cdbr-@gmail.com
Cross Country Elite male
1. Which is most important when deciding whether or not to attend a
race?
Promoter Quality (route marking, timely), Prize list, Course Quality,
Location
2. Which from #1 is least important? Why?
Location. They are all typically w/in a 3 hour radius or so.
3. How many ATB events did you attend in 04? XC or DH? Is this more or
less
than in '03?
All, or almost all.
More or less than '02?
Same
4. What is your biggest gripe about races in '04?
NW cup - prizes didn't materialize for winner.
5. What was the best event? Why?
Chainbreaker. Good spectating, terrain, efficient organization, prizes,
and raffle.
6. What was the worst event? Why?
Oakridge. Coordination of different categories overlapping start times,
terrain moderately challenging. Prize list weak. General atmosphere not
professional.
7. Do you also race road? CCX? Track? DH? (circle
Road/MTB/CX
8. What is your preferred discipline or type of racing? XC on single
track?
DH big huck?
Track? CCX? Single speed?
CX, MTB singletrack technical
9. What do your racing/riding buddies think of ATB racing in Oregon?
Better
than NORBA?
Why/Why not?
OBRA better due to fees, prizes, licenses. Courses as good. Competition
seems to be stagnant as Oregon riders only every week.
10. What events are you considering competing in for '05?
Fewer this time. Picking the 1/2 the favorite ones and having fun in
other directions other times.
11. We are changing (consolidating - see below) categories for 2005.
Are
you in favor?
Yes/No Why?
Men Women
Beginner Junior Under 15 Beginner Junior Under 19
Beginner Junior 15-18
Beginner Open Beginner Open
Beginner Master 35+ Beginner Master 35+
Sport Junior U 19 Sport Junior U 19
Sport Open Sport Open
Sport Master 35-44 Sport Master 35+
Sport Master 45-54
Sport Master 55+
Sport Single Speed
Expert Open Expert Open
Expert Master 35-44 Expert Master 35+
Expert Master 45+
Expert Single Speed
Elite
Pro Pro
Doesn't affect me. Elite same.
12. Do you care to mimic NORBA? Yes/No
Don't care, but feel lower categories should.
13. Do BAR points factor in to your decision on what race to attend?
Yes/No
NO.
Do you even know what BAR is? Yes/No
Yes
14. Should all races count for BAR?
Sure, why not. If it's about best all around. If it's for a select group
of races, then call it something else, like NW Cup Series or something.
15. Was information about races in 2004 easy to obtain? Yes/No Which
races
were easy to
get info on/ which weren't.
What source did you use to obtain the info? (mail, web, bike shop,
friend, other
I find myself relying on the website OBRA calender and the upcoming
races list.
16. Overall trophies, do you want them?
Sure, but cash for Pro/Elite is nice too.
17. What resources besides the website would be helpful? Please be
specific.
Can't think of any.
18. Entry fees (circle one high reasonable low
Reasonable.
19. Late fees (circle one high reasonable low
High, but if that fattens up the prize list, so be it.
20. Some races will not have officials at them, how do you feel about
that?
Is there a
race that you feel should require an official?
No, but promoters should be required to provide a basic standard that
applies to course marshalls, clear consistent markings, and medical.
21. How do you think more beginner riders can be introduced to racing?
How
should we
attract them? Keep them interested?
Sponsored technique clinics that compensate someone to assist, similar
to the cross clinics w/ a known local pro helping.
Bring a beginner, get a race discount? Kinda like a mentor/sponsor kind
of relationship. Fosters active participation between the experienced
folks.
I was hooked my first year as a beginner back in 94. I won lot's of nice
raffle prizes that actually had some value and also some nice
cash/merchandise prizes for winning some races. Things like $50, Burley
Jacket, Stove, Quality Tires. Something that is an actual upgrade that
can help improve performance.
Maybe some kind of mini stage race event, like gymnastics all around.
You would do a small section of terrain that would require a certain
skill set. You are timed for each section and overall prize based on
lowest overall time. A series of mini time trials... Sprint short track
kind of loop, steady hillclimb 10-15 minutes, Technical terrain point to
point, downhill, that kind of thing. It could be based on points rather
than purely on time. If you also integrated the cross country into it,
you could base the overall on points. This would be a separate overall
thing on top of also just the XC race.
That's my two cents.
Chris Brandt