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Re: [RC] weight divisions /Julie Suhr's Opinion/Joe, Diane, Kat - Beverley H. Kane, MDJoe et al*** On 1/1/06 2:56 AM, "Joe Long" <jlong@xxxxxxxx> wrote: No, 160 pounds is the "maximum" of the featherweight range. The minimum weight for featherweight is zero pounds. ----------------------------- ***Quoting chapter and verse on a Sunday morning: in accordance with AERC rules, especially 8.5.2.5 below., there is no -maximum- weight for any division. So FW is, as Kat says below, an "open" division. Anyone can compete as a FW as long as s/he cares to forfeit the theoretical advantage to lighter weight riders. ***Interestingly enough for the spirit of this discussion, Julie Suhr's wonderful book "Ten Feet Tall, Still" quotes the full text of an article she wrote for Endurance News when the weight divisions went into effect in 1973. The article offers a charming, rather Ayn Randish argument against handicapping in general by offering tongue-in-cheek some theroetically plausible, but practically speaking absurd, additional criteria for handicapping. Excertps below.***** 8.5.2.1 Heavyweight, consisting of riders whose combined body weight and tack is 211 pounds or more. 8.5.2.2 Middleweight, consisting of riders whose combined body weight and tack is from 186 to 210 pounds. 8.5.2.3 Lightweight, consisting of riders whose combined body weight and tack is from 161 to 185 pounds. 8.5.2.4 Featherweight, consisting of riders whose combined body weight and tack is 160 pounds or below. 8.5.2.5 For a rider to stay within a weight division he/she must meet the minimum requirement but need not stay under the maximum parameter. ***As others have pointed out: On 12/31/05 6:45 AM, "k s swigart" <katswig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: I compete in the featherweight division, not because I am deluding myself, rarely ever do I fit into that division; but because I think the weight divisions are silly, and if I ride as a featherweight I don't have to worry about how much I weigh, I will always meet the criteria, no matter which saddle I use or what I decide to take along with me. [....] If I declare myself a featherweight, I don't have to concern myself with the weight of my tack and/or other equipment to still be in compliance with the rules. The last thing I want to be concerning myself over when I am tacking up at a ride is whether I have taken enough stuff along with me to make some silly weight division, which is virtually meaningless with respect to the outcome of the event anyway. I consider the featherweight division to be the "open" division, where as all the other divisions are a restricted handicapped divisions of some sort. On 12/30/05 8:53 PM, "Diane Trefethen" <tref@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: It is NOT a violation to be heavier than the maximum for a division but it IS a violation to be lighter than the minimum. The[ere is a] penalty for getting caught riding in a division for which you KNOW you are not heavy enough ------------------ *****Julie's article, 1973 Endurance News - page 104 "Ten Feet Tall, Still" "... The main outcry seems to be that the lightweight riders have an unfair advantage over the heavyweight riders and therefore some sort of handicapping system should be initiated in order to make the rides 'fairer.' This is certainly indisputable--ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL. But all other things are not equal and that is why the heavyweights such as Bud Dardi, Ed Johnson, Pat Fitzgerald, Nick Mansfield and Cliff Lewis have made it to the top. [...] "What are some of the other inequalities? " 1) Pro versus Amateur. " 2) Newcomer versus Experienced Rider " 3) Familiar versus New Trail " 4) Homing Instinct [for horses that live near the ride venues] " 5) Age versus Youth " 6) Veterinarian versus Layman " 7) Arabian versus Other Breeds " 8) Conflict of Interest [ride managers, vets' families, etc riding]" =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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