ASG and trail / land usage

[NicoBoshoff]

Posted on the Bestmed race thread, but dedicated thread better idea I suppose.

 

I just spoke to the marketing manager at TM and she confirmed the following:

 

- ASG, represented by Darren, requested permission from TM to access TM from Spice Route's side and then pass through the lower gate down Gabema Doordrift road before connecting with Jan Phillips again. This was agree to by TM.

 

- NO permission was given to use the downhill tracks through Playgrounds.

 

- NO permission was given to make use of trails inside Taalmonument, since those are hiker's trails which were built by Bennet Nel at great cost to Taalmonument.

 

- ASG then went and taped the race through Playgrounds and in order to accomodate unskilled riders (since was a flippen full-blown DH track) demolished built features which we had built ourselves. The tabletop feature at the top no longer works because the berm step-down feature is gone and the lip has been cut in to lessen the angle.

 

-ASG also cut additional track to link the race to that very hiker's trail without permission.

 

- ASG took the race through that hikers trail. It is now ruined thanks to wet soil and a 1000 tyres digging ruts into it. Come winter it will erode away.

 

- If ASG wanted to the race down Playgrounds they would have had to pay R20 per rider since that's the cost to ride these trails. They didn't pay a cent. How much did TM lose out on here?

 

On Friday I personally spoke to Darren and he assured me everything they did was with the knowledge and approval of Taalmonument. Management has now confirmed this to be false.

 

When I informed him that they seriously ruined the track and that it was disrespectful to us builders and local riders he accused me of being ridiculous.

 

Darren personally assured me that they would see to it that the features affected would be fixed after the race. I was there today. Nothing has been fixed.

 

So basically, ASG did what they wanted, on the effort of others, to the detriment and cost of local riding and hiking community, free of charge.

 

And that's not being disrespectful.

[(Deon)]

yoh!

[canfan]

Not Cool, would love to hear ASG's version of events. Like we had the other day, a story always have 2 sides, even though this one looks pretty bad for ASG.

[Rydogg]

This is your opinion and I disagree.

 

The ASG event was absolutely awesome for 800 riders and I will do it again next year. 

[Jester6]

This is your opinion and I disagree.

 

The ASG event was absolutely awesome for 800 riders and I will do it again next year.

Just because you found it to be an awesome event doesn't really have any bearing on the issues raised above.

The OP voiced no opinion on how "awesome" the event may have been for those participating.

 

Perhaps if you have some info or facts on the issue that would help, rather than dismissing the actual issue, as currently all you seem to be saying is that you had a good time, and any damages or breach of agreement is non-consequential...

 

*edit - spelling

[Flowta]

This is your opinion and I disagree.

 

The ASG event was absolutely awesome for 800 riders and I will do it again next year. 

 

And why do you disagree? because you rode the race and it doesn't affect you going forward?

[Guest Omega Man]

This is your opinion and I disagree.

 

The ASG event was absolutely awesome for 800 riders and I will do it again next year. 

You're missing the point. This has nothing to do with the event itself but the trails.

 

Some of the trails you rode were built and maintained by others. ASG modified the trails and destroyed trail features that have been built over many years without permission.

 

These trails don't build themselves. I assure you. And if what Nico asserts is true it's unlikely ASG will get permission to run the event through the monument ever again.

[canfan]

For what race was this?

[Flowta]

For what race was this?

 

The OP mentions the Bestmed race

[canfan]

The OP mentions the Bestmed race

oops, sorry missed that, thanks.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

This is your opinion and I disagree.

 

The ASG event was absolutely awesome for 800 riders and I will do it again next year.

Missed the point entirely

[Guest Omega Man]

For those that don't know Nico has been dealing with the land owner (Paarl Monument) and the group of builders who have been maintaining the trails for the last few years.

 

He's in the process of formalizing, grading, marking and maintaining the existing trails. This has to happen if Paarl is to continue as a riding venue. He's also an advocate so I'm pretty sure he'd have all his facts straight before starting a thread of this nature.

 

I think ASG has a lot to answer for here. That table in Playgrounds has featured in numerous international riding movies and is/was a great feature. It's also on a dedicated DH trail. For them to dumb it down for a single day XC race just smacks of arrogance and a general **** you attitude.

 

If race organizers go around destroying trail features to suit their least skilled rider pretty soon we'll be left with no technical features anywhere. It also has to be said that there's another bit of trail that rolls into the playground area 20m from that jump that they could have rather cleaned up which is much more in keeping with XC.

[Flowta]

I see ASG is online

 

I wonder if they'll comment

 

EDIT: Sent them a PM

[Squier]

Surely it's just common decency to fix what you had to change for the race. I still can't fathom why there has to be a big hoohaa about something like this before something gets done.

 

Common sense is not that common...

[Flowta]

Surely it's just common decency to fix what you had to change for the race. I still can't fathom why there has to be a big hoohaa about something like this before something gets done.

 

Common sense is not that common...

 

Considering they used trails and made changes to features without permission...why shouldn't there be a hoohaa?

[Squier]

Considering they used trails and made changes to features without permission...why shouldn't there be a hoohaa?

We are in agreement, yes. The "hoohaa" in question is justified.

 

My point is that they should've fixed the features without a big "hoohaa" being necessary. I thought that it was common decency to leave the trails in the state that you found it.