A couple of points.

Set yourself  targets on your own competence levels months before you planning to enter a comp and follow through.

My suggestion to young pilots that would like to try comp flying :

1). Get competent within yourself (not over confident).  Know your personal comfort zones.  Never take off outside these comfort zones!
2). Know your glider inside out - be one with it!  Feel it, fly it!
3). Attach yourself to a experience competition/cross country pilot.  Get him to brief you and look after you for months before a comp on cross country flying.  Set small tasks to fly and stretch these as time goes by.
4). Fly as many cross country flights as possible.  This teaches you to make thermal and landing decisions in a non-competitive (stressful) environment.
5). Be competent in ALL the ground and air rules, i.e.. ground handling, thermal rules, etc.
6). Fly when more crowded so you can get used to flying with others.
7). Make sure you know the comp site and fly it intensively before the comp.
8). LISTEN and LEARN!  And only then enter a comp.
9). Knowledge is Safety!

The 4 stages of a paragliding pilot:

1. Unconsciously ignorant
2. Consciously ignorant
3. Consciously competent
4. Unconsiously competent

Where do YOU fit in?

Let's all strive to become unconsiously competent!

Fly safely, Regards,
Dalene