SO, Who's going to the Nationals in VT?

[apclassic9]

We're going up with @ a dozen folks from WV; Salsa will be racing Sport 15-16 on Friday, and Short Track on Sunday at 2. The rest of our group range from Women's Pro to Expert Master to Expert to Single Speed & some I who's class I'm not sure of. Check in!!

[ZeCanon]

Whole team will be there, as we're based out of Burlington, VT.

I'll be racing the U23 xc and semi-pro short track. Look for red and black Bliss Racing jerseys in nearly every male category there, everything from beginner to pro.

[apclassic9]

Salsa will be the XC Sport 15-16 racing on Friday with the Salsa/Chili pepper motif... same thing for Short Track Jr ex on Sunday...

We may have a spot or two at the house we've got - a few cancellations, but figure @ $75 for Thurs - Sun.... 107 Timber Creek - stop by Thursday. (I have to go to sleep & get up & be on the road by 3 a.m.)

[ZeCanon]

He's racing sport xc and Junior X short track? I'm pretty sure you can't do that, even though ST isn't an event you have to qualify for you still have to race your category. I rode the short track course last weekend, it's the same as it's always been. Fast through the start/finish, 30-40m up that gravel road, left into the grass to climb another 50m, then back down under the lift to the road. Rinse and repeat :) No tough corners so you can use good fast tires as long as they'll hook up on the gravel climb.

We have a few junior sports in the 15-16 I think... they may be in 17-18 actually, I'm not sure. Good luck to Salsa :)

[dminor]

Good luck to Salsa! I qualified again this year:

http://www.usacycling.org/events/2007/mtbnationals/qual_list.php?disc=DH&sex=M&cat=EX&age=50-54

...but cannot go. Spent all of our money on Whistler and son's wedding this year. Maybe next year; sure would love to race Mt. Snow.

[apclassic9]

He's racing sport xc and Junior X short track? I'm pretty sure you can't do that, even though ST isn't an event you have to qualify for you still have to race your category. I rode the short track course last weekend, it's the same as it's always been. Fast through the start/finish, 30-40m up that gravel road, left into the grass to climb another 50m, then back down under the lift to the road. Rinse and repeat :) No tough corners so you can use good fast tires as long as they'll hook up on the gravel climb.

We have a few junior sports in the 15-16 I think... they may be in 17-18 actually, I'm not sure. Good luck to Salsa :)

My understanding is that since there is no qualification, you can race up... if not, I guess I'll get my $$ back.

See ya!

[ZeCanon]

Did he end up racing the expert ST? That was a very fast race.

[apclassic9]

Alas, no... He BS'd his way into the race on Thursday afternoon - for some reason, his license has had him listed as an expert since he was 10 - but had a huge front wheel blow out on the last downhill of the last XC lap, hit a tree, and walked into last place. While his handlebar did not break, his shifters & brake levers on the left side were turned back an inch & change, he was picking bark out of his teeth (thankfully all intact!), and his helmet was busted clear down the middle. Lots of bruises & a swollen face - he really didn't feel like racing on Sunday, so we headed south @ 8 a.m. - made some DH'er happy with a parking pass down at the 7-11!

But, we had a great time!

[ZeCanon]

Ouch! Yeah that course was brutal, especially on friday. We were lucky, my team only had one mechanical out of 14 guys and it was just a rear flat. Plenty of crashes though... 2 of my teammates went down hard in the U23 race. We also had 3 of our guys piss tested! That was new for us.

Anybody going to be in North Carolina next weekend?

[apclassic9]

Yes - we'll be at Bee Branch 44 - right across from the downhill slope. Salsa, the kid who placed 7th in the Sport XC 15-16, our photog friend from IPlayOutside.com, and a few more folk - we MAY have a spare bed, will definately have floor space.

DO NOT - I repeat, DO NOT - google for the "fastest route" to get there unless you have a Dueling Banjo CD available. Take I77 south to whatever road it is that goes straight west to Banner Elk.

[apclassic9]

Ze - check out the photos on this site http://iplayoutside.smugmug.com/gallery/3197058/27/ - JR Petsko went up there free lance & they're free downloads.. I'm sure he got some of your team!

[ZeCanon]

I'm not sure which condo we're staying in, and thanks for the driving tips! We're going to be heading out in about 2 hours. I'm going down with my bro who races junior x 17-18 and Brett our resident pro. If you see people in red Bliss uniforms don't hesitate to say hello :)

7th in the sport race? not too bad. Our guy was 9th I believe. Tough course and a long race for them... I suppose in dry conditions it would have been fine but really the sports should have done 1 lap I think. Or, better yet, there should have been a short lap that the beginners could do 2 of, and the sports could do, say, 1 full lap and 1 short lap. The Semi-pros did 3 laps in a bit over 2 hrs, and sports did 2 laps in almost the same time. The race times for sport and semi-pro riders should NOT be close like that.

[ZeCanon]

and yes he did get some. The banana is my brother, red head is my mom. guy in the white glasses was 9th in sport 15-16 :) I think my arm may be in the photo, but nothing else of me.
http://iplayoutside.smugmug.com/photos/176212532-L.jpg

[apclassic9]

Well, happy trails! See you in NC, and if you check you e-mail & are passing thru WV, the green outback with the bikeracks on RT 79 is me!