If you are Cat 3 national champion shouldn't you really be Cat 2?
US National Champs course
- Thread starter gemini2k
- Start date
the same argument can be made for Cat 2 and Cat 1 national champ...
I completely agree, I think the only group that should be called National Champ is Pro. But I can understand the reasoning for calling them all national champions, moar entrants.
Lots of stuff around; mostly trailbike stuff but the sugar mountain DH track is definitely worth a session on the big bike as well.
In the immediate area around the venue there are a bunch of miles of old school rooty singletrack on emerald mountain within riding distance of the resort. Some cool xc in Banner Elk (rocky, muddy, tech) and Rocky Knob (smoother, flowy, new-school) in Boone just down the road. Endless all-day gnar in Wilson creek ~30-45 minutes away. I'll be bringing my trailbike and happy to point folks in the right direction.
fail.
It's
I know my story was awesome....
It's just annoying to hear people bitch about actual races and competitions and the ability to race and ride when the best I have is 3 hours away, and we'll get a turn out of maybe 15-20 for a race if we are lucky.
It's better than nothing, whether you like the track or not.
Im gonna go ahead and open up the house for anyone that would like to extend their trip for a couple days of trail riding and make the drive down to brevard. Even just built triple bunkbeds.
pisgah+dupont= 600 miles of badass trail riding.
mueller knows...
If you're under a foot of slushy snow come September 22-25, your formula may need more division.
Heck yah, Dan showing his southern hospitality! This really is a great area to ride and some of the most beautiful mountains in the country.
Kinda like substituting DS for the 4X national championship
no, thats just awesomeKinda like substituting DS for the 4X national championship
Sounds like you have the money and time off to travel...must be nice...I wouldn't know.
This will be a great event no matter what the interwebz say. People who don't show up just cause there isn't enough ride time don't have the ability obviously to ride a bike with less then 8" of travel and still have fun. There are a ton of new trails that just opened up in the Beech area as well that people could go enjoy. That being said I will be up to spectate and drink that weekend rain or shine
Not on the east coast. BAAAZINGGG!
I wanted to bring this up, but would be overwhelmed fairly quickly. I will never understand why downhill riders have no issue risking coming into contact with rocks and trees, but recoil in horror when another rider gets near them.Kinda like substituting DS for the 4X national championship
I obviously like 4X more then DS and disagree with this change. That being said, I hope Beech can pull together an awesome DS event that pulls some crowds like Sol Vista was able to do in 2009 and 2010:
You care correct, but per USA Cycling Technical Director Shawn Farrell in his March 18, 2010 webinar, getting a top five finish in your category would result in a forced upgrade, but not an automatic upgrade. The distinction is that you are supposed to take the initiative to upgrade if you win, but no consequence was presented for failure to do to.If you are Cat 3 national champion shouldn't you really be Cat 2?
USA Cycling MTB National Championship Qualification Procedures, Page 5
The same can be said for CAT2, but not CAT1. Winning in CAT1 grants you the ability to upgrade, but is not forced or automatic.
Only CAT1/Pro currently get to be National Champions, everyone else is a Category Champion and does not get awarded a Jersey.
Only CAT1/Pro currently get to be National Champions, everyone else is a Category Champion and does not get awarded a Jersey.
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because a DH track will never send me careening over my handlebars onto my spleen from behind by t-boneing me....all in the name of a ribbon around my neck it wants more than me. Slamming to the ground face first without advance notice is perfectly acceptable if I make the riding error....unacceptable if it's a meathead going for broke.
I've hit the motocross track and never felt the danger I feel racing head to head down a 4x or dual track. Don't get me wrong. I like 4X from time to time, but slalom will put your heart in your throat watching it live or racing it.
You would strip this little guy of his triumph?
Wow, you hate puppies I guess...
All fine points, but the UCI recognized event is 4Xbecause a DH track will never send me careening over my handlebars onto my spleen from behind by t-boneing me....all in the name of a ribbon around my neck it wants more than me. Slamming to the ground face first without advance notice is perfectly acceptable if I make the riding error....unacceptable if it's a meathead going for broke.
I've hit the motocross track and never felt the danger I feel racing head to head down a 4x or dual track. Don't get me wrong. I like 4X from time to time, but slalom will put your heart in your throat watching it live or racing it.
For any other cycling discipline the national championships would normally showcase the best talent as well as providing riders with additional high level competition prior to representing their country at international events. Just because some riders do not like the event doesn't mean we should substitute a different event, even if it does provide some people the same juice as if they were hitting the motocross track (not certain how racing in your own little lane compares to being on the same track with other racers, but I'll let you run with it). There's a good chance our best gated racers will soon all come from BMX anyway, where they learn to live with contact and true head-to-head racing. Dual is a different kind of racing, fun, but way different than being on the same track with other racers.
That's been said for more than 15 years and I've yet to see this flood of riders.
There are certainly converts and crossovers along the way, but BMX remains stacked out with talent that has no interest. Always has, always will.
Didn't you guys have your own stand-alone championships a month or two ago? Where's the beef?
It's unfair to expect race promoters to hold 4x races. Too expensive. Period. If you have a dedicated venue 4x is rad, but it's an albatross for a one-off event. Dedicated local promoters need to build their own scenes across the vast country until there is critical mass to try to make 4x at a high level viable in the US. You guys are doing a great job in CO from what I can tell.
4x is one of the main reasons we almost didn't have a gravity championship this year.
Let's not forget that.
Oh, Rad!
I haven't been paying attention lately. I assumed once they started adding made up sports the next step was giving out jerseys in every class.
Jumping to assumptions without knowing the facts is fun and productive!
I think it's more what you're used to. Coming from BMX I'm much more comfortable with other riders on the track and I don't mind the occasional pile-up. I'd rather be doing slalom or 4x. DH is so much more sketchy/scary/gnar but that's really all there is for racing at the moment.because a DH track will never send me careening over my handlebars onto my spleen from behind by t-boneing me....all in the name of a ribbon around my neck it wants more than me. Slamming to the ground face first without advance notice is perfectly acceptable if I make the riding error....unacceptable if it's a meathead going for broke.
To sort of re-rail this thread - any newer pictures of the slalom course??
I just want to say I'm posting from Whistler right now and I miss that track. All you fags need to get it together and come out to shred some east coast with us! I've rarely had so much fun standing up as riding that track at the qualies.
I wish I could say that, have fun man! see you soon
Are you still in Brevard? I'm thinking about bringing my ASR5 down for some trail riding. I miss Pisgah...
For sure man, i love it here. bring the yeti and we'll def go shred something.
will the chairlifts be spinning for general dh riding on wednesday???
if not, are there any decent xc riding within a 30-40min drive of beech mtn?
if not, are there any decent xc riding within a 30-40min drive of beech mtn?
Don't know it the lifts will be running but, Sugar is right down the road for DH shuttles and loads of XC spots within half an hour or so. The locals should chime in, sure they'd be down to show folks around the area or point you in the right direction at least.
I posted this earlier in the thread but I'm sure others are curious. I would either ride from the resort to the xc trails in the emerald outback or drive over to boone and ride Rocky Knob park.
Emerald outback trails are rooty, usually muddy, up and down tech. Easy to find from anywhere in town. Just cross summer rd (the DH trails cross it, can't miss it) and follow the signs for the emerald outback. I think there's at least 10 miles out there but I haven't ridden it all.
Rocky Knob park in Boone is machine-built, mountain bike specific trail built in the last year. There are only 3 miles open right now but its covered in berms, tabletops, and manmade rock sections. It's pretty strenuous and a few laps makes a great short ride. ~30 mins from beech.
There are also some sweet xc trails in Banner Elk just down the hill from Beech. They start right off of 184 at the lake in town. Not signed and kind of a maze but impossible to get really lost. These are rocky and technical handbuilt trails. They can be really tough in the mud but worth a ride. ~15 mins from beech.
If you can find a guide, Wilson Creek is the best in the area. A maze of technical, remote trails. Not advisable solo. ~30 min-1 hr from beech, depending on where you go.
thanks for the pointers...
i'm getting down there on wednesday afternoon, and would love a fun, laid back trail ride to warm up the 'ol legs for thursday practice and stretch out after a long day in the truck.
and maybe a quick spin thursday morning before the track walk and dh practice.
are there any hotel or studios slopeside? as close to the lift or start area as possible. it's just gonna be me on this trip...
thanks again for the help
i'm getting down there on wednesday afternoon, and would love a fun, laid back trail ride to warm up the 'ol legs for thursday practice and stretch out after a long day in the truck.
and maybe a quick spin thursday morning before the track walk and dh practice.
are there any hotel or studios slopeside? as close to the lift or start area as possible. it's just gonna be me on this trip...
thanks again for the help
Hey guys, refer to This thread for all of your lodging questions for nationals. Lots of really cheap houses/condos/rooms available on the mountain. And if you really want, there will be camping allowed in one of the parking lots at the resort(bathrooms provided, but no showers).
I just skimmed this thread but, has it been announced where the 2012 nat champs will be? Or for that matter also the us open?
2012 National Champs will be held at Beech Mountain as well. It is almost always a 2 year deal.
not to beat a dead horse with this question...
but, based on the current pre-regs, hows the turnout for Cat2 looking like so far? are west coast / rocky mtn area racers representing well?
but, based on the current pre-regs, hows the turnout for Cat2 looking like so far? are west coast / rocky mtn area racers representing well?
does anyone know if there is camping on site?
Yes there will be camping in one of the 3 parking lots at the resort for a small fee with bathrooms/hoses provided.
thanks! that sounds perfect.
Thanks for the info!