Results are always posted quite fast and if you have not seen them they are posted for Saturday and Sunday.
DOUBLE CROSS WEEKEND
By the numbers:
189 People raced over the 2 days.
139 Saturday at Beban making it the most ever for a Saturday race and the most for the oldest and most used venue on the island.
154 Sunday at Bowen making it the most ever for a Sunday and the second most ever for a COTR event.
104 people raced both events.
No record on how many of those 104 people were hung over from the OBB party on Saturday night.
Saturday. Beban Park. Island Championships.
We were not 100% sure how this event would go over. With it being a Saturday race. Not part of the series points. Different categories. No beginners category……there were a lot of unknowns. As it turned out the event was GREAT. Our 4th highest turn out ever. GREAT racing in ALL categories. The LARGEST women’s field EVER I think in the province with 37 women starters. LOTS of great racing and the chance for a lot of people to race others that they normally don’t get a chance to race…….so mixing it up.
MIVA did a great job organizing the event as first time COTR organizers. Race Director Peter McCaffery had it pretty dialed.
People for special thanks:
All MIVA members who helped out; special mention re.
John Hannon, Bryan Rehill, Cheryl Morch, Bill McMillan, Dave Kenny, Kit McCaffery, Iain Hay, Brodie Hay, Ross Palfery,
A Few Racing Notes:
- Which Russell Anderson will show up? The 2008 COTR Series Champ for EXPERT has had a bit of a COLD season. HUGE COTR history with the series championships, 26 starts, 2 wins, 10 podiums….but this year he has had some great starts and then either blown up his bike or blown up his body. SO when we saw him tearing up legs in the 20-39 category on Saturday and hold it for a 2nd place……it appeared the old Russell was BACK. Which Russell will show for the last 2 races of the year?
- “My Bad”. Usually I am totally on top of what is going on at the events…..more or less. On Saturday though I called the course open for practice after Mical had finished her win in the women’s 20-35 category….NOT thinking that there were still 50+ men racing that Mical had passed…..so there was a LOT of traffic on the course for those guys on the last lap. I actually got cursed out by one of them……remember people….even in the worst circumstances we still have to be level headed. Anyways it was my fault and I apologize to those 50+’ers!
- 2006 Masters 40-49 National Champ, Professional bike racer Peter Stevenson, made his first appearance of the season at Beban and proceeded to rip apart legs and finish up 3rd in the category….but then was a no show for Bowen!
- The OBB Social on Saturday night was a HUGE success…..perhaps a keg party is not the best way to recover for the 2nd day of racing…..but hey you gotta have a good time!
Sunday, Bowen Park. KONA KUP. Points Race #4 of 6
Cross racers “occupied Wall Street” (The name of the street that the parking lot for the Bowen race is on……)
The Oak Bay Bikes guys arrived at 8am to set up the course….a few of them having only had a couple of hours of sleep after their shop social night and then a night out in downtown Nanaimo……but the course went up fast and was even a bit more refined than previous year. Still one of the toughest courses out there with the DNF record to prove it (see “toughest courses” in our stats section”). A LOT of CLIMBING and stairs and sand and speed! The turns were even more smooth allowing for more speed than ever before….plus “the Wall”.
A Few Racing Notes:
- Don’t give Jenny Skinner the megaphone! I had just finished the pre race instructions and was turning my bike around to line up…had it half way around before the siren went off. Sorry to who ever was behind me…..I can’t remember who it was but sorry! She was all over the course though yelling at all the racer which was pretty funny.
- 10 Laps…..OUCH. I begged Tyler and all the fast guys to do an EASY first lap so that we would do less laps….but they did not listen. 10 times around that course is TOUGH!
- Stefan Jakobsen making his return to racing COTR after 2 years. He showed up for the masters race…..but he is under 40 so had to race intermediate. He was schooled by 2 kids half his age….but lets remember he is a little rusty….if he shows up again he might be a bit sharper!
- Broken. Kevin Calhoun’s bike. Glenda Harling’s bike. Drew MacKenzie’s back…….yes it is a tough sport….but the beer tastes better after!
- 1st blood. Another win for Victoria Boyd….this time after moving up from Beginner to win the intermediate category.
- “Localism”……..well it turns out that the COTR’ers are a little protective of their series and their points…..and don’t like it when people from out of town…..say a masters racer (ex-pat) from Bellingham come up for the win in Nanaimo……it is OK though Derek is practically my brother and did one of our first COTR race in Diver Lake before we even had stats…..and before most of you “locals”!! COTR welcomes all and embraces the competition!
- We were begging to have 10 people in each of the women’s categories at the start of the year…..Sunday we had 18 in Intermediate and 17 in Open women!! That does NOT mean that you can rest and let the other women protect your category……keep showing up!! I can think of a number of people (male and female) that we have only seen once this year or not at all! 2 races left!
30 Race COTR MILESTONE
Both Roland Rabien and Derek Steel hit 30 COTR races on Sunday. Thanks for all the support and great races guys!
It was great to have Jason from Lambert out both days doing Neutral Support on the course.
A HUGE thanks of course to Nanaimo Parks and Recreation who both understand the need of the cycling community in Nanaimo as well as understand that cross races do not permanently damage the parks….the parks fix themselves….and they understand that which is GREAT. The Nanaimo BMX Association, The Vancouver Island Exhibition Association and the Nanaimo and District Equestrian Society for welcoming us to their property. The great folks at Oak Bay Bikes Nanaimo were our sponsoring bike shop, and Peter and Sean and the rest of the champions from the Mid-Island Velo Association did an amazing job designing and setting up the courses. And sprouts, as always, were generously gifted to riders from Glen Wakeling and Eatmore Sprouts & Greens.
MORE TOPAZ PARK FOLLOW UP
A note from Drew MacKenzie…..just in case you did not hear it yet……..
I just wanted to thank everyone for coming out to the cross race at Topaz on Monday of this week (this was last week of course). The event was a huge success and represented a very special opportunity to have access to Topaz for the day. Granting access to bikes for a cyclocross race was an absolute first for the City of Victoria and represents a huge change in the attitude towards cycling within City of Victoria parks and rec. dept. We have made great progress in legitimizing cyclocross as a sport within the Greater Victoria region this past year.
For that reason, I have to ask everyone to please stop riding at Topaz immediately and for good.
I have received a call from the city of Victoria noting that they are continuing to see people riding the park throughout the week.
If people continue to ride at the park it will cause the city to never again even consider letting us use any of their parks for any other events. This type of decision could have repercussions across all the municipalities and townships in the Greater Victoria area that currently grant us access on a frequent basis. We as a community need to be very careful at this juncture and cannot afford to anger the powers that be at this stage of progressive growth in the sport.
I cannot emphasize enough that it is crucial that people stop riding at Topaz.
Please consider the greater good of the sport and do the right thing by not riding at Topaz.
-Drew
The event was also covered on the news with CHEK TV which was cool too! Here is the link if you missed it: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kx1NyFDsmVo
RECYCLE-REDUCE-REUSE
Well we hit 2 of these……if any of you other guys with kids need a bag of used flagging to make a back yard CX course like the Croome’s did…..just let me know!
SERIES STANDINGS
The series standings are posted at: http://www.crossontherock.com//php/series-results/?series=2011
With TWO races left and still the throwaway still to happen…..well anything can happen!!
PHOTOS
Keep firing us links and we will keep posting them. We have had a request though that if a couple of you can send us just 3-5 photos right after the race so that we can include them into our news that goes out to the media separately….that would be great.
CROSS PRACTICES
Nanaimo
There are some cross clinics being organized in Nanaimo on Thursday nights by MIVA. 4:30pm at Beban park meeting by the BMX track. I will be joining the practice this week and hope to see a good crew out there including the new cross racers from OBB-Nanaimo.
Courtenay
There is a weekly cross ride at Trail Bikes in Courtenay on Wednesday nights….contact Beeston.
Victoria
This week Margaret Jenkins Bike Club is hosting the Wednesday October 19th VCX training ride. We will meet up at Margaret Jenkins Elementary school on Fairfield Road near Foul Bay @ 5:30pm.
This week’s race will once again be a fundraiser for the Margaret Jenkins Bike Club. The kids will be setting up a lemonade/hot chocolate stand and accepting donations from the adult riders for use of the field.
We will also be putting on a kids ride/race that will start at 4:30pm If you are interested in supporting the next generation if cyclocross enthusiasts please come out early and cheer on the little crossers.
Also please consider bringing a toonie or a fiver to help out the kids with a purchase of a refreshing lemonade/warming hot chocolate.
STRAVA
Top Vegan racers, Dave Shishkoff, wanted everyone with a GARMIN to know about STRAVA…..check it out he says!
http://app.strava.com/rides/1840832#29774437
Strava OWNS the Garmin site, fyi…i really like (and it’s free.)
NATIONAL CHAMPS
If you are planning on going to National Champs in Ontario….well the course looks like it sucks. The organization is the same as last year which in my opinion did the worst job of any cross nationals so far. A few of us have been sending letters of dissatisfaction to the CCA in the hopes that it puts the pressure on the organizers to 1) build a better course and 2) do a better job. Hopefully it works but it always helps to have more voices so if you plan on going and don’t want to waste your money….please fire them an e-mail.
PROVINCIAL CHAMPS
Word is that it is back on in North Vancouver on November 27th but being organized by Atomic Racing. Their web site was just sent to me and is: http://www.atomicracing.com/race/
SERIES SCHEDULE (UPDATED)
September 11th. Coal Cross at the Village Park in Cumberland: In the BOOKS!
October 2nd. Lumber Cross at McLean’s Mill in Port Alberni: Chopped down and DONE!
October 10th. Condo Cross at Topaz Park in Victoria: Record Breaker. Record Setter.
October 15th. Beban Park in Nanaimo (Island Championships): A bit risky but it turned out great. HUGE Women’s Field!!
Social at the new Oak Bay Bikes in Nanaimo in the PM.
October 16th. Bowen Park in Nanaimo: 10 LAPS for EXPERT!! Biggest race ever in Nanaimo…..#2 overall!!
October 30th. Transfer Beach in Ladysmith
November 19th Cameron Cross at Western Speedway in Victoria/Langford (Series Championships and Double Points)
NEXT RACE: NEW race venue at Transfer Beach in Ladysmith. BUT with an experienced crew from Everti Cycling Club. They have put on 5 COTR races now?
SERIES SPONSORS
KONA
Oak Bay Bikes Nanaimo
Lambert: Pedros-Leyzne
Action Motorcycles
PHILLIPS BEER
Howard Johnson
Saltspring Coffee
Oakley
Pro Bar
Aviawest
Frontrunners
Also a bit of series support from Orange Sport Supply
Brought to you by the Council of Cross.
23.235.211.7/~thehol19/crossontherock/
This Cyclocross Series is Organized by the Cross Council:
With the following cycling clubs: MIVA, VICC, Everti Cycling Club, UROC, Arrowsmith MTB Club, ASS, Alberni Valley Riders and IRC
Supported by the following Shops:
OBB Victoria, Westshore and Nanaimo
Trail Bikes in Courtenay
Experience cycles in Duncan
Cowichan Cycles in Duncan
Cycle Therapy in Duncan
Frontrunners in Nanaimo
Straight Up Cycles in Victoria
Dodge City Cycles in Cumberland
Ozzie’s Cycles in Port Alberni
Sanctioned by:
Cycling BC