After a 4 Month Break, the CCCX DH Series Is Back in Action.
Annemarie cranks it to her 2nd place finish
Sunday morning, race day, I was awakened by a text message from Rosie. She made me aware that it was pouring outside and she wanted to know if I still wanted to head down to Toro Park for the race. I thought to myself, “My bed is warm, and pushing my forty pound downhill bike up the Toro Park hill two times in the rain sounds miserable”. Then I thought of my day without racing. I envisioned myself lying on the couch all day feeling anxious as I stared out the window at the rain, then looked over at my bored and restless dog, and then peered at my lonely bikes. I was depressed even momentarily thinking about that. So, I loaded up my bike and headed down to Salinas. I was still a bit grumpy when I got there, but all it took was a “hello” from all my CCCX friends and a practice run on my favorite CCCX course. You know, the long, off-camber, pedally one. (insert sarcastic comment here)
The Step Up
The CCCX DH series is not the most prestigious of downhill events and Toro Park does not have the most technical of terrain, but every time I show up to a race, I leave with a smile on my face. For the record, I ended up hiking up that hill three times. Each time the rain was coming down a little harder, and each time my smile was getting a little bigger in anticipation of how muddy and technical the course would be on my descent.
The CCCX regulars
The brave few that were left at end of the race, mostly the day’s leaders and their friends and familes, were huddled together under two tents while Rod and Keith handed out the medals. There wasn’t even a podium at this race, but everyone was stoked to be there riding bikes and hanging out with friends.
Nova Hairston, Ayshe Tuncer, & Jill Henrich (Expert Podium)
Women’s Race Report:
For the pro women, Junior Worlds contender Kelsey Anderson wins. Annemarie Hennes, racing for Family Cycling Center, earns second and Mary Moncorge, riding for Santa Cruz Alliance, earns third. For the expert women, former CCCX star, Nova Hairston returns to racing and gets the top spot on the podium. Ayshe Tuncer, a Santa Cruz local, earns second and Jill Henrich gets the bronze. Michele Lamelin, the lone warrior in the beginner class, dominates the podium.
Pro Women
1 3’57”.47 Kelsey Anderson
2 3’59”.36 Annemarie Hennes
3 4’01”.63 Mary Moncorge
4 4’02”.03 Rosie Bernhard
5 4’17”.38 Kelly Damschen
Expert Women
1 4’11”.12 Nova Hairston
2 4’37”.04 Ayshe Tuncer
3 4’47”47 Jill Henrich
4 4’47”85 Ashley Hernandez
Beginner Women
1 6’50”.89 Michelle Lamelin
