[SCCC] High Speed CW Contesting Comments Solicited

[RGrubic at aol.com]

Hello,
 
As a relatively new contester, I have posted to this group several times,  
thinking my "neophyte" comments would help other neophyte contesters not 
feel  alone with their frustrations. I guess it comes from the teacher in me.  
Specifically, I've commented on how difficult it's been for me to make CW  
Contest QSOs with those operators sending at speeds higher than I can  copy.
 
I've been practicing diligently, almost daily, for several years now, and  
just this week I've started to "feel comfortable" copying at 25 wpm. Wow! A 
cool  feeling! A few letters are still problematic, but I feel I've hit some 
sort of  milestone this week. And, I plan to go as far as I can--30, 35, 
higher? I  want to be one of those QRQ guys too. I really like this stuff.
 
I would like to hear from some of you who do operate CW contests at  
"higher" speeds, 30, 35 + wpm. You must do it because there's a pay-off. Besides  
it just "feeling good," there must be other rewards, that keep it going. Can 
you  actually work a whole contest only working other high speed ops? Are 
there that  many CW operators out there? I'd like to know. And I hope you'd 
say "yes,"  because that would perhaps bode well for the future of CW. Do 
many people ask  you to QRS? What percentage would you say? Any other thoughts 
on this  topic?
 
I would sincerely like to hear comments on this from the perspective of ops 
 who do operate CW contests at 
"high" speed. It seems we just don't hear or  read about things like that. 
Thanks very much.  

73,
Bob  Grubic, NC6Q
Signal Hill, CA