MTB Nationals- Truckee, California

(the downhill crew walking the dh course)

Brief update on mountain bike nationals in Truckee, California...

The views are beautiful. The courses are extreme. The team is great and the riding is amazing. All-around the trip has been so amazing. I cannot complain.

Today we race cross country which was about a 22mile race. It was won by Miss Chloe Forsman. The course was at about 7000 feet at Northstar resort in Cali. It started with the race through the village and then on to about 800 feet of climbing. After we got to about 4 miles of 800 feet of climbing there was 4 miles of 800 feet of descent. (roughly) I survived the 3 laps with 26th place.

We still have short track, 4cross, and downhill yet to race. The downhill course even hits snow it's up so high. It truly is amazing out here.

(playing chess in the village)

Nationals Bound - California

We are on our way to nationals... currently in Las Vegas killing time...behaving...not getting married and not playing slots...Antarctica?Hoover DamLunch in the airport...

On our way to Lake Tahoe, California for Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals soon.

Collegiate Conference Regionals

So much has happened and I say this everytime, but I have severly slacked in updating at any effort. So right now is the perfect time for a quick recap.

We raced our collegiate regional race at Mizzou in Columbia, Missouri.

I was nervous and anxiety ridden going into the weekend. Which is pretty much how the entire season has been. A lack of confidence and it messes with my head. But I have been trying to channel that in a more positive way.

I went into the race weekend leading the conference but only by a small margin- mostly thanks to my gravity race results. I just needed to perform consistantly this weekend to hold that lead for the Conference win.

Cross Country = Win

Wow- pretty surprised and happy

Downhill was the same day as cross country and I had a great Giant Reign to ride for the race. We did 2 runs on an amazingly fun course. It was the best of 2 runs. My first run left me in 2nd place against my own teammate less than a second down. Second run I made up about 5 seconds off my first time to take the win.

Sunday short track...
a 3rd win. 3 for 3.

I had the conference locked if I finished slalom.

I struggled a bit in slalom and was no match formy competitors (my teammates who are BMX pros ) but they did awesome and I found myself with a 4th place finish.

Overall, 3 for 4 with a conference title.

Finally redemption after last year. Now we are off to California for mountain bike nationals in Lake Tahoe...

USGP #1 Planet Bike Cup

Back up to Wisconsin for another race weekend. This time the USGP in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

Nothing like a nice and easy Pro race to start the cyclocross season off.

So at the startline I was staged next to Allison Dunlap. A dream come true perhaps, but it was at that moment when I looked around me and saw them all....Katerina Nash. Georgia Gould. Alison Sydor. Katie Compton. the list goes on...but I just knew this was probably the biggest race I have done to date.

The course was great and technical. Tight twisty turns with a nice set of barriers and a solid run up. The start was fast and I went out hard thinking I needed to stay in front of a certain group. I made it to the first set of barriers where me and Rebecca Cleveland were side by side. She had some seat slippage but it was a good person to by riding by.

The run up was a good twist to the fairly flat course, and definitely tired me out. I began to crack and lose my group- before I knew it I was toast.

While I survived the race with a low result: I was happy with the experience and motivation to get my act together for cross season and mountain bike nationals coming up.



The men's race was pretty sick watching Jeremy Power's with a win. Brian Matter had a pretty solid race and watching Erwin Vervecken who won the Sunday's race.

USGP #2 is on its way...

Cheq 40

A few updates to make: so the next couple will be fairly short just to get them in.

Let's start with Chequamegon where I was place at about 1500 people back from the preferred starting positions...

None the less, I have bettered my time by almost 1 hour since my last Chequamegon.

An age group finish along with a 5th place in the Crit Cross made for a fairly successful weekend.

I was happy with the 15 hour drive up.

Miner's Revenge

I really have not done well with keeping up on riding, racing, whatever may be on here. Back in July after I got back from Europe me, Andrea, and the guys from the shop did a great race up in Greenland, Michigan called the Miner's Revenge. We were required to have lights as part of the course went straight through the mine and it was pitch black in there. Check out the video at about 3:30 minutes in to see some riding in the mine by me and Andrea. I decided to sport a flannel for a lap, but it proved to be much too hot in the weather we had.It was a crazy technical course but it was such a great time. The mine was about 1 mile of riding? It was really cool, really rocky, and there was a point you had to get off an walk because it was too low to ride a bike through.

The climbs were grueling and left me in a good amount of pain as Andrea was ahead of me...too far to even chase.

I looked like a spooked animal with my Topeak Moonshine headlamp on.

Overall- it was a great day! Andrea won and I came in 3rd. For a little bit of prize we got some rock from the mine with copper embedded in it. It may sound a bit off but it was really actually sweet.

Back in Kentucky

This is what happens when the Welsh and the Aussie soccer players get ahold of your spandex...and helmet...and they find a guitar...

Ore 2 Shore

I felt pretty solid at Ore to Shore. Unfortunately they categorized me in the male division, but I guess I did alright as a 20-24 year old male.

In reality I should've hit the podium behind Holly Liske but never protested as I rushed home after the race to pack and move my belongings to Kentucky the next morning.I ended up with a time that was significantly faster than any time I have posted for Ore to Shore. I think it was a number of things that contributed to this- I believe a lot of it was my consistancy and focus that TJ helped me with- and it was also the solid conditions of the course.

I am happy I went up there and am finally getting back into season.

Stay tuned for more riding and living updates!

Time

Wow- time has flown by- and I have done no updating of my blog...

I have been crazy busy with working at Bikes-n-Boards and trying to get in good riding. With taking some time away from WORS I have been able to refocus a bit and enjoy my own riding and why I truly like riding.

Europe was wonderful- I thought I would throw up a quick photo story here just to update a little bit.

WIMBLEDON

Stonehenge and Bath, England

Public Enemies: London, UK Premiere

Marion Cotillard and Director Michael Mann

Johnny Depp

Beautiful Paris

Last couple days in England

Congrats

Shout out to this guy who just got a new little girl. Congrats Tristan and Jamie!