WHO ARE THE BEST RIDERS IN UTAH?

[GUEST]

LETS CREATE A LITTLE CONTROVERSY DURING THIS OFF SEASON BY NAMING THE STATES BEST RIDERS BY CLASS, NOVICE, INTERMEDIATE, EXPERT AND SO ON. ONE TO A CATAGORY TOO, TO BE FAIR, AND A REASON WHY YOU PICK THAT PERSON. IM THINKING THAT THE CRITERIA IS AS FOLLOWS:

1). MUST BE A RESIDENT OF UTAH.
2). MUST HAVE RACED IN LOCAL RACES IN 2004. ONE OR A HUNDRED TIMES IT DOESNT MATTER.
3). RATE YOUR RIDER ON SKILLS ATTAINED AT HIS OR HER LEVEL OF COMPETION.
4). ONLY LOCAL COMPETION MATTERS. CONSIDERATION OF NATIONAL EVENTS LIMITS THE FIELD TOO MUCH, AND PENALIZES THOSE WHO FOR WHATEVER REASON, (MOSTLY ECONOMIC IM GUESSIN), CANNOT PARTICIPATE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
5). NAME A RIDER WHO IS FUN TO WATCH, EXCITES THE CROWDS, AND IS A GOOD WILL AMBASSADOR FOR THE SPORT. (PERSONALLY, I LOVE TO WATCH THE LITTLE TYKES ON BIKES, THEY EXCITE EVERYONE).
6). DONT MAKE THIS A POPULARITY CONTEST! THE RIDERS WHO ARE NAMED MOST OFTEN, MAY BE THE ONES THAT WE CAN CALL ON, AND USE ,TO MENTOR THE NEW RIDERS COMING INTO BMX. SO LETS SEE IF WE CAN GIVE THE NEWBIES A MENTOR WHO THEY WILL LOOK UP TO AND LEARN FROM.

CAVEAT...THIS IS JUST FOR FUN, SO LETS KEEP IT THAT WAY.

[justinsbmxmom]

I personally think Justin is a good rider consider how fast he picked it up and the determination to get out of the big wheels and into the gate. I'm not partial or anything but I think he's the cutest one too!

[GUEST]

JUSTIN ISNT THE ONLY CUTE ONE IN THE FAMILY JENNI
BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, IS A FUN ONE TO WATCH, AND HE IS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.

[justinsbmxmom]

Justin definately doesn't get his looks from me... Those eyes always make me melt!
His favorite thing to do now is stand up on his seat. I've been telling him he can't stand up on the seat while on the track but he thinks he can pull it off. That kid is not afraid of anything!

[greg]

just look at the state #1 plates!! HA

'nough said.

[sspencer]

Who is the #1 BMXer in Utah..... anyone who is trying their best, having fun and crosses the finish line with a SMILE on their face! The question should be "Who is having the most fun?"

UTAH BMXers are all #1 in my book!
Steve

[Guest]

WHEN I SUGGESTED THAT WE CONSIDER WHOS THE BEST RIDERS IN UTAH, IT WAS AT BEST A RHETORICAL QUESTION, AND ALSO VERY SUBJECTIVE TO SAY THE LEAST. WHILE I AGREE WITH WHAT STEVE IS SAYING ABOUT HAVING FUN BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, I MUST SAY THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE QUESTION IS NOT ABOUT THAT. RECENTLY IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE HAVE MENTORS FOR NEW MEMBERS, AND THAT WE SHOULD LOOK TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE SKILLS AND ABILITY, NOT TO MENTION THE PATIENCE AND DEDICATION TO BMX, TO HELP THESE NEW MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO BEGIN THEIR BMX LIFESTYLE
THIS EXERCISE, WILL HELP TO PINPOINT THOSE MENTORS. I HAVE SEEN STEVE DO THAT VERY THING FOR MANY YEARS, AND WOULD CERTAINLY SAY THAT HE IS QUALIFIED TO MENTOR ANYONE COMING INTO THE SPORT, BUT ALAS, THERE IS ONLY ONE OF HIM.
PARTICIPATING BY VOICING YOUR OPINION, BASED ON THE MINIMAL GUIDELINES THAT WERE MENTIONED, WOULD HELP IN THE SEARCH FOR THESE NEEDED ''VOLUNTEERS'' TO HELP ALL OF THE TRACKS INCREASE, AND MAINTAIN, THEIR RIDERS FOR MORE THAN JUST A YEAR OR TWO.

I LOVE TO WATCH GREG'S RESPONSES TO ANY AND ALL SUBJECTS, AND WOULD SUGGEST THAT HE, BEING A NUMBER "1" HIMSELF, WOULD BE A GREAT MENTOR FOR YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE

SERIOUSLY THOUGH, THE NUMBER ON THE PLATE IS OFTEN NOT THE TRUE STORY OF THE RIDERS CAPABILITIES, AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PASS ALONG ALL THAT THEY HAVE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS ABOUT BMX AND ITS NUANCES. IT IS A GREAT SPORT, THE BEST, BUT UNLESS IT IS PERPETUATED FROM WITHIN, IT WILL WHITHER UP AND DIE, SO LETS NOT LET THAT HAPPEN.
IF THIS ACTIVITY, WHICH I HAVE SUGGESTED, IS DISTASTFUL TO ANYONE, BY ALL MEANS, DONT PARTICIPATE, BUT IN ONE MANS OPINION, IT WOULD BE FUN, AND REVEALING TOO, AND CONCEIVABLY COULD PROVIDE A RESOURCE TO PERPETUATE THE SPORT HERE IN OUR AREA.

[Dave W]

A Few of the people that have highly influenced me and my son this first year of our careers are Mike Kelly for his encouragement. Jason Stout has gone out of his way a few different times to point out things that would help me(including during my first main as he flew passed me). Cody Kelly has encouraged and taught my son a couple of things. Rusty Wright encouraged me immensely especially after my first two attempts at racing when I hadn't come around the last corner at Rad and everyone else had crossed the finish line. Danny Patterson(the son) told me how to stand in the gate. Jason Melton taught me how to put my weight back as I went through the rythm section. There have been others but I haven't learned their names yet. Thanks to all of you. And for the record I don't know much yet but I'd be happy to encourage anyone.

[bnd]

I always try to watch these two guys when they are out on the track.
Cole Simmons & Tim Thompson.

b.

[sspencer]

THIS EXERCISE, WILL HELP TO PINPOINT THOSE MENTORS

Well why didnt you say so....

We are fortunate to have several people who would be highly qualified as mentors. Just to name a few off the top of my head:
Ian Elliott and Heather Allred (but they already have their hands full being the CEO's of PBP and fixing everyones bikes )
Jerimiah Fazio
Travis Healey
Nick Donner
Dani Donner
Spencer Prawitt
Greg "The Champ" Prawitt
Cody Kelley
Joe Wienbrenner
Jason Stout
Bruce Ritter
Mark Miller
Rick Eglintine
Dan Patterson I
Dan Patterson II
Robbie Patterson
Tiffany Freeman
Jennifer Snow
Justin Giles
.......... I could go on with several more, but you get the idea. All of these riders have proven themselves to be ambassadors for the sport as well as being pretty darn cool people.

Steve

[justinsbmxmom]

Bryan Oblad is also a good one. He's always telling me how I can improve with little pointers here and there. He seems to know a lot about gear ratios also. Now if anyone can tell me how I can keep from crashing!

[Guest]

NOW YER COOKIN THATS ALOT OF PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT MENTORING, AND ITS PROBABLY A SHORT LIST COMPARED TO WHO ELSE COULD BE ADDED.
SPEAKING OF MIKE KELLY, ISNT HE A GREAT GUY AND A FANTASTIC PERSON! HES THE NEATEST GUY AND A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A BMX DAD. CODY IS SO LUCKY TO HAVE HIM AS HIS DAD I THINK.

STEVE, I KNEW THAT YOU WOULD HAVE LOTS OF FOLKS TO MENTION AND YOU CAME THRU LIKE THE CHAMP THAT YOU ARE

WOW, EVEN BRUCE HAD A FEW NAMES, AND I AGREE WITH HIM, THOSE TWO GUYS ARE AWSOME TO WATCH. IT AMAZES ME HOW COLE JUST SHOWS UP AND DOES THE THINGS HE DOES ON A BIKE, AND TIM IS A GREAT JUMPER AND A SUPER NICE YOUNG MAN. ACTUALLY, BOTH OF THEM ARE

WELL IT LOOKS LIKE THE INTENTIONS OF THIS POSTING ARE BEARING FRUIT, THANKS TO STEVE AND JUSTINS MOM AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR MAKING AWSOME SUGGESTIONS AND GIVING NAMES THAT MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT FOR HELP IN MENTORING AND EVEN A LITTLE COACHING FOR THE NEWBIES.

AND BRUCE, IF YOU CAN GET TIM AND COLE OUT MORE OFTEN THAT WOULD BE AWSOME TOO, AND MAYBE EVEN DANITA

LETS ALL GET INVOLVED NOW, IF YOURE READING THIS, IM SURE YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT YOU COULD NAME. DONT WORRY IF THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED, A LITTLE POSITIVE RECOGNITION NEVER HURT ANYONE NOW DID IT

LETS SEE IF WE CAN GET 100 NAMES FOR THE TRACK OPERATORS TO THINK ABOUT BY THE END OF THE WEEK, NOW THERES A CHALLENGE DONT YOU THINK?

JASON MELTON WHERE ARE YOU WHEN WE NEED YOU

IM SAYING THE DALE FAMILY, ALL OF THEM, AND THE MELTONS, AND THE SMITHS........ILL ADD MORE LATER, NOW ITS YOUR TURN!

[J Gallo]

Everyone at the track I have come in contact with has helped me in one way or another, and they may not even realize it! Some have helped me directly, and alot have helped me indirectly. This list could get long.

in no particular order...

Ian Elliot and Heather Allred
Jason Melton
Steve Spencer
Jason Stout
The Kelley's
The Giles
The Donner's
The Hardy's
Bruce & Danita Ritter
Mark Miller
Matt Spencer
Joe Winebrenner
The Eglintine's
The Healey's
Jeremiah Fazzio
The Patterson's
The Halladay's
Todd Parry
Arielle Martin
The Dale's
The Smith's

I could be here all day, and I'm sure I've forgotten several people, because literally EVERYONE has helped me in one way or another, whether they realize it or not.

[justinsbmxmom]

Jason,
I wasn't on your list. HELLLOOOOO, I'm the one that took that famous picture of you jumping after the first turn for proof. Don't worry, you're forgiven. Maybe we can get a better picture at an indoor race!

[greg]

first, i have to comment on a couple of things......

1) isn't it funny how everyone says "Ian Elliot and Heather Allred" in one line, as if they are joined at the hip. lol Everyone else is one person, one line.......

2) It's always better to be a number 1 then a number "2".....somehow, being a number "2" just never quite sounds very good to me.
(always reminds me of Austin Powers "who does number 2 work for!" scene)

3) I actually think Steve was on a good track when he said

anyone who is trying their best, having fun and crosses the finish line with a SMILE on their face! The question should be "Who is having the most fun?"

I really believe that this mentoring thing will not work as well as hoped if you proceed on a one on one basis (one mentor, one newby). Don't get me wrong, i think it will help, but in my opinion only to a certain degree, and definately not with the hopes of keeping riders around for more than 1 or 2 years.

I don't want to hijack this thread, and not stay on topic, but it sounds like the mentor subject was the real reason for starting the thread.

Anyway, I think that your support mechanism that you are looking for is better served by a group of riders, rather than an individual rider. Group various level and ages of riders into "teams", making sure that you have a good mix of new riders, intermediates, and experts (older and younger). You have a better chance of team mates "clicking" with at least one or two others, you have riders at various stages of thier abilities to help and get help, and you don't place one expert in the position of feeling that they always have to be there for a new rider (it's shared across multiple experts, and inters).

Well, I have posted this thought before with no real feeback from others, so I'm not sure how well it has been recieved. I have many ideas on how a "league" feeling could be achieved without sacrificing the individualality of racing BMX. If anyone wants to discuss it further, just start a new thread about the BMX league idea, and lets throw some ideas around.

With all of that said, if a mentoring program does get developed, I would be very happy to be involved, no matter what form it takes.