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Norba Sucks

3678 Views 61 Replies 29 Participants Last post by Berkeley Mike, Aug 15, 2004

Lance Risi

Discussion Starter · Aug 10, 2004 (Edited)

I am kind of new to the MTB racing scene, and last week I raced at Snowmass. I paid $60 for the race (Sport), $45 entry fee, $5 dollar one Day license and $10 late fee.
The course was great and people/volunteers were nice to. However, NORBA folks SUCKED. My race went off at 8:30, however I could not collect my award until 7:00 something. I say "something" because they were giving out other awards for Pro's etc....
When I asked if I could get me award before 7, because I live in Denver and I would not get home until after midnight the NORBA folks said no. Then I asked if they can mail it too me? They said well, if you give us postage and handling we might, because it is a real hassle. Real hassle? How about waiting around for 10 hours to collect my award? How about driving 4 hours each way to get to the race? How about shelling out $110 to stay in a room? At this point I realized these guys did not care about my hassles.
They said the Awards time was posted on the website. I am sure it was, but to be honest I did not have time to go through the entire website to find that out. I also did not expect to do well.
One of the excuses they gave me was they wanted to have a photo op with all the winners. I told the NORBA person that was ridiculous. Anyone that wants to get a photo opportunity probably wants to be in the team gear. Who wants to stay in their racing gear for ten hours? Needless to say I got my award around 7:30 and got home at 11:30.

Thanks for reading!

1 - 20 of 62 Posts

SuperNewb

· #2 · Aug 10, 2004

What did you win?

JerryBoneJr

· #3 · Aug 10, 2004

SuperNewb said:
What did you win?

A $3 plastic trophy.

glenzx

· #4 · Aug 10, 2004

Hmmm.....

Last minute decision to give racing a whirl? Be proud of the accomplishment! CycleCyndicate has been putting on a great XC series with Handlebar and Grill this year, and with some planning and pre-registration

I've done the MSC series from way further away than denver (santa fe, nm) on a tight budget. I'd have thought someone "kind of new" to the scene would be pretty far from the podium, especially a NATIONAL level event, but I'm the first to admit I got a long way to go.... great job! 1 lap, right? You must have smoked some pretty strong riders then! It's the venue i was racing (expert) at a few weeks ago when all of a sudden I was being taken away in an ambulance....

NORBA has it's shortcomings, for sure, but worrying about the speed at which you get your schwag & trophy? That's not so bad! I can think of much less appealing issues, like the womens Olympic fiasco.....

Great job and good luck. i suppose I'll be seeing you in Expert soon!

BTW, still trying to figure out how 35+5+10=60... ain't it 50? Still a rip-off, but pre-reg is a good deal, IMO.

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highroller

· #5 · Aug 10, 2004

glenzx said:
.....BTW, still trying to figure out how 35+5+10=60... ain't it 50? Still a rip-off, but pre-reg is a good deal, IMO.

I thought the $60 was added onto the $50?!
Late fee? I like that one.

Lance Risi

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 10, 2004

trophy

SuperNewb said:
What did you win?

Actually a nice trophy!

Iktome

· #7 · Aug 10, 2004

you're seriously complaining that a national event is 4 hours away? we have a great local series, but it's over 12 hours to the closest national event. the next closest is snowmass, and that's 18 hours. sure, the race management isn't perfect, but be glad it's there. in any event, i'm sure your winter park series or other low key races would allow you to get home earlier if that's most important.

scorcher seb

· #8 · Aug 10, 2004

Iktome said:
you're seriously complaining that a national event is 4 hours away? we have a great local series, but it's over 12 hours to the closest national event. the next closest is snowmass, and that's 18 hours. sure, the race management isn't perfect, but be glad it's there. in any event, i'm sure your winter park series or other low key races would allow you to get home earlier if that's most important.

No - he wasn't complaining about the race being 4 hours away. He was complaining about the condescending attitude of the NORBA representatives, and their complete lack of appreciation for the fact that someone might have travelled a long way to get to the event. Seems to suggest that they think are more important than the people who turn up and make the event possible - the participants. No wonder MTB racing in the US is such an irrelevance to most MTBers.

jgmtbr

· #9 · Aug 10, 2004

Norba or promotor

Was it NORBA or the race promotor that you are upset with? It can be VERY frustrating when the promotor takes so long to go through the awards. I won my first race race EVER a few months ago after 3 years of racing. Then, the race promotor actually FORGOT the category and proceeded to wish everyone a safe ride home. Needless to say, I won, but I still didn't get on the top step... Everyone was gone.

Iktome

· #10 · Aug 10, 2004

he complained about both -- "how about driving 4 hours..." -- i just don't think 4 hours is that big a deal.

no excuses for impolite promoters, but they still deserve a degree of patience from those of us demanding their services and (often volunteer) time.

scorcher seb

· #11 · Aug 10, 2004

Iktome said:
he complained about both -- "how about driving 4 hours..." -- i just don't think 4 hours is that big a deal.

no excuses for impolite promoters, but they still deserve a degree of patience from those of us demanding their services and (often volunteer) time.

Sorry, but unless you're saying you would have been happy to wait for 10 hours to pick up your trophy before a 12-18 hour journey, when the NORBA guys could have easily saved you the wait and mailed it to you, then you're off on a tangent. He wasn't blaming NORBA for making him travel 4 hours to a race!

Iktome

· #12 · Aug 10, 2004

scorcher seb said:
Sorry, but unless you're saying you would have been happy to wait for 10 hours to pick up your trophy before a 12-18 hour journey, when the NORBA guys could have easily saved you the wait and mailed it to you, then you're off on a tangent. He wasn't blaming NORBA for making him travel 4 hours to a race![/QUOTE

It sounded like he was complaining about pretty much everything to me. in any event, i don't think we should expect NORBA to mail medals or awards to everyone.

but my first point still stands. he could live in kansas.

Berkeley Mike

· #13 · Aug 10, 2004 (Edited)

Kind of new to the racing scene.

Congratualtions on your finish. I would try to focus on that. However you sound like the worst kind of racer, the kind who wants everything done for them because they are such talent. After all they are on the podium. The word Primadonna comes to mind but as you are "kind of new" I'll rescind that thought for now.

It doesn't sound like the Promoter was condescending at all. You were the one out of adjustment as you were poorly prepared.

You signed up late when you could have taken advantage of pre-registration. I don't know how to get that into a racers head; I always have a couple of members of my team who just can't seem to get it straight that late registration is a hassle and messes up your morning and costs you extra. This point is more critical for a team who needs to co-ordinate and work together. This isn't rocket science. My racers are kids and you are......?

The one day license can be avoided if you race more frequently and buy the yearly license. It becomes yet another detail that you don't have to worry about on race day.

You paid a lot for a room.I'm not sure why; late and everything cheap was booked? You can't share a room because....?

You didn't read the website information because you didn't have time. I hope to god you didn't rush your LBS Friday night before the race when you brough your ride in for major tuning.

No one delivers awards. Not just NORBA. Sounds like the guy made a resonable offer; you pay the postage and he deals with all the hassle of packaging and getting it shipped the next day on his own time. If this becomes known then this guy finds himself doing this for a whole ton of people.

So at the other end everyone has to make up for your lack of preparation and information (why is there no nice way to say "ignorance") and do special things for you. Races production is a morass of details and challenges at best. There is a broadcast of information in hopes that this will help to move large numbers of people in the same direction. Oh!? You didn't read the information?

Next time try a bit of planning. Maybe decide earlier to commit to the race; this is a very critical point. Give yourself a break. Get cleaned up at your hotel and into a comfortable change of clothes and come back to the Track. Plan to hang with the tribe, share with other racers about your ride and theirs, and have a good time or volunteer on the course, work the Feed Zone and support the other racers.

Again, congratulations on your race. I wish you the very best at your next race and hope that these ideas can get incorporated and improve your race experience. There is much more to racing than just being on the course.

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OdaNelli

· #14 · Aug 10, 2004

Hey Lance,
Congratulations on your race. I too was there, and was fortunate enough to make the podium, and yes stood there in the cold to wait 2 hours before I could get my name and sponsors name said over the pa and the unlit stage... but can't say I'm complaining now.
You did a great job. It was interesting to see that Sport and Beginner classes were actually smaller than they were 4 weeks ago at the MSC Blast The Mass Race, but to make any podium at a Nationals event is a big deal.
As for your hotel, kinda surprised at your rate. Our room at the Wildwood was $69 a night and we booked late on Wednesday. The price of the race was a little steep in comparison to the $30 we usually pay for the MSC races, but it is a National event. I can also tell you, that almost all awards ceremonies seem to be long and drawn out. Even the MSC's seem longer than they need be, and they will not mail your award. In point of fact, Handlebar comes out on the web and says "...you must be present to receive your award..."
Being that you live in Parker, hope to see you maybe this weekend at the Eldo race on Sunday. If you'd like more info check out www.handlebarandgrill.com or www.warriorscycling.com. Looks like 2 laps on a 6.5 mile course on Eldo. Should be interesting. Probally not as hard as Snowmass, but fast and fun! WARNING-- If you make the podium, you might have to wait a while. The award is very similar to the Nationals awad, but a bit smaller.
Good luck, and have fun out there!

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glenzx

· #15 · Aug 10, 2004

OdaNelli said:
Hey Lance,
Congratulations on your race. I too was there, and was fortunate enough to make the podium, and yes stood there in the cold to wait 2 hours before I could get my name and sponsors name said over the pa and the unlit stage... but can't say I'm complaining now.
You did a great job. It was interesting to see that Sport and Beginner classes were actually smaller than they were 4 weeks ago at the MSC Blast The Mass Race, but to make any podium at a Nationals event is a big deal.
As for your hotel, kinda surprised at your rate. Our room at the Wildwood was $69 a night and we booked late on Wednesday. The price of the race was a little steep in comparison to the $30 we usually pay for the MSC races, but it is a National event. I can also tell you, that almost all awards ceremonies seem to be long and drawn out. Even the MSC's seem longer than they need be, and they will not mail your award. In point of fact, Handlebar comes out on the web and says "...you must be present to receive your award..."
Being that you live in Parker, hope to see you maybe this weekend at the Eldo race on Sunday. If you'd like more info check out www.handlebarandgrill.com or www.warriorscycling.com. Looks like 2 laps on a 6.5 mile course on Eldo. Should be interesting. Probally not as hard as Snowmass, but fast and fun! WARNING-- If you make the podium, you might have to wait a while. The award is very similar to the Nationals awad, but a bit smaller.
Good luck, and have fun out there!

Great job! And good advice. When do we get the race report???

OdaNelli

· #16 · Aug 10, 2004

Hey, Glenn still stayin Local!!

[Hey man, how r ya! Nationals was great. Basically the same course with a slight variation on the beginning and finish. I did manage to take off 4 minutes from my last race though. The only dissappointment was the fact that Sport and Beginner had less competitors than 4 weeks ago. Expert class on the other hand... that was P-A-C-K-E-D.
Good luck this weekend at your local series. Handlebar just put up a handwritten map of the course in Eldo. Looks like 6.5 miles/ 2 laps. Seems like it will be a quick one again like the Bear. catch ya later.
-Ocky

neveride

· #17 · Aug 10, 2004

Hah! Here's one..

Back a bunch of years when I was still racing, this one club put on many of the local races. Well, one race I call to find out registration time, and it ends at 9am, and first race goes off at 10am. Excellent.
So my buddies and I drive to the race, get there at 8 (about an hour drive, not bad), register, and ask what time our race (sport) goes off. Right after the pro/expert, say 10:15. Great. So we pre-ride the course, which was highly technical (great for me) but real short, maybe 3 or 4 miles (not so great). At close to 10, we all head over to the start. This was several years ago, probably the prime for MTB racing here, and the field was close to 100 sport men. At the last minute, the decision is made that pro/experts will complete their race (7 loops), then the beginners (2 loops) then the sports (4 loops). Best guess, we'll be going off around 2pm. Despite our complaining, this is how it was run, including stopping for an hour between pro/expert and beginner so they could give out awards, so as to not inconvenience the pro/experts. We finally went off at close to 3pm.

A few months later, this same group was running the same race course. I called a couple of days before, and asked if the deal would be the same and was told yes, sports after everyone else was done, probably between 2 and 3. So I asked if registration would be open later, till like 12 or 1, so I didn't have to show up so early and sit around. No, registration would be ending at 9am that race. His justification was this would be good for the sport, as the other racers would be able to spectate and enjoy a full day of racing. Needless to say, that race the sport field was less than 15 people, as it seems no one (myself included, I didn't go nor did my friends) wanted to sit from 9 to 3 waiting to race. In the future I made a point to never do a race by this particular group.

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TCR1

· #18 · Aug 10, 2004

OdaNelli said:
[Hey man, how r ya! Nationals was great. Basically the same course with a slight variation on the beginning and finish. I did manage to take off 4 minutes from my last race though. The only dissappointment was the fact that Sport and Beginner had less competitors than 4 weeks ago. Expert class on the other hand... that was P-A-C-K-E-D.
Good luck this weekend at your local series. Handlebar just put up a handwritten map of the course in Eldo. Looks like 6.5 miles/ 2 laps. Seems like it will be a quick one again like the Bear. catch ya later.
-Ocky

National Level races usually showcase Expert and higher level riders because that is where you get the most recognition for sponsorship and the most exposure to the top racers in the country/world. Also, these races are a great place for local series experts to match up on the national level. It could make the difference between making the upgrade to semi-pro/pro too early or refining your skills over another season and then actually being competitive in the pro classes. I think the Beginner/Sport riders can be intimidated by all the hype, but in all actuality, they are great races to go to.

DH40

· #19 · Aug 10, 2004

I am suprised the everyone is coddling this whiner. I suspect it is a thinly veiled
attempt at self-congratulation. Remember it's not about YOU, or your failure to secure
reasonably priced lodging, or pay your fees on time. Many hundreds of racers were not
so lucky as to take away a medal and made do with the satisfaction of giving it their all.
It's about them.

Move out of Beginner or whatever, pay your fees on time and take your licks like a true
competitor.

Welcome to Norba racing...now pay up.

CycleMainiac

· #20 · Aug 10, 2004

This is a race promoter issue, NOT a NORBA issue. I think your anger is misplaced.

Team Big Bear and/or the Snowmass Resort were the Promoters.

And, it is standard procedure to ask for shipping and handling fees to mail an award.

IMHO, you should have just handed the promoter your $5 and address and left.

Quit whining, live with your decisions, lesson learned,

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