Newbies

Anything and everything about the Utah BMX scene.

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crash
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Newbies

Postby crash » Wed May 02, 2007 9:48 pm

Hey everyone I have a challange for you!
By the first of June it will have been a year since I brought Max out to race. Then a few weeks later Cassidy.

What I am getting at is when you first come out as a parent and see all that is going on it is a little too much. You are not sure about the bikes, track rules and what not to do etc.

Darla did a great job of getting me set up with one of her boys to take Max around and show him what to do and then I must of looked a little lost because Curtis then came up and helped me as well. Heather got me headed in the right direction on a bike and we were then hooked.

My challange is for everyone to pick out someone new make friends help them get started and keep them coming. Not to be negative but I have had feedback of some parents not coming back because it was all just too much and confusing. And some kids just being plain scared of riding with the faster kids, scared of the gate etc.

So pick someone out of the crowd we all pretty much can tell who is new and make a friend. :lol:

D Dale
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Postby D Dale » Thu May 03, 2007 10:03 am

I agree 100% with Wes. Being new to this sport can be very overhelming more so for the parents than for the kids. It is all of our responsibility to help out where we can to help grow our sport.

Getting new riders out to the track is not an easy task but retaining them and making them feel apart of our big BMX family is even harder. It dosen't need to be if we all do our part.

See ya at the track.

Darla

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Curtis Newkirk
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Re: Newbies

Postby Curtis Newkirk » Fri May 04, 2007 4:32 pm

crash wrote:My challange is for everyone to pick out someone new make friends help them get started and keep them coming.


Studies have found that if new participants in an activity (church, bowling, BMX, whatever) do not make social connections on the first visit, it is unlikely that they will be back. If you see a new face, introduce yourself and if they are new, offer to help. This kept us coming back three years ago and it started right when we got out of the car and Rob Both came up and made us feel right at home then Darla and Jackie took were so great in staging.

Pay it forward and it will come back in spades.
~Curtis

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JasonStout
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Postby JasonStout » Sat May 05, 2007 3:24 pm

Great ideas!

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b2
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Postby b2 » Fri Sep 28, 2007 10:45 am

I was searching the forums for something entirely different but ran into this thread... this is such the case and I want to tell you all how great we have been treated. I posted after our first night and have to reiterate after our 3rd time and 1st race.

Curtis, Brian, Ian and more that I can't remember names of right now (but I think it was Darla and I think Heather may be involved).

You all are awesome! I hope I can help people someday the same way you've all helped me!

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BLong
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Postby BLong » Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:24 pm

I know parents and riders alike have been working with several new families. It seems that a core group of riders-- by parental involvement or otherwise –get involved with newbies and seem to enjoy it. This makes me believe that we have the ability to accommodate. Still, back to the spirit of Wes’ post, it can be overwhelming for parent. When parents are not comfortable with the sport they will not encouraging their kids to stay with it. For those of us (seems like so many) who come from a BMX/MX background, it is much easier to jump in and get comfortable.

I would be more than happy to put together a new family handout for frame/bar/tire/gear size (the good, bad, and un-necessary), discuss how teams work-- which I think is a turn off for new riders as it can make them feel uncomfortable –protection, the typical rider mental/emotional life cycle, how to locate parts, etc.. I personally think something like that could go a long way. Disclaimer – if I do write it, someone else(several?) needs to read it and make adjustments before I print off a couple hundred copies as I have a tendency to be, well, yeah.

-Brian
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truebmx.com

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mackdaddy
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Postby mackdaddy » Fri Sep 28, 2007 10:58 pm

The Forrestas are putting just such a program together so all those interested in helping should contact them. We at Rad have been working on this for awhile now. I love all the input and the passion that some of you guys have for making the new riders and parents feel more welcome and bring them up to speed.
Jason Melton
Overland Group
jmelton@overlandcorp.com
http://www.jasonsellsslc.com
(801)860-9357

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shifter
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Re: Newbies

Postby shifter » Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:31 am

crash wrote:...we all pretty much can tell who is new and make a friend. :lol:

I slipped thru the crack then. :lol:

Walked up, paid my 3 clams and gone.

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b2
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Re: Newbies

Postby b2 » Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:14 pm

shifter wrote:
crash wrote:...we all pretty much can tell who is new and make a friend. :lol:

I slipped thru the crack then. :lol:

Walked up, paid my 3 clams and gone.
maybe you looked too much like you knew what you were doing...

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shifter
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Re: Newbies

Postby shifter » Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:38 pm

b2 wrote:maybe you looked too much like you knew what you were doing...

Looks can be and apparently are deceiving! :lol:

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b2
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Postby b2 » Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:45 pm

maybe newbies should get a bright pink vest to wear for their first time out... :)

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shifter
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Postby shifter » Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:54 pm

b2 wrote:maybe newbies should get a bright pink vest to wear for their first time out... :)

They're definately "marked" in other sports - orange plates, vests, etc.

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awsm4
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Postby awsm4 » Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:29 am

Yellow stripe across the bottom of the bumper...Maybe we could put big orange sand dune flags on the back of the bikes...


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