Thread: 'Most Laps' super-D-ish race format...

Yeah, that race just screams enduro format. Untimed transfer stages on the road up to sticks n stones, the climb to Lightning Ridge, and then make 3-4 timed descents. The resort descent is a straight-up DH run. Sticks N Stones could be the mini DH chainless, and the big Millcreek descent has enough false flats and bursty ups to give the pedalers a real chance.

Just cause I have to be at work for another hour and figured the more constructive my feedback the better chance it'll be listened to... Here is exactly how I would run the race if I could (and I'd love to help...again).

Make it a two day "enduro". You'll attract racers. Guaranteed.

Open the race up with a chainless downhill the evening before the remaining stages. I'd suggest a Saturday PM start of around 4:30PM (or later). This way riders get most of Saturday to practice and race without needing to take additional days off work (if you work a conventional job that is). Plus, this gives people an entire evening to put their chains back on (should be easy I know...but...)

I think any number of trails would work great for a chainless race. Sidwinder from the intersection off Buffalo Drop would be my suggestion. However, anything off the top would be great too (to make timing easier...more below). Something between 5-12 minutes is ideal IMO. A good (short) backup option would be to run that little bit on Sticks and Stones we ran in the race yesterday. Although likely not long enough to separate the top riders by much. (that section can't be more than a few minutes)

In my mind, the chainless is sort of the "prologue" to the race as the race isn't going to be won during it but can certainly be lost (with a flat/mechanical).

Day two (Sunday) run 2-3 stages. I realize moving timing equipment makes everything much harder/longer so I'd suggest running them from the same start/end and utilizing different trails from there (it seems as there are enough!). My two suggestions would be:

1) Grand Traverse to Buffalo Drop to Sidewinder (add the bit back up the fireroad to lower sticks and stones if you want to reward pedalers)
2) Grand Traverse to Sticks and Stones down

Finally, if you really wanted to mix it up run a Mill Creek XC as part of the race. In short, do a stage from fireroad at the bottom of the ghee (at the bottom), up to the bottom portion of sticks and stones via the fireroad (the part we ran yesterday) to the bottom of Mill Creek via Lightening Ridge. Run this as a mass start XC race by category/gender. This way you don't need to move timing in full, only need to log the gaps between racers. As they did in Aspen, it'd make the most sense to "half" the time gaps created in the XC portion as to not overly skew it to this part. (the pedalers will dominate here).

Oh, and only one bike. No suspension/frame/changes other than broken parts and tires.

That's it!

^^ Nice suggestions JJ, only thing I'd add is it would be a shame to lose the run down into millcreek from the saddle off lightning ridge. That was a good rip!

Originally Posted by rideit

I need to be clear that this isn't my gig, but I do have the organizers' ear, and he knows I am pretty active with all of this kind of media and feedback.
Love to hear more suggestions, for sure. To me, it would be perfect if different people had the possibility of winning different stages based on specific skillets, with points going towards the overall.
Hey, what about those swell first place trophies, eh, kids? (heh)

I had the same thought about breaking out some segments and awarding best dh-er, climber etc.

Comments I heard were generally in two categories, too much uphill or just plain loved it. Way more of the latter. Seemed to me that a little less uphill might even out the climbing/descending balance to where you're rewarding all around riders, which I think is a good goal. Thanks for all the input, we'll make sure it gets heard.

I watched sections of Sticks and Stones and it was impressive to see riders transition from the toughest uphill and pull it together enough to ride a downhill trail with aggression.

Originally Posted by panchosdad

I had the same thought about breaking out some segments and awarding best dh-er, climber etc.

Comments I heard were generally in two categories, too much uphill or just plain loved it. Way more of the latter. Seemed to me that a little less uphill might even out the climbing/descending balance to where you're rewarding all around riders, which I think is a good goal. Thanks for all the input, we'll make sure it gets heard.

I watched sections of Sticks and Stones and it was impressive to see riders transition from the toughest uphill and pull it together enough to ride a downhill trail with aggression.

To be clear I DID love it and BADLY would love to do the exact same race again less having a mechanical (but I think I'm in the minority). Sounds like you guys have a large amount of freedom with the Forest Service so I see no reason why you shouldn't try and run something that'll make the most amount of racers happy/show up. Realize, these types of races (enduro stage races) are in high demand. You attract XC guys, DH guys, and everyone in between.

I will win with my skillet set next year, for sure!

Wish I could have been there, sounds pretty sweet. Good work everyone who raced.

JJ did you blow up ANOTHER guide or was yours still held together with duct tape and zip ties since the Wasatch Enduro?

Originally Posted by beaterdit

Wish I could have been there, sounds pretty sweet. Good work everyone who raced.

JJ did you blow up ANOTHER guide or was yours still held together with duct tape and zip ties since the Wasatch Enduro?

No comment (and add XTR deraileur to the broken parts list)

Originally Posted by panchosdad

I watched sections of Sticks and Stones and it was impressive to see riders transition from the toughest uphill and pull it together enough to ride a downhill trail with aggression.

Probably one of the best places to watch! I felt like a limp noodle dropping into sticks n stones after that climb. Sketchy! Took it easy up top and generated speed/got the lungs back enough to be sure I could clear the little diving board gapper, that thing was fun.