Tailwind Racing 2012 MTB Series

[drmoorejr]

I don't mind paying the $60. I got a FREE video from just being a USAC member and I used a discount already.

[chunky dunker]

For everyone that keeps bashing and complaining about the USAC licensing issue. It boils down to education. Instead of wasting your time trying to find the answer your looking for through "self fulfilling prophecy" buy asking for other's opinions on the subject, why don't you spend the extra few minutes and go to the USAC web site and find the "actual" answers to your questions about licensing benefits, support, and what the money goes to.

Here, I will help you get started.

www.usacycling.org

[Michelle_Wissman]

Here are just a few benefits of membership:

◦RACES and RIDES — Find and participate in more than 2,500 competitive races and fun rides all over the country.
◦RESOURCES — Find information on bike shops, cycling news, tips, calendars, clinics and more.
◦COMMUNITY — Connect with local associations, clubs, coaches and teams in your area.
◦OPPORTUNITIES — Join programs to become a licensed coach, mechanic or official.

As a USA Cycling member, you have access to exclusive discounts from more than 35 companies offering services and gear that include travel, health insurance, cycling publications, training tools and more. Whether you're a race director, club organizer or just a cyclist looking to save money, you can find benefits available year-round to help make your cycling experience easy and affordable.

If you'd like to speak with USAC directly: 719-434-4200

Here's more information on where the $60.00 annual fee goes...


USA Cycling gives back $10 from every annual license to local associations. USAC also donates to IMBA and various trail building and off-road advocacy groups to support and sustain the growth and development of not only MTB racing but trail building recreational use. USAC also supports the development of youth and elite cyclists with our development pipeline that begins with race series'. Without series races (such as Tailwind and other USAC SERIES races), USAC would not have the success that they've had in World Competitions.

[Michelle_Wissman]

Dave... I don't know about you, but I had to submit a race resume to get my CAT 1 MTB license. So you can't just race any class.

I think that beginners should be free, but you should need a lisence for Sport and up.

For MTB season, USAC allows promoters to decide whether to offer (or not offer) 1 day licenses for Sport and Beginner Racers. USAC requires ALL Expert, Elite, and Pro racers to have ANNUAL USAC license. It IS an insurance issue. USAC wants to make sure that people who race in the Expert, Elite and Pro categories are experienced enough to be in those categories. By requiring licenses, USAC is able to monitor racers’ rankings. That way, racers must prove that they are worthy of their requested category. It would be a danger to the other racers if just anyone could ask for a 1-day license for the Elite/Expert/Pro categories.

Regarding the debate about Sport racers being licensed - In past years, Robert Linden (Tailwind Enterprises) did not require Sport racers to have a USAC license. Bryan and I took over the USAC series (that Robert Linden ran) in 2011. This is our 2nd year running this USAC MTB series, and we're continually learning of the value of licensing. We decided to allow Sport racers to compete without a license for 2012, however, it is possible that we will require licenses for the Sport classes in 2013.