I love the idea of pre-registration for these races. But serious question here. Last year at the Battle I waited 3 times as long in the pre-registration line for sign up, only to find out there was another line for practice stickers for Saturday. Are these issues worked out? If not I will just register at the races. The non pre-registered people were getting through that line much faster.
This is sort of a loaded question for me, but first let me explain exactly what was happening and how it impacted the pre-registration line. When you sign up prior to the race you are able to pay for everything up front and you essentially come to registration/kiosk/transponder area to 1) rent transponder if you didn't have one when registering, because you will need to have it upon checkin
2) check in with the pre-registration line to sign ALL of your documents for the entire weekend and receive practice bands and race stickers that will also be for the whole weekend.
3) IF you pre-registered for everything, including your practices and all races you are competing in then you DO NOT have to go to the kiosk because you have already done it all. You just need to check in. IF you did not and want to add something at the window it is fine but it will take a bit extra time. So be patient.
Last year we had kiosks open for those people who just wanted to sign up for practice and hadn't Pre-registered for anything, they were getting through the line quicker because they weren't doing all of the paperwork for the whole weekend and would be required to come back to register for racing. The pre-reg line is essentially a one stop shop, you pay prior to the event and get everything when you come to check in and you're done for weekend with registration. It took longer to process all those signatures and verifying information, etc.
I hope that makes sense? What I'm trying to say is yes the line took longer but you were doing way more paperwork and verifying than someone who was just in line for one practice and no racing,
But again you would be done for weekend.
So very long answer short, I always aim to please and I am ever changing my routines as I reflect on issues in the past and try to better them for next time. In this instance I have set up the pre-reg packets completely and have stickers and all ready to go when you get there verses getting them when you arrive at window, I have also added another person who is dedicated just to the Pre-registration line only to help process entries quicker.
Riders can help any registration process by doing their part as well. come to registration prepared! Having current memberships,
Transponders, rider &a parent if necessary all ready to go is a definite bonus and speeds up the process! Also taking advantage of the "non busy" registration times would help hugely, you have smaller wait time and we have more time to process entries. I strongly reccomend anyone who is able to come and checkin with registration Friday 5-8pm, or early Saturday morning when we open registration, there is normally hardly anyone there at those times.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience last time,
Please know I work very hard trying to make things better each time so that everyone walks away happy!
I hope this helps! Either way I'm excited to see everyone this race weekend!!