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[RC] being competitive - Steph TeeterIt might be interesting for a while to talk about the competitive aspect of the sport. We seem to spend a lot more bandwith on emphasizing 'to finish is to win' - 'the trail is the only competition' - 'we shouldn't care if we don't finish (to start is to win)', etc. Is this sport really that different from others in which there's a real sense of competition? - which is the best? who got the gold medal? I have a hard time imagining an eventing competition or a show jumping competition or a reining competition or a driving competition - without the real sense of 'competition'. Is our sport really that different? I've always felt that the AERC's 'finish is to win' motto is fantastic - it really does engage participation, preservation, a sense of accomplishment. But I've also felt that there is a subtle 'to try to win is bad' version of our sport motto. Those that do set winning as their goal in this sport (in this country) are somehow poo-poo'd, less than noble - as if the goal of winning (horse and rider pitted against horse and rider) is less honorable than finishing (horse and rider pitted against the trail). It's great that everybody can find their niche in this sport (points, mileage, career, etc). But wouldn't it be fun for a while to get behind our 'winners' ? Discuss training, conditioning, pacing, peaking - the real hard work and focus that goes into a real competition? Valerie Kanavy and Danielle McGunigal Kanavy left for Abu Dhabi today, for the Presidents Cup. Two of the US top riders are going to a foreign country to compete against the local top riders. Even though the odds of winning are very slim (shipping horses half way around the world to compete against riders on their home turf) we can be certain that the two riders and their horses (Bull and Ironman Gold) are prepared to perform at their best. This takes work and focus and quite a bit of courage. We (AERC - US) should be proud of these guys, and rooting for them over there! Steph =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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