Southridge Winter Series Opener!

Vanessa prior to race start, wondering where all the other Expert girls are.

Saturday morning in Fontana was interesting. At 8:30 am, it was 38 degrees and there were 60mph gusts RIPPING through the XC and DS courses. Vanessa was up first, and I was very worried that her 45lb body would survive the buffeting wind gusts. With no other Expert ladies lined up, and all the magazine photographers in hiding, Vanessa took off. She would get to the top of the climb on her second and final lap befor the chain broke. Riding all the way down, we had to fix it. She then sped off into the "ass-chappin' cold" (thanks, Lydia) to win her class.




Randy "King Of The Beer Poachers" Rush laughing it up before he vomits at the start of his race.

Randy's Sport class went off not far behind Vanessa, and he emerged from the start in a strong third place. He clearly blew his wad on the first lap, because when we were waiting for him at the finish of lap two, he was no longer with the group of guys he started out with. He crossed the finish line with a large bucket of the Colonel's Extra Crispy chicken, all eleven herbs and spices burning a hole through his chamois. How he managed to leave the race course, find a drive through, and still place seventh I just don't know. That man has talent.

XC race over, we all began to tire of shaking like a dog crapping peach pits and sought warmer cover.




Taylor "Money" Libolt during his race run

Taylor and Jay were up today (Sunday) for the Semi-Pro DH race. Fontucky being rocky as it always is, nobody was looking forward to another terrible day of weather. Turns out, weather was perfect. Racing started late, as usual. Why, by the way, can I have a phone that gets T.V., internet, text messaging, and G.P.S., but NOBODY can start a s**t-ass mountain bike race on time? Anyone? Bueller?
Jay was up first, and was the first Semi-Pro down the hill. Looking GREAT through the rough and rocky upper half, Jay's legs turned into gelatenous goo by the time he hit the long pedal section to the finish. He would end up in 15th place. Now, understand that in DH racing, the difference between first and 15th could be two seconds or even less, so he could still whup all of you. Don't think your all bad, he'll seriously tear you anew ass. Really.





Jay Schippers dropping through the rocks like a downhill Samurai


Taylor came just a couple of riders behind Jay, and despite the pedal slippage I saw, still was one of the fastest men through the upper section. Taylor would finish 0.17th of a second in front of Jay, pissed at the numerous times his feet came unwantonly unclipped from his pedals. Flats will be installed on Taylor's bike before next week.