[CQ-Contest] Unsportsmanlike?

[Dale L Martin]

> > > A certain level of proficiency is required even to get your feet wet,
> > >  apparently he has not yet reached that. Perhaps it would be
> better to
> > assist
> > >  him in improving his CW skills first.
> >
> >     Methinks I detect some cw "elitism" here which is precisely
> why I gave up
> > on the CW Sprint - too many cw elitists who weren't interested
> in slowing
> > down or giving me the information I asked for.
> >
> >     CW SS should NOT be for hotshot cw ops only. I thought we
> were trying to
> > encourage more activity.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Steve     K7LXC
>
> Not necessarily.  There would be a minimum speed I'd expect someone to be
> able to do if he were to hang in there in a CW contest.  Perhaps 15 wpm?
> I don't think a 5 wpm code proficiency is going to cut it in a major
> contest like SS.
>
I agree about the need for speed.

However, there is a place for even the most 'novice' contest entrant.  But,
the novice has to be made aware that he/she is getting into a real
horserace.

When I started sailboat racing, there was no 'beginner's' fleet.  I was
thrust into the full-up start with the rest of those who had varying degrees
of greater expertise than I.  And, yes, it was frightening.  But, I
eventually overcame it and won some cups, platters, candy dishes, etc.
(which my ex-mother-in-law subsequently sold at a garage sale when her
daughter and I divorced.).

Geez, guys, people have to start somewhere.

One guy throws in the towel (or puts his key back in the box) and suddenly
we are all at fault.

Get

A

Grip


There are certain realities that must be accepted: SS is not for the meek.

If someone wants to contest or you want someone to contest, let him/her get
their feet wet in NAQP or a state QSO Party or two.

73,
dale, kg5u