Erik Long
<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV class=RTE>
<P>All I can think about is that there are a dozen or so X-C riders in Oregon who are OBRA semi-pro's and are legitimately good enough to finish well in a NORBA CUP semi-pro event. But most of them have to race expert in every NORBA race they go to because OBRA Pro and semi-pro licenses are not recognized at NORBA events.</P>
<P>The basic truth: Wether an Oregon MTB race is sanctioned by OBRA or NORBA, it's still the same race, with the same course, the same riders, and ultimately the same outcome. </P>
<P>For this reason NORBA needs to recognize OBRA points. That's all. Paying those hosers to acknowlege us as bike racers is a joke.</P>
<P>Unfortunately, that seems to just be the way it is. And, like many riders in Oregon, I have neither the time off nor the funding to leave the state every other weekend, desperately seeking NORBA races for upgrade points. So, if we must give in to NORBA's stranglehold on the sport, so be it.</P>
<P>Making the State championship dual-sanctoned might be OK. We might think about making this "Northwest Cup" Dual-sanctioned as well.</P>
<P>-Erik J. Long, Bend</P>
<P>P.S. I'd much rather see those NORBA hosers come down from their ivory tower and recognize us as cyclists.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>----Original Message Follows---- </P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>From: Chris Brandt <CHRIS_BR-@HOTMAIL.COM>
<DIV></DIV>Reply-To: chris_br-@hotmail.com
<DIV></DIV>To: ob-@topica.com, mike.m-@obra.org
<DIV></DIV>Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] National Mt Bike Ranking for Oregon Racers
<DIV></DIV>Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 22:04:04 +0000
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>I am one of several Oregon riders who hold dual licenses (OBRA/USA
<DIV></DIV>Cycling). I do so only because I participate in a handful of bigger
<DIV></DIV>MTB/Cross races each year that attract the best competition.
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>As far as the national ranking points, I was under the impression that
<DIV></DIV>there was going to be some kind of reciprocity between OBRA/NORBA/USCF
<DIV></DIV>as far as racing categories are concerned (aside from "pro", I might
<DIV></DIV>add). I was also under the impression that USA Cycling was working to
<DIV></DIV>integrate "State Championship" caliber points into their rankings,
<DIV></DIV>regardless of the sanctioning body. This would enable riders in Oregon
<DIV></DIV>to qualify for the "National Championship" race, even though they may
<DIV></DIV>never race outside of Oregon... (Don't quote me on this).
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>If this is not the case, I would question these exclusionary and
<DIV></DIV>discriminatory policies that affect non-norba event riders... Is this
<DIV></DIV>one more way to put pressure on the promoters?
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>What's the dee-lee-o, yo?
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>-Chris
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>mike.m-@obra.org wrote:
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> I think the real question here is how many riders are there that really
<DIV></DIV>> want
<DIV></DIV>> the NORBA ranking? Are they willing to pay the extra costs involved?
<DIV></DIV>> If
<DIV></DIV>> there are hundreds of riders that want this then it would make sense.
<DIV></DIV>> If
<DIV></DIV>> there are only a handful then it does not.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> Mike Murray
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> -----Original Message-----
<DIV></DIV>> From: Randy Dreiling [mailto:ragg-@yahoo.com]
<DIV></DIV>> Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 11:33 AM
<DIV></DIV>> To: ob-@topica.com; obra-@topica.com
<DIV></DIV>> Subject: National Mt Bike Ranking for Oregon Racers
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> Hello All
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> Hope you are all doing well
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> First off I want to be VERY clear I support OBRA and
<DIV></DIV>> this e-mail is in NO way meant to say we are looking
<DIV></DIV>> at going with norba, but...
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> A few I stress a few so far upper level racers have
<DIV></DIV>> asked if one or two events could be dual supported by
<DIV></DIV>> OBRA and norba, so they can get ranked and earn
<DIV></DIV>> national points. State Championships is one race they
<DIV></DIV>> would really like dual supported.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> We are not sure how it would work and how much extra
<DIV></DIV>> it would cost per racer.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> This e-mail is being sent to see if there is even
<DIV></DIV>> enough interest to go to the next step.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> A couple things.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> 1. Nobra $50, $35 JR a year....OBRA $15 JR Free a
<DIV></DIV>> year
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> 2. There will be extra cost for a Norba events, Norba
<DIV></DIV>> races average min. $30-45 a racers, OBRA $10, $20 and
<DIV></DIV>> $25 depending on age and class..Norba usage fee is
<DIV></DIV>> more
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> 3. Are there enough people interested?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> 4. A few upper level racers need a race like this to
<DIV></DIV>> help their national ranking and get into other events,
<DIV></DIV>> but how many of you out there are in that group???
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> 5. Besides State Championships what other event?
<DIV></DIV>> Remember promoter would have to agree to this too.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> 6. Is there someone that wants to put on a race only
<DIV></DIV>> for the people that want norba ranking.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> What do you people think?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> Thanks
<DIV></DIV>> Randy
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> __________________________________
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<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>
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