Wow what a great site, glad to see the communication. As a CAT 1 racer I probably don't know much but here's my two cents:
Personally I think cross country rules and I want to see it come back in full force. I think what the US Cup is doing is awesome.
But it does seem strange that if you want to build a great XC series that you would make SD, STXC manditory to crown the XC champ or all mountain champ as they call it? They don't make you ride all three events at the US Nationals just to win the Stars and Stripes, so why would you make them do that in the US Cup. Plus how do you value each of the disciplines? Certainly the XC has to be worth more than the SD and STXC wins etc....so to have a points system that confuses the fans/riders probably isn't very smart either. We all know how confusing USA Cycling makes things with their point structure, class categories: CAT 1, CAT 3 etc.....I think the simplier the better if you want non Mountain bike spectators to understand and enjoy the sport. Plus if TV is ever your goal,then you have to simplify it even more for the layman to understand.
Again I'm no pro rider, so I could be out of line. But this sport isn't like baseball where you play 150+ games a year or even Supercross where they go to 17 stadiums across the nation. Cycling is way more demanding on the body in terms of training and recovery, so you would think racing 3X ini two days would take its toll on our top riders after awhile? And these riders are still wanting to go race World Cups, so they really don't want to waste any extra effort than they have to.
Plus that would get expensive for teams with multiple riders to fund 3 events per week, plus equipment etc. From what I heard money is tight and that is why some teams pulled out of XC this year (Trek) in the US? Scott's concept seems to be counter intuitive to me.
I say keep them separate and let the Pro's decide what they want to race! I didn't see Kabush race SD, but he won the race that counted. I would take Kabush's win in the XC over Decker's SD win any day of the week.
But do bring back short track.....that is spectator friendly and the action is sick.
Oh and keep Kady on the lead moto.....I remember when Ty used to race at our Dallas SX in Irving and Houston....glad to see you have a guy who actually knows how to ride!
MX Josh-Dallas,TX
I just wanted to say a big thank to Scott and Ty Kady, I think they are doing a great job. The buzz back on the East Coast is ready for them to head back here to Windham and Mt. Snow...can't wait.
But as an ex pro athlete and an avid mountain biker, I'm not sure Scott's concept is going to sit well with the top Pro's? Again you should probably poll the riders and get their feedback.
With the current schedule these riders race and the demands on the body, I think making all 3 disciplines mandatory isn't a great idea if your looking to draw the cream of the crop XC riders to chase the #1 plate.
I thought the concept was to bring back cross country racing to the US and take it to the next level? Again I applaud Scott, but I would think this concept burns out some of our riders and turns away the top national and international racers who focus solely on XC from coming to the series?
I also saw where they put out a press release saying they (US Cup) were taking on gravity for 2010? Then people have told me they are talking about hosting two world cups and possibly an 18 round series next year on some of the local blogs?
Again I think the high energy is great, but that model of trying to be "all things to all people" is what happened to the old series in the first place. You spread the promoters, riders and sponsors so thin, you essentially run yourself out of the running.
Personally I would rather see a great cross country series come back to the US with some short track. We need to hit great venues like Mt. Snow, Windham, Conyers, GA, NOVA, Waco. Just like the Pro's us Amatuers only have so many races in us, plus we actually have jobs, family's and other commitments that we need to tend to.
But great job....keep it up
I tend to agree that would not be good for crowning a pure XC champion. These guys/gals only have so many bullets to fire per year and to waste them racing 3 times in 2 days doesn't seem to help them for World Cup races were its cross country only. Plus your burning our riders out and leaving them tired when they travel over to Europe to compete.
Plus if you really want the Euro's over here they may not be up for SD, STXC and XC.
And then what about extra equipment, entry fee's etc for the teams? Isn't there a shortage of money from what we keep hearing, how will that effect them because now they have to field a team of riders with specific bikes...that's if you run a true Super D style course.
Not that I'm a genius by any stretch here but look at Willow Koerber's post race interview that you did. She admits that there are only so many days in their legs per year.
I totally applaud Scott Tedro's efforts, and part of brain-storming for new ideas to make something better is throwing things out there that may get shot down. But ya don't know until you ask/try them.
Of course I think the giant squad would be all over the new plan! haha!
Thanks for all your work Colt!!!!
Brien
brienf said: “Hey there,
Glad to see that they have found the resources to have some short track races this year. Its always a fun one to watch.
The proposed changes to the way the pro's weekend is put together though doesn't sound like it would help them compete internationally at all. And it may keep the euros away too, which I know a goal of theirs is to get the euros back over here like it used to be.
Obviously poll the pro riders and team managers and see what they come up with. But it could mean more bikes per rider for the teams ( and independent riders too) which will increase the cost of everything.
Who knows but it'll be interesting for sure, and I'm happy that we're even having the conversation period. Huge Thanks to Scott Tedro and Sho-Air!”
You bring up an interesting point. Having the domestic riders race 3 time in two days at every national race is not only nothing like a World Cup, but will leave their legs a lot more stressed- meaning more time to recover.
You can only get after it so many times per year.. I'll talk to some riders about it and get the interviews up here.
Hey there,
Glad to see that they have found the resources to have some short track races this year. Its always a fun one to watch.
The proposed changes to the way the pro's weekend is put together though doesn't sound like it would help them compete internationally at all. And it may keep the euros away too, which I know a goal of theirs is to get the euros back over here like it used to be.
Obviously poll the pro riders and team managers and see what they come up with. But it could mean more bikes per rider for the teams ( and independent riders too) which will increase the cost of everything.
Who knows but it'll be interesting for sure, and I'm happy that we're even having the conversation period. Huge Thanks to Scott Tedro and Sho-Air!
The man behind the new US Cup, Scott Tedro announces to Cyclingdirt his plans for the 2009 STXC triple crown and some interesting plans for the future of the series.. April 2, 2009
Scott Tedro On STXC
Personally I think cross country rules and I want to see it come back in full force. I think what the US Cup is doing is awesome.
But it does seem strange that if you want to build a great XC series that you would make SD, STXC manditory to crown the XC champ or all mountain champ as they call it? They don't make you ride all three events at the US Nationals just to win the Stars and Stripes, so why would you make them do that in the US Cup. Plus how do you value each of the disciplines? Certainly the XC has to be worth more than the SD and STXC wins etc....so to have a points system that confuses the fans/riders probably isn't very smart either. We all know how confusing USA Cycling makes things with their point structure, class categories: CAT 1, CAT 3 etc.....I think the simplier the better if you want non Mountain bike spectators to understand and enjoy the sport. Plus if TV is ever your goal,then you have to simplify it even more for the layman to understand.
Again I'm no pro rider, so I could be out of line. But this sport isn't like baseball where you play 150+ games a year or even Supercross where they go to 17 stadiums across the nation. Cycling is way more demanding on the body in terms of training and recovery, so you would think racing 3X ini two days would take its toll on our top riders after awhile? And these riders are still wanting to go race World Cups, so they really don't want to waste any extra effort than they have to.
Plus that would get expensive for teams with multiple riders to fund 3 events per week, plus equipment etc. From what I heard money is tight and that is why some teams pulled out of XC this year (Trek) in the US? Scott's concept seems to be counter intuitive to me.
I say keep them separate and let the Pro's decide what they want to race! I didn't see Kabush race SD, but he won the race that counted. I would take Kabush's win in the XC over Decker's SD win any day of the week.
But do bring back short track.....that is spectator friendly and the action is sick.
Oh and keep Kady on the lead moto.....I remember when Ty used to race at our Dallas SX in Irving and Houston....glad to see you have a guy who actually knows how to ride!
MX Josh-Dallas,TX
But as an ex pro athlete and an avid mountain biker, I'm not sure Scott's concept is going to sit well with the top Pro's? Again you should probably poll the riders and get their feedback.
With the current schedule these riders race and the demands on the body, I think making all 3 disciplines mandatory isn't a great idea if your looking to draw the cream of the crop XC riders to chase the #1 plate.
I thought the concept was to bring back cross country racing to the US and take it to the next level? Again I applaud Scott, but I would think this concept burns out some of our riders and turns away the top national and international racers who focus solely on XC from coming to the series?
I also saw where they put out a press release saying they (US Cup) were taking on gravity for 2010? Then people have told me they are talking about hosting two world cups and possibly an 18 round series next year on some of the local blogs?
Again I think the high energy is great, but that model of trying to be "all things to all people" is what happened to the old series in the first place. You spread the promoters, riders and sponsors so thin, you essentially run yourself out of the running.
Personally I would rather see a great cross country series come back to the US with some short track. We need to hit great venues like Mt. Snow, Windham, Conyers, GA, NOVA, Waco. Just like the Pro's us Amatuers only have so many races in us, plus we actually have jobs, family's and other commitments that we need to tend to.
But great job....keep it up
Plus if you really want the Euro's over here they may not be up for SD, STXC and XC.
And then what about extra equipment, entry fee's etc for the teams? Isn't there a shortage of money from what we keep hearing, how will that effect them because now they have to field a team of riders with specific bikes...that's if you run a true Super D style course.
I totally applaud Scott Tedro's efforts, and part of brain-storming for new ideas to make something better is throwing things out there that may get shot down. But ya don't know until you ask/try them.
Of course I think the giant squad would be all over the new plan! haha!
Thanks for all your work Colt!!!!
Brien
“Hey there,
Glad to see that they have found the resources to have some short track races this year. Its always a fun one to watch.
The proposed changes to the way the pro's weekend is put together though doesn't sound like it would help them compete internationally at all. And it may keep the euros away too, which I know a goal of theirs is to get the euros back over here like it used to be.
Obviously poll the pro riders and team managers and see what they come up with. But it could mean more bikes per rider for the teams ( and independent riders too) which will increase the cost of everything.
Who knows but it'll be interesting for sure, and I'm happy that we're even having the conversation period. Huge Thanks to Scott Tedro and Sho-Air!”
You can only get after it so many times per year.. I'll talk to some riders about it and get the interviews up here.
Glad to see that they have found the resources to have some short track races this year. Its always a fun one to watch.
The proposed changes to the way the pro's weekend is put together though doesn't sound like it would help them compete internationally at all. And it may keep the euros away too, which I know a goal of theirs is to get the euros back over here like it used to be.
Obviously poll the pro riders and team managers and see what they come up with. But it could mean more bikes per rider for the teams ( and independent riders too) which will increase the cost of everything.
Who knows but it'll be interesting for sure, and I'm happy that we're even having the conversation period. Huge Thanks to Scott Tedro and Sho-Air!