*** Should Ridge to River change? ***

Wenatchee, Washington -- 10/05/2005
Nordic skiing, alpine skiing, running, cycling and river paddling.
It’s a combination that has worked for 25 years in Wenatchee’s
Ridge to River Relay.

But that formula could change.

A warm winter decimated the snowpack last year and forced
organizers to shuffle the events. For the first time ever, the
cross-country and downhill ski legs were dropped in favor
of mountain biking and trail running.

“The Ridge did a heck of a job to have the mountain biking and
running legs last year,” said Freeman Keller, who has competed
in 24 of 25 Ridge to River Relays.

And some folks liked the changes.

An online survey conducted after the 2005 Ridge to River found
that roughly half of 140 respondents said the alterations should
become permanent.

“I think a lot of them liked the mountain bike leg,” said Larry Michael,

who replaced Shawn Rush as Ridge to River president last week.

Michael said it would be too difficult to duplicate a trail ride
in normal snow conditions at Mission Ridge. He said the
possibility of moving a mountain bike leg lower on the course
has been studied but appears unlikely with no feasible exchange
zone.

During a speech on Sept. 22 at Wenatchee Valley College,
race coordinator Jennifer Korfiatis said her board was looking
at making changes to the relay.

In an interview on Tuesday, Korfiatis said another proposal being
floated is to move the run to a flatter part of the course because of
concerns that the downhill leg puts too much of a strain on runners’
joints.

Korfiatis sent an e-mail Tuesday morning to board members
asking for their input. She said there will be an online poll on the
Ridge to River’s Web site, www.r2r.org, for public feedback.
She said a decision would likely be reached in two months.

“We’re open to any suggestions,” Michael said.
“Fall is kind of the time to talk about that stuff.”

But some traditionalists say Ridge to River
shouldn’t be tampered with at all.

Bruce Huntoon, one of just four people to have participated
in every race, is opposed to a permanent change in the relay
format.

“I think if you try to please too many people,
you end up pleasing no one,” he said.

Huntoon said last year’s format was a “good plan B” for
seasons with low snow levels. He said a permanent change
would be a mistake like the extra divisions that were added
to the field. He said the extra divisions dilute the competition.

Keller, a former member of the Ridge to River board, agrees.

“I’m opposed to changes unless it’s absolutely necessary,”
he said.

Keller said part of the appeal of the Ridge to River is the
way it flows from the top of Mission Ridge to the valley floor.
He said the race ought to retain a certain continuity year in and
year out.

“It would be a real mistake to wait until the last minute,”
he said of another late change to a relay leg. “You’re going
to have to make a decision and go with it.”

One change that is certain for the 26th Ridge to River is the
day it’s held. It’s traditionally been a Sunday event, but the
adult race has been moved to Saturday, April 8. Also, the
junior race has been moved to April 15. The two events had
been held on the same weekend since the junior race was
introduced in 2000.

CC - http://www.r2r.org
ACC - http://www.genesbmx.com/WenatcheeBikingInfo.html

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