Master Class and Age Bracket

[Eddy Martinez]

Is it time to form a Master Class is DownHill Slalom Skateboarding. Or to form an age bracket. Those of us who have been trying for years and hoping that the youth would come in and fill our shoes. They have arrived. I know because I witnessed this first hand at the Buckeye. They practice up to 4 hours a day. And it shows. They are simply amazing. Is it fair for a racer who is 53 yrs old, and has hit the GRS Circuit since inception to show up to a race, where the year before he placed in the top 20. And now he can not make the round of 32. He traveled far to compete, and because of him supporting the GRS Tour over the years. The Tour has survived because of his efforts. Competing and hoping that a crop of young skaters would fill his shoes. This year it is too late to form an age bracket division. Hopefully next year. We wanted this to happen and it has. But the O Gs should also be allowed to race amoungst racers their own age. Talk it over bros.
Your Amigo Eddy Texas Oultaws/Pavel Flow

[GPymp]

Slalom is not big enough, or has enough races for that kind of logic.

I would love to race people closer to my ability, like a "C" division. As well as an age division.

Us OG's would need to have our own races.

Heaven forbid I get better and can actually compete in the open divisions. (Everyone here besides a couple of us win races)

At 43 I would be still too young for any Master Class, I still would have to race Zak Maytum, Martin Reeves and Trey "Cool" Weatherwax.(And all the OTHER great open skaters here in ColoRADo) Who can beat me racing on one foot, blind folded and skating backwards.

[mangels]

Not having a senior division to skate in is my best excuse for my poor rankings. The worst part about it is that even if there were a senior division - I'D STILL FINISH NEAR THE BOTTOM!

Not that I'm complaining. I have a TON of fun at the races, and knowing I'm not gonna be a contender means no pressure.

If we do make a special division - lets not call it "Masters" because that would make us masterskaters and that rhymes with that other leisure-time activity. I mean ... not that I ... well ... you know.

[claude regnier]

Many people have been asking for it for a while. It would not really take any longer as any qualifying could include the group, They could qualify seperately but most races that run an ABC could include a Masters sign-up.

It would certainly encourage more of the guys that have stopped coming to events to return. It's great for the younger gyus to have some people around to help them out as well. It would keep them around longer as well.

This should be a goal for race organizers for 2008. By the way it's my 1/2 birthday today going on 49. LOL

[Xgecko]

Honestly I think the Masters/OG (old guy) cutoff should be at 37 like pool skating is or at worst 40. These days it's nice not to be the oldest but I would prefer to compete against some of these old guys instead of having to race these young guns who will just wipe me out....in only 40 now.

[Momona Boe]

I dunno Eddy, my only competition is 11 year old Nicky - and he still usually beats me!!

I promise you this - you come up with a new division and I guarantee I'll come in at the bottom of it!!!!

[mangels]

OH! A CHALLENGE!! HA! I bet I can go slower and hit more cones than you.

[Parallel Man]

2007 Masters Division

Cliff Coleman
Claude Regnier
Jack Smith
Mike Ohm
Dave Hackett
Steve Olson
Marty Schaub
Keith Hollien
Rene' Carrasco
Chris Yandall
Brent Kosick
Chris Chaput
David Pirnack
Martin Drayton
Curt Kimbel
Charlie Ransom
Ricky Byrd

Nope. Eddy still wouldn't make it to the round of 16.

(I only included these because I know for certain they are over 45. I'm not sure about guys like Fluitt, Wax, Jackman or Richie.)

[skully]

2007 Masters Division

Cliff Coleman
Claude Regnier
Jack Smith
Mike Ohm
Dave Hackett
Steve Olson
Marty Schaub
Keith Hollien
Rene' Carrasco
Chris Yandall
Brent Kosick
Chris Chaput
David Pirnack
Martin Drayton
Curt Kimbel
Charlie Ransom
Ricky Byrd

Nope. Eddy still wouldn't make it to the round of 16.

(I only included these because I know for certain they are over 45. I'm not sure about guys like Fluitt, Wax, Jackman or Richie.)

How many of these guys have actually ALL shown up at the same race?

[Mile_High_Mark]

Take a look at this:

http://www.usacycling.org/forms/MTB_rulebook.pdf

MTB races get lots of older participants (both fast and not-so-fast).

[WAX]

Sorry Wesley...
7 more years till I run with the old dogs!!! Fluitt has a few more as well

[Parallel Man]

Sorry Wesley...
7 more years till I run with the old dogs!!! Fluitt has a few more as well

My mistake.

I was thinking y'all might be grownups in the '80s with the rest of us.

[Dizi]

I like how no one dares using the word "seniors."

[scabus maximus]

No age brackets. Run what ya brung.

[cbark]

2007 Masters Division

Cliff Coleman
Claude Regnier
Jack Smith
Mike Ohm
Dave Hackett
Steve Olson
Marty Schaub
Keith Hollien
Rene' Carrasco
Chris Yandall
Brent Kosick
Chris Chaput
David Pirnack
Martin Drayton
Curt Kimbel
Charlie Ransom
Ricky Byrd

Nope. Eddy still wouldn't make it to the round of 16.

(I only included these because I know for certain they are over 45. I'm not sure about guys like Fluitt, Wax, Jackman or Richie.)

You can add Badlanders Steve Evans and Tay Hunt.
Also Mollica and George (Geo) Myler.

Next year will be an invasion of the '63 babies including myself, Fluitt, and the Bomber.

[Momona Boe]

SEE!? I can definitely finish in the basement running against THOSE guys!

Yup Wes, you can count me in on 45 and up

[mangels]

I like how no one dares using the word "seniors."

Don't they say "legends" at LaCosta? I can dig being a living legend.

[Parallel Man]

You can add Badlanders Steve Evans and Tay Hunt.
Also Mollica and George (Geo) Myler.

Is Mollica 45? I'm 46 and thought he was two or three years younger than me.

Oh, well.

[TwinTown Skater]

JBH and I had an indepth conversation on this topic a while back. First, as Eddy so rightly identifies, the young guns are coming on strong. And that is nothing but a good thing. If you think about what is in the overall good for slalom skateboarding, we can only hope that it is just a matter of time before the brackets are completely filled out with teen to 30 year olds. Most (all?) other sports that require strength, athleticism and quickness are ruled by the young because by definition, their bodies are young and fit. Surely things must change. If not, when the long dirt nap overtakes us, who is left?

Those who participated in the early years, and kept at it have developed skills and knowledge that can't be learned overnight. And so the podiums have been filled with the first generation of slalom devotees. But by their efforts, a puddle has been transformed into a backwater slough. (I don't want to reopen the 'how big are we' discussion, but we can all agree that in terms of size we're not vert, cycling, or even competitive shooting). And so a big round of applause for all those who have given to the sport over the years.

To WT's point, the top bracket in a new class for the OG&G (old gals & guys) will be populated with the same legends who have been on top for years. For things to change, somebody must have the time and desire to put in the hard work of practice and tweaking to develop their skills and knowledge to the requisite level.

A new class does provide more opportunities for the members of the OGG club to make it to the final bracket, because the young guns won't be competing for spots. But the longer term challenge in my mind is logistics. At some point, we attract more of the youth, and that entrant numbers go up. Ultimately the total number of heats that can be run bumps into time constraints. Let's hope we have that problem!

Finally, it's not fair that the young have the gift of youth, minimal resposiblites and thus plenty of time to practice. But it is reality. It's not fair that I'm tail end charlie because I squadered the last 20 years instead of skating my brains out, and just got a restart last summer. But it's in my power to change it, or not, as the case may be. A new class may not solve the situation of a long time supporter not making the final bracket. There is a reason it's called racing and not "Winning"....unless you live in Detroit, where everybody places first.

Yes, new class. And don't call me Shirley!

[mangels]

I like the way you write ...