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US/Canadian Open at Whiteface ~ $10,000 Cash Purse

downhill mike

Turbo Monkey
Mar 23, 2005
1,286
4
The Whiteface Mountain Bike Park and Tuf Rack
is pleased to bring you the
US/Canadian Open at Whiteface.


September 7 thru September 9, 2012
USA Cycling Sanctioned Event 2012-675

US/Canadian Open at Whiteface Quick Itinerary:

Friday September 7: Open practice from 9:00 till 3:30
Saturday September 8: Open practice from 9:00 till 2:30
Pro Seeding run from 2:30 till 3:30
Sunday September 9: Open practice from 9:00 till 11:00 am
Downhill race starts promptly at 12 noon
Registration with more details including the dual slalom and the Open Chainelss Downhill race can be found by following this link on Active.com:
US/Canadian Open at Whiteface | Wilmington, New York 12997 | Friday, September 07, 2012 @ 12:00 PM​

Here is what we came up with for the cash break down.

Pro Cash Break Down

1st place Male $1,200.00 1st place Female $1,200.00

2nd place Male $600.00 2nd place Female $600.00

3rd place Male $400.00 3rd place Female $400.00

4th place Male $200.00 4th place Female $200.00

5th place Male $100.00 5th place Female $100.00

Amateur Cash Break Down



Male 14 and under Female 14 and under

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00

Cat 1 male 15-18 Cat 1 female 15-18

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00

Cat 1 male 19-29 Cat 1 female 19-29

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00

Cat 1 male 30-39 Cat 1 female 30-39

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00

Cat 1 male 40-49 Cat 1 female 40-49

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00

Cat 1 Male 50+ Cat 1 female 50+

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00



Cat 2 male 15-18 Cat 2 female 15-18

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00

Cat 2 male 19-29 Cat 2 female 19-29

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00

Cat 3 male 30-39 Cat 2 female 30-39

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00

Cat 2 male 40+ Cat 2 female 40+

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00



Cat 3 male 15-18 Cat 3 female 15-18

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00

Cat 3 male 19-29 Cat 3 female 19-29

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00

Cat 3 male 30-39 Cat 3 female 30-39

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00

Cat 3 male 40+ Cat 3 female 40+

1st $100.00 1st $100.00

2nd $50.00 2nd $50.00

3rd $25.00 3rd $25.00



Fastest male amateur Fastest female amateur

$50.00 $50.00





If a category has less then 5 competitors that category will move up 1 age bracket.

Any monies left over from an empty category will go directly into the cash purse for the fastest amateur male and female.

The maximum pay out for the fastest amateurs will be $250.00 each.

If their is any money left over from an empty category, after it is added to the fastest amateurs, that money will be split evenly to the 14 and under and go into a college savings bond.
 
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downhill mike

Turbo Monkey
Mar 23, 2005
1,286
4
We have been wanting to put on this race for years now. Other names considered have been Can/Am, North America Cup or Challenge, etc. All are some kind of yachting, tennis, hockey or golf tournaments or series.

With the large cash purse and a Whiteface 5 K DH course, we fully believe this race will showcase the very best in both Canada and the US.
 

Smurfette

Chimp
Dec 29, 2011
48
0
With the large cash purse and a Whiteface 5 K DH course, we fully believe this race will showcase the very best in both Canada and the US.
You have diluted the large cash purse so all the payouts are small ...I would have allocated more cash to the pro field....but thats just my opinion.
 

downhill mike

Turbo Monkey
Mar 23, 2005
1,286
4
The cash pay out for the pros will remain as it is at $5,000.00. We may change up the amateur pay out so the category 1 racers get a little more, but the amateurs will definitely get $5,000.00 in cash too. Plenty of time before registration opens on March 1st to get the amateur pay out dialed in 100%. I do like the fact that so many have a chance of winning money. 102 racers (or 1 in 5 if the field limit maxes out) would win money to be exact. Amateurs will also win prizes!
 

downhill mike

Turbo Monkey
Mar 23, 2005
1,286
4
this is the first race i've seen with cash payout to all amateur classes. EVER.
That is where the cash purse comes from so it makes sense to us.
You can look forward to UCI Points in the 2013 US/Canadian Open at Whiteface!

Our 5 K DH on 6-15 thru 6-17 will be more traditional with all $2,500.00 going to the pros.

We have 3 USA Cycling races this year giving away a total of $14,500.00 in cash. The combined cash pay out to the pros is $9,500.00 and $5,000.00 for the amateurs.
 
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iRider

Turbo Monkey
Apr 5, 2008
5,648
3,089
Mike,
The payout parity across the genders is the right thing to do.
Really? It is one way to do things, not necessary the right way. A fair way IMO is to put a certain amount of the entry fee towards the price money. So if you win in a small field in your cat you get less than you would if you did beat 200 competitors. I have been to too many races where you just had to sign up to win cash/prices, and that is just plain wrong.
 

Smurfette

Chimp
Dec 29, 2011
48
0
i'm pretty sure the payout wasn't for top 3 all the way down to cat 3 for both male and female racers.
He did say "All" Pretty sure ESC and Platty only paid Cat 1.

Either way this is great for Local pros and Amatuers ..... not much incentive to travel long distance for anyone else.
 

General Lee

Turbo Monkey
Oct 16, 2003
2,860
0
The 802
Either way this is great for Local pros and Amatuers ..... not much incentive to travel long distance for anyone else.
This^^

The US Open originally attracted a good crowd and strong international field due to large cash payout to the pro field, substantial media exposure, and a calendar date that worked well for most international riders/teams who wanted to compete (minus a few years where conflicted with a WC or was logistically not practical). I also heard rumors of appearance incentives for some riders/teams to get them to show up but that was mostly hearsay. . .

$1200 to 1st is not going to turn heads like it might have 8 years ago, and with a date in between the World Champs in Austria and the WC finals in Norway this is guaranteed to be a mostly local affair.

No disrespect Mike, but if your goal is really to convince Whiteface and OCA to host a world cup in a couple years, or to bring in people from the OCA to get them pumped on DH racing so they advocate for including it in the Olympics, it might take more than a glorified local race with an important sounding name.

Now say you put more of the $$ to the top of the elite field, pick a more convenient date when everyone is already in town (say July 6-8 right after MSA/Windham WCs), and you might be on to something dressed to impress.

Sounds like a great event either way.
 

Pegboy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2003
1,139
27
New Hamp-sha
First off, cudos to you for your passion and commitment to make this happen.

But, Gotta agree with the above on the prize money. $1,200 really is nothing. I think Highland payed out 2-3X that for their "enduro" event this year. My friend took third and walked away with $1,200.

What is the point of paying out cat 2 & 3? I understand that they are the ones whose entry fees create the purse, but that is the way it goes. Do you really need to pay $100 to the cat 3 40+ ? I don't think the $100 prize money is incentive to the lower cats to drive outside of their normal stomping grounds. On the otherhand, If you really throw some big money into Pro and Cat 1, this could turn out to be another "WC" type of event and people would drive further to see that and compete along side of the best in the world.

Pay strong five deep in pros and I think you'll see a lot more east coast pros showing up (north and south) and hopefully more national and international presence.

Look at Redbull, big bucks bring in big names and big numbers in spectators.
 
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jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,558
24,181
media blackout
I think part of what Mike is trying to accomplish here is trying to get the OCA on board with holding even larger events. Progress for them (WF bike park) has been very methodical over the years, but also very slow (not of their own doing). They're operating on state owned land and as such there's a lot of red tape to get through. They can't just go up the mountain and decide to cut a new trail. I think it makes a lot of sense for them to host a large amateur oriented event to draw a good crowd. This will show the OCA 2 things: that they are capable of putting on a large event and run it well, and to show them that people will come to a large event at WF. As Mike has indicated, next year they will be hosting a race for UCI points, which will get pros to come out of the woodwork, even if there isn't a massive cash purse.
 

downhill mike

Turbo Monkey
Mar 23, 2005
1,286
4
As far as future downhill races at Whiteface go, we also see new sponsors helping out and possibly doubling the cash we are already putting up without the help of the Big Boys. Then many of the valid concerns above could be addressed. But for now, we want the kids, 40+ guys/gals and the pros to all feel like champs!
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,030
5,918
borcester rhymes
Got to agree, I'd sooner make the drive and pay to play in order to see more top level pros vs. a chance at winning $50. Too many sandbaggers in my category to make it even a possibility.

I'd say offer the pros more and take some cash from the cat 2 and 3 M+W. Offer some decent prizes from some decent sponsors (maxxis tires or something). You probably will still have a hard time filling the ranks of women in every category 3 deep. The ESC rarely saw a race where a woman who entered didn't get a podium.

If you're solely interested in attracting amateurs, why not drastically reduce the pro payout and pay the amateurs that much more money? I'd bet you'd get people from all over the country to compete for $1200 if they thought they had a chance.

I hope to attend, yet again, this year, but I didn't go to the pro GRT to compete, but rather to watch the pros. I imagine you'd see the same at the world cup in Windham. Either way, good luck.
 

Pslide

Turbo Monkey
FWIW, I usually hit the podium in Cat 2 when I get the odd chance to race, and I could care less about the money. Would be awesome to see some pros though.

Now if there were $1000 to shoot for, that might change my mind! Still, it's not about the money for me.
 

k8piranha

Chimp
Nov 30, 2010
30
0
This^^

pick a more convenient date when everyone is already in town (say July 6-8 right after MSA/Windham WCs), and you might be on to something dressed to impress.

Sounds like a great event either way.
Do you think any of the big names might show up for the Whiteface festival race June 15-17? That would be cool. It's the weekend before MSA... could be a nice North American "warm up." If trying to get the international crowd that weekend might make more sense since the next two are MSA and Windham.
 

Smurfette

Chimp
Dec 29, 2011
48
0
Do you think any of the big names might show up for the Whiteface festival race June 15-17? That would be cool. It's the weekend before MSA... could be a nice North American "warm up." If trying to get the international crowd that weekend might make more sense since the next two are MSA and Windham.
My Guess would be no since most big teams will be traveling from Fort William and probably will be enjoying a weekend off
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,558
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Got to agree, I'd sooner make the drive and pay to play in order to see more top level pros vs. a chance at winning $50. Too many sandbaggers in my category to make it even a possibility.

I'd say offer the pros more and take some cash from the cat 2 and 3 M+W. Offer some decent prizes from some decent sponsors (maxxis tires or something). You probably will still have a hard time filling the ranks of women in every category 3 deep. The ESC rarely saw a race where a woman who entered didn't get a podium.

If you're solely interested in attracting amateurs, why not drastically reduce the pro payout and pay the amateurs that much more money? I'd bet you'd get people from all over the country to compete for $1200 if they thought they had a chance.

I hope to attend, yet again, this year, but I didn't go to the pro GRT to compete, but rather to watch the pros. I imagine you'd see the same at the world cup in Windham. Either way, good luck.
FWIW, I usually hit the podium in Cat 2 when I get the odd chance to race, and I could care less about the money. Would be awesome to see some pros though.

Now if there were $1000 to shoot for, that might change my mind! Still, it's not about the money for me.
for me, its about riding bikes, having fun with friends, and launching fireworks from the lift
 

Smurfette

Chimp
Dec 29, 2011
48
0
yea whats your point
Well I just wanted to be sure you were speaking from experience of racing there over the years....cause I don't think shooting fireworks from the Gondola would help Mikes position with ORDA... based on my experiences there and the atitude torward MTB's in the base area.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
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Well I just wanted to be sure you were speaking from experience of racing there over the years....cause I don't think shooting fireworks from the Gondola would help Mikes position with ORDA... based on my experiences there and the atitude torward MTB's in the base area.
whoa whoa whoa time out here chief i never said i was launching anything at whiteface, that was more of a general statement regarding how seriously i actually take racing. different mountains tolerate different levels of shenanigans, you gotta know what you can get away with, where, and without ruffling too many feathers.
 

downhill mike

Turbo Monkey
Mar 23, 2005
1,286
4
I didn't think Jon would really be launching fireworks form the gondola, start a forest fire and end the racing at Whiteface. I almost pm's he though and said "You can't do that here".

Since the Whiteface 100 (1st qualifier for the Leadville 100) joined our Bike Fest Weekend, ORDA's attitude has changed for the better regarding bikes at their mountain. With a field limit of 800, and a huge company promoting the event (I forgot who bought it out and is promoting it this year), it does seem that money talks. If it takes a large scale x-c event (and a big uphill road race) to help us gravity riders, so be it. So, you and your bikes at very welcome at Whiteface, just leave the fireworks at home. Ha-ha.

I also work part time for the Wilmington Visitors Bureau. The bureau is doing everything in their power to make Wilmington a major biking destination. Between helping us at the mountain, all of the new x-c trails in town and the Kyle Ebbett Jump/Skills Park. Just saying it's no longer just me trying to make gravity biking stuff happen here. Watch out (in a great way)!

Lets just hope our races don't end up costing as much to enter as those ones that make you climb!
 
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