I think a restructure in the wtc would help boost entries.
Maybe leave the top route how it is call it the elite route or trials 1 or something. I dont think it is worth dumbing it down so more people can do it, after all surely the point of the wtc is to promote competition between the top riders and define who is the worlds best.
The junior route i think have the sections a little easier but remove the age limit and call it an expert class or trials 2 or something. that way you could have more ex top route riders continuing to ride, and provide for riders who have become to old to compete in the class how it is now but for whatever reason never quite made the transfer to the top route.
Then all thats left is to have a youth class for 16 and unders on 125s possibly even on the same course as the expert/junior riders. but maybe hold that event on the saturday together with the womens world championships. otherwise there may be to much queing to get all the routes and riders round in one day.
The other reasons that the numbers of competitors have dropped over the years in wtc is fundamentaly down to cost. currently the top riders can earn a little bit out of a small wage from the manufacture or retainer to keep them riding a particular brand with a win bonus, aside from this each of the top riders have additional revenue from external sponsors like monster or red bull but those sorts of deals are only around for the ones who can get that company some coverage and raise the awareness of that brand. if you are a privateer paying for you, your minder, entry, 2 bikes, spares, the fuel, the tolls, and the ferry crossings, and the time off work is very difficult to justify if there is no way of making your money back through any sort of prize money. if the sport is not represented well on the telly then there is little chance that a privatier will attract anything more than some local sponsorship & therefore the only reason these sorts of riders participate is for personal pride, which is fine, but we all have to balance the books.
another way of removing some of these limitations would be to remove the need for a minder, the only reason anyone should need one is to catch the bike if the rider dosnt make it up an obstacle. how about the event organiser provide catchers designated to each section on the course that needs one, thus removing the need to bring your own. that way privateers could pair up and travel to events sharing the costs of the trip.
also i think the current stop permited rules as they are now are ok. however, there is one part i dont agree with. i have never liked seeing top riders being able to padle thier way out of a section for a 3, it looks crap to watch and it doesnt bring the best out of the riders. i come from cycle trials and there i think they have it sussed on this.
0 dabs = clean
1 dab = 1pt
2 dab = 2pt
3 dab = 3pt
4 dab = 3pt (observer yells last dab!)
5 dab, putting both feet down at the same time, falling off, snaping a tape, missing a gate, putting your hand on part of the course, exceeding the time limit = 5pts
i think its both clearer to the spectator what is going on and promotes every rider to try and ride the section even when its all going wrong. with the right promotion and commentator i think this would help people understand it all better.
then all you got to do is convince & educate some media graduates as to what is going on & to go and film it all, edit it, burn it, slap decent commentry on it and send it to eurosport or bbc or something.
oh and lastly the acu should help get our riders out to these events, it sickens me that if you are good eneough to represent your country then you should be there doing just that. not be limited by your bank balance. maybe they should knock down or sell off there offices in rugby and build a centre of excellence/ training facility for all sports they represent. failing that just dont use them and form a new group offering insurance etc