I like these three shots of Bridget, who won the Women's A race. Look how she's back on the bike by the middle of the bridge,
dropping in smoothly,
and already applying the power as she hits the flat. Textbook.
The two routes through the polo court worked out well. I was hoping it would be cold and wet and we could have a giant bonfire but the weather turned out hot and dusty.
I think that's Jennifer behind the sunglasses. If so, she helped with the trails, swinging a mean machete.
Tiahdactyl navigates makeout clearing. I think that's Megan behind her, who was part of Project Underpass.
Drew reported that Timmy rode the RWD each lap and finished with a wheelie drop each time.
This guy was smooth over the RWD
I saw several crashes but this was the only one I captured on film.
Baby Beefa challenged Tiahdactyl to a game of "pawns"
Tiahdactyl was a little hesitant on her first descent but she settled in and completed the race on what proved to be a very tricky course, especially after the first few races. The dirt turned to dust and all the roots were accentuated.
Tiah was always good for a smile.
Caitlin too seemed to keep a positive attitude over the difficult course. That looks like Beefa's shadow at the bottom. In retrospect I should have shot these from the other side, looking at the spectators. Amateur.
Dawn rode well, finishing 2nd in her category.
I hadn't seen Tony Kic all day and then all of a sudden there he was coming over the RWD a little too fast.
He pulled it off, said a polite hello and continued on. 
A friend of Dawn's doing her first race, I didn't catch her name. Every lap Drew offered her a beer and encouragement.
She finally stopped on her last lap.
Possible Team WRECK material.
I got a few decent shots of Brian from Team Veloshop. He spent an afternoon working on the trails.
It was a heated battle for the Bearded Singlespeed class. 
Will had some mechanical issues and dropped out.
I wasn't sure about Will's new glasses at first but they may be growing on me.
OBRA surprised me by opening up the RWD for the A race. It's a great short cut but very sketchy. Those that cleared it could move up a place or two. Those that went around got heckled mercilessly.
I sponsored Drew's entry with my volunteer work hours. He was going strong until he blew a sidewall and had to ride flat to the pit. I gave him my Fat Chance, which was great in the woods but a little slow around the orchard with a 34X20 gear.
The overpass held up better than I expected it to but it still required work between every race. Dabby gave himself a promotion from head minion to minister of erosion and did a good job shoring and shoveling.
Scott had good form.
Everyone ducks the first time they ride the underpass.
I took a break from the race to play chess with Baby Beefa. She's still a little vague on the rules but her instincts are good.
photo by Cory the Kid
*technical notes :
Tomorrow we are working on the ditch style segment, hoping to make it so all beginners can run it and the most skilled can ride it. Also we are pressing on with the widening and stabilazation work on the underpass and addressing the SE corner, a high speed, flat, off camber turn that could send racers skidding right into valuble Xmas trees. Dabby says logs, I say berm, Kenji says bales. We'll see. 
The work party turned out smaller than expected, just me, Uncle Bill and Tad and Meghan from Team Veloshop, but we got it done. 
It's a lot more solid than it looks. After a few setbacks Tad and Bill did some improvisational engineering and came up with a 3 piece design that we bolted in place. The 4X4s are socketed deeply into the hard earth and the pressure of the ramps on both sides keeps the whole thing rock solid.
This week I plan to add some logs to the ramps and make some steps. I might buy some long hoses and water and reshape the ramps. I think it'll need a winter of rain and lots of shoveling before it will be rideable but as a run up it's almost ready and as a ride under it's superb, fast and fun.
