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Shark Week for Newbies

5K views 27 replies 15 participants last post by  enddav 
#1 ·
One of the best aspects of Shark Week is meeting the newbies. Even better is when a newbie comes back the next year. Even better than that is when they come back the next year with friends. That said, we have a great deal of newbies registered for SWIX and/or who have joined the Roadglide.org National Rally Facebook group page. Carol and I will soon start posting regular updates with details for the week including rides, routes, events, and instructions on how to blame Tracy B for anything that might go wrong. :wink: In advance of those upcoming posts, I thought I’d describe how things typically flow for those who might be curious about what to expect. This is by no means a comprehensive document. There are may activities and plans still being finalized, the details of which will be announced as appropriate. Comments are always welcomed.


The Schedule
Shark week was originally planned as a Tuesday through Thursday event to allow us working slobs the weekends before and after to travel to/from the host location and only take one week’s vacation. I missed Shark Week I because of my Alaska trip, but it’s been my experience starting with Shark Week II that most attendees arrive on Monday. Arrival day is always great. My favorite arrival was at SWIII in St. George, UT. I hit Vegas the weekend before and posted on the RoadGlide.org forums that I would be riding to StG on Monday in case anyone wanted to join in. By the time we hit StG, we had 30+ bikes from all over the west coast and a few from western Canada. We rode into the hotel registration overhang with bikes blasting Wagner’s Flight of the Valkyries from our stereos and parked among the others who had already arrived who knew when we were due in. Welcoming the annually-increasing number of Gypsy Tour riders is always a highlight too.
If you arrive at Shark Week as a newbie, you’re warmly welcomed by us old timers. The hair will stand on your neck when you ride up to the hotel, see Shark Week on the marquee, and see all the Road Glides and riders gathered and embracing old friends. Unlike rallies, this crowd is genuinely glad to see you and to be a part of your SW experience.


In recent years, more and more riders have been arriving on Sunday and even Saturday. Those who scooped up the few reduced rate host hotel nights during the rally at Sturgis for will arrive at SWIX on Thursday before. I can’t speak for how many attendees stick around after Friday because I always say my goodbyes on Thursday night and am on the road well before sunrise on Friday. This year might be different since I’m a host.



The Arrivals
If you arrive with your bike on a trailer, you will get some shit. Expect it, embrace it, and own it knowing it’s all in good fun. Nobody will bust your balls if they don’t like you and every rider who does, does so with the knowledge that YOU made the trip and that there are many more who - despite their chest-beating bravado and number of posts about their awesome bike and their riding prowess – did NOT make it and likely never will. There are legitimate reasons to trailer, but if you hang around this crowd long enough, you will see that we will find plenty of reasons (legitimately or otherwise) to give each other shit. One of our group favorites who trailered to SWVIII turned out to be the Angel of Durango after assisting riders who broke down. Enough about trailers.


The Check-In
Depending on when you arrive, you can check-in to the hotel or if it’s early, you can mingle among the others. There are three hotels under one roof at Cadillac Jack’s Casino and Resort. All three will offer the same guest amenities and riders will have access to all the official SWIX functions regardless of which hotel brand you’re registered. We will have designated/reserved motorcycle parking areas in both open and covered spaces. We are well aware of the reputation this geographic area has for storms and hail. Covered parking will give all of us peace of mind.


We will have a designated and hours area for SWIX registration and there will be signs about the properties pointing the way. I suspect there will be a bar nearby. At registration, attendees will pick up their goodie bags, buy shirts and other swag, get ride/route sheets, etc. Registration will be open for specified hours and days and staffed by volunteers who have already been determined. Emergency contact numbers will be posted for those who need after hours assistance.
As mentioned before, Monday is a great day to greet the other arrivals, gawk at the bikes, explore Deadwood, and clean your bike at the designated wash area. It’s highly unlikely that you will see my bike in the wash area at Shark Week. We are planning some activities for Monday evening that have not been done at Shark Weeks prior to SWIX. If you’ve seen some of what goes down at Shark Week, this might frighten you. Fear not. It’ all good. Details will follow.


The Rides
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, riders will gather in groups and line up for the routes they plan to ride each day. If you don’t know anyone in a particular group, introduce yourself and join up. This is a very inclusive group of people and nobody wants anybody left behind. It’s also wise to have others know who you are so the group will be aware of who should be present when leaving rest stops, gas stations, etc. We will have a schedule of activities posted about the property throughout the week as well as a printed agenda at registration. These are mere suggestions as anyone can attend or skip whatever they please.


The Raffle
A highlight of every Shark Week is the raffle, which seems to get larger and boast higher value donations from our sponsors each year. Proceeds from the raffle are used as seed funding for the following year's Shark Week and for a donation to the local charity selected each year. Details will follow on this year's recipient. Tracy and Frankie Basham and those who assist them outdo themselves every year. Details for those who want to pitch to host will be posted soon. The bottom line is the raffle must be experienced to be appreciated, so I’ll stop here and just say that if you haven’t been to Shark Week, DO NOT miss the raffle.


The Pitches
The location for SWX had been predestined since SWI. There won’t be a SWX pitch after the raffle as Hutmo has it under control, but I suspect Chris will have some details to share with us after which we will have pitches for SWXI. The successful bidder will have a full two years to plan their event.


The Events
All events will be detailed in subsequent posts between now and August and will be listed on the agenda sheets handed out at registration. Carol and I are working to make the schedule as inclusive and logically flowing as possible without being intrusive or cramming your vacation week. We know that above all, Shark Week attendees really need only two things; places to ride during the day and a place to hang out and talk about them at night. We’re planning to deliver on that and then some.


Stay tuned for more posts.

https://www.facebook.com/ufi/reacti...s6MjE3ODc2Njc0MjE3MDk0MA==&av=100005458623534https://www.facebook.com/ufi/reacti...s6MjE3ODc2Njc0MjE3MDk0MA==&av=100005458623534https://www.facebook.com/ufi/reacti...s6MjE3ODc2Njc0MjE3MDk0MA==&av=100005458623534
 
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#2 ·
Thanks for the teaser for this years SW. Looking forward to another great event and THANK YOU to you and Carol for everything you are doing behind the scenes to make this a great event.
 
#3 ·
Extremely well said and very true. I was a SW newbie in Cherokee, but I had already done the spring bbq run in Eureka Springs. I knew the hospitality was going to be good, but was blown away once there.

Funny story about trailers. Yes, you will get ribbed, you are on a touring bike at a touring bike event. There will be a smile along with ribbing.

When my buddy and I were snaking through the national park, I glanced over and saw a RG on the side of the road. I gave a thumbs up/ thumbs down gesture and had the thumbs down signal returned. We went a ways until we could safely turn around and came back to see Tim (Oldnerdguy). His bike wouldnt run and he had 0 phone service and his gps wasnt even working. I took a screen shot of his location from my phone and picture of his AAA card to go back to town and try to get a tow truck out there. Well, as we were pulling in the parking lot to the host hotel, I saw a couple enclosed trailers. After asking around to see whose they were I approached a total stranger to go pick Tim up. We were new to the area and sketchy on how to get back to Tim, but eventually found him. Loaded up his bike and went back to hotel to check in. Soooo that trailer really helped get Tim back quicker and kinda saved the day.

I guess my rambling moral of the story is this: We are all friends even if we havn't met. Most will go out of their way help. This event is really something amazing.

Thank You Organizers!!!
 
#4 ·
shark Tooth of Shame

Few things represent the camaraderie this group enjoys more than the Shark Tooth of Shame. The SToS is a dubious honor bestowed upon anyone who drops their bike in route to or during Shark Week. The tradition was started by Ron and Mark during SWII with the first tooth awarded to yours truly. Be warned: If your bike unintentionally tips even to just the highway peg and you’re spotted, you’re busted. Recipients are usually ratted out by their fellow riders and duly recognized by Ron and the Shark Week Hosts. When a bike goes down, everyone around naturally rushes to ensure no one is hurt. Once that is established, the cameras come out and the rest is history. Some people think they got away unseen only to be pointed out whenever the largest crowd happens to be gathered.


When I got my tooth, I admit I was a bit embarrassed, but by the end of SWII, I was only one of five riders dubiously awarded. Since that first year of SToS awards, the necklace had become well known among our crowd. Honestly, if you get that tap on the shoulder after a ride or have your name called during the awards banquet, remember that you are in good company because many of us (including many whom I look up to) proudly wear the tooth.

If you have a tooth (or teeth) post pics here.
 
#5 ·
Few things represent the camaraderie this group enjoys more than the Shark Tooth of Shame. The SToS is a dubious honor bestowed upon anyone who drops their bike in route to or during Shark Week. The tradition was started by Ron and Mark during SWII with the first tooth awarded to yours truly. Be warned: If your bike unintentionally tips even to just the highway peg and you’re spotted, you’re busted. Recipients are usually ratted out by their fellow riders and duly recognized by Ron and the Shark Week Hosts. When a bike goes down, everyone around naturally rushes to ensure no one is hurt. Once that is established, the cameras come out and the rest is history. Some people think they got away unseen only to be pointed out whenever the largest crowd happens to be gathered.


When I got my tooth, I admit I was a bit embarrassed, but by the end of SWII, I was only one of five riders dubiously awarded. Since that first year of SToS awards, the necklace had become well known among our crowd. Honestly, if you get that tap on the shoulder after a ride or have your name called during the awards banquet, remember that you are in good company because many of us (including many whom I look up to) proudly wear the tooth.

If you have a tooth (or teeth) post pics here.
Who is the guy in the bottom pic on the left? That is the very generous man that went to pick Tim up with his trailer. Weird coincidence!
 
#10 ·
Just another quick note from a guy that was a Newb last year in Durango. As far as the raffle goes, make sure you write you NAME on your ticket! I was unaware when I walked into the raffle and was handed two sets of tickets so I ASSUMED you put one ticket in the pot and kept the other for verification. It wasn't until after I deposted my $100 worth of tickets into various bins that I was then told to not forget to put my name on the ticket.... D'oh. I did win a few nice things... Well I only assume that I did because Tracy would just make fun of yet another ticket that didn't have a name. My table got a good laugh every time one came up. That is when they weren't calling the one guy's name that took home half the raffle.

What was his name again???

Anyway, plan on making the trip again and this time I will put my name. Or shrug, when you get raffle tickets, just buy the single feed not the doubles, I mean why do we have to have a copy of our ticket that we never need to verify??
 
#24 ·
Thanks for all the info here for us non-FB folk.
Regretfully, this should be my first Shark week, but I'm doing my Alaska trip this summer and will be passing thru this area late June and coming back down Pacific coast in early August. Alaska is a bucket list for me, gotta do while I'm healthy (12,000 miles 6 to 8 weeks) my wife thinks I'm a nut, but I can point to all you guys as proof that I'm just another nut. Have a great time, catch you next year.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
#27 ·
Here's my Alaska trip experience. I missed Shark Week I because of it, but like you, it was a bucket list item. Worth every mile!



Video: https://vimeo.com/34558767


Daily Blog: www.alaskapade.com



Thanks for all the info here for us non-FB folk.
Regretfully, this should be my first Shark week, but I'm doing my Alaska trip this summer and will be passing thru this area late June and coming back down Pacific coast in early August. Alaska is a bucket list for me, gotta do while I'm healthy (12,000 miles 6 to 8 weeks) my wife thinks I'm a nut, but I can point to all you guys as proof that I'm just another nut. Have a great time, catch you next year.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
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