A buddy suggested flying lots of figure 8's when I was starting out. I gradually increased in speed and tightened them up, and worked on feeding in rudder. It helps with that left/right thing, and got me comfortable using all of the available control throws.

The Apprentice is effected by wind, but that can be a plus as you learn to handle it.

On really windy days a bunch of guys at the field would break out Handy Mans. Turns out the Handy King flies the same, just bigger, and is a lot of fun in the wind. When I got it I figured it would be more than I could handle at my experience level, but it quickly became a favorite.