A
I got to thinking about this after learning that my club will not be doing any sno-x races for this season. Since '99 or '00 we've been part of the state circuit and usually hosted 3 races. Last season Fairbanks dropped out and now we are. Our problem is a lack of volunteers. I believe that is caused by the lack of local racers competing in the races. If locals aren't racing, there is much less interest in helping out and spectating.
When sno-x first started it was a run what you brung type atmosphere. You had the open class and the 500 class. There were lots of guys running their trail sleds and having a good time. As the years went by and the sno-x sleds became more and more specialized, consumer trail sleds were no longer compeditive and fewer and fewer locals came back each year because of the cost. Now the new 600's are supposed to address this but you still have the limited build, idiotic, apply to buy a race sled programs.
For the past two years I've watched local particiaption drop off in our cross country race and IMO, this is primarily due to the 600 only rule. The majority of locals don't want to buy 600, race sled or not, because it isn't versital enough.
I'm wondering if others are experiencing a less participation in their events and what they think the cause is?
When sno-x first started it was a run what you brung type atmosphere. You had the open class and the 500 class. There were lots of guys running their trail sleds and having a good time. As the years went by and the sno-x sleds became more and more specialized, consumer trail sleds were no longer compeditive and fewer and fewer locals came back each year because of the cost. Now the new 600's are supposed to address this but you still have the limited build, idiotic, apply to buy a race sled programs.
For the past two years I've watched local particiaption drop off in our cross country race and IMO, this is primarily due to the 600 only rule. The majority of locals don't want to buy 600, race sled or not, because it isn't versital enough.
I'm wondering if others are experiencing a less participation in their events and what they think the cause is?