Mountain Bike Racing - Indy races/series(No norba)

So what are your thoughts on sanctioned norba races, requireing a license, and independant races, requireing a bike of some sort.

I did an indy race in Feb that kicked ass and it's part of a points series with five other indy races. Just show up hand them the entery fee and wait for the "Go". I found it well run, marked, advertized and without a bunch of 'official' nonsense.



The next in the series is April 24 and run by a totaly different group. These are all established races that got together this year and said lets use the same points scale and make a series of it.


--Washington

The next race in the indy series I'm triing out is april 24.

I think that they are great. I do a series sort of like that, they do require a license but not a NORBA license. It's called the EFTA (Eastern Fat Tire Association) series and only one race that they have in their lineup this year is a NORBA event and it's the state qualifier for NORBA Nationals. I personally love the series, it is very well run and have a blast with it.

Good luck in your next indy race.

I did another today, and it was good, well run that is, not overly official but not sloppy either. I showed up a bit late so I started with the older dudes like 6 or 8 minutes behind my, 19-29 y.o., category. I must be getting better as I still managed second to last in my category and my legs weren't burning. I did feel like I needed to puke for a good part of the race and I slept twisted so my back was aching pretty bad.

Oh, and I forgot my helmet so a 12year old girl loaned me hers, I would have given her a 5 or 10 spot after the race but I didn't have a way of breaking a fifty.

Next one is May 15 on Whidbey island.

I say more power to any indy race series that can stay afloat. The more races/venues the better, IMHO. I guess you guys HAD to do something over there, since Round and Round pulled back from western Washington, huh?

The only real drawback I see is from the race promoter's end, really. Since they don't have the power of NORBA's insurance backing, if liability issue happens, it could sink them instantly.

I'm not quite sure why so many people are down on NORBA, though. Yes it has its issues, but it is the only real viable sanctioning body. Dunno, I guess I just figure if you're going to race, NORBA licensing fees and stuff come with the territory. Maybe it's 'cause I came from a motorcycle background. Seems like every race, no matter how backwoods, in our state was AMA sanctioned - - if you wanted to race you had to have an AMA competition license, period.

I just wish that NORBA would get treated like a little less of a stepchild by USA Cycling.

Doug Minor
(WA's dry side)