Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Steve, you forgot Switzerland.  Lud and I competed in one while there in 
1985....in the rain!  I don't know if they are still doing so, but the Swiss 
did have them for a time.

Barbara

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Shaw" <sshaw@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Ridecamp" <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 10:48 AM
Subject: [RC] Ride & Tie realities/Olympics


> In as much as I endorse and appreciate the excitement, depth and intrigue 
> of Ride and Tie (finding that 3 hours on the trail seem to be only 30 
> minutes) the realities of life determine that this sport will never be in 
> the Olympics. Much as I would wish it to be.
> The OOC requires that the sport be represented by a set number of 
> countries (25?) and at a certain level of "international" federation 
> scrutiny.  I also personally believe that an Olympic sport needs a certain 
> amount of sponsorship if not historical international visibility. Though 
> Ride and Tie has roots in many other countries as an "efficient way of 
> going..." it is not well know outside of the USA, Britain, France and 
> Germany.
> Other than Levis Strauss and Easyboot, there has never been any 
> significant sponsorship of this sport except in France! In the 80's there 
> was the "Go Sport Ride and Tie Series" in France. Go Sport was a clothing 
> company that put together a series of races around France that were in 
> very visible venues and gave out nearly $150,000 in prize money.  The 1989 
> R&T poster from Fraiser Park by Emmett Ross was a duplication of the Go 
> Sport poster. This French series lasted only one year though it did get 
> the media attention the sponsors desired.
>
> Yes, R&T has more depth of competition than endurance and is more of a 
> "team" sport, but unless it becomes even MORE prevalent than endurance 
> riding you won't see it on ESPN or in the Olympics.
>
> But thanks for thinking of us.... and you should all try the sport. You 
> don't have to run, just hiking makes it work. I know that now (with this 
> knee and having had Maryben as a partner!)
> Steve Shaw
>
>
>
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