Vermont Races
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 7:31 pm
I re-read UR 13's comments on the courses set in Vermont. Sorry! That's not what I had hoped to hear, but I'll learn from this. Striking any kind of balances between the varied levels of experience with the grouping we had is tough. I chose to keep 'flow' high on the list, and stayed away from 'tech' or janky course sets. The TS I had hoped to use, that would've been a conehead nightmare, but may have provided more challenge? We'll likely never know. I had fun doing what little I did, and am stoked that Vermont pleased most folk. It is what it was, and it will get better if I get my act together (there were more than a few personal distractions for me, so please understand, this was not my finest hour). I'm certainly open to suggestions, and am also quite willing to step to one side. Vermont is my backyard, but these are not My hills (ask a local Indian, he'll agree!).
In any case, what I'd like to see is this; More course variations, with certain venues having primary course setters (as not to have a four-person course-set crew scramble to build 'something') for those hills. It would be nice to have the billing known ahead of time, not Day-Of-the-Race. Lastly, I'll be talking to both Okemo and Killington about hills on their respective properties for future events, while I believe friends of mine will talking to Mt. Snow + Haystack for possible future sites. I'd encourage other racers to look around in their backyards throughout New-England/NY/NJ. I'm sure there's untapped spots that'll welcome The Farm Outlaw Series.
For those who intend to be a course-setter or Organizer, keep in mind that you'll NEVER please everyone (though Mr. Chapman came pretty close!) with whatever you create. The thing is, keep trying, keep the Stoke level High, and use Your wisdom. Learn from what you make, then make it better. The Farm was a great series, and has many more successful aspects than negative ones. Let's not skew that perspective outa whack, but rather let's find the 'good things' and build on them! Peace Out, "PSR".
In any case, what I'd like to see is this; More course variations, with certain venues having primary course setters (as not to have a four-person course-set crew scramble to build 'something') for those hills. It would be nice to have the billing known ahead of time, not Day-Of-the-Race. Lastly, I'll be talking to both Okemo and Killington about hills on their respective properties for future events, while I believe friends of mine will talking to Mt. Snow + Haystack for possible future sites. I'd encourage other racers to look around in their backyards throughout New-England/NY/NJ. I'm sure there's untapped spots that'll welcome The Farm Outlaw Series.
For those who intend to be a course-setter or Organizer, keep in mind that you'll NEVER please everyone (though Mr. Chapman came pretty close!) with whatever you create. The thing is, keep trying, keep the Stoke level High, and use Your wisdom. Learn from what you make, then make it better. The Farm was a great series, and has many more successful aspects than negative ones. Let's not skew that perspective outa whack, but rather let's find the 'good things' and build on them! Peace Out, "PSR".