I had more fun than I should of today. Sea Otter weather was perfect. I got to the course early got 5 runs in. I dropped in for sponsor meet and greets at Focus, Easton and JL Velo. After a full day in the sun and a bit of a tan, I'm home enjoying the sunset with a New Castle while dinner is cookin'.
The downhill course is soooo much fun. Fun and safe! The designers did a spectacular job setting up a technically challenging course the requires brains and brawn. The finish line of the Downhill Course will be the most popular spot at Sea Otter when the pros race on Sunday. The course finishes up with 3 table tops right near the road, with the last and steepest table tops in front of the grand stands 25 meters from the finish.
Not only was I early to practice, I was the very first rider off onto the course for practice. It was a thrill. Right out of the start house, people were cheering me to pedal and get off the brakes. The energy rocked!.
My first run I was a bit timid, or maybe just smart. I viewed all of the table tops, burms and drops looking at the best lines to take. Some of the stuff they through are you on this course puts you in and lands at angles. I am not quite ready for that skill level, but feel that I was able to find the fastest and safest route for me.
I was a kid in a candy store. I rode right up to the shuttle and said "Again please." Each time I rode down I got fast and my smile got bigger! By my 5th run down the course I was nailing it.... to my sill level.
The whole DH seen is a total zoo. I have experienced Sea Otter as an exhibitor, a roadie and a mountain biker , all of them fun in their own way, and experiencing Sea Otter as a Downhiller is icing on the cake. I spent a lot of time in the sun and dirt today and going to take the day off the bike tomorrow. I race on Saturday at 10.
After my practice, I headed over to the womens pro criterium where my teammy's were competing. It was weird being at the start line and not in the race.
The race was hard! Kristen Armstrong decided to make a last minute appearance and brought the A squad with her. It was a tough race with head winds, 2 x 180 degree turns with hills on both sides. The course blew that blew apart on lap 2. There were lots of attacks and a Primal Map My Ride got a few solo breakaways, but PB and Co was determined to win it.
The drag race finished resulted in 1st Kristen Armstrong (PB Co. 2012) 2nd Sam Sneider (Tibco) 3rd Corine Armstrong (PB Co. 2010) and my 2nd favorite team 4th Tiffany Pizzoula (Primal Map My Ride).
Tomorrow the road race. Can't wait to see my teammy's tomorrow and see how they do. I will be delivering special goodies for them after the road race.
Photo: My only shot of Sea Otter. Hanging with our newest VK fan , Maleah! She is riding up the coast from San Diego to Tahoe and stopped in to Sea Otter for the day.
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