photos

Well we survived Vermont and Mt. Snow Nationals, what a fun week it was! What a great two weeks traveling and racing! Don’t really have to much time to write much, but here are some photos for the Mt. Snow trip the men and women’s Pro STXC, XC, naked Crit, and other photos of us just having fun.






Mt. Snow Vermont National photos- pick me

Back from Mt. Snow

Finally back in Michigan from a great weekend of racing. There were lots of Michigan racers out there and it was good to hear lots of friendly voices around the course. The racing started off for Justin and I on Friday for the semi-pro XC. We both had a bit of a rough start off the line and had to really work hard through the large field throwing elbows up the climb. Unfortunately a rider stacked it in the first bit of single track right in front of me forcing me off my bike. Once I got back on I noticed the chain dropped. While fixing it, I watched in dismay as the entire field rode right by. Ugh! That misfortune made for a frantic first lap as I patiently charged through the field with good legs picking my opportunities. I covered quite a bit of ground from the dismal start and my race was looking pretty good. Well, that didn't last too long as a front flat at the start of my last lap had me off the bike again. A "quick" fix and I was going again only to be off the bike again 20 minutes later with a second flat midway down the downhill. Doh! I decided to try and finish it out, being the last lap, and ran the downhill - not fun in biking shoes btw. I finished the race running, no walking, across the line. Justin rolled across a strong 15th. Way to go dude!

The short track finished the weekend's festivities. Justin and I lined up in 90 degree full on sun blast heat for our 20 minute torture session. We were baking standing there at the start and knew it wasn't going to get better. We then proceded to pedal our bikes very quickly in circles around the start/finish area chasing other guys doing the same thing trying to remember how to breath and keep it upright. I was towing a chase group for a little while until they all decided to attack me and I got shelled off the back. Bye bye. Justin finished with that group finishing a strong 7th while I rolled right behind in 12th. However, the highlight of the short track was watching the pro men's race. Ryan Treefarm of Kona Les-Gets threw the smack down on a world class field complete with top Euro riders in town. A second lap attack sprung him as he rode the entire race solo winning by over 30 seconds. That was impressive!!

Day 4 XC & Short Track

Kona Midwest Racing

Well there it is Day 4 final day!! XC just finished up and we started the beer drinking in grand fashion with a 40, 4 molsons, & Thanks to Joe B a couple of Oberons!! We share beered the Oberons. Amanda got her Super D 3rd place way to go!! Dan took a gutsy performance placing 11th in a stacked expert field. Amanda cracked the top 10 taking a 9th place in a very tought field. Eric & Crispy did strong rides in the mens class.

Pete & Justin are racing in 15minutes so will give an update on that later!!

-C-

Day 3 Super D

What up from Vermont Day 3!! Well this morning was the Super D. 7am practice and 8am race. It was a running start but in the tradition of Super D the start was different then ever before. This time we ran with the bikes about 50 yards up around a poll and then started down. The course was actually longer this year too and included some more of the XC downhill after the start climb. Amanda flated and was working on fixing it while I headed to my starte. Well it was crazy and I was doing really good. Super D is tough cause the XC riders blow by you on the climbs and slow you down on the DH which is so annoying. I made it through the tough stuff and as I was head towards the dreaded water bars my right foot came off and I hit the 2nd one left foot only and down which sent me flying. I now know what it feels like to be that guy flying in the iar after being bucked. The funny thing is how quiet it gets and how peaceful it is flying through the air as you begin tipping more and more forward. But, then theres the ground and oooooh hit and skidded for about 2o feet. Pretty much landed all on my left side and am mostly okay. Still finished up strong coming in 13th. Amanda had crashing trouble too and hurt her knee. But beieng the tough as nails women that she is she rode it out taking 4th in a very tough field.

Justin rode strong in the Semi Pro XC taking 15th. Pete gutted out a tough race that was plauged with mechanicals and flat tires. Way to go Pete and finish your race!!

Tonight................???

Tomorrow am; Amanda, Dan, Eric, and Crispy XC race 8am.

Tomorrow afternoon; 40s party Yeah.

-C-

Great Weather, Great TImes in Vermont!

Well, we couldn't have ordered up more perfect conditions to ride/race if we tried!

Here we are in day 2 of our VT adventure. Today was the Semi Pro race, which included Justin and Pete. What an incredible race!! They represented Michigan and our team extremely well, both having strong finishes.

Justin picked his way up to a 15th place finish, and Pete, in spite of a flat finished very strong. They were in the midst of an incredibly experienced and fast crowd, and it's great how well they showed these mountain boys that us Michiganders are a force to be reckoned with.

We got some great photos of them racing, and will hopefully get some posted soon. We'll post again tomorrow after the Super D, where we expect Crispy to finish at the top of the pack, and Amanda to defend her first place title.

Mount Snow Pics Thursday

Travel day today and cleaning up after a preview of the XC course.

Some Pictures!!!

we're here! Vermont Mt. Snow Nationals

well we got here, thought Justin was gonna kill us all, but we tied him to the bed cover on the truck until he calmed down. the course was a little muddy but in good conditions, some how I managed to hit the ground but my shoulder feels good, maybe its the 1600mg of ibuprophin I took. Chrispy is feeling good and of course Amanda was decending like a National Champ! Eric here too and riding good. oh also saw Pete on our way up the trail. good time so far. time to go get some food and the magic secret weapon Ice cream!

Kona Midwest Racing - Mount Snow NCS Start

Kona Midwest Racing

Going again! Well the team is over my place and we are all tucked in for the night. It is about 12:00am and we are waking up in just a few hours to get on the road. The truck is all loaded up so once we wake we are just going. Then find some breakfast and a short drive through Canada. Should be at Mount Snow by 3:00pm. It is going to be exciting. Justin, Amanda, Dan & I are driving. The team is going to be doing all the events except DS.

Good Luck to the other MI racers going!!

-C-

more bad luck for me!

injured my shoulder during the STXC race at sugar mtn. and missed the xc because of it. not good and very upsetting. hopefully I'll be better for the XC race in Vermont.

Oh yeah, GREAT JOB AMANDA!!!

Worked over at Sugar

Wao! I got my butt handed to me at Sugar Mtn. Not quite the result I was hoping for (by a long shot). Maybe Mt. Snow will give me something more favorable next weekend.
Simonster and I arrived thursday afternoon to a rainstorm deluge just as we were heading out for our pre-ride. Sweet! Note the sarcasm. The course was a 6mile and change loop, with about 3/4 of that climbing and then a pretty rocky, rooty, technical descent down the mountain. This ain't Michigan. That rainstorm made it pretty tenuous for the pre-ride but the sun graced us with its presence the rest of the weekend and dried things out fairly nicely for all the races. Our XC race was slated for Friday afternoon. Everything started out well. Mike hit it hard and worked his way into the lead only to get derailled by a flat tire midway up the mountain. I was hanging out sitting pretty good at the tail end of the lead group in ear shot of the lead moto. Things slowly came undone for me after that first lap though. Second time through I stacked it nicely on the downhill and had to shake the cobwebs out. The 3rd and 4th lap were cramp/muscle spasm city for me. I don't know what that was about as I hardly ever cramp but it made for a slow painful go as I was struggling to turn the cranks over. Mike was charging through the field until a second mechanical slowed him again.
Sunday, Mike and I decided to have a go at the short track. I was feeling really flat going into it from the effort on Friday. I was still a bit sore from the crash and just didn't feel it. Mike on the other hand was hungry as hell and felt great. The gun went off and Mike again shot to the front and immediately gapped the field. The Simonster was charging. I, on the other hand, started conservatively and got stuck behind a bottleneck choke point and was immediately chasing from the start. Bad luck came again as the Simonster blew out his tire on the 4th lap holding a sizeable lead. I was slowly making my way through the field but it was too little too late. That start hosed me really bad and I was never able to bring it back. I'm looking for a little pay-back at Mt. Snow next weekend.

Amanda Wins her first NORBA super D

"Thats the most fun I ever had!!!", Amanda shouted after finishing her Super D race.

Amanda won her first ever NORBA National Super D race! It is here first national ever, her first super D ever riding my bike she just tried out the day before in practice! I survivied the expert DH race, scared the crap out of me. I took 6th in Super D and Crispy took 20th in the pro Super D. Its tough getting a connection so we will do a full report on Tuesday when we get back. -Bryan

KMR at the Sugar Mt NORBA National

Hey everyone! KMR is at the Sugar Mountain NORBA National this weekend. Bryan, Crispy, Peter, Amanda, Dan and club rider Mike Filipiak are all here. Beautiful weather today but it rained on Thursday and the riding was muddy and slick. Pete took 29th in the Semi-pro XC race and the mountain beat Crispy up real good during DH practice. See the photo. I will try to get some DH photos of us on Saturday. As for the DH course itself. They cut a bunch of new trail for it and the course is hard, especially for a flatland Michigan boy like me. But it’s a NORBA National, it should be hard. I had difficulties on many sections but made it down 3 times in one piece. I just don’t get much of any practice on this kind of stuff. There is this crazy rock drop on the Expert/Pro DH that is just over my ability and comfort level. But I also know that at least ½ the expert racers didn’t ride it so I guess we get to choose between the rock and the sport course ride around. And like I said Crispy crashed real hard hitting his head and knee on a big boulder. He seems ok after some rest but will be sore in the morning and his knee is pretty tweaked so he is pulling out of the DH race. The Super D course is the XC downhill and it is rocky and a blast!!!!! Oh ya, our superman Michigan racer Mike S took 13th in the semi-pro race. Ok I need some rest. Later! -Bryan

Pontiac Lake Big Storms Big Places!!

PLRA was a ripping good time for the team. I was running a little bit late and feeling not quite up to racing cause of dancing the night before. But it is summer and if summer needs anything it is the intensity of action. Its summer have to take adavantage and not be lazy. So Dancing late into the night and racing MTB in the morning. If dancing made me faster then I would be a ripper too. I have to leave that up to the real stars of the team though! Pete and Justin again made the Podium in a very tough pro field taking 3rd & 5th. They are just doing great this year and we expect the semipros at Nats the next to weekends to be worried about those 2 flat landers from MI. Dan "I am so on" Sypniewski tour up the single speed category taking 3rd in a torrential downpour of rain, hail, & lightning. At least with MTB we don't make it easier if it gets tough. Unlike some wusses in the Giro. Damn roadies are cry asses! Amanda "I can rip with broken ribs" Pilling road a gutsy race in preperation for nationals. Shirlee Finch did great edging out Amanda and is slowly but surely ridinging her way closer to the Podium.

The jerseys are coming in just in time for nationals!!

Speaking of nationals: We leave for NC in three days for some XC, DH, Super-D, & Short Track. I can't wait for Super D. I expect to be on and hope for better luck then last year where I dealt with No Sleep, Altitude Sickness, & a busted ankle during my races. I will be pedaling the whole way with no brakes on so I hope for a good result!

Thanks for reading!

-C-