Box Jump gone from London SX Olympic Track Options

[reedhamilton]

we've reconfigured the first jump and made it slightly shorter and we've taken away one of the jumps on the first bend and the box jump

Does that mean no berm jump in the first turn (bend?) for the men? No split track at the end of the first straight? Men and women taking the same first turn, like in Beijing?

I'm sure they are looking for the "sweet spot" between good track flow/competitive racing and entertaining track features/obstacles. Personally, I will miss the box feature. It created an awesome men's final at the test event when Daudet, Willoughby, and Willers all got bunched up there, and then went three-wide down the third straight.

Can't wait to see the Papendal modifications too. With some cooperation from the weather, that event should be one of the best of the year.

[Eric151]

All the things mentioned here are very valid but I think there is one huge point being missed! Everyone is speaking from their own point of view. The thing we are all hoping for the most from the Olympics is to gain new participants and help grow the sport. When people turn on BMX in the Olympics we want to keep their interest. It would be nice to hear from non BMX'ers what they thought of the race and what their favorite thing was. I know that I heard from several people they thought the BJ was pretty cool. Just an opinion which is usually pretty far from everybody on hear anyways!!!

[g-mo]

Racing should be four straights, no gimicks.

This pretty much sums it up. The racing will provide its own entertainment factor.

[woodybmx86]

aren't jumps gimmicks? what's the real difference? it's like... if I like it, it's cool, if not, "it's not bmx!" in here. racing is about that, racing. what you race around doesnt define bmx. obatacles are there to demostrate a riders ability to overcome them and still win. there have been tracks I hate for the "flow" factor, but that doesnt mean "its not bmx!"
One of the coolest things I have ever seen was a MTB race whre they had to hit HUGE, and I mean huge, jumps, including a massive slanted wall ride/corner they launched onto and hopped off of onto a landing to go the other way. something like that would be amazing....

[Weaver]

racing should be 4 straights? same track every time too?

have yall seen how entertaining 4x stuff is? what about the red bull races that mix street and dirt into balls to the wall entertainment?

bmx has had the mx taken out of it...

[g-mo]

There's gimmick jumps in MX racing? Huh........


Wall rides and other goofy elements make SX look like a circus instead of an olympic discipline.

[Uncle_Todd]

...
bmx has had the mx taken out of it...

I've said the same thing numerous times. Loose dirt, flat corners, mud, drag race straights, and such are now unacceptable for excitement, yet huge and more dangerous is.

[g-mo]

Papendal's new section. I suspect London will be similar.


(IMG:http://p.twimg.com/Al2mviRCMAEDoSj.jpg)

This post has been edited by g-mo: Feb 20 2012, 06:24 PM

[klakke]

Papendal's new section. I suspect London will be similar.


(IMG:http://p.twimg.com/Al2mviRCMAEDoSj.jpg)

Hmm looks interesting. How are you supposed to get through that?

we've reconfigured the first jump and made it slightly shorter and we've taken away one of the jumps on the first bend and the box jump

Does that mean no berm jump in the first turn (bend?) for the men? No split track at the end of the first straight? Men and women taking the same first turn, like in Beijing?

(IMG:http://p.twimg.com/AlrvGv1CAAA0wyZ.jpg)

I think this is the change on the first straight that they talk about; so no change to the mens section, only the womens

[Jason F.]

I've said the same thing numerous times. Loose dirt, flat corners, mud, drag race straights, and such are now unacceptable for excitement, yet huge and more dangerous is.

I think the 20 something to even 30 something crowd is so amped up on xgames/video game type "show" that we will never see much pedaling in the last straight again except at local tracks. I personaly can not think of anything less exciting than a bunch of guys manualing through the last few obsticals to coast across the finish....no way in my world does that speak excitement. I have no idea what mindset builds the tracks but its not excitement based...imho.