NorCal Racing This Week: July 12 - 16, 2006

Big weekend of racing here in NorCal:

• Tonight (WEDNESDAY) is the latest Howarth Park Dirt Crit (#6). Get out in the North Bay for this grassroots racing.
• Also tonight is the Prairie City Racing Series BBQ and Awards party. Head out to Granite Arch Climbing Center to see if you won any of the swag from the series long raffle.
• Tomorrow (THURSDAY), the US MTB Championships (aka Cougar Mountain Classic) start in earnest at Infineon Raceway near Napa, CA.
• SATURDAY. the 12 Hours of Humboldt will be held up north in Arcata, CA.

Since I actually qualified at the Bigfoot Classic a few weeks ago, I'll be spending my weekend in Sonoma.

US MTB NATLS: Day 1 Preview

We're racing! Okay, maybe not just yet, but the US MTB Championships (aka Cougar Mountain Classic) opened today at Infineon Raceway [ MAP ]. It looks like they opened a day early to allow for more onsite registration (online registration closed on Saturday) as well as some additional XC / Marathon practice time. On today's schedule is:

• Onsite Registration (12-5)
• XC Practice (12-5)
• Marathon Practice (12-5)

It looks like the event organizers are going to be pretty good about XC practice this year; You'll have practice time on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Also of note today is the news that the event organizers will have a nice lounge to watch the Tour de France:

Infineon Raceway officials have taken things one step further with the Tour de France Lounge, which will be located in the main paddock and open to the public (free). It will showcase the Tour de France on six television sets daily beginning at 6:30 a.m., and the lounge will also feature couches, chairs, spin-bikes for cyclists, a massage area and cycling art work. Meridian Sports Clubs of California is providing many of the elements featured in the Tour de France Lounge.

A café experience will also highlight the lounge, complete with coffee, lattes, espresso, smoothies, energy drinks, muffins, pastries, fresh fruit and power bars. It’s a great way for race fans and competitors to keep tabs on the Tour de France while competing in this weekend’s Infineon Cougar Mountain Classic.

The coffee better be good. There isn't a Peet's within mile of the raceway.

Women's MTB Racing Clinic Set For US MTB Natls

Alison Dunlap and Marla Streb will be presenting an Advanced Racing Skills Clinic for Women on Friday, July 14th from 12 noon to 2 PM at the 2006 US MTB Nationals. Space is limited so hurry over to the webpage to find out how to register.

Titus Founder Leaves Company

Bicycle Retailer is reporting that Chris Cocalis has left Titus Cycles, the high end racing bicycle company that he founded in 1991. According to the article:

“The things that they proposed in the new contract were not really in my best interest. For me it was better to sell my interest in both companies now than to agree to basically stay there as an employee. I owned and developed and ran the place for 15 years, and it was time for me to explore other opportunities,” Cocalis said.

So this isn't really NorCal racing specific, but I know a lot of people ride Racer Xs out there.

US MTB Nationals Week

It's US MTB National Championship week. For those of you who haven't been following the site, here are the past articles to bring you up to speed on this week(end)s USA Cycling National Championship:

• 2006 USA MTB Championships To Relocate
• NorCal Qualifers For MTB Championship
• 2006 US MTB Nationals XC Course Maps
• 2006 US MTB Championship Registration Open
• 2005 Cougar Mountain Winners Qualified For US MTB Nationals
• 2006 US MTB Nationals Course Update

Now that you are all caught up, check to see if you qualified for your events and start studying the schedule to see what events you are going to attend. The NorCal MTB Racing crew (okay maybe just me and my brother) will be heading down to Sonoma on Thursday and we will have live blogging reports all weekend.

UPDATE (07/13/06): Check the home page for live US MTB Championship / Cougar Mountain Classic blogging.

RACE REPORT: NMBS #4 Deer Valley

NORBA #4 at Deer Valley, Utah is in the books. On Saturday for the XC event, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski ran away from the field to win the Men's competition, while Shonny Vanlandingham held off the rest of fhe field to win the Ladies. Unfortunately, the mountain cross (MTX) appears to have been a complete fubar. While most of the top Pros were at the JEEP King of the Mountain, the racers in Utah were racing on a BMX track. Yes, a BMX track. Velonews has the gory details, but needless to say, ex-BMX star Jared Graves took home the mens win here. Sunday brought the short track and downhill finals. Greg Kabush wins another men's short track title, while Katarina Nash took home the womens.In the DH, British youngster Tracy Hannah won the women's event and Greg Minnar won another men's title.

UPDATE (07/12/06): Team Motionbased filed their race report earlier. The dhReno crew has also posted their race report on the downhill event.

JEEP KOM Results

This weekend's Jeep King of the Mountain (San Luis Obispo) results are in. It looks like Michal Prokop edged out Brian Lopes to take the men's final while Jill Kintner ousted Melissa Buhl for the ladies title.

MEN’S FINAL STANDINGS

1. Michal Prokop – Czech Republic
2. Brian Lopes – San Clemente, CA
3. Eric Carter – Temecula, CA
4. Wade Bootes – Australia
5. Chris Powell – Carmel Valley, CA
6. Mike King – San Diego, CA
7. Travis Collins – San Luis Obispo, CA
8. Brian Schmith – Lancaster, CA

WOMEN’S FINAL STANDINGS

1. Jill Kintner – Seattle, WA
2. Melissa Buhl – Chandler, AZ
3. Tara Llanes – Corona, CA
4. Katrina Miller – Australia
5. Fionn Griffiths – Great Britain
6. Marla Streb – Los Osos, CA
7. Bobbi Kae Watt – Broomfield, CO
8. Arielle Martin – Provo, UT

Full results and commentary on the website.

12 Hours Of Humboldt

I posted the original schedule for this a month or so ago, but Team Bigfoot has posted some details on the race.

This year's 12 Hours of Humboldt will be held in the Arcata Community Forest in Arcata, CA [ MAP, Directions ]. It is the second endurance race of the Team Bigfoot Solo Cup (along with completed 12 Hours of Weaverville as well as the upcoming 12 Hours of Williamette Pass and Whiskeytown 9 to 5). Open to anyone from solo up to 4 person teams, the riders will compete on a 8-mile course that has 1600' of climbing per lap [ COURSE MAP ]. Since the Community Forest is right next to Humboldt State, your right in town near stores and bike shops. From the organizers: "Expect some new stuff on the 12 Hours of Humboldt course, the local mountain bike community has been working with the city and we're gonna dig some new trails this year. We'll try to work as much of that into the race."

Event: 12 Hours of Humboldt
Dates: July 15th, 2006
Location: Arcata Community Forest, Arcata, CA [ MAP, Directions ]
Competition: MA
Cost: Solo Rider: $55, 2-Rider Team: $110, 3-Rider Team: $165, 4-Rider Team: $220
URL: http://teambigfoot.net/12hoursofhumboldt.htm
Registration: active.com ( Registration ends July 14th at 11:59 PM. No Race Day Registration! )
License: None

Deer Valley Norba Weekend at Team MotionBased

Team Motionbased has written up their race report from this weekend's NORBA #4 at Deer Valley, Utah. Check out Deer Valley Norba Weekend at Team MotionBased for details on the XC, Marathon and Super D courses. They even linked to the elevation and GPS map for the Super D race.

2006 CCCX Series Final Standings

CCCX.org has posted the final standings for the 2006 CCCX MTB Series. Congratulations to:

• Pro/Semi-Pro: Larry Hibbard (Family Cycling Center)
• Expert (0-34): Nick Kintz (Joselyns)
• Expert (35-44): Brock Dickie (Buy-cell.com)
• Expert (45-54): Brad Williamson (Family Cycling Center)
• Expert (55+): Gary Anghinetti (Penn Velo/Kendra)
• Expert (SS): Micah Mozal (Joselyns)
• Expert Women: Kathleen Bortolussi (Velo Bella)
• Sport (0-34): Chris Sallen
• Sport (35-44): Chris Marsiguerro (Joselyns)
• Sport (45-54): Berge Lokmagozian
  
• Sport (55+): Bob Nanninga (Team Singletrax)
• Clydesdale: Russell Carmick (Bike Route)
• Sport (SS): Max Hinckley (Bobcat Bicycles)
• Sport Women: Birgit Johnston (Mom of 2)
• Beginner (19-34): Gerardo Ceda (Marina Cycle & Skate)
• Beginner (35-44): Mark Molchan (Trey's True Wheels)
• Beginner (45+): Curtis Colaw (TROGS)
• Beginner Women: Michelle Monroe
• Junior (14-18): Menso De Jong (Syndicate)
• Junior (0-13): Maximillam Burkhart (GBK)
• Junior Girls: Jesse Blalock
  

ROAD TRIP: NORBA #4 Deer Valley, Utah

It's a lonely weekend of MTB racing for NorCal. Nothing on the schedule due to next weekend's US MTB National Championship. However, if you haven't qualified or just want to see some pro MTB action, get the kids together and head for Utah. This week's NORBA National is NORBA #4 in Deer Valley, Utah (outside Salt Lake City). Just a short 12 hours from Sacramento by car, Deer Valley will sport cross country (XC), downhill (DH), super D (SD) and marathon races.

RACE RESULTS: 2006 Bigfoot Classic

The results for the 2006 Bigfoot Classic have been posted:

• Bigfoot Classic '06 Results

Scroll down past the XC for the DH results. Congrats to Rick Goldrup, who unofficially won the DH with a 3:12 best two of three runs time, and Tim Olson, who won the Pro XC event. I think that this is Tim Olson finishing in the picture on the right. No word on the Super D results yet.

For more on the race, see my XC race report and this MTBR thread for pictures. There is also a race report on the downhill at MSDHW.com.

2006 Spring PCRS Final Results

The final results of the 2006 PCRS Spring Series have been posted. Unofficial congratulations to:

• Expert Men (0-20): Cody Kaiser
• Expert Men (21-34): Tim Helms
  
• Expert Men (35-44): Brian Rouse
  
• Expert Men (45+): Dan Mackey
• Expert Women (All): Jamie Stamps
• Sport Men (0-21): Graeme Pitts
  
• Sport Men (21-34): Josh Carling
  
• Sport Men (35-44): James McNeil
  
• Sport Men (45+): Rick Burns
• Sport Women (0-34): Renee Ridgley
  
• Sport Women (35+): Jennifer Calvin
• Beginner Men (0-15): Evan Shorter
  
• Beginner Men (16-20): Bryant Brandeen
  
• Beginner Men (21-34): Derek Milsaps
  
• Beginner Men (35-44): John Barnes
  
• Beginner Men (45+): Steve Pass
• Beginner Women (0-34): Lisa Fitzgerald
  
• Beginner Women (35+): Joilynn Hollingsworth
• Singlespeed (0-34): Dezmin Wilder
  
• Singlespeed (35+): Mike Mathis
  
• Cyldesdale: Clint Claassen
• Tandem: Dale Burske / Will Hilgenburg
  

Awards will be handed out at the BBQ Awards and Raffle on July 12th, 2006.

RACE REPORT: CCCX #7

CCCX #7 results have been posted. This was the last race in the CCCX series and the series results should be posted soon. There's a short thread over at MTBR about the finale. There are also photos here and here.

RACE REPORT: 2006 Magic Mushroom

The Trinity River Pirates have posted the 2006 Magic Mushroom results. It looks like they went ahead with the downhill, just in the twilight. Props to Jared Delong, who won the Men's Open Class, and Ray Williams Jr., who took the Junior Open Class.

There is also a really good video of the event here.