Evan Plews
I must weigh in... this was supreme rip-off. Here is a quote from the SkiBowl website:
"Bear Springs Update 4/17/09
This is to address any and all rumors about the upcoming cross country race at Bear Springs. The race is not delayed, moved, or changed in any way. Everything is going as planed and we will be ready for registration, course pre-ride and short track on Saturday April 25th. The cross country race is Sunday April 26th. Please download the race flyer for all event details.
Thanks and we will see you at the race.
Hurricane Racing"
Seems like the words "changed in any way" were a LITTLE off base...
I also have personal emails from both SkiBowl and Erik Tonkin (sponsor) stating that the course was clear of snow. Our teams decision to come to the race was based on mis-leading untruthful information. I don't blame Mr Tonkin as he was probably getting all of his information from the SkiBowl crew but as the principal sponsor, I think he should be concerned...
The bigger picture is the loss for Oregon racing. Why?
1. Willamette Stage Race was a viable event that got canceled this weekend due to lack for pre-entrys. We will never know whether BS had an effect on that but if it did, we ALL lost a great event--maybe forever!
2. BS was "bs" and totally sucked. I have raced for 15 years and I have never been off/on my mountain bike that much in a race. It was flat-out dangerous to try to run through the crusty snow and even more so to try to ride it.
3. BS could have simply delayed their date. May 24 is open and as the promoter of the Falls City race, I would have gladly moved our race to accomadate Petr--he simply denied a problem and never asked for help!
4. BS would have been awesome in May. I love this race and often tell others it is one of the "best courses" I have ridden. Not anymore, and never again! Instead of debacle it would have been another great time!
We all spent a entry fees paying for an event with certain expectation of performance. I suggest than SkiBowl refund any entry fees for dissatisfied customers. Afterall, we are the customers. Why not let them know by requesting a refund to: MTBraceregistration@skibowl.com
We came up for the shorttrack. Upon arrival, I immediately looked at the situation and asked how we could possibly race. I was assured that the course was "clear except for a few small sections of "snow". After the shorttrack, we tried to "pre-ride" some of the XC course and were turned back by the huge hike-a-bikes on either side on the powerlines. Petr proceeded to assure me both Saturday PM and Sunday AM that those were the "only" large areas of snow and that the rimrock loop was "shoveled". Then at the race meeting, we ALL heard the same thing.
The truth was that the rimrock loop was the WORST part of the whole course will even larger sections of paved road that were completely unrideable.
If SkiBowl will not issue refunds, I would like some of our attorney friends to weight in with the possibility of pursuing a collective claim through small claims court. I personally will pay any court costs to see justice served. Until promoters (even me) are held accountable, we ALL will suffer and lose members and events!
This has nothing personal to do with Petr or SkiBowl just simply the truth, integrity and principal. Many of you will remember how hard I tried to rally support for the SkiBowl XC races the last several years. It was a shame to lose them.
Best Regards,
Evan Plews
www.capitolsubarucycling.com
________________________________
> Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:51:42 -0700
> From: theshucker01@yahoo.com
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] up front
>
>
>
> Don, with all due respect, you're a douche. Actually I take back the respect part, you're just a douche!
>
> What about 10-12 year kids who raced Don? I guess they should 'grow up' and just ignore the cold and learn to ride in the snow? Because everyone in the state gets a chance to ride in snow Nov-March. (sarcasm!) There are some parents who drove 6+ hours round trip just because their kids wanted to race, because they love Mt Biking. However, to have a course that is half covered in snow and to have them "ride" in those elements without notice is ridiculous and irresponsible of the race promoter! Coming prepared for the weather is one thing (rain, cold, sun, heat, etc) and should be left up to the racer. However not to take the 15 seconds to send out a quick e-mail to say 'hey, we worked our asses off, but the course is still covered in 50% of snow, come prepared and be prepared to walk" Would have solved all these issues. I can guarantee why the promoter didn't do that though, $$$$$. You
> put out an e-mail that your course sucks, no one is going to come. Instead quite a few people wasted a day they could have stayed at home, and actually RODE their bikes and saved the money they spent on gas, food, race entry fee, etc just so they could push their bikes in the snow. Do you have kids, Don? Imagine if it were your 10yr old out there struggling in those conditions with ice on his shoes, shivering away because a careless promoter failed to send out a quick e-mail to say, 'hey you'll be walking alot in the snow". My guess is you'd have a MUCH different opinion.
>
> You're right, schedules are prepared months in advance. And we don't have control over how much snow we get, or how fast it melts. What do we have control over? Notifying people of the facts. The promoter failed to do so, and wasted the Sunday of quite a few people.
>
> ________________________________
>
>
>
> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> From: "Don Leet"
> Cc: obra@list.obra.org
> Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 11:06:29 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] up front
>
> It is time for you whiney mountain bikers to either grow up or become
> roadies. That was a great race. If you can't ride in the snow maybe
> you should learn. Mountain biking is an outdoor sport. I live in Bend
> and ride 12 months a year. I was out this winter in 15 degrees, and 8
> inches of snow. What an adventure that was. Yesterday was like a walk
> in the park. I have many friends who mountain bike in Great Britain.
> Yesterday would have been the best conditions they would have had all
> year. I have been racing mountain bikes for over 25 years and I am
> constantly amazed at what people expect.
> Schedules are drawn up months
> in advance, we don't have much say in how fast snow melts or how much
> it snows. Go out and have fun, revel in the unexpected, be challenged
> by the conditions.
> Don Leet
>
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