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TWW at Sea Otter XI
March 22-25, 2001
Sea Otter Results from www.bikeresults.com
It was a great Sea Otter event. The weather was great. Overcast Thursday and Friday, sunny on the weekend with a little bit of rain on Saturday night to pack the course down for the XC race. Lots of lessons learned. Cramming too much in a weekend. Perhaps I should relax a little more.
Podiums! Team Wrong Way scored big this weekend. Those who flew the colors brought back 7 medals. The tally:
- 2 Gold (Ron Chai, Eve Davidson for Downhill)
- 1 Silver (Nick Reallyimapogostick for Observed Trials)
- 3 Bronze (Scott Seery DH, Dave Longnnaughty, Richard Walz for XC)
- 1 4th place (Susann Novalis for XC)
Camping
We had the best camp site! The site was a short hop to the XC course where we could spectate and eat our lunch. Ample room for tents, a ridge and trees to protect us from the wind, a dining/cocktail lounge for that civilized feeling and "Temptation Island" for overnight car campers - once we figured out the parking pass swap.Jon Heim wins the prize for "going with the flow". He arrived just Thursday afternoon with the intension of going home that evening and ended up staying until Sunday. Eve fed him, Peter lent him a ThermaRest and others chipped in with locks, toothpaste, clean jerseys and other necessities. What teamwork!
It was great hanging out with our teammates and see the emphasis shift from downhill to cross country over the course of the event.
We've got to get this site again for next year. I'm programming my phone to autodial the Sea Otter camping reservations number for the next year. Just kidding.
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Jon Heim getting that big air!
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DH Practice
This course was insane! It was really intimidating and was designed to be TV friendly so that BMX'ers, MX'ers and Pro's would do well. Monster doubles at the rhythm section near the top. A large log stair case with each step a bike length apart and a wheel deep. There were a lot of huge rocks, ruts, an off camber corner, sandy corners to slow people down. It finished with a 4 foot jump just in front of a garden of large rocks at the finish line. The only other obstacle that was missing were bushes of poison oak.Eve and I were sharing a new Schwinn Straight 6 as our downhill bike. Because of this we could only get half the amount of runs as a regular rider. I walked the course and stayed by the doubles while she did her run. I saw so many people come down who did not walk the course and pack it up at the doubles. "HOLY SH**!!" was a common refrain when they first saw those doubles. Rude awakening.
Downhill and Trials Saturday
A hectic day. Perhaps too hectic for me. I was inspired by Nick's progress in trials that I decided to enter the observed trails (OT) event. I thought my downhill run was going to be in the afternoon so I would have plenty of time to do OT. Unfortunately, the trials event ran 1.5 hours late and my DH start time was 1:38 - which means 1 hour 38 minutes *after* the start of the DH (which was on time). This really meant 11:38 am. They cut the tape for the trails course at 10:30 am and the trials course closed at 1 am.I wasn't used to the new trials bike that I had just built earlier that week and I haven't been practicing trials at all in months. Needless to say I did a lot of two foot dabs. I finished my first lap and jumped into the car with Eve who drove me up to the start of the DH course.
The logistics of Eve and I sharing the Straight 6 and body armor were a little tight. My run was at 1:38 and her run was scheduled for 2:02. We had less than half an hour for me to do my run, swap armor and bike and get her to the start. We couldn't rely on the shuttle so she waited at the bottom of the run with the car.
I suited up and pushed my bike towards the starting gate. The event was delayed for about 15 minutes because some guy wrecked at the bottom of the course in the rocks after the monster jump. Apparently he was unconscious and was convulsing like a fish out of water. They shut the course down so the meat wagon could take him off to the hospital. While we waited I was talking to Erik Johnson. All I could think about was that the delay messed me up further and I would have to rush back to finish the trials course.
I finally made it to the gate. It was damn exciting. I was suited up in Team Wrong Way bad ass black, no CamelBak this time - I was a downhill racer! The tones counted down and the gate snapped open. It's time to chase the rabbit and I'm in a hurry.
I cranked hard in the big run and went through the rest of my gears in the first 200 yards. I hit the first small jump near top speed and flew about 15 feet. I was going way too fast and I hit the braking bumps for the first hard left hand corner when all of a sudden I went down hard. It happened so fast that I didn't feel out of control when I landed. It was like the bike folded under me when I hit the braking bumps. My arm was sore and I got up. I noticed that the front wheel was taco'd.
There goes my race! I decided to ride down the course anyway since the front disc brake was still working. Each side of the tire was rubbing against the inside of the fork. All I could think about was that I screwed up Eve's run - she's the DH contender in the family. I rolled the doubles and continued down the course slowly. I would go off to the side to let other racers pass me. People were cheering me on because of the wobbly wheel. The bike was fluttering at speed trying to buck me off but I kept my balance. Just past the tree, I decided against doing the off camber turn and the rock and rut section so I left the course and went down the fire road to the parking lot where Eve was waiting for me.
Erik caught up with us and I tried to borrow his wheel. But alas, he has an 8" disc rotor. Eve tried pulling off my body armor and I realized that something was terribly wrong with my shoulder. She dropped me off at the medical tent and they determined that I probably broke my right clavicle. They gave me a sling and an ice bag and suggested that I go to a hospital for some X-rays. Hmmm... obviously, I couldn't finish my trials event and my single speed race is over too.
I was waiting at the tent for about half an hour thinking that Eve forgot about me and went to do her run. She finally showed up all suited up with a mostly straightened wheel courtesy of Scott Seery. When she realized that I broke my clavicle, she wanted to drive me to the hospital. Robert Ouye stepped up and offered to take me. Eve protested but I insisted that Eve do her run and "Win one for the Gimper!"
Robert dropped me off at the hospital. I brought my Moots courier bag full of magazines, a large Sobe and a cell phone. I knew there was going to be a wait and I spent the rest of the afternoon in that Monterey hospital. There was a steady stream of downhill racers checking in with various forms of fractures, breaks and separations. The doctor joked that all these racers will pay for a new cancer wing.
Over the course of the afternoon, Joel was calling me with updates on the DH race. Eve's run was deferred to the end of the day so Nick lent us his front wheel for a perfect match: 6" disc rotor and a 2.4 WTB Motoraptor DH.
Eve did a clean run and it turned out that she won in her category! This was truly a team effort. Much thanks to Scott, Nick, Robert and Joel and the rest of TWW for their support.
I had a great time at the Otter despite the injury. The next day I took a lot of pictures of the XC participants. I was definitely jealous because the conditions were perfect and I'm the strongest I have ever been for this time in the season. Congrats to all those that finished! I feel really sorry for Scott Seery. He registered for the single speed event just because I said that I would ride with him. I think he was dying out there but he finished so he's still a God.
Lessons learned
Downhill racing has to be taken very seriously. I was in such a hurry that I wasn't in the proper mindset for the race. Downhill is not a long event but it's one that requires intense focus and great reaction time for the entire run. I paid the price for my lack of commitment and distraction.Have your own bike and body armor for a race. This is the first year for Eve and I competing in DH and sharing a bike makes it a little difficult to get some quality time on the course. We have an Intense Tracer on order so pretty soon she'll have her own bike.
Safety first! Know your limits and push them a little further everytime you ride. I wasn't thinking of my limits when I crashed. I was in such a hurry (normally good for a DH race) that I hauled ass out of the gate without thinking of the first corner.
Conclusion
I'm in a figure 8 sling which is holding my clavicle in place while it heals for the next few weeks. It looks like my early racing season is over and I can't ride for a while. At least I can still type. I'm going to live vicariously though your exploits.Mark Davidson
The
much awaited Sea Otter has come and gone but left many memories that will
never be forgotten.
Thursday: Got to the Sea Otter, registered and walked the DH course. It was very challenging with bigger doubles. drops and rock sections. My only problem with the course was the second double where I kept crashing on the landing lip of the double, I already committed on not doing the big stair steps and I did jump everything else, even the jump at the finish line. I met Travis, our WTB contact and during his first run of the DH practice his tire blows out and rips the casing, I offered to give him a tube and new WTB MotoRaptor 2.4 so he could continue practicing instead of calling it a day and heading back to the WTB Tent, how's that for reverse support roles.
That night I stayed at Camp TWW where our hospitality hosts, Mark and Eve treated us to an awesome meal and a campfire. Thanks guys, you sure know how to put together a great Sea Otter/TWW event.
Friday: Started off feeling sore from crashing the day before, we did an XC pre-ride and more DH practice, I felt more comfortable with the DH course. I opted for entering in 3 events at Sea Otter, Sport XC 35-39, Sport DH 35-39 and Beginner Observed Trials Stock 26".
Saturday: Observed Trials Stock 26": I was like a fish out of water, never being in a trials event before or even watch a competition and know the rules. I was extremely happy to find out that Mark also entered in the trials competition and he gave me the low down on everything. I practiced around and met a couple guys in the same class.
Once the competition started, I went through most of the courses with no problem, my only major obstacle was a large log with two smaller logs on each side of it that I had to cross over. The larger log was barkless and slippery so I couldn't hop straight over it. I dabbed twice and kept trying, I finally hopped on the log sideways and I could hear the crowd cheering! I only learned trials because Keith did a one handed track stand in the 2000 TWW Olympics and I wanted to do something when I took my kids to the playground for them to bike. I've been jumping around and finding obstacles to go up and over on ever since. Plus chicks dig the rear wheel hop. ;-)
I ended up with a 2nd place finish! The first TWW 'Metal' for Sea Otter! Downhill!!!! After my trials, I had to rush to the DH course to do my run there. I suited up and took off for my run. The gate swung open and I told myself to roll the second double, I went too fast and launched over the double smack into my favorite spot. I got up and continued my run which for the most part was clean. I ended up with a 15 of 37, 2:09:??
What event would be complete without me lending my bike or part of my bike to another TWW'er???? After my run, I switched Eve's bent wheel with my wheel and adjusted her disc brakes to fit my wheel and off she went.
Saturday Night, I took my wife, kids and in-laws who supported me 120% in my training to a nice dinner at the Fish Hopper in Cannery Row. I sat next to Tara Llanes(hottie) talked for a bit and wished her luck on her DH and Mtn X race on Sunday.
Nick Relampogos
Well,
I got in one good practice day on the course on Thursday with Ron, Mark
and Eve. The course was a bit scary at first, but on the 4th and 5th runs,
I was managing a pretty brisk pace, and the WTB tires were hooking up well.
No crashes. No rashes. Never did attempt the BMX doubles. I took the bypasses
around the hairiest obstacles everytime, figuring it would always be faster
to stay on two wheels than to pick myself up after crashing.
The second day of practice (Friday) the line of racers was much longer, managing only a run every 1.5 hours or so. I crashed on my last two runs, managing only 3 runs in about 4 hours, both from front wheels sliding out on loose turns, one precipitated by two guys on DH bikes stopped with the front wheels of their bikes on my entry line to the bypass around the log-drop steps. Time to quit. The course had really dried out, and the steeply off-camber turns were a bit perilous now.
Come race day. Ron and I heard about Mark's crash as we were awaiting our start. The course had really dried out, and adhesion was really poor. Many of the corners were now loose and sandy, and the off camber turns slick. That's what happens when you have 900+ racers riding the course for 3 days. I told myself then that it was better to complete the race intact, rather than risk injury.
Off I go, and make a safe trip down the course. I'm certain my last two practice runs of day 1 were faster. I made one bobble near the bottom, loosing the rear end on the last off-camber turn, nearly high-siding and in the process scrubbing a bunch of speed right at the entry to a ditch-field/rock-garden section. That was enough to put me in 3rd place, 0.4 seconds behind 2nd, and 1.7 seconds behind 1st. I'm glad to have survived and earned a place on the podium.
Scott Seery
Thursday night:
Arrived at the campground - Eve cooked us all dinner - HUGE THANKS TO M&E FOR ORGANIZING! Thanks for the Lobster Balls! :-) Heard about how technical they made the DH this year (got me all excited and nervous... perhaps it was the Lobster Balls...). Thanks to Peter for sharing the parking pass too.
Friday:
Worked the DS practice in the am. DH Practice: First run - wow! figured out I could roll the stairs... Broke a Hurricane Components Seatpost landing the table top big-air launch - scared myself stupid catching the biggest air of my life, I think I actually cleared the table top, came down on the seat a little and *snap* - seat went flying off (it's made for DH - supposed to be indestructable) - they had a booth, said "wow - how'd you do that? oh - you've got an early model" Gave me a new, thicker-walled model - cool!
Saturday:
DH practice: snapped the lower shock allen bolt on the same table top launch. Crap - 2 hours before my race - Karpiel had arrived that a.m., and had set up a booth - he fixed it for me! Gotta love having all the vendors at this event!!! I think Jon Heim was jealous of all the things I was breaking...DH Run: I knew I was doing mediocre... Rolled the first double, kept trying to launch the second, but cased it every time. Just about cleared the gap jump at the bottom. OK run, got me OK time - lesson learned - I need to practice doubles and big jumps... (ps - beat Slow-Poke-Ron's time by 0.02 secs - ha ha!)
Pro DS: Having friends in high places is nice. (Rich and Loren working the part of the DS course that all the press were at - the doubles...) I got some amazing shots of the Pro DSers, and the jumping contest that followed (to be published soon - really, really cool shots). Heard about Mark - bummer to hear - Ron, Eve, Scott, and Nick kicked booootay.
Scott Schlachter
Sea Odder
Being my usual scatter-brained self I was in a rush Thursday afternoon. I went down to the Sea Otter to practice DH and get an XC preride in, but had planned to return that night to get the rest of my stuff. I would then return Friday and stay for the weekend. I brought both bikes but barely enough gear for two rides. Long story short I didn't leave until Sunday afternoon. That's what happens when you hang out with the best people and have the best camp spot! Any chance to camp with Mark and Eve is a guaranteed good time, and they didn't disappoint. Great food and accommodations - Muchos Gracias!!. Peter S. loaned me a pre-sweated in XC jersey, Eve loaned me soap, etc.DH: The DH course is not very steep or rocky. They make up for this lack of natural technical stuff by building huge (for me) doubles, tabletop jumps, log stairs (new for this year), rock gardens, and ruts. The doubles and log drops are a bit of a mindmelt as the landing zones are out your line of sight. This means you need physical practice to get the mental confidence you can land them. There are kinda three ways over the doubles: roll them - slow, jump them - medium, or air them but follow the contour - fast. It looks like from the pictures I was jumping them but definitely not the fast way. My front wheel is way too high. The fast guys were lower and landed the front wheel first. The log drop was hectic, but like Schlacter I figured out I could roll it with enough speed and keeping the bike level. There was a line around it but it added about 2 seconds to you run - an eternity but much lower risk factor. I probably did 5-6 practice runs Thursday and Friday with a few good stacks on the doubles and logs. Before the race I still wasn't sure what I was going to do everywhere, so I studied each line a little more before my race a formulated a plan. I planned to go for the big stuff but ride conservatively so I didn't go down in the easy stuff like at Hollister (&!%#@!^&*!!) and blow the race. I had a good race run sticking to my plan, clearing the doubles and logs but was dissatisfied with my non-pedaling performance in the two main pedaling sections. Anyway I was happy to have a clean run and not break any body parts or bike parts. WTB motoraptors and RBM-built wheels worked flawlessly the entire time. I ended up 7th out of 28 (20 finishers) expert men 35-39, 1:53dot32. One anomaly in the DH age argument is the winner of our class. He is 40 and actually downgraded into our class for more competition, and had the third fastest amateur time of the whole field!
XC: It's all kind of a blur. I remember a whole lotta people, Nick shooting out like a bullet, some single track, a whole lotta waiting in line, whole lotta passing and getting passed, some climbing, and then back on the track, passing Peter S. after spotting his dropped chain. No crashes this year which is a good thing. I finished 50ish something out of 170ish something in 1:30ish something. I was very bummed to see they took out the double jump "extreme" section at the XC finish. WTB nanoraptors hooked up like velcro on the freshly moistened ground. I must say those WTB Stealth pedals worked purdy durned good as well, but I am a little biased.
Came up with few new nicknames - no pun intended Nick: Nick "No-Way Wrong-Way" "Really am a Pogo Stick" (ever seen me hop?) Relampagos. Keith White "Lighting".
Nick wins the TWW Iron-Otter award for the most events - way to go No-Way. Jeesh, what a wuss though for not doing the dual slalom too.
Congrats to all who raced and especially the pod(ium) people. Mark - it's only a shoulder, you'll be riding soon.
Anyway, the Fun-o-meter was pegged the entire time as usual.
