Here are a few updates on the registration:
1.
We've decided to allow up to 60 racers in AM class (vs 50 planned), so there's still an opportunity to register, but please do it soon, it'll help us refine the planning and create starting lists prior to the event.
2.
Registration after May 7, AM's pay +5 euros.
Registration after May 21, or on site, AM's pay +10 euros.
3.
Pros will not have to pay any extra if they register late, even on site on the day of the race.
Here are my answers to a few of the recent questions:
What will the TS be like?
We haven't decided who is setting the course and we definitely haven't set it yet, so the answer is we don't know. Personally I don't think it would be appropriate to do such a tight course as in Stockholm for two reasons:
i) You need special trucks for that course, not everybody has them.
ii) Trocadero is a bit too steep for a tight course that tight. I'd rather make it longer then, that would make for a more interesting race.
Will there be a GS in another place?
It was our intention to do it on a major boulevard, not far from Trocadero, but the request was refused. We still didn't give up and Alain, our superman adminstrator, is trying all methods he can to get it through. It could still fail, but at least we'll them have bothered them enough to get it through another time. If we don't get this authorisation, we'll do it in the usual place.
If it's raining will GS be moved?
If we get an authorisation for a GS race outside of Trocadero that'll be for one day only. They will not be able to cope with us changing the date. Paper work is paper work and there will be no way to approve of such a change in the middle of the weekend. But sure, we'll try to squeeze it into one of the other days in the weekend.
Prize money?
Sorry, but we forgot to announce a minimum Pro prize purse. The formula was copied in from last year, when that wasn't a concern, so nobody gave it any particular thought. I for one consider the Pro prize money an important factor for Pros to be able to make it to more events in one year than they could otherwise afford. We all have limited travel budgets and with decent pro money, they best racers can afford to go to a few more races than they would otherwise do. I think we should do all we can to keep the prize money up, but it's not easy. I hope we can announce an increase in the pro prize purse but at least we now have a minimum.
Easy World Ranking points?
Obviously if there are few pros registered high points are easier to obtain. It's not something we planned, nor influenced.
Why so many days?
We thought that more racing meant more fun, but we never thought of the negative aspect in terms of hotel stays and additional time away from families. I realize it's a problem, but then, just skip a day or two and come and race only on two days.
Why a party the day before the event?
Don't worry, it's not an obligation to go there. You can decide for yourself how you want to spend the evening. If someone wants to, it's there.
Isn't a deadline a deadline?
It's always important to know who's coming and how many racers will attend. When we realized that we didn't fill the quota we were hoping for we decided to extend the deadline.
110 euros is too much
I've heard this so many times now, but please before complaining, deduce the four meals and a t-shirt. AM's have a chance to race without paying for the meals and the t-shirt. For the Pro's there's no such option. I think I personally made that decision. I could not imagine one pro racer that would not think it's worth bringing a t-shirt home. Likewise I was convinced that you couldn't eat at a lower prize anywhere close to the race site, so really I thought there was no need for such an option. Maybe we'll revise that next year.
What makes you decide to go Pro? (my question)
You go Pro if you want to race the best and you feel ready for it. If you haven't won a couple of races in Amateur class already I suggest you stay AM and enjoy the pleasure of being on the podium. You should go Pro when you feel you have no alternative, ie racing AM would be too easy a task for you.
Will only 5 people get the money?
We've previously paid down to 8th place in each discpline. This year we have limited it to the top 5. Paying to the top 5 in three disciplines should hopefully make the money more well distributed than paying to the top 8 overall.
Why doesn't Florian Lombardo race Pro?
That's a very kind compliment to him, but as he just moved from Junior to AM, isn't it reasonable to race AM for awhile? Give him a chance to dominate the season (if he's really that good) just like Vinzzz and Heiko did last year.
Why is this a main if it's only 10 pros?
World Ranking statuses are not determined by the race organizers themselves. I don't even think anyone in the race organization even promoted it. I guess it comes from our history of being one of the most prestiguous races in Europe each year.
Are you a Pro if you pay everything yourself?
All the racers know it, Pro/Am is just the words we've all choosen to differentiate the two groups. Personally I'd rather do well in the Pro group than in the A group. Amateur world champion sounds better to me than B group world champion. For those who want to argue this topic please open up a new topic.
Nations Cup, how will it be?
This will be a fun event, just like in Antibes. It's similar to Antibes rules will be announced soon. You can register your team on site.
Despite the negative words and replies in this post, remember that Paris Slalom World Cup
is always a very memorable happening for a number of reasons:
- The site - unbeatable
- The organization
- The media (where else do you have > 6 TV channels covering the event)
- The atmosphere
- The participants
- The bi-lingual commentary
To organize an event in the middle of Paris obviously takes a bit more administrational effort than doing it elsewhere, and we apologize if we've been lacking in public information while sorting out our organization internally.
Now, let the race excitement start building up. There are cool trophies at stake for all podium finishers and we've got plenty of sponsors lined up with goodies.
PSWC will be the best Trocadero race so far!
Welcome!
PS. Sorry for the long post - I'm trying to catch up with JG's average-word-per-post statistics.
/Jani