Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Mountain Sport

I've created a new sport if only in my mind. The summer biathlon combining mountain biking and sporting clays. A self driven sport since the competitors would have to start at timed (60 seconds?) intervals the faster going first.
The shooting stations would have to be roughly in a line or semi circle most likely pointing northerly. Immediately behind would be the penalty loops (one lap for each missed target) and leading out beyond that would be 1-2 mile stretches of mountain bike course to complete before the next station. The stations themselves could be close together and some even sharing the same penalty loop. The trail sections could be predominantly single track with the staggered starts with wider areas perhaps serving double duty. The twisting and turning of trail can produce the required lengths in small areas.
Each shooting station would require a finish gate and the first rider through, if the field tightens up, shoots first with the clays automatically flying after 20 seconds if the competitor does not call for an earlier release. If a faster racer must wait consider it a penalty for letting a slower competitor pass him.
Possible intense multiple finishes at each station, penalty loops and shooting stations in a more confined area to facilitate spectators... can you feel the excitement? And what could be better than riding your mountain bike with a shotgun strapped over your shoulder in a fancy safety sling.
My original concept was mountain biking and archery but images of what could happen in a crash I found disturbing.

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