DH Racing 2010!

Im glad that your taking over TBH. When you read this you things that have been actualy said by racers and other people who know the scene. The things about your photographer and also videos and promotion. People may not think that this is a big deal but it truely is. It brings eyes to the sport and makes it look good.

We have also talked about DH clinics.

But mostly everything you have mentioned in this is most of what has been talked about at race weekends and when just chilling with buddy's.

I want to do something also, If there is anything ou need help with or I can do let me know.

Corperate sponsors would also be great, There is tons of companies who sponsor other events (companies such as superstore ect.) It would help out alot.

Another thing that would help is people need to put there differences aside about this site and all the other ones. Many people talk bad about Pinkbike ect. But there is more people on that site and others like RM that would bring lots of attention to our Series.

We also need to make events bigger like you said that goes along with Promotion. But an event based around another bigger event in the province would be great. Get tons of spectators ect.

The more eyes we can open the better. I know my thread is a bit jumbled but its what came to mind, Like I said I would love to help with anything so let me know what I can do.

 Jaymz, your ideas are excellent. This is going to be an excellent season!

Super D is awsome.  Hands down, the funnest even last year.  Thoes who didnt go missed out.  I dont know why people complained about it last year.  Its something to do, and its bike related.  We dont, have many options in NS, and even if there were more options, I would still make it a point to get to it  We don't have to be going straight down all the time.  Even tho it was all down.   Its nice, because the more fit riders have a chance agenst the normal fast cats.  It just doesnt comedown to fancy bikes, and who has more tech skills.   I;m thinking the lack of A class riders last year, was just them scarred they were going to be beat by some of the guys they usually smoke at Wentworth or Keppoch?  Or some  B guys maybe?  Don't worrie, sweat washes out of Troy lee clothing too.  People concerned with point series, and weather they should be a NS and NB thing, could'nt be bothered to come for some easy points?  Wow, I think I am just ranting, and no making sence anymore.

Super D really brings the fun out in the sport.  There were more people on the sidelines of the course last fall then anyother race in the summer.  I have a friend that wanted nothing to do with dh for the last few years other then just riding, but I convinced him to come to Kentville, and now hes hooked.  Hes even linned up a place for us to stay next year, reguardless of the date.

As far as a ponts series between ns and nb, could we have a ns series, a nb series, and then a ns/ns series?  My point is I am not going to travel to NB to pound down a 3 minite trail.  I didn;t realize this was a richmans sport.  I can see the A class riders wanting too, but not the B's or the C's.  I do it for fun, and dont want to invest that kind of time and money.  Maybe thats just me, and other people dont mind doing all that extra work just to be in a points series.  To me NB is kind of a big trip.  It means more gas, food, car wear, and accomidations then racing local.  One weekend could cost like $200 that I and I think alot of others just dont have.  I can see 1 race maybe, but say there are like 3, theres no way I would want to.

Bottom line is, I like things the way they are.  Super D is fun, and so is our series.  Things have been getting better, and I think they will continue to, and I'm glad to hear there is someone now wanting to help somemore of this happen .

I agree with the comments above. Super might not be the best Dh course but when you think about the amount of time you spend on a bike during a race weekend it's not that much. Racing to me is about riding awesome trials and hanging with friends doing something i love. It dosent have to wentworth for a great weekend.

I think we need the super DH racing just to have a series with enough races to be worth entering. Super d last year was great with a huge crowd to watch and cheer everyone on. Everyone is talking about training and going on xc rides to get fast and it better shape. So why complain about a xc ride put on steriods. It might be flat in some plots but it should stop you from riding it.

As for the Nb races i think they also shouldnt be counted but their dates need to be figured out now for us to have any chance of making them. I missed two races last year because i didnt know the race date untill the week before.

We need to make sure every race uses the same timing system so the riders know whats going on. i think the start at the stop needs to have the same count down and be carryed on to every race. I know there so some different stuff happening last year.

The thing about about NB races is I dont think everyone should count them out. They make an effort to come to most of our races and help give our scene a boost.  And like said if they do want us there we do need the dates ahead of time.

Were all here for support but I think we need to realize how small our series. We need more people and races or most of the things were talking about really dosent matter. We need to look at ways to cut cost and make races flow with little confusion with the timing.

This timming setup at the Gorge and Middleton worked well, and meant that the times were ready very quickly after the runs. You can't run as many racers on course at a time.......unless you get more stop watches......but it saves a tone of time afterwards.

March 20th.

I like you ideas, but I must say that a lot off the promotion stuff really is on the organizer's plate, and if they do not want to put any more money into their events then this is how things will remain, it will take an organizer with the same drive as yours to make it happen, at least for his or her event. This may be the only way we ever see progression here in Nova Scotia.

Time = money in that case Jazz.  Kelper is right... but at the same time right now some of the DH organizers are running one or two man shows where they just don't have the time to go the extra step for the over the top promotions that are necessary to really (hopefully?) get things going.  So in a sense Jazz is right too, it would be great to see a group of DH folk start picking up the slack to help out those who are already overworked and filling the void for everyone.

Sold.  Do it up man!

That is true yes, But its not something should plan to just jump right into. There is gonna need to be comunication between a few people to make promotion possible.  As I said before I would be willing to do it but not without a plan first, And also comunication between other people. It is something that needs to be talked about and decided so if it is done it should be done right and fair for every event not just a few.

Now if anyone has plans, ideas, contacts that would help out or is wlling to help me out on this do shoot me a inbox or email.  If someone has a issue with me trying to get promotion on the go let me know.

All I know is nothing is gonna happen over night most of the stuff ever said may not happen. We have all went through this before and we have all seen it, Many people now are brushing almost everything that is said aside and pointing right out being negative that this will not happen. So ill step up and say that I will try and do this the best I can unless somelse feels they can do better.

Maybe... if the DH Rep is willing to quit his day job!!!!  The DH Rep is a representative, not an all things DH juggernaut.

Andrew is right........All of the DH races are organized by one to two people. Ryan and I completing build the courses we use. I'm not sure the average rider comprehends the amount of man hours involved in Building a proper race course. Then we have to organize dates around our work schedules, fill out the paperwork, rally up sponsers, pay fees, get the word out........and the list goes on. I think the people who want to help need to forward some PM's or emails to the event organizers and just ask what they can do to help, or offer some kind of valuable service. The current people involved in this are allready doing more then enough.

I completely concur with Jaymz about establishing (and having) formal DH meetings. This would enable us to be constructive instead of critical. There are many of us that (do and) want to help with race preparation, building, sponsor organizing, and so on. This will only occur with organized action, feet on the ground, and hands in the dirt.

I agree with meetings  and also daves forms of meeting!

A continuing thought for this kind of grass roots promotion, the next step in this is a "street team". In this setting, it wouldn't be nessessaryily a "street team" like in the music industry but the same idea. A group or person in each area that you want to reach that helps with the promotion so one person doesn't have to go everywhere. Getting posters to shops is easy...mail out...just like bands mail posters to clubs they are playing at. Touch base with the shop first so they are expecting the package. The "street team" would come in for getting to the schools and more unconventional postering places for a race in each town. IE: mall town bulleton boads, grocerie stores, cornerstores. etc... 

Also, as Kelper staited, information is key! There is nothing more anoying than looking at a poster for something you want to do, and all the information is not on it. IMO, the race and location should stand out on the poster (bold clear easy to see and read). Entry fee, registration information, and contact info, should be very clear to see as well, but doesn't need to rule the design. These are the really important points you want to get across. Also, as far as posters go. Colour posters look awesome, but the design also needs to translate to B&W printing, mostly because its more cost efficent. Colour posters for the shops and a couple of key places, B&W's for everywhere else. If your only doing a few posters than it doesn't really matter. Weather you agree or not with these ideas, it's just from my experience in the music industry. Alot of  band promotion translates very well to this.

After this, than there is the internet side of promotion. That can usually be done by one person to start with. There are really only a couple of sites you'd post on anyway. It's not that overwhelming. The couple of local sites riders check out, than PB, FB, etc...I know I personally liked the FB race event pages last year, and the race threads on ecmtb/cogeyed. I found them helpful for info and as a reminder of the event. 

Im with Jamze.  As organisers, Mark and I will support him however he decides he needs it.  The organisers were supposed to have race dates in allready but I don't know how that is comming along.  Wentworth will be June 5/6.  We hope to have the timing running (for real) this year.  It is done and just needs a feild test.

Thats great news.

Schedule's mostly done.  It'll be out on the 20th for sure. 

Everything is ready but I'm waiting for sanction info/fees from Keppoch and the Gorge XC and DH.  We said we'd wait until the 20th to give everyone a chance to get things together and be included on the advertising poster.  

^^Awesome.

Looks like its going to be an awesome season for both DH and XC this year! Lots of people getting things done, good to see.

   With all the new dh ideas were talking about it really dont matter untill we build a series with more then 3 races.   Its not even worth buying a race licence.

If your not happy with the state of there only being 3 NS races, than organize your own race.