COTR #3-KONA KUP. History is Imminent.

Cross on the Rock Race #3: KONA KUP at Bowen Park, Nanaimo.

With The KONA Kup less than a day away we have a bit of information to pass on.

First. Pre-Registration (I like to call it Rock Star Reg.) will close at 3:00 today. If you are registering in Open Women…there seems to be no option for that on the sheet. Just register for “Expert”. We will figure it ou.

Second. There is no separate “Youth” race at this event. There has been a lot of interest with the young kids in racing Beginners…..the one daunting factor is hauling a HEAVY bike up 50 stairs most likely 3 times. We had a request from a parent if they can help their kid on the stairs with his bike. Of course to keep it fair we need to have this offer open to everyone…..and still keep it fair. So what we are going to say for this is anyone 12 or under can have someone help them with their bike up the stairs. HOWEVER you can not pass or impede anyone while helping. I hope that is OK with everyone.

Third. The sand section because of the dry summer/fall combined with an addition of some gravel in there is currently virtually un-ridable. To make it a challenge we are putting our Phillips Beer on the line. First one to ride the whole section CLEAN in each race gets BEER. If no one in your race rides it then the BEER goes to the next race etc. until someone does.

Draw PRIZES: Cross frame and fork from Oak Bay Bikes. Howard Johnston Gift Certificates. Parkside Victoria Gift Certificate. Lots of good stuff from our sponsors…..it will be AWESOME!

KONA KUP HISTORY

Cross on the Rock history at Bowen Park with the KONA KUP started in 2009.

That year Dylan Tremblay won the Intermediate. Graham Cocksedge took the Masters (before we changed masters to 40+). Kristen Magnusson the Open Women and John Fokkema (where has John been?) took the Expert race…..9 laps…..450 stairs.

The next year in 2010 Victoria’s Jeff Drew took the Intermediate. A young Justin Mark slayed the Masters (still had not changed it to 40+). The most winningest racer in COTR Dawn Anderson took the Open Women and Craig Richey (who is racing in Providence this weekend) took the Expert Men.

Last year in 2011 we saw Nigel Ellsay (who has just been signed to a European Road team!) win the Intermediate. Victoria Boyd won the new women’s Intermediate category. Canadian ex-pat Derek Shiers living in B-Ham came up and spanked the masters. Dawn Anderson took her 90th COTR win and Tyler Trace won the 10 lap (500 stairs) Expert men’s category!!

Who will win tomorrow??

KIDS RACES
There is no “Youth” category at the Kona Kup (they can still race Beginners or another category of course) and initially we did not have a Kids race but we will set up a kids course for practice on the lower part of the park below the Parking Lot and fire up some kids competitions at the usual 12:45 time. You little rippers get out there!!

PARKING
With the turn out expected to be a record breaker the lower parking lot will probably fill quite early. There is more parking at Bowen Park quite close by. At the top part of the course above registration and the first right on Bowen road past Wall Street there are a number of additional parking spots. Across Wall Street there is a HUGE parking lot at the curling rink (be careful crossing Wall Street). IF all three of these areas fill up there is additional parking at the second entrance past Wall Street in Bowen Park.

CASH MONEY

Equal prize money for Men and Women.
Expert and Open Women
1st $125
2nd $ 75
3rd $ 50
4th $ 30
5th $20 (you basically get your entry fee back!!)

That is a $600 prize purse son!

Intermediate Men and Women as well as Masters….if you win….we will give you $25 towards your gas money/recovery food/beer. We love you guys too (well we love the beginners as well but to race for the $ you gotta move up categories….no one has cash for beginners!) Plus your usual prizes!

Number Placement: LEFT SIDE PLEASE!