Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but paid users have great benefits. Paid member benefits:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2024 SX, MX, and SMX series (regularly $30).
That depends on what you mean by "compensated somewhat well"...
This question is never asked enough. The most important job to keep the riders safe and informed of what’s going on ahead of them on the track is manned by whoever has a pulse and wants a free hot dog. I’m not knocking people who volunteer and do a great job but after being to various nationals over the years it’s stunning how bad some of the flaggers are. Even saw it at Philly over the little table after the sand. The flagger was on the backside where the riders couldn’t see him. The flagger on the front side never knew anyone was down. The riders were playing frogger trying to get their bike up and clear. Its almost like flagging is an afterthought at pro races.
That’s a fair question, and one that I asked myself when starting this endeavor.
It’s something I’d like to explore further with the respective parties in the future. As for right now, it’s simply because it’s precedent.
They don’t pay the entertainers much why would you think they are going to pay the people they get to volunteer to spend the day getting burnt up much? Luck MXSports lets them see some of the action for free…
The Shop
Motocross is not the only professional sport that does it, it's understandable in amateur sports.
Just to clarify, there were 2 yellow safety lights on top of the wall jump after the sand.
They were on. But it wasn’t a good look for sure.
The Flagger on the backside operated the remote soon as the rider was down. He had to stand on the backside to watch the landing.
The problem was there were no runners near to point riders away from the bike. The Flagger is not allowed to run on a Supercross track for obvious reasons.
I know the guy flagging and he didn’t know there were no runners near.
I’m thinking about signing up for Budds Creek too.
Budds Creek is one of tracks on the series that is supported by a local trail riders club (Southern Maryland Trail Riders), and their club members make up a majority of the flagging staff.. that being said, our efforts to supplement them with a few flaggers last year was appreciated, so we're helping them again this year to meet their requirement of 10 Wheels on the Ground (WOG) spots, and 45 support flaggers.
BTW: WoG is reserved for tenured flaggers, and carries more responsibilities. Those spots are arranged directly with the AMA and the Race Organizer on-site.
$1000 a day plus travel costs, and I'll be at High Point, Unadilla, Red Bud, and Ironman. Otherwise they can go pound sand. Keep the burgers, water and energy drinks coming, or I'm walking off.
I’d volunteer to flag dilla but last year the party in the parking lot was so much fun we didn’t even watch the race.
The guy who teaches the flagging volunteers for SX doesn’t even get paid. The flagging situation is something that doesn’t get talked about enough and probably something Feld/MXsports doesn’t want people to know about.
Thunder Valley is still in need of about 15 flaggers for their upcoming race on June 8th.
Submissions for all other tracks are being compiled and distributed to the race organizers over the next week.
Please consider volunteering so that we can ensure a safe racing environment for the athletes.
Thank you,
KN
In b4 cooksey uses this to grind his axe against DC
So if someone decides to flag for the payment of a few hotdogs and a T-shirt and Free camping spot and then gets injured by an out of control bike who pays the medical bills? Asking for a friend
This is simply not true.
I know the instructor guy for Supercross and he’s compensated fairly and all Feld flaggers are paid.
I’ve flagged a few events.
I must have gotten some poor information then. Something about him being retired and he just travels/attends the races and volunteers. I hope it’s true he gets paid as it seemed wild to me that he wouldn’t.
Anyone have a copy of their release form? 😂
I flag a few SX races a year and know he’s on his sixth season.
Maybe the confusion was from it’s not his job, he’s has a business in another field.
Works SX because he loves the sport, but he is paid.
All SX flaggers get a minimum of $125, up to $250 defending of the event, plus 2 tickets for friends or family.
And keep the shirt!
edit: I do remember hearing him say he volunteers to work press day, just because he’s already there.
Im guessing that’s where the volunteer thing comes from.
Pit Row
Not sure if you’re allowed to talk about this in a public forum or if you even know but figured I’d ask; what’s the scenario with insurance in case lets say you get hit by a bike and need medical assistance? Is that out of your pocket or does Feld cover medical emergencies?
We are all hired by Feld as employees.
So in the event someone was injured, it would be a workplace injury like any other.
I seriously wish there was more attention to the efforts to SX takes when it comes to flagging. I’ve sat through 2 hour instructional meetings many times. Doesn’t matter if you flag 3 events in a row, the instructional meeting is mandatory.
btw i applied for thunder valley and never really heard back from flagger finder. just got an email with some facebook link to a life coach LOL
Post a reply to: In Search of Safety Flaggers for Outdoor Nationals