Fontucky Winter Series 2014

Were you wearing elbow pads? If not, do you think they would have helped? Not being a smart a**, truly want to know. I notice that most everybody wears knee pads, but very few wear elbow guards. Especially true among the pro/expert group. I always seem to hit my forearm/elbow first when I fall, then ribs. Knees not so much.

 

Yep, I was wearing some hard shell elbow/ forearm pads that cover from my wrist to about 6" above my elbow. I think I might have shattered my elbow, instead of just a fracture, if I had not had them on.

 

After cheering people on at the Super D course last time, I went for it myself this time. I raced XC in the morning again and got a few practice runs through the rock garden and some other spots before lining up for my first Super D race. I've never liked sitting around during the staging before an XC race, but I hadn't even thought about how long I'd be standing around at the top of the mountain waiting my turn for the Super D race. It was fun hanging out and talking to people, but between the fatigue from the XC race and all of the standing around, it took me a while to get into any kind of rhythm on the trail. Oh well, I know I left plenty of room for improvement next time, I made it through the rock garden without crashing, and I was happy with my time for an XC guy.

That course was a blast, and it was a nice change to race hard for 5 or 6 minutes instead of the hour+ I'm used to in XC races. Awesome adrenaline rush too!

These aren't the most exciting videos, but for anyone who hasn't raced SuperD out in Fontana, you can see what the course is like ... or at least last weekends course, since they do change it up. I think the lower section with the rock garden is pretty consistent.

Here are a few attempts at the rock garden section, which is the most technical part of the course (including the race run in slo-mo)

[video=vimeo;87643259]https://vimeo.com/87643259[/video]


Here's my no-style, XC guy attempt at a race run ... I included some of the winners times in the video to see just how crazy fast they finished this course

[video=vimeo;87637055]https://vimeo.com/87637055[/video]

Edit: The embedded video doesn't seem to work on my phone or iPad, so here are the links in case anyone else has the same problem. Let me know if anyone knows what I'm doing wrong.

https://vimeo.com/87643259
https://vimeo.com/87637055

 

If you would to check out some more photos from U-Class this is the link, http://www.photostockplus.com/home....photo_id=823362458&album_id=1624027&pcount=44

 

Thanks.. yes we came across some from this photographer and plan to buy a couple of them as well..

 

It's gonna be a little warm in Southridge this weekend. Who's going for the Winter Series Final?

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=34.04184959834946&lon=-117.48641967773438#.UxcwDCj2hSU

I'm planning on DH practice Saturday. Doubtful for Sunday race - but depends on how Saturday goes and some domestic conditions.

 

Me!

 

I'll be there spectating Herz; heckling DW of course and watching McG's kid, Ryan, crushing the competition.

Look for me in my cowboy hat keeping the hot sun off my delicate haggy face.

 

Forgot about these and just purchased a few from both rounds 2 and 4 from this photographer.. awesome pics of Ryan.. thanks for the heads up!

 

I like how Dale takes more than just one pic. I'm getting mine from this last race too!

 

I'll be there supporting friends and teammates - as 1st race practice I went OTB and did some damage to my rotator cuff no bikes for another 4 weeks or anything else (except snowboarding of course)
Courses have been painful but fun! Can't wait to see what he gives the Expert/Pros this time:bang:

 

Yes he takes quite a few.. makes it nice to have options in case you don't like one. also makes it hard to pick just one so I end up buying more

 

When I shot I would take multiple shots. I felt it gave people options of what they like or if they want a whole sequence they had that option too. There are just to many people out there taking pictures to waste my time sitting there all day shooting everyone, not to mention the time they must spend editing the photos to get the look they do. If I don't race I will bring a regular point and shoot camera and take pics of my friends and enjoy the race.

 

Saw that edit comment. Sweeeeet!

 

Can't go out there this weekend. Serious family health matter to contend with. Gotta sneak in a quick ride in the local hills and and then put on my family pants. Keep the rubber side down all ye Fontucky warriors!

 

I'm home sick but I heard the courses are good ones!

 

Alright everybody - let's hear your stories and see your pics. Spandex bandits, how was the XC? Goggles-on-the-half-shell peeps, how was that Super D? Steve Peat wannabes, did you beat Aaron Gwin, Mitch Ropelato or the KHS boys? More importantly, did you beat your friends? McG - did you beat Ryan?

Cough it up, STR - like the Fontana Hack at the end of the wall...

 

XC field was surprisingly thin for a finals...dirt was good with a few sandy/silty spots thrown in to mess with your lines...not a lot of new ruts. Wind was the factor. Blew me off my line a few times...and throw in that it was a headwind up that damn asphalt climb. Hopefully the wind died down for the DH crew...a lot of them yesterday were sitting on the sidelines instead of making their practice runs with the swirling wind playing havoc with maneuvering through some spots.

 

The DH race was in perfect conditions, no wind.

 

Chris I did the practice on Saturday and had a blast, but didn't race today.. as for beating Ryan I would have had no chance.. he was too fast for me, and took that speed into today capturing 1st place in the race and took 1st overall for the Winter Series.. you know me, I will post plenty of pics and video when I get a chance..