For information on the
USA Cycling site related to the discussion below,
select the following link:
http://www.usacycling.org/rankings/rankings_promoters.html
The following is from
the current National Rankings Program Manager:
Hello Everyone!
It is my understanding that many of you are now just
finding out that NORBA no longer has ability classes
for Juniors (racers of age 18 and under). Juniors
will now be ranked by age group. The NORBA age groups
for Juniors are:
1-10
11-12
13-14
15-16
17-18
1-18
JuniorX
Each broken out age group has a corresponding Age
Related Value Level (AGL). This AGL gives the
corresponding age group a better ranking. For example
a 10 year old can choose to race with his age group
and his ranking score will figure in an AGL of 125.
If he wants to challenge himself and compete for a
better ranking then he can "race up" and
compete with the 11-12 year olds and his AGL will be
100. The higher the age group in Juniors, the better
the AGL. For those promoters who don't want to break
out in two year increments then you can use 1-18. The
best AGL is reserved for JuniorX.
This is where a lot of the top Juniors riders will
want to compete. For a complete listing of AGLs and a
better understanding of how it computes into rankings
then please go through the technical document - see http://www.usacycling.org/rankings/rankings_promoters.html.
Note: For those promoters who do no
submit results in the required age groups then the
maximum AGL will be assigned. This being an AGL of
125. For example of you run a race and submit an age
group of 15-18, then the AGL of 125 will be assigned.
These age groups will still be ranked, but again the
AGL will be higher. For Seniors and Masters NORBA has
defined age groups as well and these age groups also
have AGLs. (Please refer to the manual or technical
description for a complete listing.) Riders may race
down to earn a better rankings but they are NOT
allowed to race up.
The National Rankings Program is a program for
everyone; from small ones just starting out to the
older ones who still have what it takes and everyone
in between! In order to have a National Rankings
Program then there must be some uniformity to
the system and how results are submitted. I
look forward to working with you and making this
program a success.
Thank you! - National
Rankings Program Manager
From Bob
Stewart - CT Mountain Bike Challenge Series Timing
Service and Web Host/Author:
The series is adding
the JuniorX group to the Junior
class offerings. This will be an expert level race
for the most competitive racers of age 18 or less.
That should satisfy the needs of the most competitive
racers in that age group. The fact that the other men's
Junior groups span only 2 years should help level the
playing field there. So Juniors have a choice of
racing in a "mixed ability"
("Beginner/Sport") level group where ages
differ by ONLY 1 YEAR (for men) or racing in the most
competitive group (JuniorX) for 18 and under.
Some reasons
why the CT Mountain Bike Challenge Series has chosen
to use the new Junior class are as follows:
- Since
NORBA requires NORBA officials present at a race, and
requires NORBA licenses (one day or otherwise) to
race for NORBA permitted and sanctioned races such as
ours,
AND a NORBA license holder of age 18
or less with a newly issued (as of about February
2000) or renewed license will have a card that
indicates "Junior" as their category,
AND NORBA does not acknowledge a
Beginner, Sport, or Expert (1-18) group for ranking
purposes this year,
AND the Junior category system is a
reasonable one - especially with the inclusion of the
JuniorX class, and given the fact
that in Junior Men's defined age classes we have only
a 1 year age difference between any two racers who
register properly - ,
the series race directors thought it would be prudent
to adopt the NORBA Junior category.
- A person with a NORBA license that is 18 or less
will not be NORBA ranked unless they race in a Junior
category race. Granted not every licensed racer
cares, but some care very much, so
the series race directors thought the better choice
would be to adopt the Junior category. This way the
series is not denying any category or class of their
ranking possibility.
- For those registering at a race with Beginner,
Sport, and Expert (1-18) categories, where does
someone with a Junior license go? Are they free to go
anywhere? Doesn't that create its own problems? These
were viewed as potential and avoidable difficulties.
- In the end, the series race directors believed that
it would be in the best interest of the racer
to adopt the Junior category - it would have been
less work to stick with the former class system! Our
aim is to try to do the best for the most.
Give the change a try, NORBA did not make the
decision to switch to the Junior category system
without thought. Again, policies regarding current
NORBA classes and rankings are at the following
address:
http://www.usacycling.org/rankings/rankings_promoters.html
See you at
the races!
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