NORBA Nationa Championships ,23-26 September, Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes, California

Join us for theNORBA National Mountain Bike Championships! norbanationals.com for series info. mammothmountain.com for specific race info.

27.sep.04

tonya's race reports

Cross Country- Friday 24 sep

Well, having been sick now for nearly two weeks, my optimism was waning. Going into the most important race of the year while suffering from a cold- i figure i am going to do really well or poorly. From the gun, I am feeling pretty bad. The fast start and the ensuing climb essentially wrecks me. I ride well on Beach Cruiser, a great no brakes descent. It's the flowing smooth curvy trail that signifies the easy trails at Mammoth. When you just need to feel the flow- this is the trail you ride. OK- i am having fun!

I get into a ssmall rhythm for the rest of the race. It's not exactly my usual rhythm, where i increase as the race goes on. I am actually just getting a lot slower. which is not the norm for me- unless i am having a bad race. which i am today.

as we ride over the first bridge, i see Brian and his daughter- they are cheering for us and it is so cute. now i can smile again, even though i am getting ready to go for another climb... anyhow- that was my race. a lot of pain, and suffering and just enjoying the downhills when they happen. ok- cross country over. i am done for the year. only Super D and short track left.

Super D- Saturday 25 sep

I have always loved downhillig. I started out riding downhill. But when the bikes got crazy with 4, then 6 then 9 inches of travel- my downhilling career came to an end. the expense of the equipment was really the issue for me. Today, the issue is more the 4 foot drop, the crazy shit you have to do on a mountain bike. That keeps me from doing it. Otherwise this is what i would love to do. I am a cross country racer, but a downhiller at heart.

Istart my day by taking over the mic on the announcer's stand while Larry the Lufa was racing. Abigail Hippely and I did our best at calling out the names of all the amatuer racers. in between announcing, i went out to teach the 2 women's clinics we hosted during the race. Later in the day, I had the honor of announcing with Larry and with John Tomac- mountain bike legend. He is a super nice guy, byt the way, and won the Kamikaze after a long time away from bike racing. At the end of all that....

Super D is perfect for me. It is the marriage of fitness and skill. You don't have to be the fastest climber but you do need to be able to handle a mountainbike. It's beautiful. In Mammoth- we went from the summit of Mammoth Mountain to Main Lodge. It's a long way down, and you know what? It took me nearly 30 minutes to get down- and i was having a bad day.

So out of the gate, I was pretty fast, but i could tell when i hit the first switchback, i was a little shaky. the cold was leaving me a little off balance, i was going to have a rough time. As i rounded the second corner and rode out onto the knife ridge- wham- the high winds hit me and i went right over. After that, it took me until i got to the next singletrack after the first climb to get my rhythm back. And it wasn't the best rhythm, but it was better than the top part of the ride. So i finished out on the Kamikaze race course (which is a dirt road that winds from the summit to the lodge, and the winner of the Kamikaze usually gets up to 60 mph). The Kamikaze allowed me to go as fast as i have ever gone a mountainbike, for sure.

When i crossed the line, it was all i could do to keep myself in check. I was shaking indredibly. and it was a complete blast!!! and to be in 4th and on the podium, it was a great experience!

Short Track XC- Sunday 26 sep

Well here i am. the last race of the year for me. after this, i am completely through... no more! I knew early on that i was not going to be feeling very good in the short track. so when the gun went off i just sprinted as hard as i could. this blew me, so i just kind of faded each lap. i still managed to be in for 15 minutes, which stunk, cause i was ready to be out of there.

20.sep.04

mtbchicks in Mammoth!

It's been a long and crazy trip so far - getting to Mammoth was no small task! Wind, snow and black bears... check out some pics! See the gallery!