Parry Sound Round 2 XC.....MUD and RUTS!

Another HOT HOT HOT one at Parry Sound XC yesterday. Walked the moto track before the event and was pretty intimidated by some of the doubles and wasn't quite sure where we were popping in to the woods off of the moto track start. Let's talk start......HOLESHOT!!!!!!!!

Kept first place with a sizeable lead going into the woods where I held 4 th place for the first 2 laps and then saw 6th after completing my third and final lap.

Recap

This bike is a rocket off of the start...e-start and YOWZAAAA...kept the jumps to a minium and doubled the last jump before having to hit the binders to enter the forest...wasn't prepared for that. The "RIVER CROSSING" that was announced at the end of the rider's meeting was definitely in the back of my mind and i actually let off the pace to get one of my Vet B guys to show me the way but didn't need to wait long as the first super slick double downhill section had us caught up the Novice group in front of us. Bikes already strewn all over the place and I was SO SO close to running over a down bike or rider on that first decent. Each pass after that was bike free and a blast to hammer down from there.

River crossing came and went...deepest crossing I've done...check. Cue mud bogs and slippery trail EVERYWHERE?!?!?!?!? Rode most of the first lap in map 1 and changed to Map 2 as soon as I could and what a difference. Completed the first lap and saw I was 4th....confirmed.....Vet B men are uber skilled and talented field this year.

I now mentally prepared myself for the Downhill section....fun and fast....Mud bogs....tractored through...and now all of the climbs and base of climbs were becoming deeply rutted and MUDDY. This is where it got real.

At the end of a grass GP track there were a couple "marshalls" volunteers motioning to slow down...rider in front of me slowed right down and I followed suit. I came to see a bunch of people around a fallen rider who was receiving Chest Compressions...SHIT.....I almost stopped the race right there......He was a silver haired fellow who I later found out was a Vet C rider by the name of Jeff Golden. Rest in Peace Jeff. I recall seeing this guy walk the pits before the event and noted he was an older fellow. Apparently it was a heart attack and he was a true enthusiast who may have left this dimension the way he wanted...doing what he loved. It F'ed with me mentally for the remainder of that lap and it was on my mind intermittently for the remaining 2 laps I finished.

Conditions were degrading REALLY quickly on the third lap. The last section was an especially griding battle with bike eating ruts that stopped you and bike in your tracks. Did I mention it was HOT AS HELL TOO???? So, all things considered, I pulled over after crossing the line at the third lap and I believe Blair Sharpless himself rode over to me to chat to ensure I was doing all right. Decided, it wasn't my kind of conditions...I'm definitely not a mud rider and don't really enjoy slipping around and getting stuck on hills with riders strewn all about. Told Blair it was time for me to pull the pin but an experience nonetheless.

Placing...8th with only 3 laps. 7th place got 4 laps and the leaders managed 5 laps. Good for them. Looking forward to Anthill which is flat and fast...my kind a rrrrrrRACING!