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Racing News Organizers Push Ahead With Plans for 2006 A2A Road Skate Plans Call for Multi-Tiered Entry Fees and Sponsor Skaters By Robert "Just the Factoids" Burnson
Under the program, skaters who pay $50 above their entry fee will be considered "skater sponsors." Those who pay $100 extra will be considered "super sponsors." In recognition of their support, their names will be printed on the official event T-shirts. They will also receive "prestigious" low race numbers. A2A on Life Support The sponsor program is one way a2a organizers hope to restore the 25-year-old event. The organizing committee canceled the event this year due to falling registration and the resulting lack of funds. At its height, in the late-1990s, the 87-mile, point-to-point road skate attracted more than 700 skaters a year. But in recent years, the numbers have dwindled. In 2004, the last year the a2a was held, it drew 353 skaters. Still a Bargain At a meeting on Monday, the a2a committee agreed on a basic early registration fee of $50, said committee member Scott Jones. The fee covers all distances — (aside from 87 miles, participants can choose to skate 38 or 52 miles.) The fees will increase after Feb. 15th and be staggered based on distance. The date for the 2006 a2a has been set for Oct. 1st. "In deference to the event's history, we will bill this as the 25th Anniversary a2a," Jones said. (This year's event would have been the 24th annual.) Registration will open in a few days, Jones said. A Few Good Money Raisers The organizing committee is looking for volunteers to help market and find sponsors for the event. "Our biggest challenge is the high fixed costs of police and insurance for one of America's longest and most challenging point-to-point open road courses," Jones said. (Want to help? Send them an email.) Talk about this story (Posted on Dec. 13, 2005)
| Related reading • "Organizers cancel the 2005 a2a" - the Planet story • the official a2a web site • more news about skate events | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
... Copyright © 2005 by Robert Burnson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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