Southern California State Series - XC Race #4, Big Bear Shootout
By: David Sheek (www.outsideallday.com)
6/5/08 - fter four races in the series things are starting to heat up, not just because it’s June, but because racers are focusing on the competition in their groups as riders’ skills and fitness begin to peak this season and as riders are on the hunt for every point for the individual title or for their team.
The weather in Big Bear, California Sunday was the best weather of all the races this season as it was in the high 70’s with some cooler breezes. The course was fast with all the long fire roads but this year Tom Speigel and Team Big Bear added a lot more single-track to the course than usual. It was good to see some steep technical sections used as it allowed some riders areas to make up space after the losing time on the fire roads.
The Pro Men were out on course first and it was Manny Prado of Team Sho-Air who was expected to take the win on the day, with the impressive season he has been having on the NMBS. However, Prado coming off a rest week was happy with his second place finish as he stated Charles Jenkins (KHS/Cytomax) rode a very strong race with good form. It was Josh Kelly (Team Sho-Air), the astonishing single-speed racer out of Flagstaff, Arizona who geared up a bike, to take the third place position not far behind his teammate Manuel Prado.
The Pro Women seemed to have a smaller showing than usual, regardless it was a great day for racing and exciting results. This is said because Intense Cycles, Heather Ranoa came across the line first with a smile and then started to shout with excitement about her win. In second, it was Joy Derksen (Jose Ole) and Carolyn Popovich (Bear Valley Bikes) to round out the top three. Carolyn, another of our series racers doing well on the NMBS, was the expected victor but had a bad day. Later she stated it was not a lack of effort but just fatigue as she could feel lactic acids building from her head all the way into her toes, from the start of the race until the end.
A couple other racers to recognize, it was another victory for Ty Kady of Team Sho-Air in the Semi-Pro men’s’ race as he seems to be unstoppable winning every race he has entered this season. And, in the always-fast Expert groups, the men’s 40-44 and 45-49 put out some impressive times. In the 40-44 group it was Tim Zandbergen (Velo Sport/Sho-Air) flying to finish first, with an impressive time that would have rounded out the top five of the Pro men. In the 45-49 it was David Sullivan (Velo Sport/Sho-Air) finishing just ahead of stud Cyclcross racer Bob Langin (Team Platinum Performance).
Everyone save his or her money for gas and get out to the next event. The series is going well and riders are looking forward to the next competition Saturday, June 7, 2008 in Santa Barbra, CA. For more information on the event and results go to www.teambigbear.com.
