Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Race expectations and schedule

Hi all.

During the strategic planning session, and the subsequent open forum, the board and MCA members who attended the meetings identified the need and desire to improve the racing experience in Manitoba. From these discussion it was identified that each Manitoba Cup event should be of the run as a high quality event, thereby making the experience of those that participate in these events extremely positive. During the meeting to set the mountain bike race schedule we will also discuss the expectations the MCA has for the hosting of a Manitoba Cup race, and all races for that matter. The purpose for this discussion is to make the race experience as enjoyable and fun as possible for the novice and recreational racers and as challenging and professional as possible for the competitive and provincial team racers in this province. These two goals are not exclusive of each other, rather they complement each other.

To help clubs, who put on these races, a mountain bike race checklist was developed to assist them in the planning and running of these events. To make sure that the checklist is as functional and helpful as possible I would like to get feedback on the structure and layout of the list; please review the items listed below and identify any additional items you would like to see in the list by adding a comment to this post.


(I have not formatted this application and checklist yet - this will be done once the categories are agreed upon)
Mountain Bike Race Application and Checklist

Application

Information:
  • Today’s Date
  • Date of Race
  • Alternate Race Date
  • Venue: (___Established, ___ New)
  • Club:
  • (Clubs putting on their first event pleas list your sponsoring club:)
  • Club Contact Person 1: Phone; Alternate Phone if different; Email
  • Club Contact Person 2: Phone; Alternate Phone if different; Email
  • Club Website
  • Race Type: Cup; Hill Climb; Dual Slalom; Trial; Criterium; Stage Race; Other.
  • Cost of Race Registration: Pre-registration (Kids &Adults); Race Day (Kids & Adults)
  • Insurance: (MCA, Event)
  • Medical: MCA; Other (Names and phone numbers)
  • Registration Information
  • Fax Number; Online Form; Shop (drop off)



Checklist

Application
  • Application completed and submitted
  • Attend race-scheduling meeting

Race Course Preparation
  • Trails cleaned and cleared of any obstacles that may cause a collision.
  • Trail preparation should follow IMBA trail building guidelines


Pre-Event Preparation
  • Race course preparation: trail maintenance, pre-race set up, course map
  • Arrange for medical personnel
  • Arrange for course marshals
  • Commissaires
  • MCA Website Advertising: submitted two weeks prior to event
  • Other Advertising
  • Prizing
  • Registration: advanced, license in process, race roster, race day registration forms, forms and waivers (posted two weeks prior to event)

Venue Preparation
  • Parking
  • Marked
  • Marshal to provide directions
  • Registration
  • Canopy, table and chairs
  • Start/Finish Area
  • Marked off
  • Signage
  • Washroom Facilities: rent, supplies
  • Food and drink provision: coolers, barbeques – if needed, table
  • Feedzone and Technical Assistance Zone
Race Day
  • Registration area; opening time
  • Signage
  • Communications
  • Officials
  • Medical
  • Marshals
  • Food/Beverages
  • Prizing
  • Course teardown
Post Race
  • Submit race results to MCA
  • Return MCA equipment
Resources

A list of the MCA’s available equipment and resources which can be borrowed for race preparation and the running of the races – to be compiled.

3 comments:

Kevin B said...

Is this Application & Checklist in addition to the Organizer's Handbook or to replace the Organizer's Handbook?

Much more technical information about course marking would need to added. As well the "standards" need to be communicated. Pricing, communication, medical, prizing, food, ideal lap times etc.

I think it is fine, just want to clarify how it will be used.

The order of some of the checklist might need some tweaking.

halloewen said...

I was thinking that the organizer's handbook needed to be reworked. I think the current manual is not bad but needs to be reformatted. A point form / numbered manual is much easier to work with and I was hoping to create such a document. What I posted was more of an "executive list" to prompt some thought about what needed to be included in the handbook. One thing that I want to try and avoid is an overly complicated manual. I will expand on this more at the meeting. Please bring any ideas you have for simplifying the manual.

Dave J said...

I agree with Kevin B's comments.

Also, I think that we should remove any references to License In Process. This was an old system that is no longer in use.

Finally, I think that we should make the reporting of the race results the responsibility of the Chief Commissaire for the event. They obviously already have the results and this should give more consistency in the reporting of the results.