Race Report Fontana City Nationals/Cal Gold State/Triple Crown/Kenda Cup West #3

Glad she's ok, and glad she wore a helmet!

 

I snagged a few photos with my point & shoot on Saturdays Pro XC. Sue snapped a couple from todays XC of yours truly. Lot's of fun all weekend, and a really great course and conditions... I had no intention of racing but after spending the day there on Saturday, I got the itch.

 

lots of shady characters rolling around there. Not suprised that happened.

 

Bry,

Even if it isn't exactly a bling setup, these are awesome pics! the shots are really crisp!

 

I think a woman, or a man for that matter, flying over the bars and someone getting an awesome sequence of it is pretty cool. I wish the sequence would have continued to show her remounting and taking off but the action scene is great!
Shows she's hardcore. Except her name is Lala? :?: :lol: Cool name/tough racer woman!:bang:

 

Saw one other vehicle that had their window smashed and hope that no one else got hit. Seems they went to High Desert Chevron and Red Box right away and filled up several vehicles, about $400 worth. I have heard that sycamore is bad for this activity as well so have alerted my buddies who will be racing this weekend.

 

Had a so-so race, didnt ride all week prior and had raced the Mint 400 race on saturday in vegas, got a few hours sleep and then drove home and hopped on the bike. Had no legs under me but could survive on the singletrack and flats. If only I had a few more hours rest! Ended up 2nd in cat3 clyde a couple mins out on the 'W'

 

Thanks for the concern Desmond. I had 2 great practice days and then yesterday we were the first ones on the track and it started raining. Just enough to completely cake my front wheel with sand and mud. I fell once at the top when my front end went out from underneath me and I smacked my left hip and head. Then at the bottom of the technical chute, I hit the one and only root on the course and lost my front end again. Not sure what happened, but when I got up my left knee was stiff and then later on I couldn't bend it at all. Not sure how bad it its, will have to wait and see. I ended up spectating and took a few pictures and tried my best to hobble around and not cry. Would have been a challenging but fun race though!

 

Was glad I came out to watch and take pictures this weekend. Once I got to the road I was like WTF? That looks like nothing I expected from a course at Fontana. Went up and looked at Cat2/3 course and was bummed to be on the DL. Found me a spot to take pics and hung out with some friends. The Cat1/Pro course was crazy looking and provided some great action(some not so great for the riders) and some close calls for spectators and camera men. Some pics from yesterday











I know its out of focus but it was to crazy not to post








Some lazy camera man.


The rest are located here

http://mfoga.smugmug.com/MountainBikeRaces/Fontana-03-27-11

 

Adrian had #766 in Sport 18 & Under. If any of you guys got a shot of him, I'd like to get it from you.

Thanks!

 

Tough race, but it's always a tough race on a SS. I felt pretty good though for a change.
Loved these two little bumps and passing people on them every time.

Then you square off the corner and dump the clutch, Braaaap!

5th place for the day. I'll take it!

Congrats to Pinnacle10 who took second and hauled the mail all day.

 

so fun with all the spectators! thanks for all the noise!

 

Okay, I just want to know where she found a ball pit!

 

I could have used one of those. HAhahaha nice photo.

So, anyone get my small get off on Saturday? 146H, Could not have missed it on the fun section. Big guy on a bright green on green Demo8 in fresh white GP kit.
I know one guy got a great shot but forgot his name, goes by something like norcal, norcalrdr etc etc etc.

Fun course, new bike felt awesome but I was not all there. Walked, well limped, away with a slight fracture in me fibula on Saturday.

Congrats to all who made it down in one piece and heal up to those that did not. :drunk::beer:

 

Thanks, and ouch!!! What's the rehab time for that?

 

Just talked to Lala and she is doing fine. She is sore all over, and angry that she her new Code front brake works so well!

 

my mini report

Yesterday was time to load up the coolers and bikes once again and head out to Fontucky for some race action!!

The weather started out a bit iffy with dark clouds hovering over the hills. We got in our pre-ride and then it started lightly drizzling for the Cat1 start. This would soon stop however and we would wind up with the best conditions I have ever seen for the Fontana National.

Even though we had gotten there early the time flew by and I wound up with no time to warm up, so just lined up in my Category and got ready. The temperature was cool enough to have me shivering while I waited, perfect for racing! The gun went off and as usual it was a super fast and furious start. I am not a sprinter, so I just held my pace and slowly picked people off to the top of the first big climb (water tank). I think we all pretty much held our position from there amazingly enough.

Trail conditions were awesome with lots of traction and only two puddles I can remember. None of the infamous semi-toxic Fontucky dust was blowing around, so that was good. That stuff can make you cough for a week afterwards!

I was happy to finish in the top 10 in my category as we have some really tough competition this year!!

Great race and good times......on to the pictures!!


First go this way........then go THAT way........



OK.....ready..........GO!!



National Hill, go up, up, keep going, when it gets really steep proceed further up, after that continue up.



Some places are steeper than it looks!



OK, this is a really serious race, race face time, who is the idiot in the back smiling and 'hanging loose'?? (it's me )



Gary went all Ansel Adams on me and snapped this B/W....... time for the post-race recovery drink!!



Gary going by in a blaze of speed.......go Gary go!!


next race; Counting Coup/Vision Quest
Gun goes off at 5:30 AM!

 

Thanks goes out to the STR members that answered my race questions for Fontucky. First time racing XC 35+200lbs group and I took home 1st place. Had a blast and this is the start of more racing. Thanks again!!!!!

 

Kneisly LOL...that is some funny sheet man!

 

Pictures starting to go up at
http://cleghornphotography.zenfolio.com/