Not sure how you define tip of the spear. I've won my AG at WTC events a few times and KQ'd a couple times....so reasonably competitive for an age grouper I guess (now age 50). I think having a coach is a tremendous benefit, particularly when starting out in the sport. I have been racing for about 7 years, and had a coach for the first 4 years or so. The 2 biggest reasons I think I benefited were gaining knowledge from someone who had been around the block a few times and just as importantly is the accountability factor. It is way harder to blow off a session or mail it in when you know someone you respect is going to be reviewing the results....at least for me it was. A good coach is worth every dime