After 3 solid races at Port Angeles the Team made their way to the "man track" that is Mt. Hood. This 4 minute, high speed, rocky, rooty monster is quite the change of pace from the sub 3 minute tracks of Dry Hill. A setting where those who are truly prepared for the rigors of a DH race have the chance to shine. You must be fit, focused, smooth but none more and important than a big set of balls. Here you really have to forget about fear and simply roll the dice.
With the exception of Victor, most of the team arrived in the middle of the night only to be greeted by rain. Franticly tents were set up and a few hours of sleep was salvaged before getting down to business on the hill the next day. Despite the rainy greeting, the race gods smiled upon us and granted two days of much needed sun on the slick track. Eager to ride, the team opted out of a track walk and heading to the hill after some rutine bike maintenance. Adjusting to Hood is always difficult, especially with the rocks and lower woods just waiting to eat you alive. But after a few runs everyone had become re-aquainted with Hood and it was off to the condo to repair wheels.
Day two was absolutly perfect. Blue skys and a ever drying track. It was time for everyone to really turn up the speed, which happens to be the smoothest way to ride hood. Going slow only creates more time spent in the massive bomb holes, g-outs and rock gardens. It's simply best to plow and get it over with. The name of the game beyond that is to save energy. You want to take enough runs to dial in your lines but not so many that you don't have the energy to make it happen when it counts. After 3-4 runs a piece the team headed back to HQ to regroup for the big day.
On the morning of the race everyone seamed confident and eager. For the most part everyone had kept it rubber side up until this point so it was time to keep the trend going. Qually's came about an hour late after a delayed practice. One by one the team made their way down the seemingly unconquerable track, all managing to pull out a solid run. Britt took 1st in the woman's class while the guys occupied spots 2, 5, 6 and 7 all within a few seconds of each other. The stage was set for a Freehub podium. The only question was who would do it? The team headed back up to the top a few hours later to make that dream a reality. But as luck would have it the rain had different plans, and all at once the playing field had changed. But after tasting blood in qually's it was all checkers or wreckers for the team. Everybody wanted to step on the box and a little rain wasn't about to stop them. There's no doubt that there was some sketchy moments along the way but everyone managed to beat the rain and pull out a solid run with Trevor and Victor on the box in the mens division and Britt in the #1 spot in the womans! Matt and Ev didn't quite have the runs they were looking for but were still in the mix, both clocking in the same time of 3:55. It was the teams most solid showing yet. One that will hopefully gain us some momentum going into the next round of the NW Cup and beyond!
RACE RESULTS
Victor Smith- 3rd place, 3:51:69
Trevor Parson- 5th place, 3:52:26
Matt Orlando- 9th, 3:55:26
Evan Geankoplis- 11th, 3:55:97
Brittney White- 1st, 4:54:90
We would like to thank our Sponsors: Transition Bikes, Royal Racing,
Race Face, Smith Optics, Five Ten, Continental Tires, Sr-Suntour, Park Tool, Answer Products, and Shuttle Nuts Bike Racks
The following photos by Reily Kintzele of Reil Shift Media
