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Well...maybe a little because everyone is showing up early after everyone seemed to complain last week that people had "unfair practice" in France.
The reason this is an issue is because "practice etiquette" seems to be a bit of a moving target. In some cases it seems to be totally okay to try and figure out the stages, practice as much as you can, show up early etc (CB, Finale) whereas others that'll get you DQd (France). Some sort of standardization seems most pertinent.
I keep trying to go back to other sports - Golf, Rally, Baja... there is a "most fair" answer out there.
but as we're seeming to agree, it won't matter much when DC wins : ) i heard he's racing on a home-made bamboo 29+ rigid singlespeed too?
I'd be stoked to not flat and survive the weekend.
Marco Osborne raced much of the multi day event last year in CB blind and he won the thing.
Last year I heard of issues with some people insisting on taking "running" starts into timed stages because there were no rules explicitly against it. That won't happen this year with the EWS rules and organizers, but to me that is exponentially more against "the spirit of Enduro" than any amount of practice could ever be.
Post gopro video of every stage online so all will have the chance to inspect the courses prior to racing.
Not as good as actual practice but at least no one will be racing blind, even people who arrive wed or thurs.
Prior to all of the changes (looong remote climbs and only limited practice one day) seems like the intent was to have people racing blind. So these changes are massive from that standpoint. If you want all to inspect - post go pro!!
The guys getting paid to race their bikes showing up a few days early to get the lay of the land is what should be not at all shocking...
My eyes were opened significantly last year at Winter Park when several top pro's were posting Instagram pictures from courses that were not announced yet and supposed to be closed. There is nothing to be done about it unless you want to go to officials, but that is not my style.
There are generally lines that can save you seconds, not tenths, on every course. Finding just one or two of those in a preride could be the difference between a podium and tenth place. You also learn where to use your energy and when to hold back as well. Because of that the extra time is significant. I do not think it will have any affect on the Pro race in a meaningful way, but there will definitely be some changes in the amateur categories because of it.
Doctor Park (424)
Roaring Judy
Brush Creek (North to 400)
Waterfall Creek (555)
Trail 403
Bike Park
Bike Park
Upper and Tonys Trail
Day 1 - http://www.bigmountainenduro.com/bigmtnenduro/wp-content/uploads/2014/1…
Day 2 - http://www.bigmountainenduro.com/bigmtnenduro/wp-content/uploads/2014/1…
Day 3 - http://www.bigmountainenduro.com/bigmtnenduro/wp-content/uploads/2014/1…
Interesting how the names of the bike park trails have been withheld.
Showing up on Tuesday and practicing the bike park should have been their suggestion. You'd be basically set come race day....
"Big Mountain Enduro with the support of the Enduro World Series welcomes you to the 5th stop of the most important enduro series on earth. Six backcountry and two bike park stages will challenge riders through a long three days racing journey.
Official Practice on Thursday will be on Stages 3 and 4 only.
Shuttles for practice on Thursday will be provided in the sponsor village for $15 round trip from town to Deadman Trailhead parking lot on Cement Creek road. Team and private shuttles must park at Deadman Trailhead parking lot as well. Stages 3 and 4 will be closed for practice on Wednesday. Please try to keep out of these trails and avoid being disqualified.
Stages 6 and 7 at the bike park will be announced on Thursday 30th 12:00pm.
We also ask that you pack your bags for longs days and look after yourself and fellow riders out there. Take sufficient water and food and be prepared for fast changing weather conditions. Good luck!"
http://www.icontact-archive.com/BLhGr32LdswwvlyWAMKZGpTvfb9Ptc4O?w=1
Why would you ask Chris Ball the same question you asked me, when this is our event (BME) and that's what the practice rules are?
Not sure it even matters who to point the finger at. Still, if I was racing and showing up on the day the first "official" race book told me to show up at and was at this much of a disadvantage I'd be pissed. Clearly still not happy being I structured my whole year around this one single event. Good thing its just bike racing!!!
Sounds like every schedule is a "moving target".
The balancing act that is the EWS is quite a sight to behold as you have the AMs wanting to test their stamina and overall bike skills on the same course than the pros while the series is clearly an elite affair for the world's best. Clearly this isn't a problem on the WC DH as you have to qualify to actually race the damn race!
Bottom line is that the AMs will always be at a disadvantage on this type of race series that will always place the priority on pro-level participation over weekend warrior attendance. Is it a bad thing? Not necessarily but it leads to *uck ups like this one that precludes 9 to 5ers to schedule in advance and have a good, clean and well prepared race.
Also via Chris Ball...
To be honest, you guys [meaning the working 9-5ers] are just as, if not more important than the pros so please don’t think we don’t think about you
EDIT: I do agree a number of pros in my shoes were still likely able to take the additional time off and make it work. Same with the ams. So yeah, I do agree I'm very much in the minority with a career that doesn't look too kindly on requesting big time off this time of year...
Not to mention the top guys are very talented at racing blind - that is a 'skill' as much as any for this Enduro racing format. Look at the Trans-Provence winners - they haven't ridden every stage, they just are very talented at going stupid fast on trails they haven't ridden, plus can read a map well enough to formulate a stage strategy with anticipation of what is to come. Show up, race hard, inspect what you can, and be ready to spend some long days pedaling at altitude. Hope there aren't any afternoon thunderstorms when 200 riders are at the start gate on a 12,000' ridgeline!
No excuses though, a good friend of mine juste drove from Montreal (QC) straight to Crested Butte, solo, in 35 hours with his Sprinter just to attend the race!!!
-face palm-
1) Its the internet and its bike racing. No more beautiful two things have come together to encourage whining in the history of modern society
2) The pros that are well funded have more than likely seen every single one of these trails. As B pointed out, most have been there for about a week already. None of these trails are too remote (by CB standards). Doctor Park was discussed, 403 was discussed. To add, they *are* pros. I'm sure some wouldn't want to do a 20 mile day (even at really easy pace) the day before racing but some have the stamina to do just that. Personally, that's the only strength I do have! (yeah, I know I'm far from pro-pro but I certainly could ride two 20 mile days at very easy pace before racing)
3) You really aren't going to acclimatize to that altitude without at least a few weeks. Acclimatization to high altitude continues for months or even years after initial ascent, and ultimately enables humans to survive in an environment that, without acclimatization, would kill them. Humans who migrate permanently to a higher altitude naturally acclimatize to their new environment by developing an increase in the number of red blood cells to increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, in order to compensate for lower levels of oxygen in the air.[9][10]
I seriously considered sleeping at 10K for a month before the race. That'd actually help boost red blood cell count. Well, that and EPO
4) I don't think anything is frowned upon during tomorrow's "unoffical practice". Seems like a free-for-all. Shuttle. Bike park. Ride. Do whatever you want. Besides the schedule change at the last minute, this is something I was frustrated about. If every race is going to have different rules regarding this sort of thing, I think it needs to be explicitly spelled out weeks (months) in advance.
5) Locals always have an advantage. No way to control for this and not something I'm asking to be "controlled for".
6) You are absolutely right in that the best are damn good at racing blind.
7) Yeah, T-Storms could make for a very interesting (scary!) time up yonder!
Here's to hoping for a good race. My bitching/whining aside, it should be a fun one!
-Lot of the same issues: experience in a location or practice beforehand can be really helpful; each event is different; you have a mix of true pros vs riff raff pros vs amateurs at each event; and people are generally taking time off work and spending a lot of money to participate.
-There two areas where the rules in sailing really do a great job handling some of the issues discussed
1) Event notification and rules format are standardized. Every "regatta" has to begin with a "Notice of Race" that outlines the event, location, dates, other legal mumbo jumbo, and, most importantly, when the Sailing Instructions will be issued. The SIs are the rules that govern the event that may be unique or exceed the standard rules. Every event has to have both.
The key part of the SIs is it lays out strict framework for the schedule of the event, when info will be released, safety requirements, and when/how the SIs can be amended (this is required). Typically, SIs only allows to event to issue amendments after registration or day 1 is open.
It's a little legal and formal, but it makes the organizer take a lot of the scheduling and rules of its event seriously so it is 100% fair for everyone.
2) With sailing, rules are self-policed through the competitors. Their is standard form to lodge a "protest" that then goes through a jury process to determine if one person is in the wrong and what the penalty is. This does enforce the "gentlemen's agreement" that most people have but if someone is really cheating and competitor sees it they do have some recourse.
Maybe this is all too yacht cluby and corinthian, but it does work well in terms of maintaining as level a playing field as possible. But with money and livelihoods on the line it might be the way EWS needs to go.... Feel free to crucify me for being a yuppie sailor; for what its worth I'm going to ride my bike.
I have never had this issue with DH or XC or marathon or anything else.
If it wasnt for certain requirements that I attend there is no way I would race any enduros at all.
I might be a 9-5 like a lot of you other guys here and my work is pretty flexible but I cant organise days off at the drop of a hat, and I dont really want to have days off unless I need to - hence why I follow the official program which is normally weekend only.
I dont really see how enduro will ever fully get over it but Im sure as it matures itll get better. Until such a time I just refer to it as riding along, and paying to do so. Ill leave it to my DH and XC result to determine my position in the pecking order.
Just think some standardization in how organizers present notification and and administer the "rules" and schedule of the event that holds them accountable and ensures that when people sign up they know what the are in for.
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