is there a class specifically for my 9 year old son

[runnin12s]

I read through all the information on the site and what I take from this is that my 9 year old son is going to be grouped in the intro class with 8 to 80 year olds. Is this so? I think he will have fun no matter how he does it would just be a plus if they broke down the ages for him to race with more his age. just a question, don't think the answer will change his decision to compete he had a blast last weekend. Thanks

[demo 9]

no age specifics. sorry

[S.K.C.]

Yeah - Intro Class would be the way to go for him.

I've spoken with Shawn about age categories, but for now the categorization is done simply by race class.

I'm guessing he must be pretty small if he's 9, so it might be a good idea to walk the course with him before his first run to get an idea of what to expect as well as where some of the go-arounds are if he wants to avoid some of the more technical (gnarly) terrain.

[dirttastesgood]

where you there with him on sunday, he had a chest protector on, 661?

[runnin12s]

Yes him and I were there on sunday, he had a chest protector on, was wearing blue and black pants/jersey and black chest protector, I don't think it is a 661 but it might be, he was riding a grey Norco, I was on a black Marin Quake.

[dante]

if he's nervous at all about other riders coming up behind him, ask at the top if he can run last in his class. that way he'll be able to take his time w/o worrying about a sandbagger coming up on him quick. all in all he should have fun (especially if he rode the mtn last weekend), and concentrate on just relaxing, taking it easy, and realizing that he's probably not going to win his first race. :)

[dirttastesgood]

Yes him and I were there on sunday, he had a chest protector on, was wearing blue and black pants/jersey and black chest protector, I don't think it is a 661 but it might be, he was riding a grey Norco, I was on a black Marin Quake.

yeah i saw you guys a few times, i love the quake i rode it a couple times when i was back home in marin last summer. it felt good dirt jumping, freeriding, dhing, and doing some xc. they did a great job with it, hows it on the eastcoast stuff?

[runnin12s]

The bike handles like a dream. I have had great luck with it dirt jumping, it is now my favorite bike at the local jump park. I have ridden it backcountry several times and it pedals surprisingly well enouph to complete mild cross country trailrides. Downhill is a touchy subject, it is fast as hell but is a compromise bike. If you set it up for freeriding and drops (which it does good to a certain level) which is very tight it is a little too stiff on the rouph stuff. If you set it up low in air and compression to help out in downhill it's ultra smooth (the smoothest downhill bike I've ever ridden) but anything over 3 or 4 foot to flat or 8 foot to transition ends in hideous bottoming. The flipside is that with total air suspension it takes about 3 minutes to change from one riding style to another with a shock pump. I guess it works seems as it won the world championships last year, hopefully I can do just as good on it. Besides it's a downhill bike that weighs in at only 36 lbs with pedals, it's a rocket.