Once we arrived at the start, it was all business as Geoff and I attempted to look calm and relaxed.  We decided to ride the first part of the race as our warm-up and it was really cool to see all the big names out and about.  I felt like a little kid as Geoff and I would pass someone then laugh and talk about how good they are.  Everyone started lining up about 15 minutes early and we were able to secure a fairly decent spot towards the front.  The really fast guys covered the front row and we were right behind.  The next thing you know we are off headed down the street at 30mph.  The pace was crazy, but I was able to hold my position.  As we neared the end of the pavement it got a little hot as guys tried to move up at the last second.  I placed myself right in the middle, held my ground and was happy to be sitting about 20th.  The first 2 track was pretty uneventful with no big issues.  Once onto the first single track gaps started to open up and I was getting nervous.  Once back on double track I put in a big effort and was able to latch on to the end of the lead train.  It was about 20 guys and we already were getting a decent gap.  Everything was going well then we came to a little hill with a turn at the bottom.  I could see guys slowing way down and tried to cut the corner and shoot by, but the guy in front of me unclipped and I ran right into his leg.   I had to unclip and run the hill and the lead pack was now gone.  I had a little while by myself, but a few guys came back from the lead group and a couple caught me and we continued to clip along.  The rest of the race we stayed pretty much together as a group of 7 and were really hammering.  Mike Simonson and Derek Graham were killing it and setting a blistering pace.  I stayed with the group up Anita’s Hill, up Icebreaker, but lost a little ground on the final single track and then lost a lot of ground up Woodchip, although Dan McGraw did his best to try and make me faster by yelling at me all the way up.  I was able to finish 5th out of the group and 20th overall.  Geoff came across a few minutes later and just missed being in the top 50.  I was stoked to see that I finished so high and had to keep looking at my computer to confirm my time of 1:37.  I know the course was fast, but I never thought I could go under 1:40.  It was an absolutely awesome race and I am very thankful to have the ability to ride with guys that are some of the fastest around.

Keegan and Laura also did well and had very respectable times of 2:19 and 2:35.  Keegan ended up 22nd in his group, but was the first 12 year old and even the first person under 15.  I hope that he continue’s to love racing and if he keeps improving he will win this race someday!

Dan K

Keegan bringing it home strong.

Although I love to race at the Fort, I would have to say that this year I was a little unhappy with the conditions. Geoff and I did some recon of the coarse the day before and niether of us were real impressed. The water crossing wasn’t horrible, but it does beg the question…why? Although I know many people wanted the two big climbs (Cardiac and CPR) I don’t find them as much of a challenge as the reroutes.  And lastly, Grannies Garden is in need of some serious reroutes as they have tried to patch it with bricks, logs and more dirt enough.  With all of my complaining aside there are some great parts to the coarse and a few bad spots didn’t ruin my day, it just cold have been better.  

I went into this race thinking that I had a chance for the win, so at the start I put up a fight for the lead instead of doing my usual sit back and and play passive.  I was able to grab 3rd wheel behind Mark Parmalee (the eventual winner) and 1 other guy.  A little ways in Mark got a little gap and  was I able to come around and close it down.  We were putting a gap on the rest of the field and I biefly had thougts of the 2 of us fighting it out the rest of the day.  Those thoughts were soon destroyed as we got to the fist big climb and Mark hit it perectly and off he went by himself.  He stayed visible for a few miles, but at no point was I able to get any time back.  2 other guys (Earl Hillaker and ?) came around me and the 3 of us played a little cat and mouse, as they would leave me in the tight twisty stuff and I would come screaming back on the straights or hills.  It was soon just Earl and I and we kept going back and forth for the 2nd and 3rd laps.  At some point I must have entered my red zone as I became delusional and swear that I saw a naked man jumping up and down cheering me on.  Anyway, toward the end of the third lap I put in a hard effort on the straight, flat part and was able to lose Earl.  So, for the last lap I just hammered away in the hopes of not getting caught.  I ended up finishing second and was pretty happy with the days effort. 

My day wasn’t quite done as I had to go back out for another lap with Kiersen.  She was the only girl agaisnt 7 boys in the 10 and under group.  She faired pretty well finishing 6th.  Ellie got 3rd in girls 11-14 and Keegan was 4th in Sport 15-18.

Dan K.

Dan K.

Well the second and last Snowcross of the year is in the books and I will be cleaning my bike for several months. I would like to be posting about my second win, but a couple of timely mishaps have me reporting about 2nd place. Unlike last time when it was a true SNOWcross this was going to be a mudfest. The course was horribly muddy and the Farmer was nice enough to find every bit of water and mud on his farm. Geoff, Lupe and I lined up at the start along with about 10 other idiots. Right of the bat Shawn D. from the Farm Team went to the front and Geoff and I were right behind. As we approached the first corner Geoff got a little squirelly and down he went. I quickly found myself in first with Niel Scharphorn on my wheel, I looked around for Geoff and Lupe, but they were a little too far behind to catch back up. Niel went to the front and I was feeling pretty comfortable behind him. As we were going down the backstretch I slid out on a little bump and was immediately dropped by Niel. I managed to get close and with most of the race left I was not worried. On the 2nd or 3rd lap I was flying down one of the muddy downhills. I had just went through the water and had called out “on your left” to a slower rider when down I go. Chad would have been proud at how I slid, then quickly popped up and then angerly got back on my bike. I was happy to see that the bike was ok and I felt decent, but Niel was now long gone. I spent the rest of the race putting in a weak effort to catch back up. Niel stayed about 20 to 30 seconds in front of me and third place was nowhere in site. I did enjoy passing Laura and Keegan as we did our best to try and motivate each other. I ended up in second place and was happy that I lapped everyone except 1st through 4th place. Lupe continues to get himself back in shape and had a very strong showing with a 6th place.  Keegan accomplished his goal of finishing and was done before I was.

Dan K.