2011 and 2012 USA Cycling National Championship events announced

Dirty J, Well Said. Weasel and the guys at the thrown of USAC are the puppet masters! Remember Weisel orchestrated the overthrowing of the former leader Gerard! His ties also link him as the major funder of the US Postal team and then Discovery.....no wonder Armstrong and the boys never tested positive! Yet as soon as any rider left the safety of the team, they started testing positive left and right.....Hamilton, Landis, Heras etc!

This organization is just a shell of what it should truly represent, and that is to support all facets of cycling, both for the Pro and Amateur!

We as the customers need to send our message by supporting the races and promoters that support the sport!

1. This is happening way beyond Kelli's pay grade, so don't take it out on her or even JHK. Weisel and Stapleton are the source of your misery.

2. The venue decision has to be about money coming in USAC's front door. Wiesel gutted the ability for USAC to generate income by starting the independent USACDF. This is where some bylaw changes would help bring some transparency and sanity into the process.

3. You all have choices. One excellent idea was the "USAC is High" Championships in Texas. Sanctioned by maybe one of the independent associations? Google "federation of independent associations cycling" Another idea is to start changing the bylaws of USAC. Weisel dominates the federation, but there's no reason why that has to continue.

4. USAC has no interest in growing the membership and hasn't for at least 10 years. Idaho as a Championships venue is yet another example. I would argue a federation that treats promoters and participants like customers bigger attracts the money needed to grow the Pro level. Others have different opinions. I may not be right.

The post above (at top) was not me. I usually dont post on these silly things.
I'm done with usac. Let them have their so-called "national championships" out west at altitude all they want. Let the racers that live there pat themselves on their little backs for having lived there and adjusted to the altitude. It really has little effect back here on the east coast where people really don't care. Those that do will soon learn not to care about some named race at altitude.
Europe is about as big as the east coast - easier to travel around there and race World Cups.
The US is huge. One industry guy said, "America is too big, pros and teams don't want to travel that far...".
I say split the country, east and west. It's about that way anyway.
If your a pro and want to do the usac thing, then move to CA where all their races are anyway. Don't try to live here and fly out all the time. Same thing with World Cup pros. If u want points, go the heck to Europe like all the roadies do and live and race there. We don't need uci here just for a handful of pros that want to stay home and be a world cup rider.
If your an east coast rider, then say f___ usac! don't support the bad things they do. If u give them your money and show up them u are saying that u fully support everything they do. Dont do it. The power of your dollar is a good way to make a statement. support quality events only.
ok, Im done here. over and out.

1. There are fast juniors all over the country. Giving an advantage to altitude juniors for 6 of 9 Nationals is not fair. It was really 7 of 9 however Mammoth moved at the last minute because of snow.

2. Living and training at altitude does not give an advantage? Are you kidding? Different people react differently to altitude. Also a non altitude racer training for altitude is counter productive for later non altitude races. Seth trained for Europe, not altitude and played the price at the Nationals however last year he did train for altitude and was still beaten by guys that he beat in every other race. Seth didn't peak. He has been fast in every race except the Nationals for the last 4 years.

3. Some World Cup venues are at 4,000 feet. Huge difference between 4,000 and 6,000+

4. If USAC is not aware of the juniors across the US that are discouraged and pissed because of the continual placement of the Nationals at altitude then they are not listening. I know of parents of some very fast juniors who have been very vocal about this for years and still USAC turns a deaf ear.

Build a winning program and there will be industry support. Shutting out 90% of the country is not the way to have a winning program.

If the goal is to have World Cup contenders, JHK needs to be fast at Mt. Snow because there are World Cup courses with those elements however Adam Craig being fast at altitude is pointless because none of the World Cup courses have altitude.

The saddest part of this story is USAC is supposed to be looking for the next great racers and the many fast 15-16-17 year olds from non altitude that were told they would get their chance next year are going to be locked out for another 2 years. Is that the vision of greatness from USAC? Sorry kids.

When will they have a course that has real terrain. Big narly rocks, boulders, and rock gardens and how about big logs. 2" and higher.

Mountain medicine recognizes three altitude regions that reflect the lowered amount of oxygen in the atmosphere: High altitude = 1,500–3,500 metres (4,900–11,500 ft)

Even though Idaho doesn't appear as high as Grandby, don't fool yourself in thinking it still doesn't benefit riders who live and train at altitude.

When is USA Cycling going to stop catering to high altitude venues, and get with the program?

I pledge to the people to shut down this institution and give mountain biking back to people. In times where unemployment is in double digits, the American people deserve to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. My other promise to the American people, is to get our troops out of Iraq, and to get our Nationals down from Altitude!

Final thought, then I'll shut up. Go to the mountain page on the USAC site, near the bottom under promotion is a page about the 2010 promoters summit. What BS: "share best practices, develop initiatives to advance the sport of mtn bike racing in the US, with special emphasis on national championships, pro xct etc." Seems to me that discussion is closed on national championships for the next two years. But at least the attendees have the chance to "check out the new USAC offices." You've just given the finger to 90% of US mountain bikers. You think we give a crap about your office?

I suspect USAC markets their "event" and gets in bed with chamber of commerce/ski resort that's dying for summer weekend traffic. Lots of promises of hotel bookings and full restaurants . Probably why they go 15 deep in all these age groups at regional events to "qualify" for nationals. Then pour out the emails saying "hey you're qualified for nationals" and if you're a 45 year old cat 2 that placed 15th you're thinking that's cool to go rub elbows with JHK etc. And they've got the jersey and the title to hold over the head of the racers that really care, but it smells more like cyclotourism for profit than a championship event.

Hypothetically speaking, that would be fun. Make a super cool Low Alt National Champ jersey. Keep it fun and laid back and irreverent and all about the racing - kind of like the Single Speed Worlds. Not a lot of those dudes in light blue shirts with the little flag yelling at you in the feed zone etc.

And to the disappointed junior, keep charging it, hit all the ProXC or US Cup stuff and do your best. Skip nationals and go to Texas that weekend for the inaugural Low Altitude Nationals. Then go to worlds and beat the national champ just like Seth Kemp did this year.

“We made the decision to split the disciplines based on member feedback from all types of mountain bikers,” said USA Cycling National Events Director Kelli Lusk. “This will allow both gravity and cross country athletes to compete on an ideal course in a setting specifically designed for their needs.”

Is that so?

As a junior Cat 1 racer with next season as his last year in the field, I can't tell you how unbelievably disappointing this is for me. Now as I go out thrashing my body through intervals, day after day, in preparation to make my dream of being National champion a reality, I'll know I'm not just training to become the strongest in the nation. But will need to go far beyond that to make up for this unfair advantage that has once again been handed to my competitors lucky enough to live at altitude. I must say USA Cycling, this is not making this 'promising' junior want to stick with the sport.

Any promoters out there up for a "low altitude nationals" the same weekend? Sell "USAC is High" T shirts and make a bundle.

I'd like to hear what National Mountain Bike Development Director Marc Gullickson thinks. If you're out there somewhere, could you tell us why this doesnt' suck if you turn say 18 or 23 in 2012?