Spirit Mountain NORBA?

[SickBoy]

So....

I was thinking. It seems like the course at Spirit Mountain has enough climbing and is awesome enough to host a NORBA national. COuld also definitely do a mountaincross race there... Downhill might be sketchy but could be done.

Accomodations in the Duluth area are more than adequate.

I know NORBA is not everyone's favorite organization but since NORBA is looking to shake things up for the 2004 NCS it might be a good time to try to get them to go for a new venue.

Thoughts? (ahem Kurt ahem ;) )

[grizzly adam]

It seems like all the pieces are there for a fun event. Duluth could certainly use the publicity.

You might have a hard time getting them to move the paintball area to utilize the area in front of the chalet though...;)

Do you know what's involved to get them to look at Spirit Mountain? Do they have to approve the trails?

[mnscs]

I agree Spirit Mountain would be an excellent place to host a NORBA National event. After speaking with representatives from NORBA last week it sounds like the venue locations are pretty much already set for 2004 but some dates are still up in the air.

Pulling in a NORBA National event is all about people in the area wanting to do it. You'd really have to find someone or a group of people that would want to invest the time and money to be the local liaison for the event. The National Series isn't run directly by NORBA as it has been contracted out for the past few years to GaleForce (aka. Sea Otter Classic), now that GaleForce’s contract is up Team Big Bear is taking over most of the operations of putting on the National events.

It takes a lot of up front money ($50,000 +) to put on an event like this; I’m just not quite sure who'd be up for this kind of commitment.

[SickBoy]

Todd Bollom used to be the dude who ran the promotion company that did the Welch nationals. Anyone know how to get a hold of him? TBB did the national at Durango this year, I wonder if they'd haul all the way up to MN to do one...

Or else does anyone know of any other kind of promotion company that could step in and do an event like this?

[SickBoy]

after some more thought... the MCF has been instrumental in putting on the NVGP and is looking to bring in a UCI sanctioned 'cross race... I wonder if the volunteer force that we could bring in from the combined power of COGGS, MCF and MORC could host a national.... if we really even need a promotion company to do it....

[grizzly adam]

Is it silly to approach the City of Duluth and ask for their help? Whether it be the mayor or local larger businesses to come together and pitch in to make this happen. There's the paper mill, Best Buy, Home Depot etc... I don't know.

My dad knows some city officials, the director of Spirit Mountain and other important people and attends meetings pertaining to Spirit Mountain and the city. He's been responsible for the X-C trails for a long time...as long as I can remember.

I can talk to him and see what he can do if we want something to happen. I think it would be great - but have no idea what's involved with something of this scale, but would be willing to help out.

[SickBoy]

It'd be nice if we could get a list of typical things that need to be taken care of for hosting a national. The things I can think of....

- getting permission to build and design a MTN-X course and someone to do it (Herbold did the one in Durango but I have no idea who would do it here)
- guessing a DH course would have to be built and figure out some way to make sure XC and DH events/practice could be held simultaneously via bridges/culverts
- arranging all the stuff for someone to do timing
- registration volunteers and course marshals
- Someone to coordinate sound systems and expo area
- web site, promotion....

I am sure there's tons of other stuff.

And no, I don't think it's silly to bring the City in. They cater to the Grandma's event, if we could show how many people a NORBA National could bring in, I am sure we'd have their interest.

[grizzly adam]

I've never been to a National Event, but that list seems pretty logical. Do you think that they would have their own list of items that they would like to see at a place of interest before they would even think about having Nationals there? Kinda like rock stars with their lists of demands for food and clothes backstage or, on a smaller scale of course, the Olympics.

Too bad I can't leave work early today and go riding with Kurt - he'll be at LH around 3 today. He would have some leads I'm sure.

[jkalla]

I think the reason that Welch was dropped from the national series was that there was no downhill course. I think that the limitation for any venue in the Midwest will be the downhill course. If there isn't one already, what will it take to convince them that it can be done?

[martini]

Actually, Welch did have a downhill. As you can imagine, it was VERY short. A Nat'l at SM would actually be a very good site, I think. It's got good vertical, already has good existing trails, and I know you could build a nice DH course there. It would be interesting to see if we could somehow pull this together, to bring back a Nat'l event to Minn. Lets steal the Apline Valley one! Actually, the ONE thing that may hold Duluth back is the potential lack of crowds. You won't be able to draw the casual, interested party from the Metro area like you were able to down in Welch. Yeah, there'll be lots of diehard mtber's there, but none of the more beginner-type that are interested, but not THAT interested.

[grizzly adam]

So is this something that we should pursue?? I would love to see this type of event and it would pretty kick a$$ to be involved at any level!

Should we start some sort of group of people that want to help out? I can mention something to my dad next week and we'll get some ideas going as far as who to talk to and stuff.

Or are we just wishing here?

[SickBoy]

I'm definitely willing to help out on the highest level that someone who is employed full-time can... I'm just unsure of how much effort it will take or what one man can do.

Maybe some of us from MORC can form an "exploratory committee" to find out officially NORBA's list of demands for bidding for an NCS and explore feasibility.

[grizzly adam]

I'm in the same boat as you as far as the job goes, but add me to the group/list what-have-you. I'm interested in seeing what's needed to get NORBAs interest.

You have my email, so feel free to send me anything during the day.

[mtnbykr]

andy,

very nice letter to the editor in velonews this month...

has anyone thought to contact big bear productions and let them know your thoughts??

has anyone contacted coggs (www.coggs.com) and let them know your thoughts??

k

[SickBoy]

OK, so I finally got off my duff with this and emailed the appropriate people at USA Cycling today. hopefully tomorrow I will have some info on what's gonna be required to get a NORBA National bid going for 2005.

Grizzly Adam's dad has some contacts around the Duluth area in high places as well so I think this could be a real possibility.