Vermont NORBA Nationals, from Jay Schippers

Jay had a better trip this time out, with all previously made flight and hotel arrangements working out as planned. With weather being rainy and disgusting on Thursday, the rocks and roots were slicker than teflon underpants. It was by far the most technically demanding course Jay has seen, and actually commented that for the first time ever, he was afraid of a section. To give you an idea of how hairy it was, WORLD CUP DH CHAMPION Sabrina Jonnier did NOT do it. It was a no-set up, bad-exit field of boulder drops with gaps and shelves....and you had no room to jump any of it. IT ALL had to be wheel dropped at a slow speed, or immediate death would insue. The course was so bad, NORBA actually had to install a "go-around", despite the fact that Jay actually cleaned it in practice!
Due to an Insurance Company formality, the venue could NOT pad up any of the trees on the course, either, resulting in numerous season ending injuries. Let's see, greasy mud, wet roots and rocks...no pads on the trees...makes sense to me! Forty percent of the Pro racers could not do the rough section, and after the go-around was installed, all but five riders took it. They made no time by taking the rough line though, so they just did it on principle.
Jay is back safe and sound, and CONOR ROWAN is in West Virginia racing the NORBA there this weekend, as is Ryan Nolan. Jim and Court are racing in Colorado today, and Jeff "Tookie" Williams is racing in west Virginia State Series XC today, as well.
Good luck to all who are racing this weekend, and we will see ya'll at the Rim Nordic season opener next Sunday!

Chris