NSW downhill has a lot more going for it that QLD. I'm saying this from experience as used to live in Sydney as well as racing both PRE the requirement for full membership and POST full membership.
- They have far more people than up here.
- They have club races, Ourimbah, Lithgow, Hunter
- The clubs have lots of races making it Viable to go to the full membership
- The clubs bring in new members who race a few founds on day licences(how I started racing)
- They have a state series that hasn’t had lots of rounds changed or canned.(not trying to start and e-fight, just the facts)
- Qld doesn’t seem to have many clubs that race DH.
That’s why it was a smart choice for NSW to go to full memberships.
From experience when the rule came out in NSW, I was planning on racing 3 rounds of the state and the rest were local rounds mostly Ourimbah. Without the club races I would of stoped racing because I felt that I was being shafted as did a lot of riders.
By getting rid of the day licences you cut of all the people who want to ride 1 race and given the way this series is looking there might only be one race. With DH in qld have next to no races. If it is the "way forward" I fear this will strangle the sunshine series to the point where it is not viable.
How can the organisers justify cutting this portion of people out?
Please don’t blow smoke up my ass about the fact that you looking after riders by forcing them to get membership for the insurance at best that’s a by product of doing this. I think most people who race are aware that they can get injured and they should be looking after those themselves.
I agree with this completely.
I understand the push for the full membership and in my eyes it is a great idea. Clubs benefit, and MTBA also benefit, allowing these organisations to provide even better events for more people to enjoy. With that said, and as mentioned, in comparison to NSW, from my own perspective, there is a greater following and larger involvement in the sport in NSW in comparison to QLD.
Myself being a University Student, as luck would have it, many races last year, and this year fall around test time, and I can only attend 2-3 max of the series if weather permits etc etc. Therefore the Day License was great for that. Where as now having to make a yearly commitment seems a lot for just 2-3 races.
Again I understand the implications of a Day License only being a 3rd Party Insurance, but surely if this is clearly stated to competitors and they are given the choice of either being fully covered by insurance, or only 3rd party wouldn't the Day License be a viable option again? Prior to the rules on licensing changing for this year, I will admit I was not aware that a Day License was only a 3rd Party Insurance.... in fact I never gave the notion of the 'License' and thought prior to now. But with the recent events, and the changing of race format regarding licensing and club membership it certainly has been brought to my attention and I am fine with it only being the equivalent of 3rd Party Insurance.
Also, as others have said, if there were to be club races throughout the year at club run venues i.e. Illanbah (I know it is having problems at the moment), Kenilworth, Beerburrum and the likes, I would be able to justify a full year agreement to club membership and a MTBA license, but with for myself only being able to attend 2-3 races if I am lucky it does make it difficult. I know that this is situational and well predominately I am using myself as an example, but I would be surprised if there weren't a few members of this forum, or if no in the QLD DH scene who are not in the same boat as I am.
All that said, in the few races I have attended, they have been awesome events, heaps of fun and racing your mates never gets old. Certainly there have been there ups and downs in the last 6-12 months regarding the Sunshine Series in general, but I think everyone who is helping out in running it are doing a great job.
This is my 2 cents on the DH scene in Brisbane, and QLD as a whole. Downhill is a great sport and is obviously enjoyed by many many people in Brisbane and Queensland for that matter. I think this thread may be of a lot of use for the Sunshine series organisers and Brisbane/QLD Clubs and was a great idea.
Fingers crossed this rain holds off for the race tomorrow!
). Even if they were push runs at Castle Hill or own shuttles at Beerburrum but with a timing system set up so that you had a target. If there's a problem with liabilities regarding the own shuttles isn't it possible to have everybody entering sign a waiver saying they won't sue the club? Or even run all of the open days during this time, have a break over winter when its wet then start the racing season from end June till early October.
