NROC - Share Your Ideas for Race Series

[sxevegan]

Checking the results of the open class in Duluth more than half the 2500 skaters finished in 2:15 or more.

Steve

I'm not sure i see your point

[inlinesk8race]

Checking the results of the open class in Duluth more than half the 2500 skaters finished in 2:15 or more.

Steve

I'm not sure i see your point

Just pointing out that a marathon is a lot of exercise for the majority of skaters.

[sxevegan]

Checking the results of the open class in Duluth more than half the 2500 skaters finished in 2:15 or more.

Steve

I'm not sure i see your point

Just pointing out that a marathon is a lot of exercise for the majority of skaters.

For a lot of skaters it is. For some skaters it's not. Depending on the background of the skater it may not be much at all. I'm not saying they should ALL be long distance events, I'm just saying I'd like to see one or 2.

[tdellaringa]

Ah, that post was from me...bummer... I will try to summarize what I had said. I think it's a wonderful idea to help the sport. My suggestions were...

1) Have a website available that will track the series as it goes along, with results, photos, video, interviews, etc. It will be more interesting for participants and people who are just interested if they can follow along with their own results or their favorite person (so maybe they could have a personalized page that shows their favorite skaters). I had myself as an example, who is currently an average speedskater. I won't be placing in my division any time soon, but I'd still like to follow and see where I'm currently at - even it's in 500th place. I can see who I'm near, who I might be able to pass, teammates that may be close, etc. Make it something interesting and dynamic that will feed the event.

2) I think the ultra distances should be kept out of the series. I think they are great, but not enough people attend them. It's more accessible to everyone if kept to marathon distances. If you include the ultras, you are automatically going to skew it toward those people who are able to train and do such an event. Plus with A2A you have 3 separate distances. I think standard marathons is the way to go, with maybe some halfs thrown in. Time trials are a neat idea too.

3) I would also keep it exclusively outdoor - I'm not sure if that is assumed or not. Indoor has all kinds of events and whatnot already.

4) The yellow jersey was my idea, but I realize the jersey can be a problem. I had suggested instead maybe shorts. Could be tricky for those with skinsuits though. Boot covers might be weird, especially in the summer heat. Actually a helmet makes a lot of sense. I don't know of any teams that have sponsors on helmets. The new quick adjust helmets would work to fit most people, and the division could be imprinted on the helmet on one side and something like "leader" on the other. They could be wiped down with disinfectant between races

Rough idea - maybe something like this - just food for thought:



5) I wanted to keep it interesting for the average joe somehow, even if they may not win. So get the prizes in the divisions as deep as possible too - top 10 would be great. Maybe even ribbons or simple medals for the top 20? I don't know, there's a lot of people like me out there who are just getting into the sport, or are at the same skill level as me where we're really interested in the sport, taking it seriously, doing our best but simply not pro/elite racers. It would be great if somehow it's appealing to us as well.

I think that was it...

Tom

[tdellaringa]

I like the idea of having a time trial. Unlike the TDF you'd have to go by points instead of raw time though. I think the TT would have to piggy back on another race if you want to see good attendence. I don't think many people would travel for just a time trial.

Agreed - and hey, the Chicagoland Inline Marathon is having Time Trials this year

A variety of distances sounds best to me. A lot of pople think of a marathon as a "long distance" event but compared to other sports it's relatively short. A good skater can do a marathon in just over an hour. Compare that you triathlon where a SPRINT distance event usually takes about the same amount of time. An "international distance" takes a decent triathlete right around 2 hours to complete. A half iron distance takes 4 hours for a pro. Even a 100k for a good skater would take less time than a half iron distance tri.

My problem is that I don't want to eliminate the average to above average skater from having any hope of competing in the series. If we're going to make this something that only caters to the elite of our sport, then it becomes something that only matters for a very few racers. Why bother then? As someone said, for most skaters a marathon is a very significant effort - anything longer is only viable for a very small minority of racers.

I think a marathon distance for skating is great, but in a series like this it would be fun to switch it up a bit. MAybe something like a 10k TT, 20k road race, a last man out crit, a few marathons, and one or two ultra distance races.

Other than the ultra's I'm with you. However, you already have most races for next year planned and set up - or close to it. But there are already races that will fit that to make it interesting. For example the Road America 20k and 13k would fit in nicely. Plus, it's something unique to the racing circuit - done on a real race track with some nasty hills to boot

[tdellaringa]

For a lot of skaters it (marathon distance) is. For some skaters it's not. Depending on the background of the skater it may not be much at all. I'm not saying they should ALL be long distance events, I'm just saying I'd like to see one or 2.

I think what's being said, and what I agree with, is that it is a long distance for *most* skaters. I think there is a reason the longer races are considered "ultra" distances - they are beyond what is normally considered long distance.

Again I want to point out that if this is going to be a series skewed toward only elite skaters, then I'm not sure what the point of doing it is. Our sport needs help as a *whole*, which for me means appealing to as many "serious" skaters as possible to get them to come to these races.

What is ideal in my mind is that in every race, you see that "yellow helmet" spread across the whole spectrum of skaters, where you have everyone competing or at least participating in the series, making it more interesting for everyone.

Maybe it comes down to what the real motives and goals of the series are - which I am not sure has been fully articulated yet.

[Jim White]

Tdellaringa, thanks for repeating your posting. You had some good ideas, didn't want to loose them.

Rearding yellow helmets/jerseys, I don't know whether I think either is a good idea, but if the general comcept is good, then yellow helmet covers are another option.

[tdellaringa]

No problem. I would wonder if helmet covers would fall off or prohibit cooling by covering up vents. I guess I just think it would be neat to recognize the leaders somehow during the race. Maybe it's simpler - maybe it's just a pin on thing that goes on the back of a jersey.

[tdellaringa]

Maybe something like this.

[Jim White]

Spectacular!

[tdellaringa]

Thanks, you know, now that I think about it too - it'd be something you could keep too, it would be a nice "trophy" of sorts - that you were in first place in your division at some point (and maybe more than once I'm sure, for some people).

[rglittrell]

The race number is a perfect idea, I like it. Cost effective but significant enough to value.. Keep those thoughts coming.