items of interest

Board Meeting Highlights

• The MTB report was submitted to the Board - it was basically a copy of our draft minutes from March 10.
• The poster is ready for distribution, you can find a link to the poster here or under the links of this blog. If you would like a PDF copy of this poster send me an email at hal_loewenATshawDOTca.
• There was discussion about possibly tightening up the amount of categories for the cup series. There was discussion that there are too many categories and therefore too many cup series jersey's floating around - this will be on the agenda for the next meeting.
• Let Ron Brown know if you, or anyone you know, is interested in sitting on the Sport Manitoba and Sport Manitoba Hall of Fame boards.
  

Marathon Race Rules

Here is what Shawn has put together (thanks Shawn)

MCA Enduro Circuit Rules (Draft)

Description: The enduro circuit race is a short course multi-lap time based event. Event duration is decided by the organizer with popular formats being 8,12,and 24 hours. Standings are determined by a combination of lap count and time on the course.

Course: laps should be configured to be between 35-45 minutes for the elite/expert riders. Course must be properly market as per cross country race rules. A feedzone/pit area must be available that is not located on the course or in the Start finish area. Only registered racers and support personal are permitted on the course during the event.

Categories: All racers must hold a valid Manitoba Cycling Association Race license to compete.

Solo

• solo racers must be 17 years of age or older
• events that are 12 hours and longer events solo riders must submit a resume and selection is based on qualifications

Teams

• configuration and number of classes or teams is determined by the organizer of the event.
• One team member will be permitted on the course at a time.
• Each member of the team must complete at least one lap
• Identifying number plate must be visible on each team members bike while on course.

Support:

• Teams must designate one and only one pit area. Teams may bring as many support people as they like however their support is limited to the pit area and not on course. Racers may change or repair any equipment in the pit area including entire bikes.
• On course support can only be supplied by other registered racers.
• Food and drink can be supplied to any racer by anyone, anywhere on the course.

Start/Finish:

• to be at the same location
• all racers must check-in each lap at the start finish/line as per organizer.
• if teams are switching riders this must be done at the start/finish line as per the organizers instructions.

Draft of March Meeting Minutes

Manitoba Mountain Bike Committee Minutes - DRAFT
March 10, 2009
Board Room, Sport Manitoba
7:00 – 9:00

Present: Dale Cramer (Junk Yard Dogs), Kevin Braun (Tinker), Tim Loewen (KOM), Bill Algeo (Woodcock), Allan Robertson (Alter Ego), Hal Loewen (MTB Coordinator)

Regrets: Tomek Jasiakiewicz (Olympia), Greg Sherwin (Brandon Bike Club), Shawn Zayec (Alter Ego), Patrick Siemens (Body Driven), David Dorning (Woodcock), Ron Brown (MCA Exec. Director), David Jonhston (Tread the Thunder)

Actions from February 10, 2009:

1. Hal to take recommendations to the Board – completed.
2. Gord B to begin work on MCA Mountain Bike Organizer’s Manual – tabled.
3. Ron to tabulate votes for MTB chief commissaire and then Hal will contact candidates to ask them to accept the position of chief commissaire – completed (Karin McSherry has accepted the position of chief commissaire)
4. Ron to investigate who funds would be transferred from Karelo to clubs (race fees and memberships) – tabled.
5. Hal to contact riders identified to have demonstrated the lap times, skills and abilities and ask them to move up to next competitive category – completed.
6. Shawn Z to collect examples of and information on Marathon races that could be used for Manitoba races – tabled.
7. All – to send ideas of elements they wish to see on a MCA mountain bike page – tabled.

Discussions:

• It was confirmed that there is only one KOM/Cup event which will be the Falcon Lake race on May 31, 2009. There are two races this weekend with Bikes and Beyond hosting a downhill on Saturday, and Woodcock hosting the XC race on Sunday; the KOM event will run with the XC race on Sunday.
• It was reported that IMBA is coming to do a trail building seminar in the Sandilands from July 2-5, 2009. Seminars will be on Thursday and Friday, and trail work will be on Saturday with Sunday being a trail riding day. It was noted that the Reach the Beach race was that same weekend. Discussion continued about how it is not ideal that two mountain bike events be booked for the same weekend, but that this was an exceptional case and that the IMBA event organizers and the Reach the Beach organizers will find a way to promote and support both events.
• 8X11 copies of the race poster were distributed to be put up in the shops and elsewhere. A question was asked if we could get some 11X17 posters printed for this purpose. It was also asked if we could get folding copies of the poster with schedule on the back to give to the shops (some shops would like to hand out the information with bikes the sell).
• Discussion was took place whether it was a good idea to compensate those racers, who are also commissaries, with Cup series points when they commissaire a Cup race instead of racing. There was general consensus that this was a good idea. It was decided that a racer who commissaired a Cup race would receive points equalling the points they averaged during the series.
• The rules surrounding the running of marathon/enduro races in Manitoba were discussed. The UCI has specific rules for running these races and they will be used as a guide for our races. It was pointed out that we can sanction our on races and race formats as long as the insurer is satisfied that rules and officials are in place to govern the race. The committee will continue to work on these rules electronically and have them in place before the next meeting.
• The organizers manual was discussed at length. The committee looked at the Alberta Race Organizers Guide and discussed its merits and applicability for Manitoba races. It was decided that we would continue to use the existing Manitoba manual, update it and include additional information if needed. The Alberta manual will be linked to on the MCA website as an additional resource.
• The idea was forwarded to distribute surveys following Cup races, Provincials and possibly non-series races. The surveys will ask questions about the quality and organization of the race. It was suggested that survey forms be handed out in lieu of food or raffle tickets to help encourage racers to provide feed back to the organizers and the MTB committee on the race and MTB racing in Manitoba. The surveys will be anonymous.
• The last discussion to take place was about setting up a meeting with the chief commissaire to discuss the application of rules and the quality of events.

Recommendations to the Board:

1. That the IMBA trail building day be promoted through the MCA website on behalf of Bodydriven Sports
2. That the MCA loan all available equipment not needed by the Provincial team or the organizer’s of the Reach the Beach race.
3. Those commissaries, who also race in the mountain bike Cup series, receive Cup points based on their average placing during races for the series.

Actions:

1. Hal L to email list of riders requested to move up to Dale C.
2. Kevin B to make folding poster that can be distributed to shops
3. Ron B to print 11X17 colour copies of the race poster to be distributed to bike shops and other appropriate venues.
4. All to distribute and post posters at appropriate shops and venues.
5. Hal L to make a link to the poster on the MCA Mountain Bike Committee blog so people can print their own posters.
6. Hal L to invite the chief commissaire to the next mountain bike committee meeting.
7. Shawn Z to forward marathon/enduro mountain bike race rules to be distributed electronically to the committee for adaptation.
8. Hal L to reformat that current Manitoba mountain bike organizers manual and distribute for discussion and adaptation if needed.

Agenda for Tuesday, March 10 meeting.

Agenda for tonight's meeting:

1) Approval of February 10th, 2009 minutes. (5 min)
2) Approval of Agenda (2 min)
3) Actions from February 1oth, 2009 minutes (10 min)
4) New Business:

• Organizer's Manual - the manual will take a lot more work than first expected, we'll go trough the Alberta manual and identify what we would like to use, what we need to re-write, timeline for the re-write, and creating a temporary manual and checklist if necessary (40 min)
  
• Marathon Race Rules - examine the rules we need adopt and have in place, also, promoting and developing courses for these events (20 min)
  
• Commissaire - racers who commissaire a Cup race lose have the potential to loose out on points when they commissaire a race, would it be fair for racers who commissaire to get points? (10 min)
  
• Posters - distribute the race psoter to shops (5 min)
  
• IMBA trail buliding workshop (10 min)
• KOM - confirm which mountain bike races are also KOM events
  
• Other?