2024 Southridge Winter Series, Race 1: Miracles
Miracles. You know, the Jefferson Starship 'Red Octopus' album on which that hit single appeared was the first album anyone ever bought for me. I still have it, not that it is any miracle, it remains a terrific album. Miracles, it was playing when I arrived at Southridge park, and as I sang along to myself "... I picked up your vibes, you know it opened my eyes..." and I wondered if anyone else was picking up the vibes. Had the SRC dj purposely selected the song, a little joke, a subconscious suggestion to the gathering racers that they might want to search around for a little miracle if they wanted to challenge for the win this morning? Or was it simple coincidence?
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| Southridge Winter Series 2024 - Racing across the flats, Pro & Expert Men |
The annual Southridge Winter Series began its three month run out in Fontana this morning, and I do not believe that conditions could have been any more favorable for a January race - clear skies, warm temps, firm surfaces. Perhaps best of all, not a hint of the winds that have been known to plague the area stirred up the air. It was still early enough for the vibe to be subdued, relatively relaxed, maybe even quiet. It wouldn't last long, and by the time the XC races had finished up, the place was transformed, the mountain bikers had encamped. The line at the registration tables was long, enduro and DH bikes filled the hitching rails, while others zigged and zagged through the area, awaiting the time they could hitch a ride up the road for a practice run back down the enduro or downhill course.
As far as I could tell it was a promising start to the 2024 series and, though the XC fields were not the extra large ones I can recall from some of the past seasons, the competition remains wide open with five more race weekends to go. I finally figured out why (and this may go back to last year) I only had a small number of racers pass by my spot up at the top of the course - only the two "upper" classes - the Pros and Experts, climb all the way to the top of the hill (unlike in the past, when everyone suffered); the Sport and Beginner classes ride an abbreviated loop that avoids some of the more challenging sections up on the heights. The problem with that is that I usually stake out spots on the upper slopes. Next time I may have to find a spot further down. Consider that encouragement to all the Sport and Beginner racers out there who, maybe, found the course a little too challenging in the past. This could be your year. But first you have to turn out.
See ya out there in two weeks.
Congratulations to Ryan Huffman, who set a blistering pace of 1:12:29 for his three laps in the Pro Men race, Stuart Gonzalez in the Vet Pro race, Mark Milam (Expert Men 40-49), Russell Pena (Sport Men 19-29), Michael Macatula (Sport Men 50-59), Gary Scheidler (Sport Men 60+), JT Stark (Beg Men 13-15), Jerry Qiao (Beg Men 16-18) and David Buckell (Beg Men 60+), each winners in their respective XC events.
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| Southridge Winter Series 2024 - Beginning the climb, Pro & Expert Men |
Southridge Winter Series 2024 - Mark Milam, Expert Men
Southridge Winter Series 2024 - Michael Macatula, Sport Men (this photo suggests I was wrong about the Sport Men going all the way to the top)
Southridge Winter Series 2024 - Stuart Gonzalez, Vet Pro
Southridge Winter Series 2024 - Jacob Schoolfield, Pro Men
\Southridge Winter Series 2024 - Mark Milam, Expert Men
Southridge Winter Series 2024 - Francisco Flores-Ruiz, Pro Men
Southridge Winter Series 2024 - Flying
Southridge Winter Series 2024 - scoping
Southridge Winter Series 2024 - after the run
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| Southridge Winter Series 2024 - Camping out |
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| Southridge Winter Series 2024 - Best of times, a boy and his dog |
Sixty-two additional photos are in the album. The fact that I made it home in time for a couple loops in the wash means there are no pics from the Enduro race. Fingers crossed, maybe next time. Do your training and give it a go in two weeks.
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