be eligible for the Junior Soaring Team and international competition candidates should have achieved a score equal to at least 60% of the national winners score.

Many people have been instrumental to the USA Junior Team effort including most notably Rick Nelson, John Campbell, Eric Mozer, Rudy Mozer, George Wiederkehr, Tim Hanke, Ken Sorenson, and Sean Franke.
 

Junior News eBulletin, Web Links and Camps

Junior Pilots INVITED TO SUBSCRIBE
United States Soaring Teams, the Team Committee and the U.S. Junior Soaring Association (USJSA) have developed a publication just for Junior pilots under age 26 interested in cross country and competition soaring.

If this is you are invited to subscribe to the Junior News eBulletin and start receiving periodic issues of the free publication by email. The Junior News eBulletin features special opportunities and news for soaring pilots under age 26 including cross country, camp, competition and team related items. The new eBulletin format replaces the original printed version of the Junior News. In addition the newly created U.S. Junior Soaring Association will be contributing to the editorial content of the team sponsored Junior News eBulletin.

Junior pilots under age 26 are invited to sign up and start receiving the new team sponsored Junior News eBulletin by clicking here. Sign up now! Find a full range of Junior oriented web links and resources for Junior pilots here.

TEAM SPONSORED JUNIOR CAMPS
The U.S. Team sponsors several training and performance camps for pilots of all levels from beginning cross county to more advanced competition pilots, including special camps specifically for Junior pilots under age 25. These camps are typically taught be US team members and include a mix of dual training flights, group discussions, flight analysis and one-on-one instruction. Team sponsored Experience, Training and Performance camps have proven to be great fun and an excellent way to experience cross country and performance soaring. See the team camp page here...