Honestly if people are dragging their tails because the feel like they wont perform well enough then let me share my thoughts before the first match:
I was picked to play my first match against Greenix who allthough rusty was one of the players in team england for the world cup or in other words not a pushover(plus the fact that I'd just recently started doing phantom races), had I against all probability won that match I'd be up against texasalex who well lets just say the man is damn good at wipeout. I in other words knew I was in for a short run but I'd rather go out swinging than giving up before I'd at least given it my all.

As it happens I lost to greenix (I lost big) but I was happy to have participated and I feel I can hold my head high for having done what I signed up to do.

Or in other words if you feel like you're going to lose then do so with pride. To quote a hollywood movie I think I once saw "there is no shame in losing to a stronger opponent".
If nothing else then just play your match so that you can say you did it.

much love Oryx