Ever since I started coming to NorCal high school mountain bike races when I was in 5th grade, I’ve been counting the years until I get to race. Now, I’m down to counting months, with the next NorCal season being my first. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am, or how long the years have dragged on waiting for the 2013 NorCal season.
One of the best things, in my mind, about getting to race NorCal is the awesome competition in the girls’ fields. Ever since I started racing, I’ve been racing in fields of 2 to 5 other girls at most races. The most I’ve ever competed against is around 15 at the big races like US Nationals. But at NorCal races, as many as 36 girls may line up in a division race, with an average of 20.
However the league is so insanely big that there’s been talk of splitting into two smaller leagues. This is because of the size of most of the boys’ fields, which makes sense. But for the girls, the fields are the perfect size for a good race with good competition.
I think that if the league were to be split, the girl’s races wouldn’t have the same number or quality of racers. It would also lower the girls' motivation to start racing or even to come out to the races. I’ve been waiting so long to be able to race NorCals, and I want to have the same opportunities in the league as the girls before me.
I don't know the answer, but I do know the question: How do we reduce the oversized boy's fields without limiting the competition in the girl's fields? NorCal welcomes your ideas if you have a good one and so do I!
Keep chasing…
