"Listen" to your wing: let yourself get pulled towards lift (don't alway fight slight drifts) and circle to the side of the wing that is pulling you up more once the vario starts beeping.
Sometimes you really have to do a full 180 and go back where you came from. If you top a nice thermal and try to make a glide, but can't find anything, it may be worth it to just return where you know there was lift, get higher and try again. Especially earlier in the day when the thermals are not yet working at full steam. You may need to just give them more time.
Observation is key, as a new pilot your spatial awareness is narrow, like it was when you learned to drive. Worried about clipping wing mirrors. learn to thermal until its automatic.. take your time and your spatial awareness will open up.. this is a right of passage.. when i thermal im looking for the wisps of a growing cloud to head for while going around re checking to see if its growing of decaying.. The average life cycle of a cloud is around 20 mins.. In a 15 km wind and hanging with a cloud you can cover 5km and your still at base.. dont rush..
Thanks Lewis, glad you think it's good. 😄 The plan is to make more instructional videos going forwards, hopefully improving my presentation and explanations as I get more practice at it. 🧑🏫🪂🤓⏩☝🙃
1 circle in lift, then atleast 2 times round in it, to confirm its worth it. Then I centre by straightening up briefly after 3 quarts of a turn AFTER the strongest part of the lift? I'm only new, but that classic theory, seems to treat me well so far
I hope you enjoyed this video and found it helpful. If this leaves you with any questions or you have any requests for what else could be demonstrated and explained in future videos, feel free to comment.