DV NORBA National

July 8-9 was the NORBA National race at Deer Valley Resort in Park City. SUPER sweet course, run down the NCS course, for Expert, Semi-Pro, and Pro classes, with the Beginner and Sport classes running down a different course, Devo.

This is the course I've been fearing for a year, ever since I raced my first DH (downhill) which was in the Beginner class at this very race about this time last year. The waterfall (Little Niagra officially), Barney Rubble, and the finish line drop have been features on the Expert/Pro course that I WANTED to ride but scared the *$&% out of me. In fact, it was the finish line drop that convinced me to upgrade to Expert class - since I knew that as an Expert, I would HAVE to ride it, and though I was scared, I secretly WANTED to ride it. Funny thing though, after practicing it over and over, the finish drop wasn't scary at all, it was the other sections that I'd thought would be easier that ended up eating me.

But more on that later. First, Brad raced the Super D on Friday (the 7th) in the afternoon. I got a super sweet shot of him coming in towards the finish line, with that gritty look of determination and exhaustion as he pedalled up that last hill - or, to be more precise, got a super sweet shot of the trail just after he passed, since my dumb camera has a delay on it. Aargh. (That picture to come later once I download it off my camera.)

He also raced Sport DH on Saturday, around 11:00am, of which another good shot is sitting on my camera at home. Sadly though, he didn't even get a chance to have a great run, but with a very good reason! He took a fall in the first 30 seconds, which isn't all that unusual, race run falls happen, and usually you just hop up and back on the bike and keep going (as happened in my race run, but wait, I get ahead of myself). And it didn't seem like a hard crash either. But as he hopped up and back on the bike, he suddenly had the unpleasant realization that something was wrong with his front brake.

What I mean to say is, he didn't HAVE a front brake - the lever had snapped completely off in the fall! Shitty. So, he had to race his run with only a rear brake, not a good thing. Still only came in last by a couple seconds, and behind a guy with a fully functional bike, so he had a solid run otherwise, but you just can't go as fast worrying about having no brakes! (Pictures forthcoming, I promise!!!) I knew as he rode past me (as I took pictures) that something was wrong. The determined look was replaced by a frustrated and pissed off look, and he was slower than I'm used to...something was wrong. Well, his bike is soon to be all fixed, and next year, he'll slay the beast. YEAH!

Next, it was my turn. Took two practice runs to warm up and check out how the course had changed from the day before (a hundred riders going full out on it, will result in a lot of changes between first practice day and race day). Felt pretty solid after the practice runs, was able to ride everything except the waterfall. For good reason: they had taken so many people out of there on backboards with serious injuries that I opted for the go-around there instead. Figured I'd rather spend the extra 5-10 seconds to be a bit safer.

Race came. Sitting at the top, was so nervous I swore I'd never race again, as I always do. Intimidated by all the chicks racing (all 11 of them, heh). But then, my start time came up, I focused on breathing and relaxing, and I was off!

Smooth through the top, slowed by the waterfall go-round but not injured so was worth it, came in hot into the Barney Rubble section and felt awesome, TOTALLY thought I had it, then out of nowhere tanked at the bottom. Shrug. Eight inches too far to the right. But, sweet pic series:

Coming in hot, having cleared the difficult upper section (note Brad filming in the upper portion, and Jean Luc looking on in the back):


Lost balance, sticking a foot out...


I'm on the ground, the bike upside-down completely in the air...


And, I've got priorities, protect the bike at all costs, so here I am a bike-cushion:


Also, Brad took a short video as well, which is pretty sweet, so click
here to watch.

Hopped up and back on my bike (after VERy quickly checking my brakes 'cause I keep breaking them in crashes, ironic), and was off. A bit shaken but hauling ass trying to make up time. Smooth through the loose sandy bit and over the log jumps, hot on the tail of the girl who started 30 seconds ahead of me and whom I wanted to pass, almost flawless in the S-turns coming out of Spin Cycle (well, to be honest, almost crashed twice but then people cheered at how well I pulled out of the almost-wrecks, I was SO on the verge of going down, but somehow pulled it off, surprised even myself), down onto the gravel road too far behind the girl to pass her before the drop, coasting out to the finish line drop and hitting it with no brakes, voom! Smooth landing, pedalling into the finish. Phew! 5 minutes even, and my fastest practice run had been 6 minutes!

Click here for a video of the finish line drop, a shot of Craig, a friend of ours, hitting it. Maija took a video of me hitting it, but I don't have it yet. From the video, I look slow coming in, and compared to the Pros, I AM slow, but compared to the other Experts, I was pretty fast, yay. First time hitting it with no brakes either, good times!

Anyway, that's all for now folks. LOVE racing. Up until I'm at the top waiting for my start that is, but otherwise, love it when I get to the bottom and am ready to do it all again. Cheers!

Oh, almost forgot. I finished 4th, by 7 seconds, so I feel pretty happy. If I hit the waterfall next year, and don't fall, I can easily shave off at least 20-30 seconds, 'cause otherwise my run was great, and I'm glad I raced Expert. Grin.