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Gender:

64% Male 36% Female

Please complete these questions:

Do you intend to compete at the 2003 UCI world championships?

Do you understand how to qualify for the 2003 UCI world championships?

If you did not answer Yes please type what you don't understand about it here:

Male

• If I were going, the 40-44 cruiser class need not qualify ?? Don't know if this is correct or not.

Female

• I understand how I am able to qualify. I would rather race in my age class 30-34 at the Aussies and not qualify for the Worlds. I will race the Worlds when my age class exists. I do not want to ride against 30-34 men nor 19+ women.
• Since there is'nt a class for women cruiser 30-34, if I race this at the Australian titles, there is no guarantee I will get a ride at the worlds, therefore I think I am forced to race 19+ women's cruiser ( racing against girls half my age.)

Do you think that it's fair on the female riders that there are only 14 womens classes at this years world titles and 24 mens classes?

Please briefly explain your answer:

Male

• depends on class size and age. if theres less rider you should merge the class's
• Women should have the same rights/amount of classes as the men, why should they have any less?
• Need for equality across the board, not when it suits them
• By offering the same amount of classes as the males it would encourage more female to race.
  because there is more male then there is female riders
• Sometimes there aren't enough riders to make a class, so classes are combined. But I can't see why this would happen at a World Championships.
• If you look at the number of women competing compared to the men then i suppose it is fair.
• Lots of 19ish girls miss out and older girls have to race down, how fair is that? UCI's fault.
  how about fairness
• I can not see why ALL classes cant be run for all genders. All masters classes should be available for male and females
• As much I would love to see more classes (I have 2 girls racing) there just aren't the numbers to justify the classes.
• Traditionally there are fewer female riders to fill the same number of classes as the men
  there simply isn't the same quantity of female riders as the male
• The Girls should be treated as equals, there are so many girls racing these days that they have the numbers to make up the classes.
• If there are enough riders for a class there should be a seperate class, there is at meetings at other levels.

Female

• They should keep the same rules from year to year, why make a change when it is not necessary?
• It's definitely not fair. Especially for the masters ladies riders. It's not fair to expect them to be able to complete with the 19+ yr olds as they don't have the time to be able to put in the amount of effort required to be competitive at the 19+ level. It's also not really fair that there is no 19+ female 20 inch challenge class. I know that there aren't enough female riders to warrant two classes, but if you offer it for males (this year being 17+ challenge) it should really be offered for females.
• there are enough female riders around to cover most classes. If the classes are continually not offered at states, nationals and worlds the females will only drop out of the sport.
• Because at the moment there are more and more female riders starting and there should be sufficient classes for them
• The same number of classes should be offered to females as are offered to males from sprockets to 45+. If numbers do not exist then combining them appropriately when entries are in.
• I'm a 39 year old lady rider. For me to ride the world's I would have to ride 19+ cruisers. That is giving 20 year. I also like to ride 20" . but there is only a 19+ class. But when you ride that you
• Don't qualify to ride the world's either, because on a 20" you have to qualify in the AAclass.But for me to ride AA then I can't ride cruiser. Because I'm classifed as a pro.How at 39 I'm I suppose to ride pro class. If they want to force rider out of the sport they are going the right way.
• You will not encourage more women into the sport if the opportunity to race is'nt opened up.
  What's offered to one, should be offered to all. We should be given the chance to get numbers and if we fail we should ber offered a different class.
• As I ride in 19+ Ladies 20" class, I am unable to race the World's unless I enter into Elite, which is way out of my league. Instead I have had to spend money I don't have, and purchase a new Cruiser. This is so I may have a chance to ride at the World's (19+ Ladies 24"). Now when I go to race's, very few are racing 20" and instead are racing 24".
• generally theres more male riders than there is female riders so generally there will be more male classes than there is female classes
• I have put no because in this sport the females always get a raw deal. But at the same token there are not as many females as males compete.Maybe that could have a little bit to do with that they are treated as a second class member. The boys classes of course are more because the boys have a class at 6 and the girls start at 7, then the female classes finish at 16. All the cruiser classes then make up for the bigger number of male classes. Lets face it other than the ladies 25 and over class we do not have many cruiser female riders in Australia. To keep and build the female numbers all sanctions need to start looking after females and giving them the respect that they deserve. Then once we have the numbers and some excitement back in the female ranks in all sanctions then we will get somewhere on a world level. You have to build the respect from the bottom levels first.You cannot attack the top when at the lower levels it needs the attention first.

Do you think it's fair that all female riders over the age of 18 have to qualify to compete in the class, when all other 19 & Over challenge classes and all Elite classes dont require qualification?

Please briefly explain your answer:

Male

• it should be same for the female riders as the male riders
• I don't know enough about the female classes.
• I definately think this has to be looked at, yet again its another female/male thing here. Tho eltie ladies do not have to qualify, it still needs to be looked at.
• this is the world titles we are talking about..its not a northern rivers [regional] race.
• There should be some kind of qualification for everyone.
• why dont the men
• Simple inequality.
• What is good for the goose should be good for the gander
• all qualifying should be equal for male/female
• masters class still have to qualify.
• Female riders of any age should have to qualify because of their lack of numbers. A show of numbers at a national race would surely show that they should be taken seriously.why should they be allowed to race only one meet when they don't follow the circuit or race half as much as the males. [this is a fact, not discriminatory]
• It really doesnt make sense, why dont the 19+ riders have to qualify???
• It's a double standard, I think everyone needs to qualify, else race a pro class.

Female

• Qualifying should apply to everyone!!!! If they don't require Elite classes to qualify then no other classes should have to qualify!!
• should be equal
• This is definitely not fair. Why should just one class have to qualify when other 19+ challenge/elite classes don't have to qualify.
• it is discriminatory that one gender has to qualify and the other doesn't.
• There are probally just as many 19+ women in Australia as there is in the jnr women and elite women so if these classes don't need to qualify why do 19+. And why don't the 19+ men have to??
• Once again different rules exist for males compared to females.
• yes because it gets the best riders in the classes. I don't mind qualifing . but they have to give every age group the chance.
• this is discriminatory
• I dont have to qualify to enter 19+ Elite ladies right?
• All remale riders, regardless of class, are competing for a huge title, and the rules should be the same across the line. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE TO QUALIFY!
• I say yes as the 19 & over challenge class is an open class just like elite class is.There is no other age above them. The 17 to 18 is Junior elite and is not an open class so therfore it requires qualification, like all other classes. I do realize that it is a championship class and maybe that could be taken into consideration.

Which Australia BMX racing website do you visit most often?

Why?

Male

• it just a better website for news and stuff
• more informative, up to date information and honest answers given
• They can get alot of things happening on this site from around oz. Just aswell too cause it Takes Bmx Aus about 2 months before they get anything happening
• BMX Ultra tell it like it is and news updated on a regular bases.
• because it is built by a rider for the riders
• its the only one that says it how it is !
• Simply the best
• because it is the most informative and it updates regularly. good in ya
• News, when it's constructive
• credebility dont you know
• Most up to date with relevent news and info for the sport with out prejudice to any party. Its just a shame that BMXA are not in touch with what the sport wants and any report on them always looks bad.
• Most informative
• because its always got loads of informaion about whats happening in bmx. its also the most up to date
• most up to date information
• bmxa has nothing to see
• Because BMXUltra.com is updated on a regular basis (pretty much everyday) and it gives me all sorts of news, racing, dirt and news form other countries. The ABMXA site has bugger all on there.
• Good information, download entry forms, good links to other sites.

Female

• Like to learn about news from all over the world
• I check out BMX Ultra most often, plus all the female sites in Australia. BMX Ultra usually has more info on race meetings and more often than not posts results from the female classes as well as photos from the female classes. BMX Australia hardly ever respond to e-mails that are sent to them either. There website is hardly updated either.
• Because they are not afraid to have an opinion and also cover a big range of BMX
• Because BMXUltra tells us everything and leaves nothing out...good source of information
• Most up to date with results, entries forms and news.
• to find out what is going on.
• up to date and informative
• None of the others are any good. BMX Community is a debate over 2 crappy jerseys with animals on them and BMX Australia is rarely updated.
• Its updated almost everyday with interesting and relevant information.
• I do visit them all but the BMXA sites are not updated regularly enought, and have been lacking in information. I have been trying to see if I could find some information on the Redbull Elite Shootout to be held on the wednesday prior to the worlds, I would have no doubt that it would be a male thing.
  

Please leave any additional comments about the UCI worlds, classes, etc here

Male

• it good how its now 17+ instead of 19+ challenge class at the worlds
• How often do we get the worlds here aye? Once every 5 - 6 years? Why not make it easier for everyone? Bmx A need to get there act together a bit more, especially with the classes above.
  De-regulate the BMX associations and create competativeness so as the rider can see their dollar at work and get value for money.
• My son is 7 years old this year. He is very good, just had 6 wins out of 6 at the ACT Titles on 8/9th March and wins all of his other races wherever he rides, but to travel to Perth to pick up a trophy for him, without gaining a World number, does not seem much point except for the experience. When will the Worlds be back in Australia ?
• racing sucks anyway
• we need a 25 to 29 class
• it will be interesting wont it
• BMXA seem to be pig headed on the way they have made up thier qualiying procedure for the worlds. Men who are over 50 have to for go thier class at the Aussies and ride 45 to 49 just to qualify. I can see no reason why BMXA cant just seed riders into the worlds regardless of qualifying if the numbers allow. The uci rules state that the associations nominate a set amount of riders in each class , nothing about qualifying. Why cant they let the females and males in these older classes that havent got the numbers to excede the limit to ride something different for the Aussies to what they can at the Worlds.
• This may be getting off the track...I am extremely dissapointed that the Aussies are running the same format [as the worlds], I believe this takes the shine off the event for many riders - especially those that never make finals and go there purely to race heaps of races against many different people from different states. Now that they will only race the same 7 riders every time and most likely won't progress past heats, why bother going. There are far more non finalists than there are finalists, and the event needs to be able to attract these riders to keep the numbers up. The more riders we have, the bigger the event, the better the competition, the better the sport and the more attractive to sponsors it is.

Female

• Rules changes like night and day!
• I think that there should either be no challenge 20 inch classes at all or offer them for both sexes. Masters cruiser classes should definitely be offered for females as there is currently no class for them to race. You can't expect them to race and be competitive in the 19+ class.
• There are classes for men, why not women? If they don't want to include the same amount of female masters cruiser classes as male why not include a 30+ class as well as the 19+ class?
• BMX is very quickly becoming a sport for the rich with the continued increases in licence fees, nomination fees etc etc
• I would like to ride at the World level but am I not prepared to waste my money riding against men or 19+ women. I would like the same rules and age classes that males have.
• We should be really looking forward to the World Championships being held in our country, but instead I feel already defeated by the inequality in the classes being offered to the women.
• Why is it that bmx organisations can stuff something like this up so badly. I come from a mountain bike background and am proud that my sport supports women equally with the men. That is why mountain biking will be no 1 for me, and bmx a very lagging behind 2nd.
• I have been in the sport for about 6 months, and its been a great experience so far. The sport itself is awesome, but its so unfortunate that the association that governs it are hurting its growth.
• What about the UCI BMX Supercross weekend of 19-21 September 2003 at Camp Woodward, in the USA a big event, big prize money, world cup ranking points the lot. But designed for males only!!!!!