What happened to Strobel?
broken scafoidhe's injured
here's an update to his return to action...
http://www.pinnedmtb.com/strobel_returnstoaction.htm
What happened to Strobel?
broken scafoidhe's injured
Of the seven riders on the squad, all are elite caliber racers and just as deserving as anyone for a spot on the Worlds team. I am actually surprised to have seen a full roster. I was personally expecting there to be no more than 3-5 riders max for 08 on the Mens Elite DH roster based on performances at initial World Cup rounds and then the 07 National DH Champion out of respect and deference to his title as is customary for the event.2008 MTB Gravity World Championships said:CRITERIA FOR AUTOMATIC NOMINATION TO THE TEAM
Elite Downhill
Eligible Participants: USAC International License Holders; Age 19 and over
Maximum Start Positions: 7
Athletes will receive automatic nominations to the team based on the following prioritized criteria:
1. Any athlete placing in the top three (3) at the 2007 World Championships in the same event and category. In order to maintain their position on the Team, the eligible athlete(s) must continue to demonstrate the ability to finish in the top 3 at the World Championships during the current racing season. This evaluation will be based on results from major international competition and current ranking on the appropriate UCI Individual Classification.
2. Any U.S. rider finishing in the top-five (5) in a 2008 UCI Downhill World Cup race by June 2nd, 2008. If more than one athlete finishes in the top-five (5), only the highest placed rider will automatically qualify for the World Championship Team. If two or more athletes tie for the highest placing, all of those riders will receive automatic nominations for the World Championship team.
3. Any U.S. riders ranked in the top-ten (10) in the 2008 UCI World Cup rankings, as of June 2nd, 2008. The positions will be filled based on the UCI rankings (highest to lowest) until all qualified riders have been nominated or there are no more start positions available.
4. The winner of the Chile Challenge/Mountain States Cup # 3 Downhill - USAC-MTB National Gravity Calendar race. This event is currently scheduled for May 26th, 2008 in Angel Fire, NM.
Dual is completely different than 4X and hes not known for his blazing power down the first straight.Chris Herndon is another another glaring omission from the 4X team....2007 Dual slalom National Champ, 3 O'all in the DH national champs....also an East Coast rider
What about Lars? He's just as fast as Luke!No because he will probably be fastest American (him or JD).
Top 12 US riders current UCI points ranking:As much as I love the guys, what have Strait, Riffle, JD, Warren, Steinberg done so far this year to merit their selection? Is this just an automatic West Coast and Colorado rider selection or is there a rational explanation?
Top 12 US riders current UCI points ranking:
First column rank last column points. Points
33 32 STROBEL Luke * USA19860624 TMX USA 22 362
63 60 BANGERT Cole USA19851012 USA 23 214
68 75 RIFFLE Duncan * USA19861029 CAN USA 22 205
144 166 BEYTAGH Geritt USA19840901 USA 24 89
167 165 HERNDON Christopher USA19810128 USA 27 75
194 255 WARREN Cody USA19850827 USA 23 66
197 196 SHARP Tim * USA19870515 YET USA 21 65
281 313 STRAIT Kyle * USA19870404 SFR USA 21 45
290 278 CONDRASHOFF Ryan * USA19860714 USA 22 43
314 348 SWANGUEN John * USA19890325 MSR USA 19 39
328 318 VAN DINE Christopher USA19800401 USA 28 36
337 325 MEMMELAAR Jason USA19830719 USA 25 35
Some of the guys selected I do not think have even raced much in the US this year. They have been over in Europe racing the same guys they will race at Worlds. There is alot to be said for racing against your competition.
You can find every current rider's UCI ranking and personal results here: http://www.uci.ch/ucinet/default.asp?page=rankingsdetail&RankingsDetailID=538&discipline=MTB&continent=MON&ridercategory=ME&RankingsRace=DHI&RankingsType=Individual&year=2008&l=ENG&npage=1
haha i wasn't knocking you... i got tired of looking as well!I didn't have time to go searching for everyone that is why I posted the link to where the information could be found.
The point is that none of the riders met the Automatic Criteria and let's be honest, no USA rider is any where near making that criteria. Even Kain didn't meet the criteria with a 2nd at Angel Fire. So where do we go from here...what do the the riders have to do to catch the eye of the selectors? Race the world cups if they are lucky enough to have the UCI points and rich sponsors? Chase UCI points? Ride the events that the USAC deem to be the "qualifiers" even if the dates conflict with the richest and most exciting DH race in the country? Ride the west coast events (sorry had to throw that one in)? Be a prima-donna super star....?Every year we have a World's team and every year there are hurt feelings. The US is granted a certain number of slots and there will always be a couple bubble-boys who don't make the squad. There is no requirement that the federation fill the roster, but they often do as a show of support to the riders.
Unlike certain countries with stacked World Cup top 20 level rosters, the US team generally struggles to get Elite DH'ers who meet the "automatic qualification criteria" and thus it ends up being at the coaches discretion how to fill the spots. These picks are generally based on potential for medal performance at this or future World Championship events, performances at past World Championship or World Cup events, performances on the Worlds track (or courses very similar), personal commitment to Elite level competition, or a dozen other individual line items.
Last year I was part of the process to select the Worlds squads but this year was I not. I believe it was up to Mark Fitzsimmons and Marc Gullickson (MTB development coach) to choose the team's discretionary picks. Fitzy is probably more familiar with almost every better level junior or senior downhill athlete than anyone else out there. He also has years of previous experience in timed racing and testing sessions in mountain bike and motorsports. Gully is a former pro XC and cross rider and went to Worlds on his own right on several occasions.
The automatic criteria has been posted on the USAC site for a while and is easily found with two scrolls and two clicks. No rider can claim ignorance for not knowing this criteria and the dates of event or submissions if he or she desired to race at Val di Sole.
Of the seven riders on the squad, all are elite caliber racers and just as deserving as anyone for a spot on the Worlds team. I am actually surprised to have seen a full roster. I was personally expecting there to be no more than 3-5 riders max for 08 on the Mens Elite DH roster based on performances at initial World Cup rounds and then the 07 National DH Champion out of respect and deference to his title as is customary for the event.
-ska todd
is there any talk of changing these? if this happens every year, it might seem that there could be a better way to do it. since NO American can currently qualify for #s 1-3, it comes down to one race (and one rider) and everything else is the opinion of a couple people. I'd rather see more automatic quali's, or at least some set of points, results, etc as opposed to the opinion of a few people... The only easterner chosen is someone who won the Jr qualifier at Platt. Every other person on the squad is a coach's choice, from Cali or Colorado.The automatic criteria has been posted on the USAC site for a while and is easily found with two scrolls and two clicks. No rider can claim ignorance for not knowing this criteria and the dates of event or submissions if he or she desired to race at Val di Sole.
top 5 from Nationals last year:The point is that none of the riders met the Automatic Criteria and let's be honest, no USA rider is any where near making that criteria. Even Kain didn't meet the criteria with a 2nd at Angel Fire. So where do we go from here...what do the the riders have to do to catch the eye of the selectors? Race the world cups if they are lucky enough to have the UCI points and rich sponsors? Chase UCI points? Ride the events that the USAC deem to be the "qualifiers" even if the dates conflict with the richest and most exciting DH race in the country? Ride the west coast events (sorry had to throw that one in)? Be a prima-donna super star....?
Tell us where to direct out energies and we'll do it. You say "Of the seven riders on the squad, all are elite caliber racers and just as deserving as anyone for a spot on the Worlds team" isn't the point to try and select the riders that are currently showing the best form and have the best chance of doing well for their country...not just because they are "nice guys and deserve it"?
As I'll say below, why should the bar be lowered? Does that make the riders/team any better or just reward reduced performance?The point is that none of the riders met the Automatic Criteria and let's be honest, no USA rider is any where near making that criteria. Even Kain didn't meet the criteria with a 2nd at Angel Fire. So where do we go from here...what do the the riders have to do to catch the eye of the selectors? Race the world cups if they are lucky enough to have the UCI points and rich sponsors? Chase UCI points? Ride the events that the USAC deem to be the "qualifiers" even if the dates conflict with the richest and most exciting DH race in the country? Ride the west coast events (sorry had to throw that one in)? Be a prima-donna super star....?
You can direct energies toward USAC and appeal for a funded gravity coach or program but, until our numbers are much more substantial (or until the USOC is funding a coach for us) I doubt it will really make much economic sense. My honest recommendation is to focus your attentions on helping to develop junior riders in your region thru coaching, camps, clinics, and support. These kids are really the future and if hard effort (and money!!) is put in now, perhaps in 3-5 years we will be back on top of the podium in the Elite ranks.Tell us where to direct out energies and we'll do it. You say "Of the seven riders on the squad, all are elite caliber racers and just as deserving as anyone for a spot on the Worlds team" isn't the point to try and select the riders that are currently showing the best form and have the best chance of doing well for their country...not just because they are "nice guys and deserve it"?
This has nothing to do w/ East vs West. USAC is more than aware of what is happening on the East Coast now with racers and events than any other time. This is about athletic performance and winning medals at this event this year or in future years AS A TEAM. That is always been the US team's mission for World Championship events.is there any talk of changing these? if this happens every year, it might seem that there could be a better way to do it. since NO American can currently qualify for #s 1-3, it comes down to one race (and one rider) and everything else is the opinion of a couple people. I'd rather see more automatic quali's, or at least some set of points, results, etc as opposed to the opinion of a few people... The only easterner chosen is someone who won the Jr qualifier at Platt. Every other person on the squad is a coach's choice, from Cali or Colorado.
No, why should it? The US National Championships was only open to Americans and happened last season. The reigning National Champion is usually invited to Worlds by their federation out of tradition.top 5 from Nationals last year:
Of those, there's 1 person that's actually on the national squad... You'd think that Nationals would have a bit more of an influence, wouldn't you?
This isn't American Idol or the All Star Game! As stated, this event is about winning medals for the US federation. These selections were made after riders themselves petitioned and these petitions were then reviewed by the coaching staff.seems like the same ole crap every year. no doubt the guys that have been chosen "deserve it", but there are definitely a few out there that have been to worlds before and are pinning it this year that won't have that chance to go because somebody didn't pick them to go. could we at least, as the members of usac, get to vote on like 10-15 candidates to go? that way we'd get the representatives that the people want to see go and not worry about one or two race results for them to be chosen on?
the US Open was an international event and geritt b got 8thNo, why should it? The US National Championships was only open to Americans and happened last season. The reigning National Champion is usually invited to Worlds by their federation out of tradition.
-ska todd
he said US national championships NOT us openthe US Open was an international event and geritt b got 8th
I don't know I'm pretty sure I was down there in Dirty Jerz this past memorial day weekend. Seemed pretty official to me....The US Open is not sanctioned by USAC or the UCI. Technically it doesn't exist in any official capacity.
-ska todd
The reality is that the US Open does exist and attracts more WC level riders than any other event in the country. Over 100 pro level riders compete and at the Amateur level you have to book months in advance. Given the short time we had to make the selections shouldn't USAC have taken their head out of the sand and recognized that there was an event that had far more significance than Angel Fire, swallow their pride and use the results to help make their selection?The US Open is not sanctioned by USAC or the UCI. Technically it doesn't exist in any official capacity.
-ska todd
No because he will probably be fastest American (him or JD).
So I need to move to Cali or Colorado if I ever want to be good?
Not to mention how every year you hear about how the World Cup pros at the US Open don't really have their game faces on at the race.Goodnness. The Us Open does not count!
It's like showing up to soccer tryouts and displaying your B-ball skillZ, it just don't matter (we are talking about worlds team selection BTW)!
I know for a fact that some of these guys (who people are whining for) have gone to Worlds before for the USA and know exactly what the process is.
Hey, here is a random bit of information...Angelfire was a automatic qualifier! No WAY! One of the only places that has held a World cup here in the USA a Worlds qualifier? Get out of town, I'm gonna go watch Sam Hill and race with him at the US open instead...I'm sure because Sam is there it means a whole lot more than that Angelfire race!
Angel Fire had 110 licensed semi-pro and pro riders. The entire DH had around 600 competitors. I am not sure how you can say the US open has far more significance??DH Rules said:Over 100 pro level riders compete and at the Amateur level you have to book months in advance. Given the short time we had to make the selections shouldn't USAC have taken their head out of the sand and recognized that there was an event that had far more significance than Angel Fire, swallow their pride and use the results to help make their selection?
Here is how you say it:I am not sure how you can say the US open has far more significance??
Say, for example, the US Open? Oh, but it's not a "recognized" event??? Sure sounds like a matter of the almighty dollar...However, the coaches selections have in the past been awarded to riders who have potential for future medal performance, are committed to racing against international competition, or who add a specific dynamic to the program (ie. coaching or mentor).
-ska todd