2011 DH

A lot of this stuff was meant to be implemented and some has/had been. I thought the two runs were generally posted. We've had some growing pains with the timing gear, but IMHO it's awesome compared to the hour waits after races.

I think that if someone podiums in 3 races in one season and they're not in the Elite class, they should be recommended to move up. If it continues, should they be required to move up a class? It's iffy I'd say. Depends on the person and their goals. They could be short-changing themselves and the whole race really.

I think the focus should be on getting people to events and making it more accessible. It would be unreal to get 80-100 people out like the old Martock days. Festival style events with some good demo action. Primping each course to have a nice showtime area (big booter or something that is really attractive to the average spectator). I think some kind of sound system / MC at events would be so so killer. Imagine knowing that there's a race happening on the hill while you're just watching? I can't tell you the amount of races I've marshalled and the only thing I hear the whole day is the chatter of bikes going by and the sound of my own whistle.

If there are 20 people at a race, it doesn't give much incentive to:

• a - put on more races
• b - want to participate
• c - travel to the races

Do people even want to race any more? Is there only a small section of the community who wants to DH and race? I know for myself it's a rare day when I actually race. It's not that I'm not up to the riding or not fast enough to keep my ego in check. It's just that I don't want to. I'd rather take a stress free day of rides around the hill with my friends.

Why not try and band together some support for a venue and sponsors to do a proper festival of some form? Like the old red bull ride days but better?

Hmm, it's hard to do anything with just one person here @ cogeyed, so I've given up on physical events. With a little persuasion and contribution, I bet it could fly again - and fly well!

Really these threads are pointless. People need to go to te BNS meetings or share ideas with the organizers, or organize there own race.

I've thrown the idea of a festival style event around a little............might be in the works for 2011.

don't be sad Joe. Randy's point is valid. Every year there's 10 threads on "how to improve" the DH scene. Dozens of people are super keen in the off season, and then do nothing in the end. We need less talk/typing and more action from these people.

The DH rep is voted on by BNS members every year (people who actually join BNS, the One Eventers don't get a say)

Both XC and Road didn't just spontaneously evolve, they started exactly like DH (is trying to) through the hard efforts of a small but dedicated cycling contingent. People look at XC and Road and either laugh at the polcies and rules(which for most of which don't make sense until you start ignoring them and then its w'hy don't we have a policy on this?) they go by or are wondering why 'they' have something but 'we' don't. Well, its because someone did something. And we did it before the internet even existed. Yes, even before Windows 95. No bullshit.

Why are you playing that card?  You start this thread every year and you have yet to show up at a MTB Committee meeting.  If you had you'd know that at least 3/4 of our efforts are focused on DH.  My personal time spent on the MTB scene is somewhere around 90% on DH... before ride days I usually spend about 2 hours on the phone with organizers and participants helping sort things out.  

Attitudes like that make people want to tell the DH community to solve their own problems.  Fortunately the people involved with BNS for the past few years have cared enough to not act on such an impulse.

I'm not sure what the problem is with DH anyway, it seemed to me like there was a solid schedule, we helped make things more affordable for organizers this year, there were way more ride days than ever before and from what I could tell there were quite a few new racers / riders, new young riders on the scene and in a few cases there were even women on the hill.

I say well done DH organizers of '10, you guys came through and there was a definite pick up from '09.  Pat yourselves on the back and keep it up for '11.

Make all the suggestions you want, it's just a real piss off when people make ignorant jabs at BNS when the XC guys are the only ones holding your season together.

To be honest the races this year were fun. I'd like to see more events that would be grand and I'm sure in time more venues will pop up and we'll be able to have more events - both aces and fun ride days.

The new timing system is a great tool and I'm sure the bugs will be get worked in time. Thanks to all who helped get it in place. I do echo the opinion that both first and 2nd run times should be posted and relayed to BNS. Racers deserve to know both their times. As a event host I'd also like to see a copy of the time sheet left with the event hosts before the commies leave. I hate the idea of there being only one copy.

Every one should thank O9Man for his hard work. It's guys like him that help keep things running and yet never get the thanks they deserve. 

I look forward to 2011 and hope the best for ALL racing in Nova Scotia - DH , XC, Road, etc.

I uge any one who wants to help grow the scene to put their time in and show up at any and all future BNS meetings. Forum banter can get some ideas bouncing around but in reality does not bring any action.

I just hurt my hand with that face palm.

Do you think it's Velo NB's fault for there only being two DH races in New Brunswick this year?  Neither Velo NB nor BNS organize races.  Individuals and clubs organize races and Velo NB / BNS facilitate and sanction them.

Let me go one step further and remind everyone that both Velo NB and BNS are open to new representatives and BOD members each year.  If you hold a CCA license then you can hold a board or committee position and make all the changes you like.  I've been involved in both organizations in some capacity the last five years and I have yet to see a motion go un-passed.

To address the original ideas:

It's probably just a matter of getting the results up as fast as possible, but I don't know really.  Hopefully next year we'll have a provincial chief commissaire for addressing such requrests.

This isn't a DH specific problem.  All across cycling are people in the wrong category.  But in DH I have to ask the same question Tossedsalad asks... what difference does it make?  In road and XC different categories do more or less riding for a race.  It still sucks when people are ripping up a category when they shouldn't be, but whatever, someone has to win.  In DH though, you do the exact same thing.  Does it really matter what category you're in other than to get a ribbon? Ultimately we'll do what the community wants, but logically I don't see the point to multiple categories.

Forced category jumps will probably just end up having everyone in one category anyway.  I say just make fun of anyone racing in too low of a category and see what happens.

I doubt this one will fly.  Membership dues are what keeps BNS a float, and non-members at races are a PITA for organizers and BNS.

If you think this will bring more poeple out then it's something the DH community should pursue.  But I'm guessing the best DHers in the province are already at all the races.  I'm also guessing that no one decides to go to a race because of the prizes. 

We've been frugal the past few years and haven't purchased new plates... savin' the environment n'stuff too.

you seem keen.. hopefully you also have a license

not sure of who the DH rep is  for 2010 but maybe it's something you would be interested it ?

Sounds like a few key issues:

• Timing gear not 100%. I think the solution is to continue working through the testing and fix bugs. Always have backup timing (oldschool style).
• Race format - should it be a seeding run / race format? My personal opinion is that it should be. This is more or less for the same reasons as Nowlan states. Mainly so that people can try the mindset / preparation required in order to succeed at other levels of racing. 
• Marketing - This is huge. It's key and crucial. It should be in Newspapers and Radios. First and foremost, EVERY race should have a race poster (can be 8 1/2 X 11 even) that is distributed to EVERY shop. Period.
• Entrance for new riders - Not totally sure about how this could be done. Maybe try and have a few less technical courses at each venue? In the end, we're all on the same course. While it's "nice" to know you're "competing" against your elite bros, all the times are for the same course. I see lots of B riders smoking handfuls of A riders. Check the egos at the door and ride your bikes.
• Some ridiculous mis-conception that XC and Road have special privileges. I believe BNS was formed by XC/Road riders. It's been powered by them(us) but as soon as the suggestion of a DH rep was made, it was moved through and supported. There is some serious heart and soul labor required in order to make this scene become something with momentum and publicity. A pic of someone busting a jump just isn't going to cut it ... however ... I have some ideas.
• Maybe a meeting should be set. We've done this before at the onset of the NBNS formation. We had a lot of ideas. Some of which have stuck. The main thing that came out of that was the timing gear. To me, that's been awesome (note: I didn't say perfect). Yes - a meeting should be set. People need to take tasks and be accountable with deadlines. It's the only way things are going to change.

thoughts?

I understand, but from my experiance Velo does not make it easy to hold an event, in fact its straight painful to hold a DH event, and they offer 0 support. Adam, my boss, was the DH rep as was Goss and others. Velo needs fresh steam, but the people there now never seem to listen and they never turn over enough to get the fresh start needed. Theres got to be something wrong if everyone compaining about the same thing. The hard part is no one wants to support Velo, and because of this, Velo won't change

The race sanction application for Velo NB is as easy as for BNS and to the best of my knowledge, it's the same for DH or XC.  I'm not sure what support you expect!  Actually I can think of a few ways where it's easier to host a race in NB than it is in NS.  It's hard to host a race, that's why more people don't do it.   It doesn't matter if its DH, XC or road.  Why not share your experiences... I'm guessing you're misinformed (like many people are... no one's fault really) on what role Velo NB / BNS are supposed to play.

Velo NB, like BNS, does need "steam"... neither organization has enough volunteers to function on a productive level. What are people complaining about? I saw you're right, there is something wrong and that is that the people complaining aren't taking one of the empty seats on any of the boards or committees.

Ryan for prez woooot!

(ps ride bikes.)

Since I just moved I'm finding it difficult to find that record I keep playing about ride days lol.

Memebers only tag? Please explain that.

WW has a begginer style Trail that we worked our asses off on. Just needs to be freshened up I think for full use.