|   Mid-Atlantic 2004 race schedule is up! | thetitans
Dec 22, 2003 4:03 PM | | Well, it seems there will be alot of race options next season in the mid-atlantic. www.masuperseries.com posted its 10 race series with a bunch of new venues. www.mountainbikeracer.com seems to have a 5 race series which used to be venues from last years mid-atlantic superseries like Granogue and Fair Hill. I'd prefer to have these 2 series combined because I don't think I can free-up that many weekends. I wonder which series will have the greater prestige factor? Will TREK race both series? Anyone have any insight into why the split into 2 different series? |
| My understanding... | Dwayne Barry
Dec 23, 2003 5:53 AM | | (without using names) is that mountainbikeracer.com was instrumental in the formation of the MASS in the first place. When the people running MASS changed last year (2 years ago?), mbr.com was left out (i.e. they wouldn't give money for the website). So now, the regional series is born via mbr.com and the core local races of the original MASS. And then for some reason Michaux was added to the regional series, which to me anyway, kind of defeats the purpose of having a regional "local" series. Anyway, that's what I've heard, all second hand, so take it with a grain of salt. |
| My understanding... | KMan
Dec 23, 2003 10:23 AM | | the mountainbikeracer.com series wants the series to be a bit more of a grass roots type race feeling. Orgizational efforts in the MASS series once it changed hands did a bit of a downward slide as well. The new series promoted by Bill Deputy will try and get back that grass roots feeling, have the write-up on each race on his site like in the past and will have a series banquet at the end.
My personal opinion will the MASS turnout will not be as much as in the past, especially with repeat racers since a lot of the races are now 3+hour drives in all directions. I really enjoyed the race reports on mbr.com and the way the series was handeled. I think these races will bring a high attendance.
I plan on racing all the mbr races and some of the MASS races.
KMan |
| re: Mid-Atlantic 2004 race schedule is up! | Andrew McD
Dec 24, 2003 5:25 AM | | I've participated in the MASS since its inception. The first year saw great enthusiasim as frequently is the case with something new. Mountainbikeracer.com provided extraordinary coverage. Don M. did a fine job of pulling the events together. When Don departed and Mountainbikeracer.com also departed (both, I believe, due to the fact that they put HUGE personal efforts into the series with little or no financial motive or reward) the new promoters faced the daunting task of keeping the series alive and vibrant. I believe the new promoters did a fine job of keeping the series together. Amature sporting events and series don't have a long life time. Like the athletes involved they are constantly changing and growing.
The single consistant criticism I heard regarding MASS since its inception is that it is too long a season. I know that I experienced some considerable burnout the first year of the series and may only have just recovered this winter. LOL I think the new Mountainbikeracer.com series is providing an alternative for folks that can't (for a whole variety of reasons)committ to the longer season of the MASS. I'll be attending races in both series and hope to see all the great folks that I've met over the past few years of racing. Remember we do this for fun and and not for profit. Nobody out there is getting rich promoting mountainbike races so support what works for you and be happy that alternatives exist. |
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