DBXUSA

Listed below is the beginning, middle, and end of a regionalized concept that could have changed our sport for the better. Read on.

The launch of DirtBoarding USA

So here it is folks. It's time to launch this association. Below is the article in its entirety that is printed in ORB. I know that you will have many questions that we will now openly discuss here. The time is now for you to decide to support this effort. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope you will join DirtBoarding USA and bring this sport to the next level.

Our Sport: Past, Present, and Future. Part 1

Over the past 6 years our sport has floundered amidst the selfishness of the manufacturers and the lack of support from television networks and corporate sponsors. It’s been a wild ride for those of us who have been consistently in the scene. It seemed at one point early in 2001 that this would be the biggest year for the sport yet. How quickly that vision came crashing down. Between downsizing and bogus politicking the East Coast series was a virtual bust, the Colorado circuit became a three event circus and the so-called “world championships” was cancelled do to the sponsorship of the ASWC. Which in the end was postponed and is still scheduled for late June of 2002.

There were some highlights though. The Midwest realized their inaugural race events with great success and the west coast held more than one event this year. The Panasonic Core Tour brought top riders some good money for their courage. Riders still gathered here and there and the soul of our sport moved forward.

Through the course of the year people from all aspects of the sport have come to me looking for answers. People came to me and told me that it’s time for me to get back in the game and make the race circuits happen once again. This support reinvigorated a plan that I began developing in 1999. A plan I now present to you. The key to this sport growing will be your support. I am only one man, and I can only do so much myself. As you read through this article, I hope that you will make the decision to become part of the first ever Rider Based Racing Association…..DirtBoarding USA.

The goals of this organization are to progress the sport of MountainBoarding through regional racing circuits throughout the USA and to free the manufacturers of the burden of producing and promoting races. Their jobs are to manufacture and distribute boards. This organization will be majoratively $upported by the riders. This organization is designed to support and inform the riders and open more locations to ride.

So why me? Why Patrick Thomas. I’ve been in the MountainBoarding game since 1996. I have attended nearly all of the events held in North America since that time and have produced more MountainBoarding events and races than anyone else on the planet. I have built a tremendous rapport with the riders and have kept great relations with the manufacturers. I’ve always looked out for the riders and built my events to give the riders the best that can be had. I will be working closely with Dave Stiefvater and Van Dewitt in managing this organization. And as we move forward we will be looking for local race day organizers to share our experiences with and enable them to implement the local circuits effectively.

Regional Race Circuits and the First true National Championships:

We have locations in five regions throughout the United States that are ready to host the local circuits. In the Southeast, Northeast, Central/Midwest, Rocky Mountain and West coast. Beginning in late May/Early June the first round will be held on consecutive weekends in each region. Each region will host three events over the summer featuring DirtBoarderCross and Big Air. Round two holds all regional racing on the same weekend. All over the states people will be in the heat of battle on the same day. And goes the same for round three. Round three gives us the local champions. Each of those champions will be on an even keel with the champions from the other regions. Three races on the same point scale with the same rider classifications and the same formats prepares us for the first true National Championships.

The Championships will be held in the Central/Midwest region. That way we are all equal distance to the event. The California riders will end up traveling about as far as the New York riders. This fourth and final event gives us the first true National Champion in DirtBoarderCross and Big Air.

Majority $upport:

$upport of this organization will come from you, the rider. Your $100 annual membership fee allows DirtBoarding USA the ability to make these events happen without any other outside $upport. Manufacturers will be given an opportunity to sponsor the circuit. They each will be offered one and only one sponsorship package. The offer will be same for each, thus eliminating the grandstanding and banner warfare that has so often occurred at previous races. This should be a welcome opportunity for the manufacturers as they need to be focused on selling boards and not how many banners they have on course. Then we go to the corporations for additional funds. We would love to see big prize money on the table for the riders, and will work towards making that a reality.

So, it truly is up to you to make this happen.

As DirtBoarding USA grows we will focus on bringing more locations to the circuits and bring the races closer to your home. It will take time. In year two we hope add the Northwest region and by year three we could be looking at as many as eight regions and locations. In year four, we go worldwide and look to build the first true World Championships.

DirtBoarding USA will support and inform the riders via the DBXUSA Newsletter. Not only will locations and results be covered, the inside scoop on what’s happening around the world in this industry/sport. As you can see, we are looking at building an organization that will outlive the originators. An organization that will take our sport to the level that it deserves. An organization created by and created for, riders.

It is now up to you to commit your $100 annual membership fee. Without your support, this is just a vision. You will be updated through regular articles in Off-Road Boarding Magazine. The next article will declare our victory in gaining your support, or it will announce the defeat from the lack of support and received monies will be returned.

The decision is yours.

I welcome any and all remarks. Drop me a line at VitaminP@att.net

Now get off your ass and go ride!

Rocks and Dirt,
Patrick Thomas

NEW INFO. as of 11/5/01

DBXUSA Update 11-5-01

We have the regional concept in place. We are going to resorts and locations that have a history of holding mountainboarding events. Our local representatives are people that have been in the scene and are capable of implementing race day operations.

West: Dan Dworkin
Southeast: Justin Rhodes
Northeast: Frank Bellezza
Midwest: Rick Flatt
Rocky Mountain: Dave Stievfater

These will be the race day organizers that will work hand in hand with myself, Dave Stievfater and Van Dewitt.

Rules and regulations are the same as they've been in the past and they will be on the dirtboardercross.com page that is coming soon.

The fees were decided upon through feasibility studies, break even analysis, referencing other organizations and from past history of what it takes to implement races. $100 really isn't that much.

The goal is to be able to do this without outside money from the industry or corporations. By and for the riders.

Races will be a minimum of 3 man DirtBoarderCross and Big Air. All DBX races will be DOUBLE ELIMINATION. This is the fairest way to run the heats. If you have a bad first heat you still have a chance of taking a top three win. The final heats will be run round robin or best of three heats. Other formats will come in due time. These are the formats that will be the standard.

Critical mass is 200 paid members. With those numbers we can do this. Anything less is a boot strapped operation that is not worthy. So the time is now for you to make your commitment. If we don't reach the critical mass, monies will be returned less a 10% processing fee.

January 15th is D-Day.

It is up to you to decide the fate of our great sport.

Rocks and Dirt,
PT

NEW INFO. as of 12/5/01

DBXUSA Update 12-5-01

Our Sport: Past, Present, and Future. Part 2

In the last issue of ORB Patrick Thomas released the detailed plans for DirtBoarding USA and called out to you, the riders for the needed financial support of the organization. During the past six weeks we’ve been watching and listening to the feedback. The remark that struck him the most was posted on the bulletin board. It pointed out the fact that we will discover ourselves as recreational riders or serious riders. In the end, all of the feedback and membership dues received shows that we are recreational riders and we’re not ready, willing or able to support such an endeavor as DBXUSA proposed to implement.

Therefore DBXUSA will not launch the proposed organization in 2002. Perhaps in the future when more of you are serious about legitimizing our sport with a comprehensive race circuit and organization. For 2002, numerous events are already planned. The ASWC is confirmed for late June. In April the crew from CoreDirtRiders.com will have the first ever races in Washington state. NPD is holding an event at Donner Ski Ranch at the end of June. Numerous races will occur overseas and the DirtHeads have invited you all out to join them in Hawaii in late September. As you can see, there will be plenty to do next summer with your board.

I’d like to thank everyone for their feedback and support.

Rocks and Dirt,
PT