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Usac/ges

FOXROX

FOXROX

Turbo Monkey
Jun 23, 2007
2,120
0
hambur,nj
ok, well im planning on hitting the whole GES series next season. but i have never had a USAC license. I'm 15, i would want to race them all in JR.X. do i have to compete in sport/intro first before JR.X?


also, my dad will be helping me out alot by driving me, so i would need to know the dates of the races ahead of time. i know it is EXTREAMLY early but does anyone know when that '10 series calendar will be available?

thanks!
 
C

ChrisKring

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2002
2,399
6
Grand Haven, MI
yes, you need to be approved to upgrade to all expert (cat 1) classes. There is a specific criteria. Have you raced before? What are your best results?
 
FOXROX

FOXROX

Turbo Monkey
Jun 23, 2007
2,120
0
hambur,nj
i race all the diablo races, im in the top three.

on average id say im about 10-15 seconds behind pro, at diablo.

people tell me i would be in there, but im not sure
 
FOXROX

FOXROX

Turbo Monkey
Jun 23, 2007
2,120
0
hambur,nj
ik, i remember someone from here telling me, i dont really come on that often anymore, and everytime i do i forget to get rid of it. ill do it now!
 
thom9719

thom9719

Turbo Monkey
Jul 25, 2005
1,104
0
In the Northwest.
haha, I've seen it on here a few times, i've always wanted to say something :)

good luck with the CAT 1 upgrade. just send in your results to USAC. I've found it helps if you mention where your time would have placed you in JR X (assuming you were on the same course)

-KT
 
FOXROX

FOXROX

Turbo Monkey
Jun 23, 2007
2,120
0
hambur,nj
well, diablo only has amature jr.(-18) am sr.(18+) and pro. but im just wondering like, i wouldnt mind doing some extra races, how many top 3 results would i need before i can move to cat 1?
 
thom9719

thom9719

Turbo Monkey
Jul 25, 2005
1,104
0
In the Northwest.
it all depends on your results. I never raced as an expert. I did a few races in the "open" class and submitted those results comparing times it put me in semi pro (this was a few years ago) When I submitted my request, I asked to be in semi pro and they approved it.

I would just look at consistancy. if you are consistantly in the top 25% of you class, you should be moving up. make sure you are on different tracks too. it is one thing to be fast on a track you ride everyday, it's another to be fast on something you've never seen before.

-KT
 
F

fortenndu

Turbo Monkey
Apr 22, 2008
1,573
0
Boone, NC
USAC doesn't give 2 ****s about diablo results. You're going have to do at least 2 or 3 races in sport and place top 3 before they let you move up to expert. Just the way it goes. Good luck man.
 
TheTruth

TheTruth

Turbo Monkey
Jun 15, 2009
3,893
1
I'm waving. Can you see me now?
Yeah, I learned the hard way when I started racing xc. I am finally moving up to cat1 next year, so that might help me with dh racing. Diablo races don't count for anything. Since they are not controlled by usa cycling, they are as good as made up results. You have to start racing in cat 3/2.
 
FOXROX

FOXROX

Turbo Monkey
Jun 23, 2007
2,120
0
hambur,nj
fortenndu said:
USAC doesn't give 2 ****s about diablo results. You're going have to do at least 2 or 3 races in sport and place top 3 before they let you move up to expert. Just the way it goes. Good luck man.
Click to expand...
i know you race p-kill, what do you race in?
 
F

fortenndu

Turbo Monkey
Apr 22, 2008
1,573
0
Boone, NC
FOXROX said:
i know you race p-kill, what do you race in?
Click to expand...
I race jr.x. A lot of expert/pro courses are a lot more challenging then diablo courses, do a few races in sport at plattekill and try the pro/ex courses after the race. If you're doing well in sport and feel comfortable riding the pro/ex course request an upgrade.
 
B

Banshee Rider

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2003
1,452
10
fortenndu said:
USAC doesn't give 2 ****s about diablo results. You're going have to do at least 2 or 3 races in sport and place top 3 before they let you move up to expert. Just the way it goes. Good luck man.
Click to expand...
Quoted for truth. I had the same issues when I applied to upgrade from semi pro to pro, but couldn't provide semi pro results since the class didn't exist at any usac races I was at. Anticipate a few races in cat 2 at usac races before they let you upgrade.
 
thom9719

thom9719

Turbo Monkey
Jul 25, 2005
1,104
0
In the Northwest.
Banshee Rider said:
Quoted for truth. I had the same issues when I applied to upgrade from semi pro to pro, but couldn't provide semi pro results since the class didn't exist at any usac races I was at. Anticipate a few races in cat 2 at usac races before they let you upgrade.
Click to expand...
It didn't affect my upgrade. I just sent in some crankworx results and they let me upgrade.

-KT
 
jbogner

jbogner

Monkey
May 8, 2006
315
0
Fort Collins, CO
You can start in Cat 2, and need two top-5 finishes in Cat 2 to upgrade to Cat 1. That should be easy enough to accomplish if you're a consistent top-3 finisher at Diablo.

The upgrade from Cat 1 to pro, however, is considerably more difficult.

There are some occasions where Gully will take into consideration non-USAC results, but that would typically only be for guys looking for pro upgrades who have top results at Crankworx or the US Open. If you only have results from a local non-sanctioned series, it's not worth trying to get an upgrade.

And while they'll sometimes factor in those non-sanctioned races for pro upgrade purposes, those non-sanctioned races will never, ever count toward selection for national teams or junior development programs. If you want to be a part of the USAC development program, you have to race USAC races.
 
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FOXROX

FOXROX

Turbo Monkey
Jun 23, 2007
2,120
0
hambur,nj
jbogner said:
You can start in Cat 2, and need two top-5 finishes in Cat 2 to upgrade to Cat 1. That should be easy enough to accomplish if you're a consistent top-3 finisher at Diablo.

The upgrade from Cat 1 to pro, however, is considerably more difficult...
Click to expand...
well im not planning on going to pro anytime soon :p
 
demo 9

demo 9

Turbo Monkey
Jan 31, 2007
5,910
46
north jersey
This is how i got to JR. X in 1 (one) race. i signed up for sport and at the time was keeping up with neko (this was obviously a few years ago) the event supporters just threw me into the higher class because it was obvious i would destroy the sport riders. I got 3rd and sent that to USAC. The next week i was bumped up to JR X. dont know if you can get away with that **** now, but thats how i did it.
 
FOXROX

FOXROX

Turbo Monkey
Jun 23, 2007
2,120
0
hambur,nj
demo 9 said:
This is how i got to JR. X in 1 (one) race. i signed up for sport and at the time was keeping up with neko (this was obviously a few years ago) the event supporters just threw me into the higher class because it was obvious i would destroy the sport riders. I got 3rd and sent that to USAC. The next week i was bumped up to JR X. dont know if you can get away with that **** now, but thats how i did it.
Click to expand...
well either way, id like to do a few races any way, so its not really a big deal, the more practicce the better. i just wasnt to sure of everything...:thumb:
 
dezul43

dezul43

Monkey
May 15, 2006
282
0
san diego
demo 9 said:
This is how i got to JR. X in 1 (one) race. i signed up for sport and at the time was keeping up with neko (this was obviously a few years ago) the event supporters just threw me into the higher class because it was obvious i would destroy the sport riders. I got 3rd and sent that to USAC. The next week i was bumped up to JR X. dont know if you can get away with that **** now, but thats how i did it.
Click to expand...
my first race was beginner 27-34 at the norba nationals in fontana,ca back in may of 2007. i placed 4th then proceeded to race the cal-state race in the sport class a month later and placed 10th. i did not race again until the southridge winter series in jan 2008 where i was able to enter the expert class without having to qualify or have a usac license. after the winter series , i contacted usac and with an over the phone interview, i was able to upgrade to expert due to my winter series results.
 
yuroshek

yuroshek

Turbo Monkey
Jun 26, 2007
2,438
0
Arizona!
USAC does consider the US open and Diablo series races, results are results. i got my upgrade to pro recently, i showed them my few USAC results which were all top 5 in cat 1 and my US open qualifier time which would have placed me in 18th and all my diablo series finishes. if they see you are competitive with the next category up they will upgrade you.
 
bfrich

bfrich

Monkey
May 30, 2007
393
0
ct
Travis first I want to say, I think its cool you want to race the USAC GES - and you should race CAT 1.

Your first Step is get on the USAC Website, set up My USA Cycling page and get your license for 2010 - Sign up in CAT 2

https://www.usacycling.org/mtb/

If you do some analysis like below and use that to support your request you should be able to get the Cat 1 upgrade sooner than later.

The Cat 1 18 and under field will be have a bunch of riders that moved up from Cat 2 and will be missing a few who have moved on.

Good luck and have fun!

Results from the final Domination race showing where USAC licensed riders placed compared to your placing. Do something like this.
Plc Bib Name Team Time _______________________________________________
1. Travis Westerkamp Diablo Freeride Park 3:11.52
2 Dennis Pryor Full Adrenaline Racing 3:14.29
3 Justin Brigandi Canfield 3:17.03
4 Zach Taylor Races GES USAC CAT3 3:21.27
5 Derek Mushro Races GES USAC CAT2 3:23.37
 
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G

G30RG3ryan

Monkey
Feb 24, 2002
181
2
Sparta, NJ
Just go to a race and enter expert, or whatever it's called these days. You can usually just sign up for whatever. Half the time I don't even have a USAC license.
 
jonKranked

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,859
24,451
media blackout
George, since USAC modified their rules, a number of venues have been cracking down on issuing one day licenses for cat1. At least for your regular joe.
 
FOXROX

FOXROX

Turbo Monkey
Jun 23, 2007
2,120
0
hambur,nj
bfrich said:
Travis first I want to say, I think its cool you want to race the USAC GES - and you should race CAT 1.

Your first Step is get on the USAC Website, set up My USA Cycling page and get your license for 2010 - Sign up in CAT 2

https://www.usacycling.org/mtb/

If you do some analysis like below and use that to support your request you should be able to get the Cat 1 upgrade sooner than later.

The Cat 1 18 and under field will be have a bunch of riders that moved up from Cat 2 and will be missing a few who have moved on.

Good luck and have fun!

Results from the final Domination race showing where USAC licensed riders placed compared to your placing. Do something like this.
Plc Bib Name Team Time _______________________________________________
1. Travis Westerkamp Diablo Freeride Park 3:11.52
2 Dennis Pryor Full Adrenaline Racing 3:14.29
3 Justin Brigandi Canfield 3:17.03
4 Zach Taylor Races GES USAC CAT3 3:21.27
5 Derek Mushro Races GES USAC CAT2 3:23.37
Click to expand...


wow! thank you rich! i really apprecieate it! BTW how did richey do this year?
 
C

ChrisKring

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2002
2,399
6
Grand Haven, MI
G30RG3ryan said:
Just go to a race and enter expert, or whatever it's called these days. You can usually just sign up for whatever. Half the time I don't even have a USAC license.
Click to expand...
That doesn't work anymore. We had this problem at a GES race this year. Either stay at home or have your correct class license when you head to the race.
 
downhill mike

downhill mike

Turbo Monkey
Mar 23, 2005
1,286
4
If a promoter wants to continue to hold USAC sanctioned races it is in their best interest to abide by USAC's rules.

I think it's a good thing to have to earn your way up.

Plus you get twice the insurance coverage you get if you only have a 1 day license.
 
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