June 2, 2008 - a severe storm rolled thru at about 2-3 A.M. Rain, wind, lightning like crazy. Will this affect the race today? Getting up at 5 AM, the weather is now calm. TV forecasts 90 degrees with more scattered storms. Temp outside seems just right for a comfortable MTB race. Get to the course with my mates, Keith and Mark. We head out on ATVs to do the course marking. But soon I realize, I better get back to the Race Start, to handle registration, along with Mark Fisk's Mom...
As the sign ups roll in, I sense that, yes, the weather could be a problem. Not a real problem - this could not be a better day for racing. But a perceived problem. I think people heard the storm roll through, got up and saw that the ground was soaked, and assume that the course is gonna be pure mud. This not being 1988, but 2008, with most people having bikes worth somewhere north of Four Figures, I begin to realize that people just ain't down for racing in mud.
But the reality of the situation is that we have a course which sheds water. Maybe Mark's Dad applied some Teflon coating to the trails or something. He's one of those crafty old guys who does stuff like make a pontoon boat out of a washing machine and a few 55-gallon drums. I thank him for taking pictures that you see here. Bottom line, when the 10 AM start time arrives, we have 30 racers ready to sample the delectable Woooly singletrack, which in all honesty, couldn't be in more perfect condition. Race Director Keith prepares to send them off...
But the reality of the situation is that we have a course which sheds water. Maybe Mark's Dad applied some Teflon coating to the trails or something. He's one of those crafty old guys who does stuff like make a pontoon boat out of a washing machine and a few 55-gallon drums. I thank him for taking pictures that you see here. Bottom line, when the 10 AM start time arrives, we have 30 racers ready to sample the delectable Woooly singletrack, which in all honesty, couldn't be in more perfect condition. Race Director Keith prepares to send them off...
The race goes off, it is fast and clean, challenging and competitive, and everybody has a great time. What a day. We couldn't have asked for anything better.
The future of cycling:
Thanks so much to all our sponsors: The RiverBank, Johnson Motors, St. Croix Floral, Park Tool, Penn Cycle and Leif Bjornson Pottery Works.
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