My fellow Paddle Freaks:

We now have enough local races to have a point series...perhaps with recognition at the last race of the season (Kawloween?).

What this involves is simply awarding points to paddlers for each race in defined series and then adding up at end of season.  My view is to recognize the wierd distance paddling culture we are developing here (all our races are crazy long by standards for USCA or surfski racing) by tieing points to race distance and to recognize those who show up to lots of races...may not place first, but are always there.

So try this on for size.  Points can be awarded with this simple formula.  The distance of the race sets the points with first place geting 100% of points, second place getting 75% and third place 50% and 4th place 25%.  So for example on this weekend's shoot out...first place would gain 50 points.

We can go back and catch the points for the Gut buster (10 miles= 10 points for first, etc.)

However, I propose we cut the 340 race down to 100 points to avoid skewing the system...that way a paddler who may not even do the 340 can still earn points via all the other races and is not overwelmed point wise by a paddler who wins the 340 (340 points..yikes!)

Again the idea is to recognize the paddlers who show up to lots of races (the backbone of our growing sport).....a paddler could never win first place and still win the series. 

SO let me have it...good idea, bad idea...needs tweaks???

if valid...we need to formalize the point system and identify the races that qualify.

Bryan

Here is my first stab at the races to include.  We can just start with this weekends Missouri River shootout and go from there...(can add other races..ie gutbuster next time round)

Missouri River Shoot out (50 miles=50 pts)
Kawnivore (100 pts)
Gas 60 (60 pts)
Missouri River Freedom Race (65 pts)
Missouri River 340 (100 pts)
Race to the Dome (24 pts..long course)
Gritty Fitty (50 pts)
Race for Rivers (40 pts day one, 26 pts day two)
Kawloween (30 pts)

....possible add ons are the Lake of Ozarks race, Twisted 27 (same day as race to dome?)...I may have missed one or two.

How this works:  For example, I can't make the 340 or kawnivore...so there goes 200 pts (I fully assumed I would have won both...with record time, refreshed and with out a single hair out of place )...point is...its all about points....more races you do, the more points you can earn.

In fact there is no reason not to distribute points from first place all the way down first 10 boats in ...ie first is 100% of points (i.e. total miles of race), second is 90%, third is 80%...on down to say first 10 positions.   A steady racer who is at all the races and keeps near the winners...could win the point series

we could even forget the solo versus tandem.....first boat in wins the 100% of points period.  This would allow folks to choose when to go tandem or solo or at least not be penalized for doing a tandem on one race and solo on other....just base it on first boats to ramp..points go to each paddler in the boat (uh?...with time adjustment for races that have staggered starts?..help...lets keep this simple.)

Need a spread sheet guru to pipe up here and frankly to keep track of all this...cause trust me, you dont want me to keep track of anything with numbers (aniversary date, birthdays, checkbook...just ask my wife)

Bryan

I love it! And I've often thought about something like this.

In your proposal, someone could win the gut buster, the kalloween, and race to the dome (10+20+32 = 52) and still finish behind someone who got 3rd in the gut buster and 3rd in the MR340 (5+50 = 55).

Let me offer a suggestion in order to not have the distance skew things too much.  We also need to have Criteria for what kind of race will qualify to be in the points series.  Hopkins, you originally said "Missouri Point Series".  I would propose "MO-Kan" Points Series based on the heavy saturation of races in both states.

Criteria and Rules:
1 - It must start and finish in either Missouri or Kansas
2 - It must have no less than 20 boats in total participate
3 – Race must be public, and must have been announced on the rivermiles forum or on it’s own website no less than 90 days prior to start date of the race
4 – The first race of the Points Series will not be before March 15, and the last race of the season will not be after October 15.
5 – The points series will be done on an individual basis regardless of class (solo, tandem)
6 –  Men and Women will have separate point standings

There are three types of points.
1 - Entry Points
2 - Class Points
3 - Overall Points

[b]1 - Entry Points are points that a racer gets simply for doing the race.  These points will be based on the distance of the race and the number of participants. 

Distance Entry Points:
Races 0-19 miles = 1 point
Races 20-49 miles = 2 points
Races 50-99 miles = 4 points
Races 100+ miles = 6 points

Participant Entry Points (by boat):
Races with 20-49 participants = 2 points
Races 50-99 participants = 4 points
Races 100+ participants = 6 points

Example:  If a race was 25 miles long, and it had 60 boats, everyone that did that race would receive 6 points (2+4)

2 - Class Points are points that a racer earns for placing in a race.  These points are based on finish placement.  Class Points are only available when a class has 3 or more participants.  Class points are adjusted by a class entry factor and a distance factor. 

Class Points:
1st Place = 20 points
2nd Place = 15 points
3rd Place = 10 points
4th place = 5 points
5th place = 2 points

Class Entry Factor:
3-9 entries = 1
10-24 entries = 1.2
25-99 entries = 1.4
100+ entries = 1.6

Distance Factor:
Races 0-19 miles = No additional to the factor
Races 20-49 miles = additional 0.5 to the factor
Races 50-99 miles = additional 1 to the factor
Races 100+ miles = additional 1.5 to the factor


Example:  If a class (like men’s solo) had 33 boats in it in a race 30 miles long, and Bob Smith got 2nd place,  He would earn 28.5 points (15 x (1.4+.5)).

Example 2:  If a class (like women’s tandem) had 12 boats in it, and Lisa and Marie got 1st place in  race 340 miles long, they would EACH earn 54 points (20 x (1.2+1.5))

3 – Overall Points are points that are awarded based on the overall placement of a boat in the entire race.  There will be a base placement points and an overall entry factor similar to the Class Points.

Overall Points:
1st Place = 10 points
2nd Place = 8 points
3rd Place = 6 points
4th place = 4 points
5th place = 2 points

Overall Entry Factor:
20-49 entries = 1
50-99 entries = 1.2
100+ entries = 1.4

Solo Factor:
Mixed Tandem and Men’s Solo = additional 0.2 to the factor
Womens Tandem = additional 0.5 to the factor
Womens solo = additional 1 to the factor


Example:  If a men’s soloist placed 4th overall in a race with 60 people, he would earn 5.6 points (4 points x (1.2+.2)
Example 2:  If a women’s tandem got 5th place overall in a race with 80 entries, they would EACH earn 3.4 points (2 x (1.2+.5))


Final Example:

If a men’s tandem got 1st in their class of 15 and 1st overall in a race with 40 boats, and the race was 30 miles, they would get (2+2) = 4 entry points, (20x (1.2+.5)) = 34 class points, and (20x1) = 20 overall points.
They each would earn 58 points for placing 1st overall and 1st in their class for a 30 mile race.

If a men’s solo got 3rd in their class of 120 in a race with 340 boats, and the race was 340 miles, they would get (6+6) = 12 entry points, (10x (1.6+1.5)) = 31 class points, and = 0 overall points.
He would earn 43 points for placing 3rd in his class in the MR340 mile race.

If a women’s solo got 1st in their class of 8 in a race with 60 boats, and the race was 50 miles, they would get (4+4) = 8 entry points, (20x (1+1)) = 40 class points, and = 0 overall points.
She would earn 48 points for placing 1st in her class in the 50 mile race.

I know this is ridiculous… I started and I was like an addict.

Sure didn't take long for this to get complicated. Avoiding governing bodies is one of the main reasons I go to the river in the first place.
   But pay me no mind, I've never seen the top 10 boats in any race anyway, not after the first mile or so.

No doubt in my mind some of you have been out in the sun too long. If you want a point series you need to decide what the endgame is. Mo/Ks champion? Second you need to establish classes by sex(that is not a yes/no answer) and boat type. Keep it simple-award points for placement only. To give points for length of race is counterproductive and the longer races cost more not only in terms of entry fees but also the logistics of doing them.

Kevin,

My total score if this type of measurement was used--TOTALLY POINTLESS!!!!!

If somebody wants to crunch these numbers and declare someone "Lord and Master of Midwest Ulta-Marathon Racing Series". So be it. It is absolutely unimportant to me as I suspect it would be a non issue to a majority of paddlers.

Anybody who has more than a passing interest in the paddling community knows who are the usual leaders of the pack. While a point system might be fun- it also would be arbitrary. An example of this is how the 340  scores point wise versus other races. I equate Committee with politics. THAT does not equate with fun with friends and the river.

Matt green and I kicked this around a bit on drive up to shoot out (killer race...nice job Dressler...and first boat in )

A Race could join the race series and sponsor $ towards it...then at the end of season.....point series winners would be recognized (at last race) with prize or cash

If we keep it simple....like first boat in and points linked to distance.....folks would not be penalized for doing a race tandem or otherwise (points are given to both paddlers)....and as proven in shoot out...a tandem is not always first boat in......ultra distance races have a way of equalizing things and comes down to paddler......some times first few boats are surfski or outrigger or Texas unlimited tandem or solo......granted USCA spec boats struggle....but that is not currently what our scene is about.....it's open, bring any type of boat...and that is cool (will promote evolution in boat design...which was killed by USCA specifications)

Could see folks teaming up to gain points in a race they think they can win tandem....and then race solo in other races where solo can be an advantage (kawnivore for example?)

Would be a fun element to add to races......I know many paddlers do not race for a medal or win...totally cool....but many of us enjoy the friendly competition (which in this area is very supportive and not cut throat at all)....this would add to that and be fun...it's all about fun

Joe if you work this out (and I hope you do...you are good at this stuff)....bro keep it simple and care free....any race that wants in ($ to series) should be welcome.....let's not build a system that excludes any race or anyone

We can even conduct it informally this first year....folks self report standing on a thread on this website.....to that end, by my view ...mr Matt Dresslar just gained 51 points (distance of shoot out) ...way to go dude

Bryan

These are all well thought out and good Ideas. Now we just need a governing body with elected officials that can make it happen. As well as serve to better the Mo-Kan River paddling community.

Joe

That is perfect ...simple

Can always tweak and add comPlexity as needed down the road

Totally aggree with points for gals and for guys....but really think we avoid boat classes or even tandem versus solo or team....that way folks can get strategic (or just not fall of the points for paddling tandem one time over the season)

Me likey 

Bryan

Run with this Joe!  I think you can make this work. Tell me how or if you need some help.

This is like NASCAR, dude I'm going to have to change my boat number and last name!  Joe yours should be fine.