Finish above me as I finished "LAST AT THE NATS" last year in Sportsman, but had a blast and will be going back again next year to defend my title.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, the knowns and better yet, PRACTICE UNKNOWNS to you.

Pick out maneuver's in the IMAC catalog in Sportsman and go fly them.
or
Keep the UNKNOWNS of the contests you fly before you go to the NATS and practice them.
or
Some web sites post last years UNKNOWNS, print them out and practice them

HAVE FUN doing it, here in the NC region we are lucky to have some good contest and good CDs and great flying buddies