Well done locals! 9 podiums and a couple of 5th places!

Justin Shull 1st place Novice Senior 1
Keith Fasano 1st place Novice Clydesdale
Dana Waterman 2nd place Novice Master
Erik Skarin 2nd place Sport Junior
Ethan Willey 2nd place Novice Junior
Brian Currier 2nd place Expert Veteran
Jesse Shull 3rd place Sport Junior
Brian Vincent (Javy)- 3rd place Novice Vet 2
Ken Wiley- 3rd place Sport Senior 1
Nathan Richer- 5th place Expert Veteran
Jason Avery- 5th place Novice Veteran (first race!)


Race report time.

Well done guys. Now all we need are some women to round out the Team.

Ryan

The race started fast and furious for our group when a crash in the field sent the pack scattering before we ever reached the woods. I grabbed the lead early and led up to the water towers. Going through the drainage ditch by the towers I crashed for the first of many times and bent my shiny new wheel. I was still leading after this and held the lead at the crossover. Heading down Pinelink I was riding terrible and Beartrap was even worse. Up Outback, over Coit and back to the crossover went OK. Then the long descent to the plummet I was back to riding terrible again, but still leading. Climbing back up to the crossover I felt good and dove back into Pinelink vowing to do it right this time. Did not happen, floundered all over the place. By the exit of Beartrap I lost the lead and all my technical confidence. I stayed with the new leader through Outback to the base of Coit. I knew the way I riding my only chance was to gap him on the climb, so I attacked early. Not sure how much of a gap I created, but there was one. I knew I may be able to extend it again climbing to the crossover. Instead I crashed on the road to the crossover and gave it all back. Early on Bypass he passed by me and it was over. A couple more wipe outs and now 3rd and 4th were on my tail. I slipped to third just before the plummet and the three of us came flying down together. Around the field I was able to out sprint the boys, good thing there were no bumps for me to crash over, and come home in second only one second ahead of third. Discovered after the race my front shock had siezed up, so between the wheel and shock I did a good amount of damage in this race. It was a fun race however, especially with everyone so close on the last lap. I need a break now.
 
[img:7c60f52a7e]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/120x90.png[/img:7c60f52a7e]

Going into this race, I have had a few thoughts about mountain bike racing, such as "Why am I doing this?" "Why don't I just ride for fun?" "Am I going to break my neck?" followed by "Racing is fun...who cares...let's go".

I showed up and felt kind of nervious. I felt anxious as I had a feeling that the heavy thunderstorms would make my already shakey tech skills worse. Ryan told me before the start that the roots were slippery and to watch out. At this point, I was just thinking about getting through this thing. So we took off in a limited field. I settled in about 1/2 of the way back and got my legs under me. The climbing felt pretty good to that point. At the first rock wall after the cross over, I hit the center rock and planted my front wheel into it and endo'd over it. I had never done this at this location and had always cleared it pretty readily??? The endo was fun except for the fear of landing and slowing me down. From there, my confidence got worse...and I started sliding all over the place. Then my chain came off? AH! I noted to myself that for some reason, today I cannot ride areas as well as I usually can? Must be race pace and moist conditions?? At this point I was alone, and I though to myself...I am along either because I am so much better than the others, or so much worse...which could it be? Just keep pedeling and shut up...On I went. I goofed up a few more times through beartrap, dabbing all over the place. I saw Dan and he or I mentioned that the rest is all downhill...then I hit the climb and felt pretty good. I caught up with a sport woman and she let me by. Then she caught me at the decent, and I told her "ladies first" and on she went. I saw Ryan and Mark at the curve and they encouraged me to ride it as I dismounted and jogged through it. Then downhill we go...the rest was pretty good. The Plummet was in really good shape compared to a couple weeks ago. The trails were really in excellent shape but the rain did make a noteable difference. It was fun and I am glad I did the race. My third Third in EFTA Novice Vet II (Moody, Webb, Pinnacle). I had hoped to brake out of 3rd, but at the Pinnicle, this is not going to happen for me. Good times! Thanks to all you guys for setting up an excellent race, and for keeping the trails nicely maintained! I need to help more.

Brian
 
When in doubt, ride

I did better than I thought, yet worse than I expected.
To explain I wanted to get a podium, but when the field sprinted out at the start all hopes vanished as I trailed the pack into the woods. I settled into my usual chill out mode and pick 'em off as they come, but they sure didn't come as quick as I wanted. Made a pass on the guy who has been beating me all season and got stung on the butt by a bee. Fell 2X before endoing just before the ride down the stone-bound, loosing my GU (use more duct tape next time). Good thing it's a local race and Dan O' was doing water on Outback. I hit him up for a packet of pudding magic for the last climb up Coit. I made it a full lap around before flipping at the stone bound again, then took time to deflate my tires.
It was a debate in my head that had been going on for some time, "should I stop and deflate so I can ride better, or should I wait until I fall?" I chose to wait and paid a slow price. My riding was tentative at best. I lost a lot of time riding gingerly instead of hammering on the descents for a lap and a half. Ok, enough beating myself up about it, lesson learned. Get off the bike next time and make the correction so you can ride like hell.
Well I did and climbed up Coit and down well all the way to the finish. Felt better than I ever have after a Pinnacle Race, which got me thinking about the tire deflate thing again... just gotta drop it, live and learn.
Great job guys and gals. Fun race, and great weather.
Thanks for hanging in the woods Mark and Ryan, it was good to see you both out there.
Ditto to Julie, Dan and Dod.
Great race PJ, the best in EFTA!
 
Alone in the woods, who stands to be King?

Ok what I want to know is where are all these bees people have been getting stung by?

Ryan

This is at the conclusion of the race, but I struck a similar pose many time during the race also.

[img:ac79549098]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/07pinnacle.sized.jpg[/img:ac79549098]
 
[img:7c60f52a7e]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/120x90.png[/img:7c60f52a7e]

I heard some people saying that the bees were on Pine Link, a bit after the first rock wall after the cross-over.

Aaron

Interesting. I've never even seen a bee in that area, that person that went off the trail and got stung a bunch must have landed on a nest and pissed them off. I got stung 2 or 3 times this year working on new trail or just bushwacking but that is no big surprise. I think the warm temps and lack of rain have helped the bee populations.

Ryan