|   Who else here is doing Sea Otter? | free-agent
Jan 5, 2003 8:14 AM | | What class will you be racing? Have you booked your camping/hotels yet? I'm a bit bummed that they moved the race to mid-April. It used to be right at the beginning of my Spring Break-so my wife and I could take our sweet time heading back (stop in San Fran, cruise along the coast, etc.). Now I will have to race and jump back into the car and immediately drive back to POrtland. At least the focus thsi year will solely be on the race. |
| re: Who else here is doing Sea Otter? | fredmark
Jan 5, 2003 9:13 AM | | I'm going for my 6th year in a row. Racing 40-44 Sport. This race is a blast..I love the course and atmosphere. I agree with you - I liked the race in March as well, but it's a big race and I can be closer to peak by backing it off 3 weeks.
There will be no shortage of racing this Spring for the Cal State series; we have 3 races within 1 month of each other; Castaic 3/16, Sagebrush 3/30, Sea Otter 4/13. 9 races for the season - should be a fun year! |
| There's this one as well | Patchito
Jan 6, 2003 8:42 AM | | http://www.teamnova.org/desert_classic/indexDC.html
Looks promising. I read they're attracting some big-time sponsors and some world class talent, so I imagine it'll be a bit more than a small-time affair. The dates coincide with the old Sea Otter schedule, so if you've got the time, it could be an opportunity to check out the Grand Canyon while you're in the vicinity. |
| it's the old Cactus Cup... | sbxcguy
Jan 6, 2003 9:53 AM | | I've heard from some of my older racing pals that this is a "must do" event if you can swing the travel. If it's the same format as before I think it's 3 stages: TT, short track and XC. Supposed to be greeat. |
| not exactly the same as the Cactus Cup | mtnbkaz
Jan 6, 2003 3:39 PM | | It's at the same park as the "new" Cactus Cup race but is using a very different lap structure. (Some history, CC traditionally used to be run on a course in Scottsdale, AZ until they razed the desert and replaced it with a golf course and high-$$ houses. They then put in a new course at McDowell Park in Fountain Hills, AZ. They ran the race there for 2 or 3 years before its demise.) The people in charge are not the same people who used to put on Cactus Cup. Hopefully they do a good job. My only concern is with the lap structure. For some reason, they are limiting the XC race to the short 3-mile "Sport" and "Tech" loops. The 8-mile "Long" loop is reserved for the Time Trial. The planned course is for Sport and Expert men (except for age 19-29 experts) riders to do 3 Sport/3 Tech loops. I'm not sure why they don't use the full XC course like the other local races on the same trail. It will be very crowded to keep everyone on those 2 small loops. |
| how about Castaic? | sbxcguy
Jan 6, 2003 9:59 AM | | Any one else doing this event? BTW - I'm having a hard time getting information on this one. From what I can tell, the web site doen't have any event information past 12/02. Have you raced XC at Castaic before? What's it like say compared to Sea Otter? Distance, technical, size of groups, level of competition etc... I'm on the central coast so I'll be doing this one for sure. Probably my first race of the season. Any additional information woul be great. I'm surprised with almost 40 days until the evnt there is no registration information. Maybe I'm missing something? |
| how about Castaic? | Enzoid
Jan 6, 2003 1:10 PM | | Used to race Castaic twice a year when MESP was the promoter of the state series. This course involves about 60% fireroad and 40% double track. The start, in the past, has been in the park area and would wind towards an intital double track climb of about a mile. This would top out near a parking area and you would cross over to some fireroads. One section of this, about another mile, is a real gut buster, and it is loose to boot. A good number of people end up walking the initial pitch when they lose traction. After this it is all single and double track downhill that is not very technical, but does have a couple of sections of braking bumps near the bottom. Very high speed stuff. Laps are about 6 miles in length for sports. Experts get about another two miles on a add on loop.
I'm not sure how team big bear will set it up though. When team big bear ran bonelli last year, it was totally different than what MESP has used in the past. So, you may have to take my description with a grain of salt. But generally speaking the terrain is a "roadie" type course. |
| Thanks for reminding me.. | Jrm
Jan 6, 2003 1:39 PM | | I had to book a room. |
| Details man (or woman)... | free-agent
Jan 6, 2003 2:22 PM | | please. Where did you book it? Cost? Any other info. greatly appreciated. Last year was my first year and I camped on-site, but plan to hotel it this year.
thx |
| Details man | Jrm
Jan 7, 2003 8:04 AM | | Motel 6 south in salinas..$39.99. Nice place, i stayed there last year. |
| Great thanks-maybe we'll see ya there! nm | free-agent
Jan 7, 2003 8:32 AM | | nm |
| re: Who else here is doing Sea Otter? | JMAC
Jan 7, 2003 6:32 PM | | I'm going it would be my first race in the US my dad has a meeting in Santa Cruz that same week on Sea Otters (he's a marine biologist).
So i can get on a flight and race at Sea Otter i'd race XC and i'd be in what ever class 16 year olds are Cadet unless it's different in the US. |
| Cool... | free-agent
Jan 8, 2003 8:30 AM | | you're going to have a great time! It really is an incredible race venue/atmosphere! Where are you coming from? |
| Cool... | JMAC
Jan 8, 2003 1:25 PM | | well if you're talking to me i'm coming from near montreal quebec.
I've been to santa cruz before but not sea otter |
| I will be there | shiggy
Jan 9, 2003 10:00 AM | | Trying not to be the last rider on the course: pro/expert singlespeed, the last men's field to start. All of the expert women start behind me and that is always fun!
Love doing two laps there. The first one in a crowd, passing and being passed - and lapped by the pro men leaders. The second just enjoying the open trail.
Plan on arriving Thurday afternoon. |
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