damo

@probablyjim: That is the idea, that the B cup is how you get to the A cup. You could make the rules that the top 3 or 5 Jr's from the previous year can start in the A cup , then they would have the opportunity to start on the A circuit but then if they weren't up to speed move down, or if they were fast then they would stay up. Again not a perfect solution but it does keep the field a manageable size, while giving people a way into the big show. You could run the B circuit either the week before or the week after on the same venue. Or have them race at different venues.

I'm going to give what will be a very controversial idea. I use to compete in Nordic Combined and the World Cup events became unmanageable do to the number of athletes. That is when FIS decided to split it into 2 series A and B. The A world Cup was limited to the top 45 athletes and the B was open to any athlete that was supported by their national federation. Athletes were awarded World Cup points in both the A and B circuits, however the points were less for a B placing than an A placing 250 for a World Cup A win and 50 for a B win. 3 times a year they would look at the results and reshuffle the top 45. Usually meant a couple from the B circuit would move up to the A circuit and a couple from the A circuit would move down to the B circuit. This kept the field in the A circuit manageable but still gave athletes an easy way to make it in. There was also a guaranteed spot for the world champion and Olympic Champion, plus the Jr. World Champion. I know UCI and FIS are very different, and athletes in FIS events get in through national federations, and athletes in UCI compete with professional teams but it could be a way to make the world Cup events manageable for the athletes. Less slow riders during training no need for qualifying, therefore a mechanical during qualies won't decide the outcome of the world Cup overall, just training and seeding runs yet still giving a way for slower and up and coming riders a way in. Just an idea

I found a video to prove you wrong the east coast does have epic powder days :) https://youtube.com/shorts/zInbJpGHHqE?si=FE2CkJ3nVsQE8bRh

@cougar797: watch the video on the home page with that 10 year old kid and I think Mark Matthew's. It talks alot about how big that drop is and how loose the berms were. The guy was a very solid rider who just couldn't shut it down fast enough.