Hey distance people. I have an idea I would like to get all of your input on for an event possibly in 2011. I think what the people of Ultraskating are doing with the 24 hour format is amazing and the distances that are being covered are incredible and I hope to do my first Ultra next year but I have an idea about a point to point multi-day event that I am thinking about organizing. (I have a little experience putting on skateboard events...just a few).

Here is the idea:

A multi-day Stage Race (a la Tour De France) where racers start together each day and cover the same distance not in a circuit but point to point. There would be a daily winner for each stage but also an overall best time for the event who would be the grand champion. So for example a racer who is down 4 minutes after day 1 could make that up if they had a better day on stage 2 and so forth.

Racers would have to pass through check points through out the route at certain distances to assure that each mile/km would be completed.

We could have different categories of racers as well:

SOLO - Racers who are doing the entire distance
Team- 3 to 4 person relay teams who would divide up each day based on set change spots coordinated with the check points.


Logistics would include having enough volunteers to cover two check points that would leap frog each other to cover for those riders who are lagging behind the leaders and of course timers at the beginning and end. Total time would be fairly easy to keep for each rider in that they all started at the same time. Race bibs or numbers would be provided that were clear to read by the timers and judges.

The format in terms of distance could vary and would not be in equal parts nor on equal terrain just like a bicycle race.

Ideally the course would be on long stretch of pavement that was not subject to motorrized traffic like a paved bike trail. Ultraskate and other ultra distance events are held primarily in a loop but that would not be used for this type of event.
For this first one I am thinking about a 3 day event that may consist of:
Day 1: 40 to 60 miles
Day 2 40 mile range
Day 3 60 plus (the final day would be the biggest)
I realize the distance that is being done in a an Ultraskate in a one day is huge but for a 3 day race where the distances vary along with the terrain, combine that with strategy based on the multi-day format and the varying distance and terrain and I think it would make for great racing.
Each rider will have to be on the honor system but there would be a few rules:
1. Riders cannot be escorted nor supported by any other person except in designated feed zones. (In other words riders would have to carry their own water and food from zone to zone and could not have someone for instance on a bicycle or other means of transportation assisting them. Feed zones would be set at particular intervals most likely in close proximity to a check point. ) Some limited form of transportation would be available to shuttle support members from check point to check point with 2 official support team members max per rider.
2. Riders would be given a somewhat broad window to reach the various check points on time and those expected ranges of time would be pre-determined and broadcast to the competitors before the completion begins. Any rider not able to complete the distance in the broad range of time allotted for that day’s stage would receive a penalty for the next day and two consecutive days would result in a disqualification.
Note: This would be put in to place in order to make sure every rider is accounted for after each days.
3. Riders can either push or pump their boards.
4. Riders must completely each day to be eligible to start the next stage.

Cyclists/Course Marshalls will be assigned for safety to each section of the route and would be available to assist any injured sick or other detained rider but will only offer food and water for emergency purposes to racers abandoning or needing legitimate help.
Lodging would be provided in the form of a base camp at the end of each stage with equipment and gear being shuttled each day or through community volunteers.
This would be a big undertaking but I think with the right volunteers, sponsors, and most importantly venue, this could be a cool event. ( I have an idea but I want to hear suggestions of venues)…the one I am looking at would be near an international airport at the start/finish for travelers coming in from England and Europe. We would look to provide lodging for as many people as possible to cut down on expenses but racers and support crew would be on their own to cover food cost and any personal transporation needs.
Prize money available through sponsorships would be divided among the top X number of riders with the top 3 getting the bulk of whatever it is. Swag and other prizes would be available for the non-cash level places.
An entry fee would be needed in order to cover some expenses but the organizers would do their best to keep that entry fee down to only where it would be needed.
There is FAR MORE to discuss but you get the idea…NOW its your turn to have input. What do you think? Don’t hold back tell me how you really feel. I am new to long distance skating but not new to event planning.
Thoughts? Good or Bad. I have thick skin.

Great ideas Marion! These shorter distances would definitely draw a larger crowd, and your organizational skills would make something like this really go off. If anything, I've gone the route of anti-organizing ultras here, partly because they've just been a tiny friends/family thing, in part because I'm just not all that organized, but mostly because setting up insurance and EMT and porta-potties for a group has seemed daunting--and our numbers haven't been large enough to warrant the expense yet. I know growing a scene is all chicken & egg stuff, but I guess at heart I've always been more of a participant looking for an organizer.

We've actually had more point-to-point ultras in the past, which I personally really dig. That's the course that both Paul and Ted set their top records on, with 50-mile round trips done twice, then up a 2-mile hill to a loop track for the overnight hours, here's the course in Seattle:



The logistical challenge was that noobs were not adequately prepared for 50-mile unsupported stretches (we operated on a shoestring with "bring your own volunteers" policy), also for out-of-towners just knowing the path was a little tricky so to keep it low-cost and low-org I created some trail guides like this link. http://pavedwave.myfastforum.org/about20.html Also, this path is a really nice *mostly* non-motorized bike trail, but there are actually quite a number of intersections and a few busy ones, which create some time delays and force "competitors" to wait sometimes (or else blow traffic lights), and of course it scared me a bit more liability-wise to have younger kids join events who might not be as savvy to looking both ways before crossing, lots of crazy-fast and oblivious SUV drivers here. In the end I've found that the camaraderie and spectating overnight at the loop track always created the biggest draw, even though it's less adventurous. I do think a loop should be at least around 3 miles long to keep any loop format more interesting.

We've tossed about the idea of 100-mile centuries before, that's actually where the subsonic board got it's name. The thing I like about a century is that it falls into an established distance, and that appeals to me to see how our times stack up against all the 100-mile data from bikers, runners, etc.

The reason I haven't focused much on centuries is mainly due to a bunch of personal biases and non-competitive philosophy on distances which if I start pontificating about here will help everyone fall asleep (if they're not already.) But -- part of the reason I make the ultraskate list start at the 100-mile mark is that I've found that 100 miles in a day is a reasonable, encouraging and attainable goal for a LOT of people, who just don't know it yet

So I'm curious if having a century on day one, followed by a more "fun" 40 or 50-miler the next day that has sections of downhill involved, ending in a party / BBQ, might also be a compelling weekend format? I think if we did try to organize a century, the fast times would be in the 7-8 hour range and there should be a 12-hour ceiling.

Venue...somewhere warm with less chance of rain and hail and goose poop than Seattle? Lakesides are nice, a good combo of fresh air and scenery and if the lake is really huge, then full loop or two might add up to significant mileage.

There's also this amazing place in Germany called Flaeming-skate which might work -- http://pavedwave.myfastforum.org/about430.html -- though since it seems like a huge maze of trails I'm not sure if it's more or less confusing for a "point to point" format.

Holland! Holland! Holland! This is me practicing for the soccer world championship finals, and for our bid for these races

Good stuff brother J. As you know I am more about just skating something new for distance rather than competition but the stage race idea has my mind going pretty crazy.

Here is the link to the venue I am thinking about:


http://silvercometmap.com/

It's 95 miles. Is mostly railroad grade but with an exception of a very hilly 6 mile stretch right outside of Cedartown, is paved the whole way, and has NO motorized traffic. I am going in September to skate the entire distance in one day (I did it over 2 last year adding about 15 miles to my route).

Atlanta is easy to get too, the weather is dry and great in the early Fall, and the long board scene is big there.

Love it Love it Love it!!! Ive been thinking about this for ages!

3/4 person teams......do it some where very hilly!!! King of the mountains baby!!

Thats a really cool idea! Will there be a prize for the team that comes in last? I want to win something!

Wooden spoon ftl

awesome idea!!! no way i can get to USA for a good few years though One in Europe would be good, but then there's no chance of hills and flat mixed.....

Well, maybe we can do one in North America and then create the format structure for one in Europe.

I am going to work on the idea over the Fall.

Im looking at organising a 'Dakar' style three/four day event in wales in 2011. Basically along the format suggested above. the majority of the race would be on public roads with large up and downhills involved. With the welsh terrain the distances will need to be carefully thought out due the exhausting nature of the roads.

A van to shuttle gear from one place to the next, a follow vehicle behind the last skater and a motorbike up with the front. Manned checkpoints every 4 miles to keep track of where people are, and a stopwatch based timing system.

More to be added when it is organised.