there are so many issues with executing good 4x racing in the states. here are just a few
funding, it cost a lot to build a true proper course, depending on dirt, equipment and time available it could be 5 to 25 g to build a course! the only place this makes sense is private land,bike or city parks where a course can live permanently so the cost can be offset by multiple races, income can be brought in from sponsors and entry fee's.
competent designer, if a individual does decide to pony up the dough now they have to find a designer, the easy part is the jumps....the hard part is the turns....the size, distance and shape of the berms make or brake the course and racing....it is super hard to nail it the first time through...so if your limited on time it can turn into a crap shoot...often 3 feet difference of where the inside in relation to the berm is will make the difference.
grass roots, we have no where to do this type of racing/riding, it is getting better, i know that bike parks are starting to include them but riders are uncomfortable racing with others if they never do it on the local level.
hats off to the colorado region and any other promoter/series that still does 4x, for pushing forward with 4x racing to keep preparing riders for world cup format racing, like it or not, at the highest level of racing thats the format.
all being said i would rather do crappy slalom more then crappy 4x....a bad DS can still be fun, but bad 4x really isnt very fun.
funding, it cost a lot to build a true proper course, depending on dirt, equipment and time available it could be 5 to 25 g to build a course! the only place this makes sense is private land,bike or city parks where a course can live permanently so the cost can be offset by multiple races, income can be brought in from sponsors and entry fee's.
competent designer, if a individual does decide to pony up the dough now they have to find a designer, the easy part is the jumps....the hard part is the turns....the size, distance and shape of the berms make or brake the course and racing....it is super hard to nail it the first time through...so if your limited on time it can turn into a crap shoot...often 3 feet difference of where the inside in relation to the berm is will make the difference.
grass roots, we have no where to do this type of racing/riding, it is getting better, i know that bike parks are starting to include them but riders are uncomfortable racing with others if they never do it on the local level.
hats off to the colorado region and any other promoter/series that still does 4x, for pushing forward with 4x racing to keep preparing riders for world cup format racing, like it or not, at the highest level of racing thats the format.
all being said i would rather do crappy slalom more then crappy 4x....a bad DS can still be fun, but bad 4x really isnt very fun.