RE: Slowing down after landing
Last year, on my very first outing of the year, I had problems landing very long. I kept going around and landing but the darned thing carried along way past where I intended it to land, and then it took longer than usual to slow it down.
When I taxied around to the flight line, I shut the engine down and went to pick up the plane. One of the instructor was behind me watching this (I didn't know he was there). Keep in mind that I, too, am an instructor, but after several winter months of non-flying, well, I was a tad rusty.
Anyway, he approached me and commented "That's a good idea, practicing downwind landings".
Hmmmm.... my next landings after that were much shorter.
CGr.