HAWAIIAN STYLE ROLLAZ

Competition flying is the ultimate in the roller world. Competition day brings a tight stomach and anticipation equal to that of contact sports. Hard work and a calm, levelheaded approach seems to be the best tools for success.
I was talking to our regional judge Kevin (very good attitude) McCray after all the excitement was over. I mentioned that I was the second place king having placed second in many flies. He told me the funniest thing. He said, “when I‘m home alone flying my birds sometimes they do so good that no one can touch me. Then on fly day, I can’t buy a roll”.
Sound familiar? What can you do? Breed the best, work them hard, and cross your fingers.
There are many variables to consider when flying competitions. One judge will see ten feet as fifteen and another may see ten feet as only five. Some judges are always drawn to red checkers or some other color. I think the roll looks faster with certain colors. I am sure the birds look tighter when they are all hens. Some judges like tight clean breaks with definition. Others may prefer huge explosive breaks. Some areas will have people flying down in the valley where spring comes early and the heat can become a factor. Some live up in the mountains where the cold and snow are a problem. Some flyers have falcons or hawks to deal with. The barometric pressure has an effect on the performance. Then when everything is perfect you have yourself to deal with. Should you feed them a little more? Maybe you should cut the feed a little.
Have you ever seen one of those parrots that pick all of their own feathers off? It is a nervous condition; they can’t leave things alone.
The birds will be as good as they are. Period.
Of coarse giving advice is a lot easier than taking it. I have heard my wife say, “leave them alone before you mess them up like last time”. I tell her she doesn’t understand, this is different, I know what I’m doing this time. Yeah, RIGHT!
Everybody in the roller sport has problems to deal with. The final result is usually proportionate to the work invested. I will say that being retired or having a fat trust fund at your disposal would probably help. You can spend more time with the birds and it kind of takes the pressure off when you’re fat and sassy and don’t have a boss to worry about.
I had never flown in a competition before nine years ago but have had rollers most of my life.
Before I became involved in competition flying I flew rollers just for fun. I would love to win the World Cup but it doesn’t even come close to the fun I have had with my father and friends talking about our birds for the last thirty years.
Competitions are meant to improve or motivate a sport to the highest level. When arguing and fighting break out the purpose has been defeated. Should you become frustrated to the point where the fun has disappeared, your rollers will have become a source of stress rather than what they were intended for.
Remember when you were young and your parents scolded “ be a good sport” those are still good words to live by. (I hope I wasn’t the only one told that)
The only real losers are those that have not entered the competition.
I have learned something in every fly that I have ever entered. So it stands to reason that if you do not fly then you will not learn as much, therefore you lose.
I would fly in any kind of competition you can dream up. One bird flies, forty-bird fly? You name it. I intend on winning every fly I enter, but if I don’t, at least I flew. If you beat me, I may have made a mistake, but I was trying my best. My sincere thanks to all that support and participate in the World Cup, the NBRC, and other associated clubs and functions that promote the Birmingham Roller.