2024 Southridge Winter Series, XC Race #3

Good news and bad news. Good news #1: I stuck around long enough to see some Enduro practice runs. Good news #2: Josh Tootall and Stuart Gonzalez each picked up another win in their respective categories, as did Gary Scheidler and David Buckell in theirs, both of whom improved their times over race #2. Bad news: After those four, there was only one other category. I mean, I've seen more people in attendance at the national loners' convention. There will probably be more people rooting for the Raiders at the Super Bowl on Sunday, and they're not even playing. I can remember, not that many years ago, when any single category and age group, would have more racers competing at the Southridge Winter Series than the entirety of all the combined categories today.

The photo above is one I took during the Winter Series in 2015. The mass of riders gathering before the start speaks of a time, not that long ago mind you, when the sport was far more healthy than it is today. See those few, closest, riders in the foreground; the same photo taken today, would have shown only that many competitors. Yikes! Serious health issues? Naw, it's gone beyond that. If you want to see a return to the good old day, vote for me for USA Cycling district rep! Ha, no sorry, don't do that, just joking. Though anyone with half a brain can see there is a problem, I don't have the answers.

Ah well, what are you going to do. 

DH and Enduro do not seem to have the problem that XC does, but by and large, they seem to be a younger group of racers. Take a close look at today's XC categories - 50+, 60+ and Pro - novice - none, no younger beginners, no younger sports. What happens when a sport fails grow, fails to attract a new generation of competitors?

I think you know the answer.

Southridge could probably get along fine by focusing on DH and Enduro, but that would mean the loss of another local XC race series, so they absolutely deserve thanks for NOT doing that up to this point in time. The question is, if the racing community doesn't show, how long can they afford to keep it running?

I wasn't intending this to be a woe is mountain bike racing post, but geez, when seven riders enter, one of whom suffers a race ending mechanical on the first lap...

in medical terms, I think they call it flat-lining.

Anyway, it was another blustery, cold Fontana day, but oh so beautifully clear. If for no other reason than to keep from coming to a sudden stop when hit by a sudden gust of wind, those racers who did show up did not slug around the course for the lack of any competition; their times were right on par with those set in the first two races. They may not have things their own way two weeks from now, though, since far more people may show up now that the masses know they finally have a chance to win a mountain bike race. Seriously; are you 30+, never raced before? Just enter, you'll win your first race.

As usual, there are more scenes to be seen, over in the race album.