Hosting racers

[John Gilmour]

I think it would be a good idea if we could try and host racers that are unfamiliar with race venues.

I'm not talking about putting them up in Hotels...though 66 had that great Red Bull race where the racers were hosted.

I'm talking about simply trying to host racers who are new to an area and making getting to the race easier.

Certainly racers who do not speak english well should have priority when helping those racers in the USA.

If even we could just have 6 slots available to foreign competitors where they can be hosted by local skaters that would be great. Even if the skater is not local- but books a hotel with an extra bed, I think that would help other skaters make the decision to travel.

The Older ISSA rules said that all skaters must be accommodated, currently this is unlikely to happen, but I think it is possible for nearly any race organizer to find space amongst other attending racers, for 6 skaters.

6 was an arbitrary number- but I though that 6 racers could fit in two cars, with 1 driver per car. I also don't think we have had many competitions in the USA that have more than 6 foreign competitors- This year the foreign competitors were Luca- Italy, Stride + Price + Chris Charalambous- UK....... a total of 4 foreign competitors attended Morro Bay this year so I think we should do everything we can to encourage more foreign participation. 3 Brits and an Italian doesn't bring in enough non domestic athletes IMHO.

If only the cost for food and airline travel is needed it helps remove the uncertainly of running out of cash, getting , lost, or merely not having anything to do while waiting for a contest.

Many slalomers practice alone or in smaller groups- a purpose of racing for many is to meet and interact with other skaters. Race day is usually too fast paced a day to do this.

If the expenses to be considered by foreign racers are just Airline tickets, entry fees and food I think a skater can effectively estimate how many contests thay can attend in a season...hopefully with this system for some skaters we could see more particpation.

The other possible thing we might be able to do is try to put all the skaters ina reasonably priced hotel and in exchange for making that hotel the "dedicated Hotel" the hotel people could give us 2 free rooms for international skaters.

Thanks Howard for putting up Luca- I think it made his stay much more pleasant.

I think Morro Bay is not a particularly easy nor inexpensive to get to destination, so it is understandable that after making the trip the first time some Foreign skaters might decide that it was too difficult for a second time. For instance Dieter Fleischer told me of his troubles in attending MB the first time (long flights, delays, rental car troubles, nearly falling asleep during the drive there, sleeping in a car for the first night etc.), to get Dieter to return he might be more encouraged if things were easier for him when he got here. IMHO comparing competing at Paris vs Antibes I chose Paris because the flight was cheaper, and the race site was a cheap subway ride from the least expensive airport. My flight was actually less expensive than a flight to the West coast. However, if I knew that accommodations + a ride from the airport with another traveling skater would be taken care of in Antibes I might have made the choice to go there as well.

[Terry Kirby]

JG, I would be happy to supply a ride and a room for 2 or 3 girls from the swiss team. TK

[John Gilmour]

Well seeing that I already owe the Swiss some hospitality- I could do that, as well as for the Swedish women's team, the Czech women's team, as well as the Italian women's team and the Dutch women's teams. Of course that is easy since they don't have women's teams yet. So to extend this offer I would consider even including non skating women skaters..in hopes of getting them interested. Consider the hardships of women who come from countries with softer currencies- we all have to help

But- that is all it takes, a few people hosting a few skaters to make them feel welcome.


TK I believe you and I have hosted Trinidadians before?

[Steve Evans]

Hello, Everyone!

I've been watching all the web sites and now apart of them all.

John, I've been contemplating the idea of putting together a race series in between an FCR and an Outlaw style.

The biggest roadblock or thought I really trip on is how to make the race affordable ie(travel with entry fee is out of control).

I live 4hrs from Morro Bay and it still cost me $600.- $700. on a conservative trip, and know real prize money to balance off some of the costs. (It's got to pay down to at least the top eight, allowing the top four to recoup at least their entry fee back).

So what do we do? My brain brought up hosting races near Casino's where there's cheap lodging. Sharing a $25.-$29. room is totally affordable!

I'm trying to create a way to get the top racers to more events and get a little payback down to at least the top eight, and keeping the entry fee at a reasonable amount.

I've just been letting the thoughts flow anywhere, just trying to come up with ideas.

Help me out!

Evans-Badlands

[Brady Mitchell]

I think the answer to JG`s and Steve`s problem is sponsorships.

I mean, if we had a half dozen major corporations out there helping us out, heck, we might even have free entrance fees, free lodging, and BIG ca$h prizes.

Let`s say we have, Coke, Pepsi, or Budweiser in our back pocket, along with iPod, Ford, SOBE, and more.....

So then maybe the biggest question is how?

Are there marketing groups that do this stuff?

Heck, if they can have hot dog eating contests that pay out in the tens of thousands of dollars, why not slalom?

[John Gilmour]

I used to go to the Snow Industries of America show in Vegas- stayed at the Hard Rock Cafe- super cheap. Filet Mignon and Jumbo shrimp for $5.

So I know what you mean by the gambling subsidizing everything. I had forgotten about that.

In Connecticut we have The Mohegan Sun casino. In NJ we have Altantic City.

SIA used to have their show in March and it was warm enough for skating. Vegas gets good in May- then it gets wayyyy too hot.

Keep the ideas coming... we might be able to find a good way to do the lodging for skaters at a major city.

Boston University in the Summer has tours for bicyclists that come through with cheap lodging. though I wasn't that happy with the lodging. Wellesley college also does something like that- and it is very accessible by train. Likely nicer and cheaper.

[John Gilmour]

Steve, any luck with the casios?

I think Red Bul has been a good example of a helping sponsor sa they helped with two races so far. But I think your first name has to be Rick or Ricky to make it happen.

One other thought is to designate a inexpensive skaters hotel and ask for 3 free rooms. Have a discounted (priceline equivalent) rate for the other skaters- they just have to mention the name of the race- and be on the registration list faxed to the hotel owner to get the discount...that way the hotel owner knows he is making money on the deal. And skaters won't be tempted to book elsewhere knowing they are getting a low price.

Even with the priceline discount and the 3 free rooms- likely it is still more than his volume rate.

So for instance if we did this at 'da farm, the 3 rooms would go to racers that flew to the race instead of driving. So Mollica, McCree, Hollien, Dong, Mandarino, and Bruce Brewington would all be put up for free. And hopefully other skaters can help pick them up at airports to defray costs. I know Bruce got there by Public transportation. Mollica drove that time...but his gas costs for that Suburban likely cost as much as a plane ticket.

The idea of course is to make it affordable for racers to fly to races- because nothing makes the "away team" more stoked than see one of its members fly over to try and kick some ass. It makes the "home team" more psyched as well so it doesn't feel like only a locals race.

[Anthony Smallwood]

We had free rooms at our first DCDC race a few years ago. They gave us eight rooms for two nights. You'd be surprised what you get if you just ask. This place charges $200 a nite, hardly a budget hotel. Maybe the big boys have more room to wiggle than the budget chains.
Of course we only had 10 riders and three were local so we only occupied four of the rooms.

The problem is, if you were given eight free rooms and you know you'll have 40+ riders, who would be the lucky ones? Maybe the first riders to send in their entry fees?

Think about Salba's quote in "Chlorine"

"...I'm a pretty good actor, I can talk people into almost anything "

Now go get busy!