RE: Pattern start
We have two guys at my club who won Nationals, so there is a lot of pattern experience. From what I've seen, you have to show a genuine and continuing interest in pattern to get taken seriously. A lot of guys will say they are interested, but they forget about it after taking the time of these guys. If you are interested and do the things a genuinely interested person would do, that says more than words to these guys. It doesn't matter that your loops aren't big and round, just practicing and moving up to a pattern plane speaks for itself.
A chip on the shoulder never helps.....