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Bakersfield Cross: SCNCA Championships and SCPS #8
By: Dave Sheek www.outsideallday.com
12/5/08 - Though the latest races proved most challenging for native Southern Californians with the cold temperatures and sharp sandy turns, they were decidedly challenging for everybody with all the running that was done. The past weekend recognized the Southern California Nevada Cycling Associations (SCNCA) district champions and the Southern California Prestige Series (SCPS) race #8 presented by Action Sports and the Kern Wheelsman Cycling Club in Bakersfield, California. It was a blast from the races to the awards banquet with battles on the course, victors receiving their leaders jerseys, and men in daisy dukes and tight shirts, kilts, boots, funny hats or no shirts. Other spectators handed out beer, money and old dirty shoes to racers as they charged the course. The weekend was something more like Cross Vegas with a better course, of course.
Tony Cruz discovers cross.
photo © lasportsphoto.com
Day 1: Saturday, December 1, 2007 –SCNCA Championships
It all started early Saturday with a true beginner men’s race of unlicensed competitors so there was no championship at stake and, even better, no sandbaggers in the pack. The stipulation made the race a lot more fun for the entire group. Following the beginners the juniors and Masters groups took to the course to find the pain of football Hill (a 50 yard run up of gradual hill seated with small steps that were close together so that racers would have to dismount and run through them like a set of high knee running drills through tires) and the other steep climb that most racers ran but there were a few elite men that found their way to the top of the steep sandy peak without putting a foot down. Whatever the case, it was a brutal pain that most racers most certainly did not welcome. However, the course did not let down as it also had a two-foot step down an old log about 18” in diameter that lay at the base of a small climb. It was racers like Bobby Langin, Jr. (Team Platinum Performance) and Frederick Bottger (Bear Claw) who used these obstacles to their advantage the two of them launched down the drop off from the cement to the grass. And then there was Langin, who bunny-hopped the 18” giant, in both of the categories he raced on the day which resulted in podium spaces for him. The heat was on as people traveled from all corners of Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada, everyone was pushing their limits trying to earn the Champion’s jersey for their category.
The women’s elite was harsh going. Some of the returning SCPS favorites were on the field but it seemed to be the week of sickness. Many of the women racers spoke of illness in relation to their strength. With this said, the race was dominated again by Team Redline’s young, Coryn Rivera and followed by the powerhouse group of team CICLE. Coryn did not jump out on the lead right away as she had to deal with racers like Carolyn Popovic, Dorothy Wong, Tanya Bray, and others of team CICLE who tried to hold her back. Once Coryn found her chance she took her lead and did not look back. She opened a gap for herself from the group for the win and the SCNCA Cyclocross Championship. It was Carolyn Popovic in second and Dorothy Wong in third of team CICLE who gave a valiant effort trying to capture the Championship for their powerful squad. Rounding out the top six on this championship weekend were Katrina Baumstiegel (Black Market Racing) in fourth, Tanya Bray (CICLE) in fifth, followed by Ankie Trollegard (Helens/Orbea) in sixth.
Dorothy Wong (CICLE) clears a log with ease.
photo © lasportsphoto.com
In the men’s elite races started out fast, as usual, and they found this course dusty. The first sprint was not long before the brakes were feathered as some jumped down the step down but most dismounted to safely continue their race as the pack was tight until about the third set of turns before dreaded Football Hill. Those who could run, climb steep sandy hills and control themselves through soft, leafy turns all while keeping up with the group had the advantage on this day. It was Frederick Bottger “Fritz” (Team Bearclaw), Michael Easter (Time Factory Team), and SCPS series leader Brent Prenzlow who looked the best out there on the take off and it did not take long for the crowd to start getting into the action. By the second lap there was a mystery man in a plaid kilt, red boots, and matching plaid hat, sans shirt, running through the barrier section of the course ringing bells and shouting at racers. Soon after, others joined in to the point that announcers had the entire group of newly formed hooligans standing at the top of long sandy hill climb, the apex of the course, to encourage racers and watch from atop. It was a remarkable view from below to see so many enthusiastic fans handing out encouragement, money, beer and an old shoe as racers came through with each lap. The intensity was awesome and the lead group held together for some time while growing in strength team Bear Claw managed to have three riders in the top five with Fritz near the front, Jason Lowetz in fourth and Lyle Warner in fifth. As the race went on, the two up front, Prenzlow and Easter, decided to pull away. Fritz Bottger held on as the three moved away from the rest of the field opening a gap and taking turns pulling as the group attacked the course. But, as the final laps came it was just Easter and Prenzlow that battled for the SCNCA Championship. The front groups even, though exhausted, were still climbing the hooligan hill and somewhere on to the last lap of the race Prenzlow put on an attack that gave him some room from Bottger and Easter. It was about halfway through the lap, and a spot that Easter said he did not expect him to attack on but it was just enough. Prenzlow took off and when he came back to the front part of the course the crowd could see the small gap he opened between himself Easter and Bottger. With bells ringing and spectators shouting Easter did not give up as he sprinted until the end like a true competitor and finishing in second place. In third was Fritz Bottger followed by others of the Bear Claw team, as it was Jason Lowetz in fourth for one of his best races of the season and Lyle Warner in fifth. Rounding out the top group were racers Gary Douville (Hazards Cycling Team) and the Discovery Team’s own Tony Cruz in seventh.
It was a magnificent day of racing that was followed quickly by the annual “Bidart and Ablin Hill Climb Challenge.” The rules go as follows: anyone can enter, you must wear a helmet, carry a full-size bike and the first one to reach the bell, placed way to high up a ridiculously steep hill, and ring it takes the $100 taped to the side of the bell. The hill climb had a lot of interested racers as about twenty took to the start but it was Brent Prenzlow of Alan North America again on the day to take the win. It looked like he was not going to get there at first, but he used a different route than most leaving him atop a small peak where he mounted his bike and climbed like a Billy-Goat for a golden field of green.
Hill Climb Winners: L to R -Fritz Bottger, Sam Ames, Daniel Lowetz,
Jason Lowetz, Brent Prenzlow, Jason Siegle, Michael Easter, Lyle Warner.
Day 2: Sunday, December 2, 2007 –SCPS #2
It all started much the same as day one, early on, but racers were surely sore from all the running the course demanded on day one and especially those involved in the “Bidart and Ablin Hill Climb,” or those suffering from the forbidden hangover remaining from the previous evening’s awards ceremony. Whatever the case, the day was lacking some enthusiasm, not in the racing but in the crowd. Day two presented a new course as the host of the event, Action Sports and the Kern Wheelsmen, reversed the course and added another dreaded run up to the already miserable Football Hill, which somehow was the only piece of the course that found its way back on the course going the direction it had gone the day before.
Most were glad they were not starting first as they made the young juniors brave course first, soon after the rest followed. The new course again was fast with some fun technical sections but it had running and climbing that made ones quads burn so bad you would think your legs were on fire. When races finished, people were leaving instead of sticking around to see what happened in men’s and women’s elite races. It was questions like, “Can Coryn Rivera (Team Redline) win again or do you think Brent Prenzlow (Alan North America) will win every SCPS race this season?” that made some people stick around to find out. Well with whatever question was asked, all the races ended wonderfully. Names like Bobby Langin were heard all weekend as this father son duo did great with two championships, Dad’s in the Masters 45-49 and Jr.’s in the Cat 3 and also taking a second place finish in the Single-Speed division. What a family!
The women’s elite started first for the elites and at the start it was Coryn Rivera and the rest of the group bursting away from the start. The short sprint into the 180 degree turn divided the group much like the previous days finish. But, with the illness of some racers top finishers like Tanya Bray of Team CICLE could not make it to the start. However, it was Carolyn Popovic of the CICLE team who, even though was suffering from a recent sinus infection after her travels and racing on the East Coast, decided to take an early attack on the course. It was an attack that was much like the one she put out during the first race of the season where she separated herself from the field by almost a minute. It was an impressive charge, as she began to push forward about halfway through the race until the end to win it, changing podium positions for the day with Redline’s Rivera who finished second. Katrina Baumsteiger (Team Black Market Racing), who also moved her way up the podium finishing third, and Dorothy Wong (Team CICLE) who consistently finishes on top with fourth, followed by teammate Heidi Kanayan of CICLE in fifth for best women’s elite finish of the season.
The Men’s elite was much like the women’s start as the top finishers from the day before all were in the top of the field but Fritz Bottger of the Bear Claw Team was leading the pack. It was noticeable that the group was tired from the intense racing on Saturday. Mike Easter, however, duped the field though as he continued to attack the group, in great form, taking the lead and separating himself from Bottger and the lead group on the last lap. This was Easter’s second win on the season and an exciting one because the series leader, Prenzlow, was in the race and this Alan rider’s first SCPS loss of the season. With Easter’s powerful finish, Bottger in second, Prenzlow in third, the Bear Claw Boy’s Jason Lowetz in fourth and his teammate Lyle Warner in fifth, there were strong finishers on the podium for this category.
With day two’s racing having come to a close, the day would not be complete without the “Bidart and Ablin Hill Climb Challenge.” Once again there was another $100 bill taped to a bell placed even further up on the hill, and in a different location. The race was not as filled, as many learned the pain from the day prior but those that did take to the challenge wanted the money and two other prizes put up for second and third places. Overall, it was Brent Prenzlow (Alan North America) taking the cash, Michael Easter (Time Factory Team) in Second to grab his portable bike washer from Nomad, and Fritz Bottger (Bear Claw) taking the third prize. The best dressed hill climber of the day was none other than Bear Claw’s own Jason Lowetz sporting his race kit and cowboy boots, Yee-haw Bear Claw Cowboy!
Thank you to all the sponsors of the event (Action Sports, Kern Wheelsman Bike Club, Bidart and Ablin, Voler Team Apparel, Crank Brothers, Redline Bicycles, Guinn Construction, and especially the Sequoia Sandwich Co. for coming out and feeding all the hungry racers) if there are any others forgotten I apologize. If it were not without the sponsors and volunteers this fantastic series would not happen. So next time you need parts/bikes supports those that support you, when you are at the races lend a hand to cleaning up or setting up, and find just one racer to bring out to discover the culture of cross!
