Backpacker, just a small correction; the British Gliding Association NO LONGER REQUIRES as part of the syllabus "brief spins where the ground is noticably close"
"A very experienced instructor flying a docile two seater in ideal conditions may be prepared to initiate a brief spin from...(.less than l,000). A less docile two seater with a less experienced instructor, or less than ideal conditions, should raise the minimum height considerably."
It is therefore left to the discretion of the very experienced instructor!
You rightly remind us that spins are much more exciting in stubby wings.
Didn't we read a few months back about a Currie Wot, or some such, that did 23 spins before the pilot worked out a flat spin recovery......very very close to the ground........
And of course you all remember the old story about the first pilot who ever recovered from a stall . . . .