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

Boyd Willat: Club Class

Boyd Willat started flying before he was born - his parents actually flew to the hospital when his mom was in labor. He grew up at his parents' glider port, Sky Sailing in Warner Springs, CA. taking after his older brother Garret and learning from parents Bret and Karen. Boyd started out as an airport rugrat, then lineboy, head lineboy, commercial ride pilot and is now a full time Flight Instructor and tow pilot. He soloed 23 gliders on his 14th birthday and earned his Private on his 16th and commercial and CFIG on his 18th birthday. He flew his first contest at Parowan in 2007 in his Discus A where he placed 6th. Boyd has flown 6 contests since then, and also won the Rudolf Mozer Trophy in 2009. He has accumulated 2500+ flight hours in 30+ types of aircraft and is working towards his degree in Airport Management. While not at the glider port Boyd enjoys skydiving, and uses his commercial MEL at Skydive Perris where he flies the Pilatus Porter, Twin Otter and Sky Van.

Ethan Staton: Team Captain

Ethan grew up in the small town of Warner Springs where there was nothing but a Resort, School, and an Airport.  Sky Sailing operates on the airport of Warner Springs where he began working in 2006 as a line boy. Shortly after he started taking instruction from Garret Willat and Boyd Willat after work and school.  The summer of 2007 he crewed for Boyd in Parowan and Hobbs getting his first introduction to sailplane racing. Every summer since he has crewed for both Boyd and Garret across the U.S. as well as Germany at the 2011 Junior World Championships.  In 2008 he began college to become an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic.  While going to school he continued to fly and in 2010 took his first solo flight in gliders.  2012 brought Ethan both Airframe and Powerplant certificates, as well as his glider Private Pilot certificate.  He continues to work full time at Sky Sailing as an A&P and fly working towards his commercial glider and power ratings.  
 

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...