Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:34 am
Someday I'd like to throw a race, and if I were to do it now this is how I would organize it. When racers sign up for the race, they self-classify as Amateur or Elite. If I have guaranteed prize money and there is no insurance issue, then maybe I call the Elite class the Pro class instead. But for now I'll stick with Elite.
Everybody qualifies together. The fastest 32 (or 24 or whatever) out of EVERYONE qualify for bracketing in the Elite class championship. An amateur might win and take home the prize money...if so, good for him! We can all argue about whether he's a pro now or not, but it makes no difference for my race or any race run in this way.
Now we look at all those who classified themselves as Amateurs, and the fastest 32 who failed to qualify for the Elite class are bracketed and compete for the Amateur class championship. The winner might get a shiny new Roe or Pocket Pistol.
Note, anyone who classified themselves as Elite and failed to qualify for the Elite class bracket is DONE FOR THE DAY! They do not compete in the Amateur bracket. Amateurs can move up with a good qualifying time, but Elite racers cannot move down.
So you might be thinking, why would someone classify themselves as Elite? There is nothing to gain! Well, you're right, but I bet people classify as Elite anyway. As JG alluded to previously, do you think the BLR guys will check off "Amateur" next to their name? Do you think guys like Mollica or Mitchell or Carrasco are looking for a second chance with Ams if they have an off day? I seriously doubt it.
I suspect that self-classification is at least 90% effective at dividing people into appropriate skill classes, but if people mis-classify the system is somewhat self-correcting. If somebody who really rips mis-classifies themselves as an amateur, chances are they will qualify for Elite anyway and it won't make any difference. If you mis-classify yourself as Elite and don't qualify, you have a short day and next time you know you're really an Amateur.
With this system Ams get see how they stack up against the best, but they still get a chance to gain race experience against competitors of similar skill.
Someday when there are hundreds of slalom races per year and 10,000 participants around the world, we might need an official definition of what it means to be an "Amateur". But for the forseeable future, self-classification is the only reasonable way to do it.
Everybody qualifies together. The fastest 32 (or 24 or whatever) out of EVERYONE qualify for bracketing in the Elite class championship. An amateur might win and take home the prize money...if so, good for him! We can all argue about whether he's a pro now or not, but it makes no difference for my race or any race run in this way.
Now we look at all those who classified themselves as Amateurs, and the fastest 32 who failed to qualify for the Elite class are bracketed and compete for the Amateur class championship. The winner might get a shiny new Roe or Pocket Pistol.
Note, anyone who classified themselves as Elite and failed to qualify for the Elite class bracket is DONE FOR THE DAY! They do not compete in the Amateur bracket. Amateurs can move up with a good qualifying time, but Elite racers cannot move down.
So you might be thinking, why would someone classify themselves as Elite? There is nothing to gain! Well, you're right, but I bet people classify as Elite anyway. As JG alluded to previously, do you think the BLR guys will check off "Amateur" next to their name? Do you think guys like Mollica or Mitchell or Carrasco are looking for a second chance with Ams if they have an off day? I seriously doubt it.
I suspect that self-classification is at least 90% effective at dividing people into appropriate skill classes, but if people mis-classify the system is somewhat self-correcting. If somebody who really rips mis-classifies themselves as an amateur, chances are they will qualify for Elite anyway and it won't make any difference. If you mis-classify yourself as Elite and don't qualify, you have a short day and next time you know you're really an Amateur.
With this system Ams get see how they stack up against the best, but they still get a chance to gain race experience against competitors of similar skill.
Someday when there are hundreds of slalom races per year and 10,000 participants around the world, we might need an official definition of what it means to be an "Amateur". But for the forseeable future, self-classification is the only reasonable way to do it.