Sea and be Seen Otter

Photo: Spomer at Vital

See and be Seen, that's what the Sea Otter Classic is all about right? It's got to be biggest race of the season but is also known for having one of the worst Downhill tracks of the season. Hell it'd make a mean Super D track with the 3 uphill sections and all. Saving grace this year with out a doubt would be Sram and Matty Thompson with his crew from Momentum Trail Concepts coming in and updating the existing track. They weren't allowed to change where the trail actually went but by fixing and adding "features" like new lips on jumps, bigger berms and new rhythm/roller whoop sections it added way more flow and fun. Thanks to Brad's dad "the Rick" we punched out way more laps than ever and were able to get the sea otter whip count up.

Lined up behind Jeff Kendal-weed(aka tumbleweed) on race day, while he's in the gate the start beeps don't go off, the Team Big bear official pulls him out and tells me to get in and that I will get a verbal count down. 10 seconds, I'm waiting for a normal countdown to emulate the normal 6 beep count but it's been a while... she says go... huh? I sprint out of the gate and hear the normal beeps and slam on the binders, did I jump the start? am I going to get a 5 second penalty? am I going to get a re-run? eff it it's too late, your racing. sea otter dh run, squash some jumps and cough up a lung. I roll over the line and feel like I'm dying, my mom walks up after walking down the track and says "that track really does suck huh?" I kid you not. If that doesn't say something about the track I don't know what does. 2:28.4, who knows what it would have been, guess well fitter and faster next year.

No re-run or money back from Team Big Bear timing and just reminds me of those "norba hates you" tees.... off to the next, 4hr moto grand prix next weekend in Virginia City, NV and than off for the HIghland Pro Grt, stay tuned.

photo: Daniel Pena