Learn Cyclocross from a National Champion

Attend one of the Vancouver Island Cross Series races and enter the beginner category and you can be taught the basics of ‘cross by Wendy Simms, Canadian National Champion. Next opportunity will be at Courtenay on October 15th. See the link on the calendar to the right.

From the website:

LEARN TO RACE CYCLOCROSS CLINIC
Register for a beginner race and you can join Canadian National Cyclocross Champion Wendy Simms for a free learn-to-race cyclocross clinic. Wendy will take you for a lap of the course and go over basic cyclocross skills, technique, race strategy and more. All you need is a bike (cyclocross or mountain bike) and a helmet. We will meet at the start/finish line at 10:45. You must be registered for the race at this time.

Alan Factory wants YOU!

The Alan Factory team is looking for a few good riders. Here’s your chance to plunk down some hard-earned cash and be a member of the Alan Factory Team – arguably one of the largest and most geographically diverse teams out there competing this season. In order to be a member you will need to purchase one of their 'packages'. One would assume that would entail at the bare minimum a frameset and a jersey. Here’s more info from Alan Factory Team’s lone Pacific Northwest representative, Nick Weighall.

"Yes indeed cyclocross season is here! It's time to join a team, get a bike, go to a clinic and generally be excited about the fun that is cyclocross.

To that end I want to let you know that the Alan Factory Cyclocross team is growing and we're looking to get it going in Washington. For women, men, juniors and masters of all ability levels to join.

You may have seen a big showing of Alan Factory Team riders last fall at the Crank Brothers Series (in) Washington and Oregon. Well, I hope to build a group of people who can be a regular presence in the Northwest Cyclocross Races. It would be a fun bunch of people who are interested in supporting each other at races and having fun. There are options to fit all budgets. Joining involves purchasing one of the Alan packages (frame, fork, jersey, etc) and competing in at least 5 races. You also have access to pro-deals throughout the season.

Having teammates makes getting feeds and support at cross races more likely and gives you a team to hang out with and cheer for you. "

Are you sold on the idea yet? If interested, contact Nick at nicholasweighall (at) gmail dot com.

Local boy Shannon Skerritt heads east

This press release is making the rounds at all the ‘big’ websites, so of course it will be posted here as well. Shannon “Too Vanilla for You” Skerritt is rumored to be heading back east (Vermont specifically) for two of the big early season races on the calendar. While you’re at it, check out Shannon’s ultra-cool blog that answers questions you didn’t even know you had. Question: In what category will the remnants of Phish be racing?

We’re not sure what ‘calibre’ is but we think it is pretty close to caliber. What are we in England or something? Note that one of the big sponsors is Ben and Jerry’s and they will be handing out free ice cream each day between noon and 4pm.

Also more importantly, please note in the press release, you can watch Shannon on your computer by going to Ultrasport.tv as they will be covering the weekend’s racing action.

VERMONT GRAN PRIX OF CROSS SEPT 23-24 ATTRACTS NATIONAL CALIBRE FIELD

September 14, 2006

The Vermont Gran Prix of Cross Sept 23-24(UCI) at the Catamount Family Outdoor Center is expecting an impressive field of elite racers including Team Cliff Bar duo of Mark McCormack (former US National road and cylocross champion) and Jesse Anthony (six-time national champion), Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com rider Tim Johnson (world championship medalist), Jelly Belly rider and former US World team-member Jeremy Powers, Vanilla rider Shannon Skerritt (US National 35+ champion), RGM WATCHES/RICHARD SACHS/REX CHIU riders Brian Hayes, Noah Taylor and Amy Wallace, Fior Di Fruita riders Johs Huseby (two-time US World team member), Matt White and Michael Cody and NERAC.com team members Adam Hodges Meyerson and John Hansen and New England women's stalwart Rebecca Wellons (Gearworks/Spin Arts).

The weekend of racing (separate courses for each day) will be filmed and broadcast on the web by Ultrasport.tv, a new internet-based network dedicated to providing coverage of cycling and endurance events. We're excited to partner with Ultrasport.tv, said Erik Bowker, race director. Cross is perfect for television and we're excited that Ultrasport.tv is committed to filming all categories, which should be fun for the riders. They can race and go home and see themselves suffer!

Cannondale will be on hand with a fleet of it's new CAAD 9 demo cyclocross bikes. The all new CAAD 9 S-1 which will be ridden by Tim Johnson and the Fior di Fruita team this season. In addition to the tasty toys, Magic Hat Brewery will be serving up brews in the beer tent and Ben & Jerry's will be scooping free ice cream for kids and adults alike from 12 to 4 each day.

Race sponsors include Magic Hat Brewery, Ben & Jerry's, Louis Garneau, IBEX, Dwight Asset Management, Cannondale and the Skirack.

The Battle and Fox Hollow switch dates

Schedule update in the Portland 'cross scene. Veloce's Battle at Barlow and The Fox Hollow Grand Prix of Cross have switched dates. Originally published several weeks back, the races have swapped days. The Fox Hollow Grand Prix will be held in the Eugene area on Saturday, October 7th, and The Battle at Barlow will run at Sam Barlow High School in Gresham on Sunday, October 8th. The race flyers should now be updated and correct. See the updated calendar section on the right for all the details. With the Cross Crusade taking the weekend off, this weekend provides a great way to keep your racing fitness and support cyclocross racing in Oregon.

Bellingham Cyclocrazed Series

The promoters of the Cyclocrazed Cyclocross Series in Bellingham announced details of their first-year 3-race series. The series kicks-off not in Bellingham, but in the beautiful Methow Valley in conjunction with the Methow Valley Fall Bike Festival on Saturday, October 7th. By piggybacking their ‘cross event with an already established and highly popular mountain bike and road bike event, promoters hope to introduce the sport to cycling enthusiasts who have a penchant for riding in varied terrain. All the details of the Methow Cross race are right here. The second race of the series finds the competitors back in familiar ground as Western Washington University is the setting for Viking Cross on Saturday, November 4th. This promises to be a fast and furious affair as can be seen by the course map located on their website. 15% of proceeds from this event will benefit the WWU Cycling Team. The series finale, Huffy Cross, is Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday, November 25th, and a perfect way to work off the extra helping of turkey dinner. The event will be held at Berthusen Park located just 12 miles north of Bellingham. 15% of proceeds from this series finale event will benefit the HUB Community Bike Shop in Bellingham. With close proximity to both Seattle and Vancouver, the Bellingham series promises to attract top-flite athletes from both areas. You can get all the details at their website or look for the links in the calendar to the right.

Cross on the Rock #1

Race Report and Results

Cross on the Rock #1. Diver Lake, Nanaimo
Race #1 in the Island Cup Cross Series 2006

Brought to you by Multi-Sport Promotions

Conditions: Rain, 14c, mud, wet grass, loose dirt, slippery pavement, tough and fun racing.

Rain. Glorious Rain. Perfect for Cyclocross!! Unfortunately we have had such an incredible summer that people were scared that it was raining and as a result a few missed out on one of the best and tightest courses around at Diver Lake in Nanaimo.

It was a record turn out for this event with 70 racers showing up from as far away as Ontario and in this province; Salmon Arm. A large number of the racers were club licensed riders showing the strong club based racing scene on Vancouver Island.

The second event saw the Masters leaving 1 minute before the Women and another minute before the Intermediate Men. The masters category was the largest of the day with 21 racers. Taking the first lap beer prime was Brad Collins (Bicycle Sport Pacific) for the Masters. The women’s prime was won by Kelly Jones (Sugoi) and Trevor Jones (CVCC) took home the Intermediate prime.

With the first quick laps out of the way Mark Svenson from Parksville worked his way up from a late arrival-back of the call up-start position to take over, and hold, 1st place on the 4th lap from Steven Murray (SORCA). Mark was skeptical of his 1st place position and kept asking people all around the course, including the timers, who was in front of him and by how far. Behind Svenson, Brian Griffin (MRC) from Maple Ridge was holding in 2nd place to the finish and Gary Croome (Frontrunners) from Nanaimo was working his way through the field from 6th to finish 3rd.

In the women’s race Kelly Jones (Sugoi) dominated from start to finish making a game of picking off the masters racers that started 1 minute up on her. By the end of her 50 minutes and 50 seconds race she had picked off all by 5 of the masters men. Lisa Ludwig (Oak Bay Bikes) held onto her 2nd place and Trish Sinclair (Scott) returned to cyclocross from a 3 year absence to take 3rd place.

The Expert race was a joyfully painful 10 lap experience for the 19 starters…..or 9 laps of pain for 7 of the 19. Rocky Mountain racer Kevin Calhoun took the first lap out for the prime in 6:09 followed by Troy Woodburn (Giga Bike) and Rob Britton (Gigabike). I must admit that I don’t have a lot to report on this race as I was suffering SO much having started it without warm up and sore from pounding stakes. All I can tell you is that the front guys looked like they were fly’in. Somewhere in the middle of the race Drew McKenzie (Sugoi) went out with his second mechanical. I took two pit stops as I apparently did not have even enough time to check my tire pressure. Wendy kept yelling at me from across the course, “I’m coming for you Norm”. I heard on the last lap Rob just twisted the throttle and pulled away from his riding buddies to take the win in 55:51. Kevin Calhoun (Rocky Mountain) came in for second. Dred-locked Stefan Widmer (Sugoi) was 3rd.

Next race in the Cross on the Rock Island Cup Series is in Courtenay on October 15th.

-Norm

Cross on the Rock #1. Diver Lake Nanaimo

Race #2 Masters
1 Mark Svenson
2 Brian Griffin MRC 1:04
3 Gary Croome Frontrunners 1:40
4 Dale Ewanchook Flora Glow 1:46
5 Ken Dean 1:48
6 Brad Collins BSP 1:54
7 Mark Bennett CVC 2:11
8 Ray LaChance 3:12
9 Rick Thiessen Gigabike 3:42
10 Joe Wessel COBRA 3:51
11 Jeff Hanninen Bayside 4:51
12 Steven Murray SORCA 5:05
13 Lance McGuire SORCA 6:05
14 Peter Wellsman Ryders Cycle -1 Lap
15 Derek Tripp NBC -1 Lap

1st Lap Prime: Brad Collins

Race #2 Women
1 Kelly Jones Sugoi
2 Lisa Ludwig Oak Bay Bikes 2:50
3 Trish Sinclair Scott Bikes -1 Lap
4 Jaymie McGowan Oak Bay Bikes -1 Lap
5 Heather King Natural Earth -1 Lap
6 Sarah McMillan Dizzy Chicks -2 Lap

1st Lap Prime: Kelly Jones

Race #3 Expert
1 Rob Britton Gigabike
2 Kevin Calhoun Rocky Mountain 0:13
3 Stefan Widmer Sugoi 1:54
4 Troy Woodburn Gigabike 2:00
5 Thomas Skinner Sugoi 3:05
6 Craig Ritchey Torquay 3:12
7 John Lackey Gellatin Alpine 4:07
8 Normon Thibault Frontrunners 4:52
9 Tristen Galbraith 4:54
10 Michael Burns Devo 5:46
11 Wendy Simms Kona 5:48
12 Andrew Kent AMC -1 Lap
13 Christen Hansen Fastwitch -1 Lap
14 Jeff Blair Norco -1 Lap
15 Dan Molgat-Roy -1 Lap
16 Justin Mark AMC -1 Lap
17 Joe Wessel COBRA -1 Lap
18 Dwayne Kress SORCA -1 Lap
19 Dave Nowack CVCC -1 Lap

1st Lap Prime: Kevin Calhoun

The Outlaw is back...

Just in time to show the others who is boss, the Outlaw Cyclocross Series of Southern Oregon has been announced. It’s a 5 race series. The kick-off starts on Saturday,October 14th with a cross clinic. The racing takes place the following 5 Saturdays, October 21 through November 18. The series will be taking place at two different venues this year. The 1st, 3rd and 4th races will take place at Emigrant Lake and the 2nd and 5th races will be held at Tom Pearce Park. This year’s series will be raced in honor and in memory of Nick Jensen. As always, check out the series flyer here.

hardcore

For many of us, cross is right around the corner. Maybe for the past few weeks we’ve been rolling around the local parks, trying to remember how to dismount/remount without injuring ourselves severely or looking like complete fools. In our mind, we are wondering how much it’s going to hurt that first lap of that first race. Check out these two short videos, it is definitely east coast flavor, but either you watch it and get totally stoked or you just wonder what’s the point. Depending on your reaction, you will know if you are ready for cross or not. Only for the hardcore.

ArcticCross Race #2

ArcticCross Race #2 Results and Report
September 16, 2006
Kincaid Stadium

ArcticCross #2: It was a blustery day of cross at Kincaid Stadium... now that's more like it! A great day of racing yesterday on the course by Jim, it featured a 1.6 mile loop, multiple barriers per lap, a varied course with a little bit of everything. Matt Novakovich picks up his second victory in as many tries and Heather Gasaway take the honors for the women. They’ll do it all up again next Saturday at Alaska Pacific University.

Men
1) Matt Novakovich, Team Bicycle Shop (7 laps in 56:09 )
2) Andy Duenow (+3.26)
3) James Stull, Team Kaladi (+4.46)
4) Andy Pohl (+4.47)
5) Jason Lamoreaux (+4.50)
6) Adam Miller (+4.52)
7) Tony Brugliera, Team Bicycle Shop (+5.09)
8) Brian Bonney (+5.50)
6 Laps
9) Jim Peot
10) Bradley Cruz
11) Tim Trout (top Master)
12) Jonathon Williams
13) Bret Rosane (Master)
14) Chris Wrubel
15) Jeff Yeaton
16) Bruce Ross (Master)
17) Bob Cox (Master)
5 Laps
18) William Gunter
19) Mark Turner (Master)

Women
1) Heather Gasaway (5 laps in 49.51)
2) Amber Stull, Team Kaladi (+1.40)
3) Jessica Yeaton (+4.18; top Junior)
4) Judy Abrahams (+7.19)
5) Margaret Hillhouse (+7.34)
6) Katy Rosane (+9.50)
4 laps
7) Rebecca Mamrol
8) Allison Ross (Junior)

Thrilla in the Milla - Race #2

last Wednesday was Race 2 in the 4 race Thrilla in the Milla series, over 80 riders, lots of fast racing with Carl ‘The Deckerator’ Decker taking the win in Mens A, Patty Buerkle snags the top spot in the women’s race and Patrick Wilder and Jim Juenger taking 1st in the Mens B and Master B races respectively.

Two more races left in the series, don’t miss out on this great early season answer to the cross cravings.

Women
1 Patty Buerkle - 11
2 Julie Wose - Sunnyside Sports - 10
3 Tracey Walker - 10
4 Amy Smith - WebCyclery - 10
5 Mega Elliot - Specialized - 10
6 Renee Scott - 10
7 Robin Laughlin - Sunnyside Sports - 10
8 Rebecca Bozarth - WebCyclery - 9
9 Karen Oppenheimer - BBNS - 9
10 Joanne Stevens

Men A
1 Carl Decker - Giant - 13
2 Ben Thompson - 13
3 Brig Brandt - Bend Elite - 13
4 Eric Martin - Sportsman Team One - 13
5 Andrew Fischer - Broadmark/Hagen's Bergman - 13
6 Damian Schmitt - Hagen's Berman LLP - 13
7 Tim Jones - WebCyclery - 13
8 Carson Miller - Fred Meyer/Lakeside - 13
9 Mitch Thompson - NW Adventure/Footzone - 13
10 Brandon Groza - Groza Team Racing - 13
11 Jon Hansen - Sunnyside Sports - 13
12 Mike Schindler - Sunnyside Sports - 13
13 John Knotts - Easton/Specialized - 12
14 Bill Warburton - Therapeutic Associates - 12
15 Jon Finnoff - Bend Elite - 12

Men B
1 Patrick Wilder - Cyclepath - 12
2 Wade Goff - Half Fast Velo - 12
3 Jeff Kliehauer - Groza Team Racing - 12
4 Mike Bene - Veloshop - 12
5 Wade Miller - Sunnyside Sports - 12
6 Alex Reightley - Lowes - 12
7 Mark Campbell - WebCyclery - 12
8 Chris Moore - Hutch's - 12
9 Wade Beauchamp - Vulture Cycles - 12
10 Matt Engel - WebCyclery - 12
11 Walter McKnight - 12
12 David Baker - Sunnyside Sports - 11
13 Ryan Ness - Therapeutic Associates - 11
14 Brian Jorgensen - Hutch's Bend - 11
15 Brian Ecker - Veloshop - 11

Men B 40+
1 Jim Juenger - Sunnyside Sports - 12
2 Mike Albright - Redline - 12
3 Don Leet - Sunnyside Sports - 12
4 Dan Davis - Sierra Express/TONC - 11
5 David Luoma - Guinness - 11
6Jim Miller - WebCyclery - 11
7Mark Fortier - WebCyclery - 11
8 Brian Smith - Sunnyside Sports - 11
9 David Miller - Team Rose City - 11
10 Mike Murphy - 11

BC Cross Cup Race #1 Recap

The BC Cross Cup got started last weekend. The BC Cross Cup is a 6-race series that culminates on October 28th with the Provincial Championships. The first race was hosted and promoted by Masi-Adobe Racing; here is their report:

"A total of 96 racers took part in the first of the 2006 BC Cross Cup series in Langley, BC on Sunday morning. Under ideal conditions, racers showed up in droves to test their nerves on this challenging course.

The Women and Beginners were the first to race at 9:00. Sebastian Sleep and Kelly Jones took the Beginner's and Women's titles respectively. A massive group of men lined up for the 'B' race at 10:00. Clayton Sansbury built a seemingly insurmountable leave in the early going but it was Nels Guloein's tenacity that eventually paid off for the win. A field of 28 riders lined up for the Men's A race at 11:00. Right off the line a small group established a lead that was never brought back. Andrew Pinfold of Symmetrics took the win over Rob Britton. The real success of the day came from the $1,100 that was raised for the MS Society."

Here are the top Men and Women finishers in the A races

Men A

1 Andrew Pinfold
2 Rob Britton
3 Andrew Kyle
4 Kevin Calhoun
5 Drew Mackenzie
6 Kevin Noiles
7 Tristin Galbraith
8 Sven Sturm
9 Ruedi Schnyder
10 Troy Woodburn
11 Thomas Skinner
12 Jason Fluckiger
13 Basse Clement
14 Patrick Love
15 Jonathan Gormick

Women A

1 Kelly Jones
2 Sarah Stewart
3 Leah Gulgien
4 Alena Radomsky
5 Barbara Zimich
6 Melanie Vaughan
7 Lee Darling
8 Courtney Albert
9 Danielle
10 Ann Barnes
11 Jennifer Dawkins
12 Kiersten Lone
13 Corey Conner
14 Heather Gerth

Ryan Cousineau of Escape Velocity put together a very cool 5 minute video of the Mens A race. A fun video set to the perfect soundtrack. You can check out the video here.

Cross Article and Vancouver Island info

this great cross article appears in the Fall 2006 issue of Bicycle Paper.

"It’s Time to Get Dirty"

By Joe Sales

"As summer draws to a close, all Northwest cyclists can sense the days getting shorter, the thermostat beginning to drop, and we begin to cope again with the relentless rain. All of these changes will combine to make our daily lives on our bikes more of a challenge. For an increasing number of us however, it is a time to celebrate because it means the cyclocross season is upon us, and it's time again to get out and get dirty. The Northwest has a long history of a vibrant and active cyclocross scene, and 2006 promises to be one of the very best yet. With lots of new venues added to the calendar as well as several new races, there should be something for everyone, from the new and inexperienced racers wanting their first taste of cross's delicious nectar to nationally ranked elite racers looking to gain form and fitness for national and international competition. Indeed, if you love 'all things cross all the time', you would be hard-pressed to find a better location than the beautiful Northwest to spend a season attending the myriad of races and local series'. There is quite literally something for everyone."

Check out the rest of this article that appears in the current issue of Bicycle Paper.

and this news coming out of Vancouver Island....

All Cross All the Time (at least on Vancouver Island)

September 13, 2006

With the leaves just starting to turn a little colour and the weather about to get a little colder we are pumped to have the first ever Island Cup Cyclocross series kicks off next Sunday, September the 17th at Diver Lake Park in Nanaimo. This will be a four race series with stops in Nanaimo (September 17th), Courtenay (October 15th), Victoria (October 29th) and Parksville (November 12th) this year. We are hoping to promote cross at the club racing level and get more people involved in the sport. For these four events you will only need your regular club license or a cycling BC license. The first three races can also serve as a tune up for Cross Nationals to be held at Beban Park in Nanaimo on November 11th with the series final the next day in Parksville at Fletchers Farm.

Categories: Beginners, Intermediate, Masters, Women and Experts. We also have a free kids race. Mountainbikes (and of course cross bikes) are allowed in all categories. For more information you can check out the web site at Island Multi Sports.