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Elk River: Perfect race, perfect course -- thanks to the volunteers
Volunteers turn Single Track Attack! into a big winner
ELK RIVER -- If ever there was a day when volunteers made an undeniable difference at a race, Sunday's Single Track Attack! in Elk River was that day.
Nearly two dozen volunteers were on site by 5 a.m. race morning, chainsaws in hand, to help clean up the trails after severe storms damaged several sections of the course Saturday night.
The volunteers -- many of whom would race later in the day -- spent more than three hours on the Hillside Park trails, methodically removing debris and cutting trees that were damaged by tornadic winds and hail less than 24 hours before.
"The volunteers made all the difference -- they made this race," said race director Rich Omdahl. "I had a crew of volunteers with lights and saws ready to be here at midnight, ready to work all night if we had to. We were here at 5 a.m., just waiting for the sunrise. As soon as we had light, we went to work."
And that was just the start of the volunteer presence.
The city of Elk River helped recruit an additional two dozen volunteers Sunday, who did everything from guide traffic, to operate concessions, to offer hundreds of water handups to thirsty racers gasping for hydration.
Speaking for myself, I would have probably dehydrated Sunday afternoon on my third lap if not for those handups: While the race morning started out cool and cloudy, the afternoon woods turned into a sweltering jungle once the clouds cleared.
"As soon as the sun came out, you could feel the temperature in the woods just shoot up," said Pro/Elite Trek racer Brendan Moore. "You could feel the moisture coming out of the ground."
Of course, that's because Elk River received nearly an inch of rain in the passing storms the night before -- rain that you think would have left the trails muddy, sloppy and unrideable. (Because, of course, muddy races are what the 2010 MnMTB Series needs more of this year).
The reality: The sandy Hillside Park soil quickly absorbed the rain, leaving but just a few greasy corners by the start of the Citizen race.
"The course was MINT," Moore said. "I have never seen it better."
Omdahl described this year's course as a particular challenge, regardless of the weather. Even seasoned veterans were licking their wounds after three laps. "A lot of people took good beatdowns out there today," Omdahl said.
Moore couldn't have agreed more. Moore crashed on the first lap on the stair descent; the large, red scrape on his chin all but detailed what broke his fall. Then he broke his chain.
"There's no forgiveness out there -- it's a challenge at every turn," Moore said. "Between the crash and my mechanical, it just wasn't my day out there.
"And Cody was riding really strong."
By Cody, he meant Cody Larson, who won the overall Expert race, completing three full laps, and the prologue, in 1:55:19. He beat Moore by nearly a minute. LCR's Rebecca Sauber won the Elite women race, completing two laps in 1:37:25. Penn Cycle's John Sandberg of Prior Lake won the Comp men class; Lucas Hieb won the men's Sport race; 13-year-old Jordan Horner won the women's Sport race; Trent Thompson won the Citizen men's race; and Beth Shedd won the Citizen women.
Nearly 400 racers turned out for the event Sunday, topping last year's turnout by five, Omdahl said.
"It was the perfect turnout," Omdahl said. "This is our capacity right here. And the weather probably kept some people away."
Just like the swag probably drew some. There was more swag than mud at this race, with prizes ranging from GPS mapping devices to cutlery sets. Between that and the party on wheels from Red Bull, the whole day could only be described as dynamite fun.
"Everything seemed to go perfectly," Omdahl said. "It just went great. Everything worked."
And how. This is how races should be run.
Troy Melhus is a Saint Paul writer and racer for the Peace Coffee Racing Team. He can be reached at tmelhus@mac.com
And the Fun in the Mud Continues...
- 07/01/2010, 4:15pm (CDT)
Bluff Riders Race Will Be Held
- 06/26/2010, 11:47am (CDT)
Series Update - June 22, 2010
- 06/22/2010, 4:19pm (CDT)
Mont Du Lac: Call this year's race the 'Mud Slider'
- 06/14/2010, 7:49pm (CDT)
Series Update - 06/10/2010
- 06/10/2010, 6:14pm (CDT)
Minnesota Mountain Bike Series
Our Minnesota Mountain Bike Series (MNMBS) is just about ready to begin with the first race – Freewheel Frolic Benefiting MORC on Saturday May 22nd. We thank all that have raced with the Series in the past and hope we will see you on the starting line at one or all of the races this year. Welcome new riders!
Team Registration Open
With the MNMBS Series only a month away, it's time to get our team rosters organized and submitted. John Oman will be coordinating the team scoring competition.
Like last year, please channel all of your team member's questions/concerns through your contact person. If your team intends to participate this year, please email John the following information at j_oman@yahoo.com
1.) Who your team contact will be (you or someone else on the team)
2.) Separate lists of your racers in each category (Citizen, Sport, Comp, Expert)
3.) Team name
Looking forward to another competitive team competition this year. Good luck.
2010 Minnesota Mountain Bike Series
Dear Minnesota Mountain Bike Racers,
Welcome to the 2010 mountain bike racing season. 2009 was a very strong year, featuring a nearly 40% increase in the number of racers participating in our Series. We'd like to thank each and every one of you for racing with us, and invite you back in 2010 for another great season. Before the racing starts, we have some changes to tell you about:
Name change - What used to be called the Minnesota State Championship Series (MNSCS) is now the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series (MNMBS). Our new name is more focused and lets people know that mountain bikes are what we race.
Series Registration - Riders who wish to participate in the Series Points Tracking, Team Competition and Year End Awards will now need to register with the Series. We are making this move in an effort to address Series costs and keep our fees fair and affordable for whatever level you choose to participate in the MNMBS. It also reduces the waste created by new numbers each week. For as little as $15, racers will receive a permanent number, series points tracking throughout the season, eligibility for year end awards.
SuperPass - We're offering the SuperPass option once again, which means you can register online for 10 races, but pay for only 9 with a single transaction fee. In addition you will receive free registration in the Series and a permanent number. This helps the Series raise funds early in the season for front-end costs of medals, number plates, and other race-day expenses the Series must cover. Like the Series registration, this will only be offered for a limited time.
Event changes - We have some changes in names and race venues. The season opener is now the Freewheel Frolic Benefiting MORC; same course in Inver Grove Heights, but now it's a Saturday race with a new sponsor Freewheel Bike. On July 4th, what used to be the Memorial Classic is now the Wheelhouse Classic; same great course in Red Wing, though. A new venue in Duluth awaits racers on August 22nd; The Great Hawk Chase will take place in Lester Park, replacing the Powder Monkey at Spirt Mountain (no longer available due to construction).
Mountain Bike Minnesota - We've incorporated the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series into a new nonprofit umbrella organization called Mountain Bike Minnesota, with a mission of helping get youth into mountain biking. Mountain Bike Minnesota is not a membership organization, but rather a resource group designed to help implement Trips for Kids chapter throughout Minnesota, establish Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day programs in conjunction with the National Park Service and IMBA, and establish a pilot program for mountain bike racing at the high school level. The bottom line is that the funds you spend to race in our series, after expenses are used to get youth into mountain biking programs.
Lastly, we're proud to announce a series title sponsor for 2010, 2011, and 20l2. Peace Coffee has stepped up to be our Presenting Sponsor. Peace Coffee has long supported teams and various bicycling causes, and even delivers coffee locally by bicycle. Be sure to check out Peace Coffee and their products at www.peacecoffee.com and thank them whenever you can for being our sponsor. Once again, we'll be hosting 11 races for the 2010 season, including the newly named Bontrager Border Battle with WORS on August 8th, 2010 in River Falls, WI. Look for our new poster in bike shops and we'll see you at our races!
Sincerely,
Gary Sjoquist
MNMBS Series Director
2010 MNMBS Race Schedule
5/22/2010 Freewheel Frolic Benefiting MORC, Inver Grove Heights, MN
6/06/2010 Afton Avalanche, Afton Alps, Hastings, MN
6/13/2010 Dirt Spanker, Mt Du Lac, Superior, WI
6/27/2010 Bluff Riders Charge, Mt Kato, Mankato, MN
7/04/2010 Wheelhouse Classic, Red Wing, MN
7/18/2010 Single Track Attack, Hillside Park, Elk River, MN
8/01/2010 Buck Hill Birch Bump, Burnsville, MN
8/08/2010 MNMBS/WORS Bontrager Border Battle, River Falls, WI
8/22/2010 The Great Hawk Chase, Lester River Park, Duluth, MN
9/05/2010 Laddie's Loppet Stage Race, Maplelag Resort, Callaway, MN
9/25/2010 Revolution's Single Track Escape, St Cloud, MN
