Wow - third year in and nothing has changed / progressed. Still shuttling to the top at every round, still putting entry numbers ahead of listening to the riders who have been supporting your series for the past two seasons. Don't you read what's happening in the rest of the world Rockytrail? Don't you read articles in magazines (some of which you are quoted in right next to the likes of Michael Ronning and Josh Carlson? Read the latest Flow article on Jared Graves - they all say the same thing - the way you're running these events is NOT Gravity Enduro - it's soft DH racing on trail bikes.
Enduro is about blending xc fitness and dh skill. I'm sorry but Thredbo - as fun as it was - is just a dumbed down DH trail. Same goes for Stromlo. There is little to no endurance aspect to it at all (race run fitness yes, endurance no). But hey - same weekend as the DH race - I'm sure that'll get you lot's of extra $$$ as the DH guys who don't want to pedal up a hill will likely all enter.
As the the body running these events in NSW and ACT - you have a responsibility to grow and develop this discipline so that riders who participate, particularly the younger ones, one day represent us favorably on the world stage. I'm sure as a commercial entity your motivations must be divided but at the end of the day if the series - now in it's third year - isn't at least making an effort to mirror the format(s) as seen internationally - and are clearly geared towards quantity of riders not quality of event - there is an obvious problem.
Ok - I'm commercial. You want to get the numbers - fine - I understand the reality of running a small business. So how about this:
- Offer uplift at all the races for practice. (that'll get you your numbers and make it fun for everyone as we all want to smash runs out without being spent for the race runs).
- As far as tracks go - include some decent fitness elements like short uphill sprints like you had at Stromlo last year - (not that dog of an XC track number 3 that everyone hated this year) or Jelly Legs climb at Ourimbah etc. You have enough racers who've been doing this for a few years who's opinions you can canvass as to what tracks suck and which ones are good. You don't race GE so perhaps you should be asking those who do?
- Once racing starts - it's climb to the top under your own power and pedal between stages (like this years Stromlo but without the Shuttle - if you could get one - to the top). If you want to encourage newbies - great - shuttle Sport class and perhaps the kiddies to the top for their race runs. Make the big boys and girls work for it.
Idea:
What about this for Thredbo: Chairlifts for practice. Three races runs. First run - chairlift to top, race half way down . Pedal back up the mountain within a set time (miss your start - clock starts ticking as it's done in the EWS). Second run - top to bottom on flow track. Third run - pedal half way up the mountain and race from the middle back down. How about using part of the DH track but if you have to - bunt off the big jumps / nastier features. Yes, people will need DH lids. These can be bought for $100 and people should be wearing them anyway at many of the tracks (racing the first half of the Ourimbah track in an XC lid is flat out dangerous).
Finally - make registration for all events online only. This way - you'll know beforehand how many shuttle vehicles to have so the Stromlo shuttle fiasco is avoided.
Rant over (for now).
Well said.
1. Safety, need to take it seriously, been lucky so far.
2. Organised, rider briefing, online entries
3. It's now on a world stage , let's follow that same format.
4. Listen to the riders. Analyse who is commenting, understand the demographic.
Shuttling is great, but should be left to practice where possible.
Thredbo will evolve, new tracks etc, what about a late arvo stage after the lift has closed, where we have to ride up to bunny walk, so we don't waste the chair?
Full face helmets are a must. This shit is dangerous, 2 deaths in the last few months, both head injuries (stromlo & Brisbane)
Hope to enjoy some great racing next year!!
See yous out there
op2: I'm aware you can choose to ride up if you want but it doesn't make for a fair race with people shuttling. 
