I just got back from the Return on the Jedi. Another stop on the Oregon XC Series with just two races to go and the points chase was still tight. I knew it was time to seal the deal, so I packed up the MoHo and headed south.

Jedi is a rad race. Total old school–it starts pretty much in the middle of the southern Oregon wilderness. The only cell coverage involves driving up a hill a couple miles, getting out of the car, and standing on a mound of dirt! Oh, yeah–good bye civiiization!

The first race Saturday was the short track. My teammate Steve Carwile punched it early, but then dropped off the pace after a few laps. So I drove hard for about half of the 11 lap race, then eased off the gas and cruised to victory numero uno.

After some tasty lunch courtesy of the Blazing Saddles Cafe, I jumped aboard my Scott Ransom and peddled uphill for an hour to the top of the Super D course. This track was a mix of rough double track, smoother fireroad, and some singletrack velvety-smoothness.

While the Ransom was probably too much bike, it still was kickin’ and delivered me to the finish well ahead of the the next closest rider in any category. Win Dos!

I woke up sometime in the middle of the night with my left nostril, eyeball, and ear feeling like they were about to explode–I knew I should have been wearing a dust-mask while sanding Bondo the other day… I covered my head with my down comforter and passed out until an hour before racetime.

The XC is a super grueling big loop with two massive climbs and a load of singletrack. Some of it is off-the-back rocky steepness while the Jedi trail caps off the race with a swooping, buffed out shreadfest.

I was suffering even after getting the early lead on the first section of climbing trail. My teammates Matt Russell and Steve caught up but then we were delayed by some horses for a minute or two. This probably allowed Jon Myers (S&M) to catch us catch us on the long climb to the top of Onion Mounntain.

I gave Jon some leash but then reeled him in just before the upper singletrack climb. Once the knarly descent began, I was in my element and while Myers was dropped, Matt suffered a flat tire. All alone at the front, I twisted the throttle and opened a sizeable advantage prior to winning easily for the third time of the weekend.

The wins gave me a commanding lead in the XC series which is all but sewn up now!

Thanks again for your support,

VP

The latest stop on the Oregon XC Series was Test of Endurance in Blogett, Oregon. While the weather has improved since the Mudslinger utilized some of these trails, we woke up to drizzle and 50 degree temps–again.

Three years ago I came a close second while I got it all right in 2007 when I won this event by a large margin. Last year I was out of town chasing NUE events so it was great to be able to ride a marathon an hour from home.

I wasn’t highly motivated by the conditions and my body seemed to be in a negative biorythm, too. In fact, as soon as we got out of the chute, I thought I might be spending my first Father’s Day in the ICU or even on the slab. My heartrate went sky-high and stayed there for most of the 4 hour race. It was so high that I didn’t believe my Garmin for awhile.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/episode/view.do?episodePk.pkValue=8520614

Anyway, I quickly fell off the pace set by Adam Craig (Giant) and Barry Wicks (Kona). While I was definitely stressed, I managed the situation well and was able to claw my way back up through the field on the second 25 mile loop.

In the end, I managed “best of the rest” in 3rd place overall. Under the circumstances and considering the alternatives, this makes me really happy!

The new trails were awesome so thanks again to Mike Ripley and the Mudslinger Events crew.

Ciao,

VP

Our Falls City Fat Tire Festival weekend fizzled into two separate weekends of racing this year. While both were super successful promotions from a logistical sense, the sum of the parts hardly made up for the potential whole.

The XC race never materialized due to Weyerheuser refusing to allow recreational use of the Socialist Valley Road easement in Falls City, Oregon.

Instead we hosted the OBRA Short Track Championship in the Upper Park. While we had ridiculous T-storms the night before and throughout the day, a few die-hard racers showed up and we had a fun time.

http://app.obra.org/results/2009/Mountain%20Bike/15028

Food, running water, flush toilets, power–everything most MTB events wish for but not enough racers. Hopefully we get another chance next year.

As for yours truly, I seemed to have injured myself this week and couldn’t really do much of a race and ended up way off the back of my race. No worries–I had lots to do that day!

-VP

Had to do the double with some of the multi-day races still on the calendar later this summer. With Mt Hood Classic off the table, we decided to make a quick trip up to the Indie Series for the Bavarian Bike and Brews Festival.

Even though I tried my best to miss the start, I made short work of the up/down course and demolished the competition–and almost myself when I ate it hard over on the last lap. Lucky lucky. Over the bars at speed never feels good but I managed to escape with a few scrapes and bruises!

We drove the rest of the day and part of the night to Bend for Picketts Charge the next day. It was a new course with seemingly endless twisting singletrack through the woods. A select group of locals broke the elastic almost immediately and amassed a gruesome lead on the rest of us.

I managed the distinction of being the “first” non-local finisher in 4th place but left licking my wounds.

Things have tightened up again in the XC Series so I have more work to do if I am going to secure overall victory in 2009.

Cheers,

VP

One of my biggest objectives for 2009 is the Intermontane Challenge in Kamloops, British Columbia. This will be one of the first MTB stage races to offer SOLO categories. It will also have legitimate prize money and all stages will begin and end in the same location. I have secured a great local sponsor, Domenic’s Marine LTD, so please stop by and check them out.

See you in “Oh, Canada” next month!

We were supposed to have a race this weekend, too. Unfortunately we haven’t been able to convince our neighbors at Weyerheuser to let us use their Socialist Valley Road easement so it looks like we will postpone our event to June 13th in Falls City.

http://csc.brettluelling.com/?q=state_championship

Instead Brett, Ryan, David, and I went out to Blackrock and provided timing for the first annual FLOWCUP. BRMBA hosted the event and it went off well. The course was fun and some quality riders showed up to test their wares.

I even took a couple runs on my singlespeed XC bike just for kicks. Stacked it up on the first run but cut nearly a minute off my time on the next. Check out my run and the ride back up to the awards:

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/8378996

Our timing work was nearly flawless and relatively sress free so that made tolerating the bugs acceptable.

Here they are: http://app.obra.org/results/2009/Downhill/13808

Yes, CSC does much more than just RACE bikes!

Thanks again,

VP