Re: FEI Endurance

[Mike Sofen <msofen@pacbell.net>]

Cycling, golf and yacht races are easy to video.  Think of the EcoChallenge
series where they've managed to videotape from a kayak, from horseback, in
the mountains, at night, in the rain, whatever - it is a prime example of a
difficult video assignment done extremely well.  They showed humanity and
the complexity of the human dynamics...it was very interesting to watch (for
me).  Bottom line - a good producer could make endurance come alive for the
average viewer.

On the subject of FEI - someday I think I would like to compete at the
international level (assuming they still allow men to compete  <vbg>).  I
know it is expensive so it would be nice to see those expenses covered by a
US organization.  I don't ride for money, I ride for personal achievement
and satisfaction.  So in return for the opportunity to ride internationally
(assuming I qualified) I'd "donate" any of the so-called prize money back to
the organization that sponsored me.  This would then allow other riders
following in my footsteps to do the same.

Just another possibility.

Mike Sofen
Santa Cruz, CA

-----Original Message-----
From: Tivers@aol.com [mailto:Tivers@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2000 12:40 PM
To: gabbani@starnet.com.eg; ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: Re: FEI Endurance


In a message dated 8/28/00 10:20:31 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
gabbani@starnet.com.eg writes:

<< But Tom, endurance is a rotten spectator sport. I kept trying to tell
people
 that last may when they wanted to build bleachers so that people could sit
 for hours in the sun to watch some people ride out of the desert. How on
 earth are they going to make an endurance race that can be monitored to an
 Olympic standard and televised without making it as boring as watching
paint
 dry? Or maybe it will be like marathon running and you just get a clip of
 the guys staggering into the finish line? I'd think that endurance that
 would be interesting to ride would be pretty hard to watch in terms of the
 logistics of audience.

 Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
 Cairo, Egypt >>


So, too, the Tour de France. So, too, golf. So, too, America's Cup yacht
racing. But each has an audience.

ti