[CQ-Contest] Are contesters born or made?

[Edward Swynar]

Hi Guys,

I agree that "...practice makes perfect", but in radio contesting one has to
combine a large number of hardware / software / skills / talents / physical
attributes / mental attitude / etc. to be REALLY successful...

Personally, my body just NEVER could reconcile itself to the fact that
contesting can mean AT LEAST a solid 24 hour stretch in front of the
radio---I like (and need) my sleep! Now THAT'S something that one can NEVER
"practice" successfully---you're either able to dunk basketballs, or you're
not...and this white man can not jump!

Mental attitude---the will to win---is another one of those "...either you
have it, or you don't" things. I think I can be as competitive as the next
guy, but many times I've sat in front of the rig at 2:00 AM during slow
spells eking out one difficult QSO after another---and a small voice from
deep within me will plaintively ask, "What the heck are you doing here,
anyway?!"

Again you've either got it, or you don't...

Computers / scanners / spotters / pre-programmed keyers / WHATEVER are great
boons to this niche of the hobby, but if you're physically & mentally NOT up
to the challenge, you're in the game strictly for a weekend of fun, & NOT to
win, per se...

But that's OK, too, because without casual ops like me around, who would the
Big Gun stations have to work, after they've QSO'ed each other...?!

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ

***********************************


---- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Notarius W3WN" <wn3vaw at verizon.net>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 11:26 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Are contesters born or made?


> Like so many things...
>
> Most contesters are born that way.
>
> To become good or great contesters, they have to refine & hone & practice
> what skills they were born with.
>
> So the answer to the question "Are contesters born or made" is...
>
> Yes.
>
> 73
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 12:26:36 -0000
> From: "Randy Thompson K5ZD" <k5zd at charter.net>
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Are contesters born or made?
> To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Message-ID: <991EB50967444308B390D1534396F56D at k5zd1>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> I just finished listening to a fascinating interview with Matthew Syed,
> author of the book Bounce.  The book explores the idea that practice is
far
> more important than talent at achieving in the upper levels of sport.
>
> Link to show: http://www.onlyagame.org/2010/04/bounce/
> Follow the Download the Podcast link to get the interview in various
forms.
>
> We don't talk about practice much in relation to contesting, but I believe
> it does make a difference.  I owe much of my success to having spent hours
> and hours during my teenage years working traffic nets, chasing DX, and
> competing in contests with a very small station.
>
> Very thought provoking interview.  Check it out.
>
> Randy, K5ZD
>
> W7VJ
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>