Replying to 2020-2021 Competition Scene
Howdy folks,
Like many, we're coming into the ski season, and wondering how it'll play out with restrictions and a whole slew of things that go with that.
Given that the season gets up and running with some degree of normalcy, what is to be done about local and regional competitions (big ones too of course), but I'm thinking local ski hill rail jams, slopestyle, and freeride events.
The IFSA sent out a short survey a couple weeks back, and it asked its athletes what they'd like to see for how events are handled under the new circumstances.
It asked questions like:
"How would you like to see events ran?"
"How many athletes per category?"
"Staggered drop in times?"
"Do you stretch the event out more days to cover distancing restrictions"
"Is registration open for athletes from the local area? Provincial/State? or Nation wide?" (I'm going under the assumption that the Canada/US border will stay closed until the States has there pandemic under control. and that will extend through the winter.)
Etc, Etc..
Entering the larger side of competitions such as Dew Tour, and X Games, there is still hope for these larger events to go forward with minimal exposure.
I work as a broadcast technician, and I've lost a lot of work to many televised sporting events being cancelled. The future looked pretty dull for me, until I snagged a contract working the Crankworx Summer Series event this past August.
The Crankworx model is something that a lot of organizers should consider following.
They were able to pull off a remote televised bike race, with small event crews at the resort, remote hosts, and then bring it all together in Quebec for final production.
Crankworx kept it simple, and I think all events can do the same.
- Small athlete pool. 25 ( i think) athletes from BC. Kept it all in province.
- No crowds/spectators. These events were made for Broadcast/streaming
- "Social bubbles". We all kept to our own crews. No mingling with the event organizers or athletes (expect small talk, nothing was encouraged).
- Following Provincial guidelines/Masks. It's a no brainer on this one, when we can't manage distancing, wear your mask.
-If some exposure did emerge, tracing would happen, but the whole event would essentially of been shut down.
And it worked. It was much more quiet of an event in terms of people, and chasing things around. But it worked, and I don't think the public was all the wiser to it.
I think many resorts and organizers can follow this model to be able to pull off successful events.
What are your thoughts?
How would you like to see events ran at your ski hill?
From rail jams to big broadcasted events, I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Let me know below!
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