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I wonder what the perfect(ish) WC DH season would look like?
l'll post some initial thoughts, and if it catches on...we can keep going.
A. My first thoughts are, can we include races in both hemispheres?
B. What is the maximum number of races at the elite level?
C. How many racers in elite finals?
D. Can we create a system where if you are not producing top results results you move down, and racers producing results move up in leagues?
E. Connected to the question above, what junior serieses would we like to see for points/ranking?
I'm gonna play along for a little even if no one else does - but would love to see other's input.
Chop away if you are bored at the moment like me.
- 12 rounds
- 60 rider final - 25 for women, no semi final bullshit. Qualify for the big show and send it!
- One race in Each continent minimum, with intention to run 2 rounds at each. No Antartica aint getting a round so shut up.
- Logistics and financials, sounds like a you problem. This is theoretical.
Imagine this....
Thredbo
Queenstown
Brazil
Chile
South Africa
China
Mt Fuji
Europe for 3 rounds
Whistler
Snowshoe
Prestige Worldwide PTY LTD.
OK...
Rule 1: Total Rounds.
Rule 1.1: Twelve
Rule 2: Locations:
Rule 2.1:...
As everybody wants downhill to be like F1, why not have 20+ races across all continents?
Only 12-15 go into the final ranking, meaning less well off teams can decide to skip single rounds in far away places and still be competitive. That way, larger teams can also have throw away results, which should help with experimenting with equipment and such. Only the final race is mandatory to attend and serves as a tie-breaker if needed.
Qualifying + Finals, no Semi BS.
Include diversity in locations and race types, e.g. throw in some of the urban races, a high-speed race like what Mammoth was, and a wide variety of courses. Skip the race time regulations as well: races can be as short as 2 mins and all the way to 7-8 mins. Starting halfway down the mountain just because of the rule never made sense to me.
Feeder series on all continents for earning world ranking points to participate, while giving local riders an advantage at the WC races. For example, if the race is in Brazil, local riders need to have 10 world ranking points to participate, while international participants need to have 20.
Double header races like during the pandemic, but spread them over 2 weekends and with significantly different courses.
Start early in the Southern hemisphere and run late into the year, so more race action over a longer periode of time. That, plus the throw-away results, would also help injured riders to still have a realistic chance to be competitive for the overall.
Less limitations on equipment: why not e.g. exploit aerodynamics more?
Mandatory safety gear rules that get enforced. No more door mats and cardboard 'protectors'. Strict concussion protocols. Rider safety should be #1 priority.
Stick with 5 person podium.
Introduce other official prices, e.g. fastest speed trap (presented by Yeti ;-)), best privateer (presented by GT), winningest brand, etc...
Increase price money.
Shape side events to create a buzz, e.g. photo challenges (like Deep summer), whip offs, etc...
Rule 1: Twelve Rounds
Rule 2: Locations:
Round 1: Queenstown
Round 2: Thredbo
Round 3: Mt Fuji
Round 4: S. Africa
Round 5: Brasil
Round 6: Chile
Round 7: Whistler
Round 8: MSA
Round 9: Snowshoe
Round.10: Schladming
Round 11: Maribor
Round 12: Les Gets
For some of the above I want to narrow down, and add dates(ish).
Will toss some of these in.
I'll bite for fun.
Looking at it more from a logistical/reasonable point of view, making it easy on teams/riders while still giving the best racing, and less of a pure dream wish list.
- 12-15 rounds, 4 packs of 3 races all within the same region back to back (ideally 3 races in 3 weeks, or 3 in 4) + 0-3 one-off tracks
- Feb/March - NZ/Aus - Thredbo, Rotorua, Madeyna, etc.
- May/June - Southern Europe - Lousa, Andorra, Lourdes, etc.
- July - Alps - Val di Sole, Schladming, Morzine, Leogang, etc.
- August/Sept - North America - Whistler, MSA, Snowshoe, etc.
Ideal one-offs: Fort Bill, Losinj, Chile, Pietermaritzburg (or any other South Africa)
Future option for more rounds, adding another 3-races in a region (Asia, or South America)
Some Bigger-Picture Ideas/Rules:
- No semi-final.
- 45 rider men's final - controversial, but hey, 30 feels too small and 60 you didn't see much of the first 15-20 runs anyway, let's go in the middle. Hopefully this gives more cameras for those racing. Other categories scaled appropriately.
- Final 10 riders filmed like Hardline (i.e. full runs, rider in gate doesn't start until rider on course finishes their run)
- Some sort of prize purse for top regional privateers/juniors racing a 3-pack in their region.
- Career numbers for past World Cup Overall winners and World Champs
- Friday night Dual Slalom. Winner gets protections for the final on Sunday if not protected already. If outside of qualifying, a slot gets added (i.e. 46 rider final)
Alternatively, Red Bull offers a mega $$$$$ payout for the overall winner of a 9-race series: 3 Hardline rounds, 3 Crankworx rounds, and 3 Urban Rounds
So much of this I like. Especially the blocks of races.
Let me ponder!
should the circuit contain an Urban track? Either as a bonus or part as the series?
10 rounds 3 north/South America 2 Oceania 5 europe
work with other series to schedule world cups amidst other series races to make travel better. Oceania rounds in feb/march around crankworkx/hardline. 5 European rounds in 6 weeks in early/mid summer. American rounds in late summer early fall around monster us series.
40 men. 20 women.
keep semis but run it day before with a 45Min to 1 hr highlight package in addition to live broadcast
no points for qualifying just sets order for semis. Semis give 1-100 points with majority of spread at top 5. 60 for fifth 100 for first. Actual uci points so top 60 guys don’t need to rely on other series to start.
top 10 Last year and top 20 current protected for semis. Top 5 current protected for finals in addition to top 40 times.
create a board to limit elite men and women entries to 150/80 entries. Unlimited junior entries. Use results from world cups and top feeder series to determine who’s in. Key is actually working with the top feeder series to create a path for riders to make it to the World Cup series with results in feeder series/juniors.
the year: 2033
The remaining humans on earth spend their days fighting wildfires or working in the lithium mines harvesting the minerals needed for the World Cup E-Bike races in Bentonville.
Now that Bentonville has expended from the WV coalfields to the Pacific ocean, the global dream of fully paved electric flow-trail racing is finally realized on the remaining parts of the North American continent that aren’t submerged under the seas.
Building off of @onthewhiskey:
(Not worried yet about logistics or funding...we will cover that when we dip into our huge sponsir purse)
Block 1: Oceania - February
Event 1: Rotorua:
Event 2: Threbdo:
Event 3: Madeyna:
Block 2: North/Central Europe - May
Event 4: Val de Sole
Event 5: Maribor
Event 6: Schladming:
Event 7: Bielsko Biala
Event 8: Hafjell
Round 3: France - July
Event 9: Les Gets
Event 10: Loudenville
Event 11: Lousa
Round 4: North America - September
Event 12: Snowshoe
Event 13: Killington
Event 14: Bromount
Event 15: Mount St. Anne
Event 16: Whistler
Block 5: South America - November
Don't have the slightest clue. Two events would be sick.
You are awarded Points Per Race and have to race 10 minimum to win the championship. Top 12 results count toward points. Zero protected riders race to race.
Just spitballing here...
Block 1 Feb/ March
Round 1: Queenstown: Mega DH 5+ minute track, Mass start event on Friday decides start order for qualifying for the entire season. (Watch the vid of Brooke sending his life passing people left and right)
Round 2: Rotorua
Round 3: Medeyna raw course
Round 4: Thredbo (block finals, Block winner gets extra points)
Block 2- South America Mini Block- April
Round 5: Chile- Andes Pacifico area
Round 6: Columbia
Block 3- Europe- May/June
Round 7: Hafijell
Round 8: Fort William
Round 9: Portugal
Round 10: Morzine
Round 11: Andorra (2019 track, Block Finals)
Block 4 July/August USA. USA. USA. CANADA, CANADA
Round 12: Mt. Saint Anne
Round 13: Killington
Round 14: GWindrock (Block Finals, Gwinning happens, announces retirement, bald eagle lands on the podium)
Round 15: Whistler Mega World Champs (Crankworx, DHI, EDR, XC)
Series finals- Japan: September.
Queenstown - Coronet Peak
Maydena
Thredbo
Japan
Columbia
Chile
Schladming
Champery
Les Gets
Hafjell
MSA
Whistler
30 Teams (Highest 30 teams based on points from all riders (main and "bench") riders from WC and feeder series), must have 2 Elite male, 1 Elite female, 1 Junior male and 1 junior female. Can have up to as many again on the bench to compete in feeder series and replace main riders if they are injured. All main riders must at minimum have all costs payed for by the team. Travel, entry, accomodation, food.
This would limit the riders on the track as everyone seems to want, 60 elite male, 30 elite female, 30 junior female, 30 junior male so max 150 riders. Qualifying only for points and seeding order. If someone is injured, their place cant be taken that event, but the next one by another rider on the team.
stoked on the input, will spend some considerable time at work today implemeenting some more of the above.
No line spotters.
haha...wondering why?
really do want that japan venue
Question for the masses:
We have mentioned:
Japan
Columbia
Chile
and even a China...
Does anyone know what park/resort at these places could logistically host an event: Fast lift; Pit area; within 5 hours of an airport and with housing?
Japan - Fujimi Panorama Bike Park
Chile - La Parva or Nevados de Chillan
Argentina - Cerro Catedral (Bariloche)
I'm just here to say that Schladming is a must and that's that.
Mx
That looks great.. if we want to be a world tour, we need to include China and India/Nepal (maybe something in the Himalayas..) and Africa ( there is so much potential there) and/or Middle East.. we definitively need big money to set up an event in a remote place but it can definitively be done.. The impact in some regions would be tremendous..
Elite Men (Ok, I'm only doing elite men...this is a hypothetical for fun. that's it on the matter)
I. RACERS/TEAMS/DRAFT:
A. 60 Racers
B. 20 Team of 3 racers (no more, no less)
C. Team onwers have a salary cap of $400,000.00 per season, and must divide that by 3 racers
II. PURSE:
A. There are two purses: Team & Individual
B. 16 races/season; Each race awards 60 individual and 20 team awards
C.$100,000.00/ team awards (we have to trust the AI on the distribution being fair...2024 you know):
Team 1: $12,359.5
Team 2: $9516.5
Team 3: $7801.5
Team 4: $6632.5
Team 5: $5767.5
Team 6: $5096.5
Team 7: $4558.5
Team 8: $4115.5
Team 9: $3742.5
Team 10: $3414.5
Team 11: $3142.5
Team 12: $2894.5
Team 13: $2672.5
Team 14: $2469.5
Team 15: $2283.5
Team 16: $2111.5
Team 17: $1949.5
Team 18: $1799.5
Team 19: $1657.5
Team 20: $1522.5
D. $500,000.00/race for individaul awards (again, we have to trust the AI on the distribution being fair...2024 you know):
Individual 1: $17,163
Individual 2: $14,320
Individual 3: $12,605
Individual 4: $11,436
Individual 5: $10,571
Individual 6: $9900
Individual 7: $9362
Individual 8: $8919
Individual 9: $8546
Individual 10: $8218
Individual 11: $7946
Individual 12: $7698
Individual 13: $7476
Individual 14: $7273
Individual 15: $7087
Individual 16: $6915
Individual 17: $6754
Individual 18: $6603
Individual 19: $6461
Individual 20: $6326
Individual 21: $6198
Individual 22: $6073
Individual 23: $5942
Individual 24: $5836
Individual 25: $5723
Individual 26: $5616
Individual 27: $5512
Individual 28: $5412
Individual 29: $5316
Individual 30: $5223
Individual 31: $5134
Individual 32: $5098
Individual 33: $5098
Individual 34: $5098
Individual 35: $5098
Individual 36: $5098
Individual 37: $5098
Individual 38: $5098
Individual 39: $5098
Individual 40: $5098
Individual 41: $5098
Individual 42: $5098
Individual 43: $5098
Individual 44: $5098
Individual 45: $5098
Individual 46: $5098
Individual 47: $5098
Individual 48: $5098
Individual 49: $5098
Individual 50: $5098
Individual 51: $5098
Individual 52: $5098
Individual 53: $5098
Individual 54: $5098
Individual 55: $5098
Individual 56: $5098
Individual 57: $5098
Individual 58: $5098
Individual 59: $5098
Individual 60: $5098
E. Freight is covered for all 20 teams.
F. Each team provided Comfortable Pit and team space.
..... working out the below....
Point System:
For individuals, here is the point break down (We have to just trust AI that this is fair...)
Position 1: 500 points
Position 2: 356 points
Position 3: 289 points
Position 4: 251 points
Position 5: 226 points
Position 6: 208 points
Position 7: 194 points
Position 8: 183 points
Position 9: 173 points
Position 10: 166 points
Position 11: 159 points
Position 12: 153 points
Position 13: 148 points
Position 14: 143 points
Position 15: 139 points
Position 16: 135 points
Position 17: 131 points
Position 18: 128 points
Position 19: 125 points
Position 20: 122 points
Position 21: 119 points
Position 22: 117 points
Position 23: 115 points
Position 24: 113 points
Position 25: 111 points
Position 26: 109 points
Position 27: 107 points
Position 28: 106 points
Position 29: 104 points
Position 30: 103 points
Position 31: 101 points
Position 32: 100 points
Position 33: 99 points
Position 34: 98 points
Position 35: 97 points
Position 36: 96 points
Position 37: 95 points
Position 38: 94 points
Position 39: 93 points
Position 40: 92 points
Position 41: 91 points
Position 42: 90 points
Position 43: 89 points
Position 44: 88 points
Position 45: 87 points
Position 46: 87 points
Position 47: 86 points
Position 48: 85 points
Position 49: 84 points
Position 50: 83 points
Position 51: 83 points
Position 52: 82 points
Position 53: 81 points
Position 54: 80 points
Position 55: 80 points
Position 56: 79 points
Position 57: 78 points
Position 58: 77 points
Position 59: 77 points
Position 60: 76 points
C. Elevation/Relegation:
I. Weekly Schedule:
Friday Practice
Saturuday qualifying
Sunday race
Block 1: Oceania - February
- Round 1: Rotorua
- Round 2: Threbdo
- Round 3: Maydena
Block 2: North/Central Europe - May
-Round 4: Val de Sole
-Round 5: Maribor
-Round 6: Schladming:
-Round 7: Bielsko Biala
-Round 8: Hafjell
Block 3: France - July
-Round 9: Les Gets
-Round 10: Loudenville
-Round 11: Lousa
BLock 4: North America - September
-Round 12: Snowshoe
-Round 13: Killington
-Round 14: Bromont
-Round 15: Mount St. Anne
-Round 16: Whistler
We need s. Africal; UAE; Israel (I think); Japan...China; Obviously S. America...but those can be season 2...???
Multiple races in the same region back to back would be so sick!
UAE and Israel? Unless those countries are willing to raise their game that's a massive no from me.
It is also crucial for logistics.
massive no for me, too. At least at this point.
i like variety. would love to see UAE just ship in to their shore line 500 tons of rock and dirt and make a mountain for a weekend.
They could call it Palmer Island.
Post a reply to: Can we create the dream World Cup season, from location, to pit set up, to race day, and finally podium