[CQ-Contest] Why Are European Contesters Younger?

[Saulius Zalnerauskas]

Absoluteely agree with Remi,

I got my first license (UP2BIM) in 1981 May 7, at age 13 and 6 months! I got
FIRST Class licensee, because in my young age I had two times won Lithuanian
QRQ Champiochips as junior and one time in man class silever medal (age
11!!!). Maybe some of You remember my father - famous contrustor and many
contests winner Vladas UP2NV (later LY2NV but very little QRV as LY).
RIP - my teacher!
In those years I was young man just come back from soviet army in Riga
(latvia) where I was as sport- batallion like sportsman and Latvian (YL) QRQ
Team member. I got my first work in "DOSAAF" Kaunas Radio Technical School
as Colective Station Schief and QSL Bureau manager., also few hours each day
CW lessons to young people.
I got my first SWL call-sign in 1976, and first QSO was in December 1976.

Those years (1976-1990) we were in Soviet Ocupation, and were big problem's
to get any radio-parts, tubes, other things (tower's, etc...) But having
this work - You also had good time to get many friends who needed it.

I remeber how many young boys and girls after lessons in school were coming
to another lessons of CW! Now I can't see any interests of young people in
learning Morse Code, or HF/VHF/Contests/DXing,.... They have internet,
mobile phone's and no need those crazy things as we like:-))

73, "Sam" Saulius LY5W
ex UP2BIM, LY2BIM, LY1DR, LY10DR, LY61DR, LY75DR, LY91DR, LY95DR, LY98DR,
LY600W, LY70W, LY755W and club station's UK2BCR, UK2PAP, UP1BWC, UP1BZA,
UP1BZW, LY1XX, LY2WW, LY2ZA, LY5A, UK2GAB, UQ1GWB, UQ1GYT,.......
and till 31 August LY20W (see qrz.com for details)
Over 1 million QSO's on the air!

On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 1:26 PM, LY8O <> wrote:

> Felipe,
>
> Well, not so sure I could explain it absolutely correct, but by my opinion
> there could be some historical reasons:
> 1. Remember, that at older times Eastern Europe was under Communism
> preasure.
> 2. Amateur radio at that times was the only way to communicate with the
> rest of the world for many of us (no internet; to call abroad by phone you
> must order this possibility in advance). Especialy for yong people (my first
> QSO was when I was a bit over 14 years old, say 29 years and 8 month ago,
> wow...) with so many restrictions to go abroad including the excursions to
> "socialist countries"...
> 3. This Amateur Radio, especialy contesting, was named as
> Technical-Military Sport (remember the time!!!) and was sponsored by
> Goverment. Depending on your or club station results you can expect for
> something better (equipment, parts, sometimes some monney dotations and so
> on). And people "fighted" for that "better future"...
> 4. To become an Amateur Radio operator you must know Morse code.
> 5. Special classes and courses for young interesants - all was payed by
> Goverment.
> 6. As the result from all above - higher activity from Eastern Europe, more
> oldtimers still playing this game.
> That is IMHO... Could be something else...
> But we have also a big problem with "young blood" as everyone. This year
> perhaps could be one of the best in the couple of last years history in LY -
> some number of CB people decided to join Amateur Radio, passes the tests and
> already got the Calls. And those people are 20 - 30 years old. And some more
> people from CB are thinking about Amateur Radio.. Looks like there is some
> more "clay" to expand Amateur Radio Society :) Will see :)
>
> 73, Remi LY8O
>
>
> *** Felipe NP4Z wrote: ***
> >But also I have the impression that Eastern europe shows a little more
> >participation than western europe is that so? What could be the reason?
> >
> >Regards,
> >
> >Felipe
> >np4z
>
>
>