2009 ASC MTB Elevation Classic Moved

The 2009 ASC MTB Elevation Classic has been moved back from this coming weekend to Sunday, September 20th. Registration is still over at BikeReg.

Weeknight Racing Comes To Redding: Blazing Saddles

Redding is the latest city to get their very own homegrown weeknight MTB racing series with S.O.A.R.'s Blazing Saddles MTB Race Series:

• Outdoor Fun, Food and Music
• 1st - 3rd place awards in every category & every race.
• Free dinner for riders ($5 for fans)
• Raffle giveaways
• Awards for series winners (Top 10 places to be awarded points to be totaled at the end of series )

The races will be held every Thursday evening from May 21st (May 21st, May 28th, June 4th, June 11th & June 18) at Swasey Recreation Area starting at 5:00 PM for registration. Online registration is available at Active.com. Racing starts at 6:00 PM.

2009 Northstar at Tahoe Summer DH, Super D and XC Series

The folks from Northstar at Tahoe kicked down all the details on all their summer MTB racing series and it's going to be full season up in Tahoe: the DH and XC series are back along with a new Super D series (The dates used in this post are the newest dates, as of 3/14/09).

Downhill Series (DH)

Over 20 divisions for men, women and juniors, beginner through open class. Top three in each division receive awards. Cash prize to men’s and women’s open classes and Northstar Resort mountain bike tickets will be raffled off at each event! Raffle and awards are scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. on the Verizon Wireless Music Stage at the Skating Rink.

• Sunday, June 21 (All classes: upper to middle Karpiel. Expert / Pro: lower Dogbone (slabs), to bottom of Karpiel (vietnam), to stadium jump finish. Sport / Beginner: lower Phodogg, to stadium jump finish.)
• Sunday, July 26 (All classes: Gypsy)
• Sunday, August 9 (Expert / Pro: Dogbone, top to bottom, to stadium jump finish. Sport / Beginner: upper Karpiel, to Speed Control, to Phodogg, to staduim jump finish.)
• Sunday, September 20 (All classes: Boondocks, top to bottom.)
• Sunday, October 4 (3rd Annual Live Wire Classic)

Registration is $30 ($40 for open class) and will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. in the Village at Northstar ™ Season Pass & Tickets Office the morning of the event. Racer lift tickets are $30 (must have proof of registration). Lifts open to competitors at 9:00 a.m. and the first race begins at 12:00 p.m. Format will be a 1 run race. USA Cycling license is not required. Helmets are required.

Super D Series (NEW)

Super D is best described as a downhill cross country race.

• Saturday, July 25
• Saturday, August 8
• Saturday, September 19

Northstars Super D races will begin at 3:30 at the Top of either the Tahoe Zephyr or Vista Express Chair lifts and finish in the village. Super D is a hybrid event combining aspects of the disciplines of Cross Country and Downhill racing. These courses are typically not as technical in nature as Downhill races; testing both a rider’s endurance and bike handing skills. Most competitors will choose a 4-6 inch travel trail bike to compete on. This is a great event a lot of people can enjoy. There isn't a whole lot of climbing so you don't have to be in great shape, although it doesn't hurt, and you don't need a full downhill bike to make it down.

Cross-Country Bike Races (XC)

Try your luck in this fun, recreational mountain bike race for all ages and abilities. Courses are suitable for beginners through experts. Awards are given out at the conclusion of the series based on cumulative points. A generous raffle is held each week. Helmets are required.

• Thursday, July 2
• Thursday, July 9
• Thursday, July 16
• Thursday, July 23
• Thursday, July 30
• Thursday, August 6
• Thursday, August 13

The race fee $15 per racer or $70 for the seven race series. Registration is 5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. with the race time at 6:00 p.m. sharp. Stop by Big Wave Burritos & Wraps after the race for the awards raffle and Thursday Local Racer's Food & Drink Special.

TBF Crowns 2009 MTB Challenge Series Winners

TBF Racing has posted the names of this year's MTB Challenge Series Champions:

Junior Male Neilson Powless
Junior Female Avery Morin
Novice Male 19-under Matthew Decker
Novice Male 20-29 Kenneth Nelson
Novice Male 30-39 Eric Mork
Novice Male 40-49 Steve Foreman
Novice Male 50-59 Donald Staniszewski
Novice Male 60+ George Palma
Novice Female 19-under Kayla Bruce
Novice Female 20-29 Tina Kukharets
Novice Female 30-39 Gypsy Tippett
Novice Female 40-49 Debbie Hawley
Novice Female 50-59 Lynn Yelland
Single Speed Female Open Jillian Kollman
Single Speed Female Masters Yvette Crockell
Single Speed Male Open Galen Shumaker
Single Speed Male Masters Michael Mann
Sport Male 19-under Alex Wild
Sport Male 20-29 Antonio Miranda
Sport Male 30-39 Joshua Tonnissen
Sport Male 40-49 Shemp Howard
Sport Male 50-59 Paul Falvey
Sport Female 30-39 Kimberly Alvarez
Sport Female 40-49 Kristi Morin
Sport Female 50-59 Suzanne Swimley
Expert Male 20-29 Clint Claassen
Expert Male 30-39 Chris Schulze
Expert Male 40-49 Keith Defeibre
Expert Male 50-59 Christopher Holmes
Expert Female 19-under Shayna Powless
Expert Female 30-39 Jeanie Van Voris
Expert Female 40-49 Chris Patterson
Expert Female 50-59 Patty Jo Struve
Pro Male Kyle Stock

Sorry for the delay in this, having some technical challenges.

NorCal MTB Racing This Weekend: March 7 - 8, 2009

It's the first full weekend of multiple races throughout the region this weekend:

• 03/07/09 (Saturday): Sand Hill Spring Gravity (4X): As we talked about yesterday, this race is a goer. This is the first race in the series and it will be a Mountaincross/4X race. It'll set you back $35 (plus $5 if you haven't renewed your USA Cycling license) and racing starts at 11 AM in Brentwood (East Bay).
• 03/07/09 (Saturday): Chanoko Mountain Bike Duathlon #3 (MTB Duathlon): The Chaoko MTB Duathlon is the lesser known sibling of TBF's MTB Challenge races. Similar course, but your MTB racing will be bookended with running (one run before, one after). Probably fun ... if you like being off your bike. It starts at 9AM at Folsom Lake near Sacramento.
• 03/08/09 (Sunday): MTB Challenge #3 (XC): This is the last race in the 2009 MTB Challenge series, which we have covered at length. I'll try and have a trail preview (after this week's monsoons) later today or tomorrow.
• 03/08/09 (Sunday): Buck Ridge Race 2009 (XC): Sick Promotions has brought back the Buck RIdge Race for 2009. It'll start at 11 AM outside Fresno.

It looks like the weather is going to be great this weekend, so make sure and get out to support your local race scene.

2009 CCCX XC #2 Results

Results have been posted for Saturday's CCCX XC #2:

• 9am Race - Beginner
• 11am Race - Sport
• 1pm Race - Expert/Pro

Photos have been posted by Rick Rasmussen at his site.

Congrats to Men's Pro/Semi-Pro winner Greg Heinz (Joselyn's/Burnham Coaching), Men's Pro/Semi-Pro winner Singlespeed Erik Ebberoth (Ebben Bikes) and top Women's Expert finisher Carrie Edwards (Team Roaring Mouse).

2009 MTB Challenge #2 Results

Results and photos have been posted for TBF's Mountain Bike Challenge #2 held this morning:

• Overall Results
• Results by Division
• Photos by James Pratt Photography

Congrats to top Expert Male finisher Clint Claassen, top Expert Female Shayna Powless and first Singlespeeder Galen Shumaker.

2009 CCCX XC #1 Official Results

CCCX #1 at Fort Ord produced some outstanding racing action with well deserved winners in all divisions. The race course was peppered with constant rain and and off throughout the day. This made for some technical racing on a slippery track that featured many power sapping sections. Most of the trails held up well during the first races held at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. However, the Expert/Pro race which was contested last on the day, became a true battle of attrition for the riders. "Epic" could describe the hard racing that hit the riders going at it on a course that faced constant rain. Slide outs and equipment issues became common place in the wet conditions. Some riders could not finish, others came in one by one, all with a story to tell......

Results are up for the CCCX XC opener:

• 9am Race - Beginner results
• 11am Race - Sport results
• 1pm Race - Expert/Pro results

Congrats to division winners on the day:
PRO/EXPERT WOMEN- Jamie Stamps- Another Bike Shop
PRO/SEMI-PRO MEN- Menso DeJong- Santa Cruz Bicycles
EXPERT 18 & under- Tylor Giger- Salinas H.S. Cowboy Racing
EXPERT 19-34- Brian Butler- Joselyn's/Burnham Racing
EXPERT 35-44- Alexander Rouch- Joselyn's/Burnham Racing
EXPERT 45-54- Scott Calley- VOS/Cycles Gladiator
EXPERT 60+ - Jeffrey Linder- Plus 3 Network.com
PRO/EXPERT SINGLE SPEED - Eric Thunstrom- SCCCC/Team Santa Cruz
SPORT 18 & under - Stephen Crowley- Cowboy Racing
SPORT MEN 19-34- Joseph Brody- Beaver Racing
SPORT MEN 35-44 - Frank Pinto- Joselyns
SPORT MEN 45-55- Jim Werle- Sterling Sports Group
SPORT MEN 55+ - Joseph Crabtree- Forest Hill Bike Shop
SPORT SINGLE SPEED- Tom Biggs- Ghost Tree Racing
CLYDESDALE- Daymon Prewitt- Me
SPORT WOMEN 34 & under- Sofia Gomez Villafane- Los Gatos H.S. MTB
SPORT WOMEN 35-44- Jen Lucia- SCCCC
SPORT WOMEN 45+- Sue Lovecchio- Velo Bella
JUNIOR MEN 14-18 - Nick Casaccia- Famiily Cycling
BEGINNING MEN 19-34 - Nathan Cuifford- Mountain View
BEGINNING MEN 35-44- Eric Ellis- Nipomo
BEGINNING MEN 45-54 - Bob Daw- WheelAway Cycle Center
JUNIOR MEN 13 & under - Jake Carrade- San Rafael
BEGINNING WOMEN 19+ - Thea Stein - Velo Girls
JUNIOR WOMEN 18 & under - Olivia Hays- Monterey Bay KingFishers

See the previous post for race reports and photos.

2009 CCCX XC #1 Race Report

No official results posted yet, but race reports and photos are trickling in from yesterday's CCCX XC opener:

• MTBR Forum Race Reports
• Wayne Shen's Photos
• Rick R's Photos (the photo above is courtesy of Rick's collection)
• MotionBased GPS track of the race
• El Cerrito Racing's report

As soon as the full results are up, I'll update this post.

2009 CCCX XC Opener Preview

The 2009 CCCX XC series opens this Sunday at Fort Ord in Monterey.

Here's a preview:

This Sunday's CCCX Cross Country race in Fort Ord, near Monterey, will be taking place rain or shine. However, it looks like rain is more possible then shine. Rain is in the forecast and it is sure to be a epic and memorable day of MTB racing. The trails and fire roads of the former Army base at Fort Ord can really hold water well, as the ground is very hard packed. Even if there is heavy rain, the riding will still be first class. The trails seem to get better with a little moisture.

The CCCX Series is in its 8th season of XC racing and NorCal riders can count on fun riding on well marked courses. New for 2009, the CCCX Series will be using some different trails in Ft Ord, and rumor has it the riding is better then ever. Race #1 will be run on a course very similar to the March 1st NorCal High School MTB League series opener. This gives the high school racers a good chance to preview what test they will face at race #1 of their NorCal series. Racing action starts at 9:00 a.m. with the Beg. divisions, 11:00 a.m. with the Sport divisions, and 1:00 p.m. with Expert/Pro racing. All info can be found at www.cccx.org. Photographer extraordinary Rick Rasmusen will be on hand filming all the action. His photo work is outstanding and can be accessed free of charge at his web site http://bikeguy.smugmug.com/.

2009 Big Sandy Registration Open

Registration is now open for the 2009 Big Sandy:

Registration is $40.00 this year, $30.00 for Juniors. There will be a $5.00 fee to sign up on race day ... No stamps, no envelope, just sign in and sign up: ONLINE REGISTRATION ... We are selling Commemorative T-Shirts this year. If you order one with registration its only $5.00, but you have to order it by March 20th ... MORE SINGLETRACK: That is the only way to describe this year’s race. Everyone will get more. For Pro and Cat 1 (expert) racers, we are adding the Pa’San Ridge Loop at Squaw Leap. We even added a special Long Course cat for Cat 2 (sport). this trail is too fun. starting off with a mile down to the river valley cross the bridge, well then you climb for about 3 miles and the top is kind of rocky, but you race mountain bikes so this is fun to you. Then you get 3-4 miles of the best singletrack you may find.

The Big Sandy is a point to point XC race (23 or 15 miles) on April 4th, 2009 that celebrates the completion of the the Big Sandy bridge just North of Fresno [COURSE MAP].

Read more over on their website at http://bigsandyrace.com/.

2009 MTB Challenge #1 Race Report

Quick update: overall results and divisional results posted.

Sorry about the delay but got sidetracked before putting together my race report. To make up for it, here is some quick video of the end of the race with a bit of the awards:


And here is my race report from the race:

The theme for my race day was "late." Late to get up, late out of the house, late to register and late on the course. I got to the registration table with 10 minutes to spare but didn't manage to make it up line in time for my categories start. I decided to just take off with the Novice group and see how it went.

Which was good, because even the Novice group was kicking my *ss. As someone else mentioned, the course was really quick and everyone looked to be in mid-season shape. Top experts were logging 25 minute laps (for 4 laps), Sports were in the 27 minute/lap range and some "Novices" were sub 30 minute/laps. Needless to say, I was not in any of those groups.

I got a decent but not good first lap down and started to warm up in the second. In fact, I even pulled a negative lap time but the third lap was my Waterloo. On a course which mandates flowy, momentum riding, I was tired and out of sync with some lower back pain (apparently I am not in "mid-season shape"). Towards the end of the race, I was felt like I was going backwards while battling the headwinds on the final stretch.

Net result: just missed racking up my first DFL of the season.

I clocked the course at about 6 miles per lap (first lap was 1 mile longer due to lead over levy) and 650' climbing per lap. It was pretty much like last year's MTB Challenge except you took the Cyclocross start (away from parking area, up on the levy and then to the "normal" course. Here's what it looks like on the map:

There are some photos on MTBR and Ron has posted his single speed race report on his new blog.

The next MTB Challenge race is in two weeks (2/22).

MTB Challenge #1 Preliminary Results

UPDATE (11:30PM): overall results are in. And photos.

Just got back from TBF's MTB Challenge #1 and I wanted to post some quick snaps of the preliminary results while they're still fresh. Click on the pictures to see them full size (so that you can read them).



Remember these are just preliminary results (I know that some of the results were mis-classified) and the final results won't be posted until tomorrow night (probably).

I'll have my race report with video and pictures later tonight.

MTB Racing This Weekend: Feb 7-8 2009

Not a huge weekend for MTB racing in NorCal, but there is a MTB Duathlon and the first race in the TBF MTB Challenge series going on outside Sacramento in Granite Bay.

Weather for the races are looking a bit mixed: although there have been only light rains over the past day or so (I can almost see the course from where I am), the temperature has dropped down to more seasonal levels. Expect low 40F, possible light rain but tacky course conditions.

Here's the full nationwide MTB race calendar for this weekend:

02/07/09: Southridge Winter Series (SoCal)
02/07/09: Global Bikes McDowell Meltdown (AZ)
02/07/09: Chanoko Mountain Bike Duathlon #1 (NorCal)
02/07/09: Dragon GAP Charity Winter Mountain Bike Race (MI)
02/07/09: The Dirty Dozen™ 12 & 6 Hour (TX)
02/08/09: MTB Challenge #1 (NorCal)
02/08/09: Nothing but Noodles Winter Short Track Series (NC)

Team Bigfoot Finalizes 2009 Giant NorCal Series

Team Bigfoot has posted their 2009 race schedule along with this year's NorCal series events. It appears that this year's series will be sponsored by Giant Bicycles and will encompass 11 races stretching from Monterey/Salinas thru Weaverville, CA. Here are the dates for this year's races:

Giant 2009 Northern California Series
03/22: CCCX (DH/SuperD)
04/05: Napa Valley Dirt Classic (XC)
04/25: Lemurian Classic (XC)
05/02: CCCX (XC)
05/24: Gravity Day* (SuperD, DH)
06/14: Skyline Park (XC)
06/21: CCCX (XC but I think this is actually a DH/Super D)
06/28: CCCX (XC)
08/09: Howell Mountain Classic (XC)
09/25: Whiskeytown Classic* (XC, ST, SuperD)
10/16: Lagrange Fall Classic* (DH, XC, ST, SuperD)

* the asterisk denotes Team Bigfoot events.

You can find all these listed under the tag "2009 norcal series" over on mtbcalendar.com.

I'll have Team Bigfoot's 2009 Endurance series dates tomorrow.

2009 Schedule Starts with MTB KickStart Sunday

Yep, the long wait since the last November's 24 Hours of Gold is almost over. This Sunday is the first NorCal MTB race of the year: TBF Racing's MTB KickStart in Granite Bay, CA (near Sacramento).

TBF Racing started the KickStart last year (read my race report) as a way to gently ease into the MTB schedule. It is also a prologue to their MTB Challenge Series.

As XC races go, it's pretty tame: 7 mile laps of 900' of rolling hills (sometime with a little sand). Novices and Junior do one lap, Sport and Single Speed do two laps, and Experts clock three laps. Go to the last year's race report to see elevation and map details.

Event: MTB KickStart
Dates: January 25th, 2009
Location: Granite Bay, CA (Granite Beach, Folsom Lake Recreation Area) [MAP]
Competition: XC
Cost: $40, $50 on race day. 18 & under are $30, $40 on race day.
URL: http://www.tbfracing.com/events/mtbkickstart.html
Registration: active.com or onsite
License: none

NorCal Championship Series Returns for 2009

It looks like Team Bigfoot will organizing the NorCal Championship series again this year. While they are still settling a few dates, the races appear to be locked in:

2009 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Napa Valley Dirt Classic, April 5, Angwin, Cross Country
Lemurian Classic, Whiskeytown Lake, April 25, Cross Country
Gravity Day, Weaverville, (Date TBD). Super-D, Downhill
Skyline Park Mountain Bike Race, June 14, Napa, Cross Country
Howell Mountain Classic, August 9, Angwin, XC, Cross Country
Whiskeytown Classic, (Date TBD) Whiskeytown Lake, Sept. Cross Country, Short-Track, Super D
CCCX, (2 dates TBD), Fort Ord, Cross Country
CCCX, (2 dates TBD), Toro Park, Downhill
CCCX, (2 dates TBD), Toro Park, Super-D
Lagrange Fall Classic, Weaverville, Oct. 16-18, Cross Country, Downhill, Short-Track, Super-D

The Team Bigfoot Solo Cup endurance series will be back with the following events:
12 Hours of Weaverville, Weaverville
12 Hours of Humboldt, Arcata
Clikapudi Six to Midnight, Shasta Lake
Whiskeytown 9 to 5, Whiskeytown Lake
24 Hours of Whiskeytown , Whiskeytown Lake

Via Team Bigfoot.

I'll add these to the schedule as soon as they get dates.

Shasta Lemurian 2009

I haven't seen this officially announced on their site, but it looks like we have a date for the 2009 Shasta Lemurian:

Saturday April 25 2009 is the date.

Its true that the fires ravaged much of the terrain west of Redding including parts of Whiskeytown. Fortunately the race course was untouched as were most of the other trails! The one caveat is that an area above Brandy Cr Falls burned. The park service has closed the Brandy Cr drainage (Ice Box) to the public until May 1 due to risk of a debris flow. However Lemurian has received permission to use the same course as last year so long as there isn't a big rain event immediately before or during the event. In that case, we'll still go April 25th, but will use an alternate course based in Whiskeytown's Peltier Valley.

Via Mtbr.com Forums.

You can see results and details about previous year's Lemurians in the archives.

2009 Howarth Park Dirt Crits

Next year's Howarth Park Wednesday Night Dirt Crits have been announced:"The excitement of short track mountain bike racing comes to Howarth Park! Mountain bike racing is fast, fun and good for you too. These races are for anyone who would like to try mountain bike racing on a short course, all skill levels are welcome. All you need is an off-road bicycle, a helmet and a desire to have a blast! The course is approximately 1 mile and consists of smooth, rolling dirt trails. Racers can enter the appropriate category for their skill level and will race for a set length of time depending on experience." This year's dates are as follows:

• June 3, 10, 17, 24
• July 8, 15, 22, 29
• Aug 12, 19, 26

You can see results and details from last year's races in the archives.

Event: Howarth Park Dirt Crits
Dates: 6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/28, 8/12, 8/19 and 8/26
Location: Howarth Park, Santa Rosa, CA [ MAP ]
Competition: ST / XC
Cost: $4 jr, $9 adults pre-reg (+$1 onsite)
URL: Santa Rosa Parks website
License: none

Thanks to an anonymous commenter for the tip.

2009 CCCX MTB XC Race Series

As promised earlier, here is the 2009 CCCX Cross Country (XC) race schedule:

• Race #1: SAT February 14, Fort Ord
• Race #2: SAT February 28, Fort Ord
• Race #3: SUN March 15, Fort Ord
• Race #4: SAT March 28, Toro Park
• Race #5: SUN April 5, Toro Park
• Race #6: SUN May 17, Fort Ord
• Race #7: SUN June 7, Toro Park
• Race #8: SAT June 13, Fort Ord
• Race #9: SUN June 28, Toro Park

As with the DH races, it looks like most of the details have stayed the same (alternating locations between Fort Ord and Toro Park, both near Monterey). You can look in the CCCX XC archives to check out past year's race reports.

Full details at the 2009 CCCX Mountain-Bike Race Series webpage.