Just my opinion here.

Start low and work your way up. If you read the post about the president's final post in IMAC you will see he believes one of the biggest mistakes pilots make is to start or move up too quickly. I agree with this and have seen it happen time and time again. Someone believes or thier local constituancy tells them how great they are but can't fly a straight line in no wind let alone wind correct in all attitudes, then go to a contest and get very low scores, coming in below what they believe they should, get frustrated and quit.

Start at Sportsman or Basic. If you win, then move up, you've earned it as well as spent time making friends and asking questions. If you start too high, the legal amount of work to move down includes getting letters of recomendation and explaining why you want to move down.

I totally disagree with the notion to come in last in a higher class is better. To me this is a crock. Why not find out where your skill level belongs, then compete appropriately. For example, just because someone like to golf but ends up in a certain flight(skill level) on Saturday, he isn't going to say put me in with the pro's. It is not better to come in last when he could have competed against the appropriate players. Most would laugh at the guy thinking he should tee off from the pro tee box when he doesn't hit it past the ladies tee box.

Have fun, meet people, ask questions and it will be evident very quickly.

Ed