So far, from what I've heard and seen, different areas of the country seem to have far different course layouts and styles... What's it like in your neck of the woods?

Minnesota cross seems to be less technical and with more big (sometimes hugs) runups. also, yesterdays race was the first of the season that actually had barriers that you had to know how to get over. all of the other ones on the season so far had been on a hill followed by a run up or on a turn, so you were always going pretty slow when you hit them. there hasn't been much pavement out here.

just curious how it plays out. the weather has been awesome. we had one really crazy muddy race, and that was a blast. It seems that the east coast has more crazy sand pit action (although we got to run a beach in Hudson).. I guess that maybe it just boils down to the course...But I seem to do best when they're fast and flat with a crazy run up....I'll try to find pictures of courses!

My experience is extremely limited, but it seems the huge mountain bicycling presence in the area somewhat informs the course designs.

Then again I've often heard of local races referred to as "run heavy."

Here they seem to favor more MTB. Pretty technical with some long paved stretches and sand. As for mud, it's been 80 freaking degrees and dry for the last month. I'm dying for some killer mud.

Hit my first sand pit today. It was basically "go ride that 75ft section of beach ... hahahaha, good ****ing luck!"