don't be fooled, these guys spent years flying pattern, and spent years study and mastering wind correction , perspective and attitudes of their planes.
ORIGINAL: highK
a few years ago a guy showed up at one of the larger So Cal contests who had no contest exerperience. he entered advanced, as did another guy who was flying his first imac event. one of the guys was mike caglia, who went to top ten finish in the TOC, the other guy was mark leseberg. and if memory serves me, bill hempel started in unlimited.
of course, in that same contest some sandbagger named scott anderson flew basic.