Race Entry Fees, MTBA, etc ...
Could I just add, the percentage of MTBA v's NON MTBA entrants is totally out of proportion. Most seem to only enter a couple of events every year and purchase day licences. This prevents MTBA from running other programs such as high performance coaching and junior development clinics that other sports throw obscene amounts of money at.
This is always something which has intrigued me. Event at the Scott 24hr, only 18% of the riders were MTBA members. Now, a lot of these may be people new to the sport who subsequently decide to take up membership - but we don't have hard data on that.
The stranger thing is that there are people out there who are not members of MTBA clubs, but pay more each year in day licenses than a membership would cost
For info, the financial break-even point is just under 6 races per year. So, if you do more than 5 MTBA affiliated races per year, its cheaper to join an MTBA club than to pay day licenses. That ignores the higher level of insurance coverage that you get for being a full member than a day license coverage.
But - I don't want MTBA to be seen as an insurance company - and I don't want it to be seen as a racing organisation either (see next point) ...
MTBA is running things like coaching and development clinics, and we have recently been successful at getting back some high-performance $$ after is was cancelled in Dec 2009. We're not "throwing obscene amounts at it" - but I would love to be able to
And right there is the problem with MTBA. The majority of 'competitors' in an endurance race/ride (such as the recent Highland Fling) aren't really there to 'race' but to do their best time or, in my case, have a fun day out on the bike in like company.
MTBA's sole focus seems to be for the racing elite. All the information I ever receive from them is about a race series here, a race series there and absolutely nothing about simple organised rides or track/trails opening up etc etc. Most MTB riders don't identify with the 'race crowd' and therefore don't see any value for them in MTBA. If MTBA wants to increase its membership then it needs to appeal to the wider range of MTB riders not just racing/coaching/development of elite riders.
Totally agree - especially with the last sentence.
OK - there are basically three types of events in Australia:
. Events staged by MTBA affiliated clubs or private promoters (eg local Club races, Scott 24hr)
. Events staged by MTBA directly (eg National Series)
. Events staged by non-affiliated event promoters (eg Highland Fling, Otway Odyssey)
I can see why people might think that MTBA's focus is on the racing elite, but that is because the races that MTBA puts on (visibly) are largely for that group (the Jayco National Series for example). The reason for this is that we need that level of competition at the peak of our sport - but those events actually lose money - so which club or promoter is going to put on a loss-making event? The result is that those events are run by MTBA because no one else will - so that gives the impression that MTBA is about the "racing elite".
In case you're interested, at least one club - CORC - does run a loss-making race, the Easter Solo Only 24Hr. But CORC does that because CORC thinks it is a worthwhile activity in developing the sport.
Lots of other clubs will run loss-making activities, such as social rides, junior days etc, for the same reason - it is good for the sport. And, I am sure that if you did a comprehensive financial analysis which included equipment storage costs, depreciation etc, that many of the club races at about the $5 to $10 entry fee bracket would suddenly turn out to be loss-making events too.
But all of these things, club races, week-day crits, trail rides, social activites, run by affiliated clubs and promoters,
are actually MTBA events - they just aren't badged that way. They are badged to the club or affiliated promoter, and I think that is appropriate because they are the ones doing the work to put them on, and people "mentally" join clubs. MTBA provides the structure under which these clubs can operate and their events can be conducted. So, please remember, next time you're riding in one of these, that you are in an MTBA event.
Race Entry Costs
Ultimately the marketplace will decide. The fantastic thing is that there is so much choice out there right now. The value that individual riders associate with a particular event is up to them to determine, and then they make the value-for-money decision. There are great races which cost $10 to enter, and there are great races which cost $1000s to enter. But you will each get different things from those different races, and that is your choice to make.
As RED_RACER has obliquely pointed out, the actual race entry fee is likely to be the single cheapest component of your weekend. Travel, accom, repairs all add up.
The organisation staging an event or race needs to ultimately make money from it. A club will have things it needs to pay for (storage, timing, PA, the club trailer) and a private promoter needs to put bread on the table in addition to this. The club will also have its own aims (junior rider support, womens development etc) which need to be funded.
I might also add that the expectation of riders for event services at major events has gone up over the years. It wasn't too many years ago that there were no showers at races - yet recently at a major race there were heaps of complaints when the shower truck was not open for the full duration of the event. These things cost money, and ultimately it is the riders who pay for them. Want a fright? The cost for toilets and showers at the 2010 Scott 24Hr/World Solos was $22,500 - so there is where $9 of your race entry went
Russ Baker
president@mtba.asn.au
