So - 6-9th of March in Bright, VIC:
http://www.marathonmtb.com/2013/11/04/subaru-australian-mtb-championships-head-to-bright/
http://www.marathonmtb.com/2013/11/04/subaru-australian-mtb-championships-head-to-bright/
2013 #XCM Series
- Thread starter PharLap
- Start date
I suspect many are waiting to hear more of the details to decide!
Can't believe they haven't been more forthcoming!6 races now 5?
http://wayback.archive.org/web/20131031134513/http://mtb.subaru.com.au/
February Race removed from Calendar? Now 5 Races in 2 months.
http://mtb.subaru.com.au/xcm-series/
http://wayback.archive.org/web/20131031134513/http://mtb.subaru.com.au/
February Race removed from Calendar? Now 5 Races in 2 months.
http://mtb.subaru.com.au/xcm-series/
geoff_tewierik
Likes Dirt
geoff_tewierik
Likes Dirt
The series is specifically aimed at the Elite riders, and not the majority of actual riders of the events.
Elite riders are sponsored, therefore they can get between all the events in the time frame due to sponsor dollars.
Joe Bloggs, bad luck for you.
Ackland
chats d'élevage
Not many fully funded elites in Aus.....
akashra
Eats Squid
Yeah, you may have also noticed that what was to be round 3 of the XCO/DH series on the last weekend of February is now a split round, with DHI on that weekend but XCO moved back a week (a week before National Championships), and has also been moved from Jindabyne (which is listed on the UCI website) to Echuca/Moama.
Seems to me that one of the issues with CA organizing mtb events is that they don't really understand or want to understand the mtb rider, they are very different to road racers who will attend CA races simply because it is organised by CA. The elite and good junior mtb riders will attend because they are chasing selection for the worlds and com games.
The primary selection criteria for areas to run CA mtb events was based around how many $$ the local government would put into the event, not the quality of tracks, history of event,etc. I support the positive to CA running these events rather than mtba is that they will have to carry the financial burden if /when the rider numbers are down for events. Or maybe riders will flock to the new events, when we find out where they are being run!
The primary selection criteria for areas to run CA mtb events was based around how many $$ the local government would put into the event, not the quality of tracks, history of event,etc. I support the positive to CA running these events rather than mtba is that they will have to carry the financial burden if /when the rider numbers are down for events. Or maybe riders will flock to the new events, when we find out where they are being run!
Art Vanderlay
Hourly daily
Probably won't know until you cross the finish line....
geoff_tewierik
Likes Dirt
Awww, CA couldn't do it, now it's in MTBA's lap, and it's a 3 round series.
geoff_tewierik
Likes Dirt
Theory is it's all about having events so riders can get UCI points to be eligible for the World Cup in Cairns in April.
As XCM isn't run at the World Cup it's been let slide, for the moment.
As XCM isn't run at the World Cup it's been let slide, for the moment.
Tony Scott
Cannon Fodder
2014 XCM season
At this time CA events still reckon they can 'turn a buck' from the XCM series and have retained management. This is also factored by the the fact that one of the rounds is coupled with the Bright MTB Nationals that they also have retained (correctly in my opinion, and where an XCM series round is an obligation) and there is a contracted PP in the mix for another. The XCM Champs are to be held at Mt Joyce - also a 'contracted' obligation.
The MTB community need to prove to MTBA and to CA that National series events do not have to be a money sink with huge negative returns and the best way to that is to support the events.
PS there is a UCI XCM World Cup series actually...
Well this may be somewhat true but not a complete answer. One of the main reasons for the shift back to MTBA of the XC and DH series is that it lost CA a significant amount of doe in the 2013 season putting all the bells and whistles on each round and venue. It was considered that there would be little hope of reversing the trend in 2014. Other CA specific events have also been ditched for the same reason.
At this time CA events still reckon they can 'turn a buck' from the XCM series and have retained management. This is also factored by the the fact that one of the rounds is coupled with the Bright MTB Nationals that they also have retained (correctly in my opinion, and where an XCM series round is an obligation) and there is a contracted PP in the mix for another. The XCM Champs are to be held at Mt Joyce - also a 'contracted' obligation.
The MTB community need to prove to MTBA and to CA that National series events do not have to be a money sink with huge negative returns and the best way to that is to support the events.
PS there is a UCI XCM World Cup series actually...
Antsonline
Likes Dirt
You live in a dream world if you think its up to the CONSUMER / MEMBERSHIP to prove anything to a GOVERNING BODY that is desperate to prove its relevance to is membership, and is slowly sinking without trace. Just the lack of commentary on the matter across all media outlets says enough to the position of MTBA in the memberships mind, and also the lack of surprise that something would 'come up'....
Here's the approach that members might expect - just at a guess - put on good events, charge reasonable money, hold them at accessible venues, consider all riders - other than just the very thin pointed end of the eliite wedge, and then we will possibly watch for a year, and then come along.
Imagine a corporate company saying: "shareholders need to continue to invest in this business before we think about delivering profit or providing any dividend or return on investment"