Here is the video of my snowy ride

Here is a quick video of my on snow adventure in corner canyon. I tried a new angle that is cool for short peirods of time. I will likely edit clips of this into a composite movie. Enjoy! The embeded video clips a little off so go to this link if that bugs you. http://www.vholdr.com/video/snowy-corner-canyon-ride

A quick burst of information

After my spectacular bonk at the Halloween cross race I took a week to recover, it did me good. At last race at Weber I felt good, was second to the first corner and raced smart. I was with the first chase group until I washed out on the off camber section and dropped back considerably. I then latched on to a strong group of about 5 other guys and just sat in. This worked until the last lap when I tried to go with Connor when he attacked early which left me spent for the real attack later in the lap, I finished at the back of that group and 11th. It made me confident that I can actually race again.

Have been riding my mountain bike as much as possible the last couple weeks and it has been great, yesterday I struggled up the Canyon Hollow trail in Corner Canyon in the snow. It was awesome there wasn't a lot of snow and the ground was frozen solid so it wasn't muddy.

The pray for snow part seemed to work and I am looking forward to the ski season.

Watch this video of the race in Draper a few weeks ago when I had the hole shot and it was rainy, the only mud we have had so far this year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1VtXxQJQpA

I blew up at the Halloween cross race

At the Halloween I had no power, I apparently was not recovered and therefore could not go at all. I got passed by people that I have lapped before and worst of all my dad who started in the 35+ A's beat me. I filmed the race with the helmet cam but have been unable to make myself look at it yet. I will upload it and post it here soon. I am all about recovery this week and should be back up to speed on Saturday.

Enjoy this video I took during a Solitude midweek mountain bike series race.

Fall in corner canyon

Rode in Corner Canyon on Thursday with my friend Danny, the fall colors were awsome. I mounted my helmet cam backwards just to see how it worked, here is the video.

the video gets cropped a little when I embed it, here is the link for the perfect version http://www.vholdr.com/node/49366#

2 cross race updates!...and a gas mask?

I missed a post about the second UTCX series race in Weber that I did, I will sum it up in less than 3 sentences.(I promise.) I had a horrible start.(1) I pulled really hard for a long time. (2) As a result of my hard pull I got passed at the line and finished 9th.(3) That is the 3 sentence summary now I will give you the 3 picture summary.

UTCX race number 3 was held at the Heber County Fair Grounds, yet another horse racing track, and is all about power on the straights. Much to my surprise I had accumulated enough points to get a front row call up which I blew by stupidly lining up on the right side off the beaten path. The start was not good nor was it as bad as last weeks. I managed to move up quickly after the mount Heber run and soon found myself at the front of the first chase group. I thought to myself, "self, what has been your biggest problem in the first two races? Being on the front to long to early. GET OFF THE FRONT!! IDIOT!", so I moved back so I was second or third wheel. The group was full of very fast riders that it is just a treat to race with them after looking up to them for years, unfortunately that endearment didn't transfer into amazing legs. After about the first half when they would accelerate on the power sections I was beginning to drop off the pace and want to throw up. I got dropped but still felt pretty good until 2 laps to go when I blew up. I barley peddled with 2 laps to go but managed to recover for another effort with one to go. At that point I was so cross eyed I could barley ride a straight line so I made a big mistake in one corner then crashed in the next and got passed by 3 riders. I finished 11th. It was a good race, I went the hardest I have ever gone in a cross race and raced pretty darn smart, I was where I needed to be to bad the legs weren't. Now some pictures.

the run up "Mt. Heber" every lap hurt

going down the Mt. wasn't as hard, but it was sketchy

This is when I was with the group and had friends going through the barriers.

This is after I got dropped and I had to run the barriers all alone.

I hope you notice I didn't have the tall socks this week, it was much to hot for them. It was much to hot for cross, think I got a little dehydrated. Pray for cold wet weather for every Saturday from now on.

Now for the week ahead planner. This Wednesday go watch the Utah High school cross country running state championships at Sugar House. I'm told to be there at 3:30. Go my friends that run!(I refuse to show school spirit on my blog!)(I like parentheses and exclamation points!) This Saturday you should all come and watch (that's you cross country team ) the cross races in Draper at the equestrian center on 1600 East Highland Dr.(13675 South), Draper, UT at the base of Corner Canyon. There will be races from 9:30am to 2:15pm. I race with the A group at 2:15.(I am taking the ACT again that morning so my racing might be a little off!)

Now the part about gas masks. Have you ever herd of a magical little place called the Army Navy outdoors store? I have, and I read their adds. They were selling surplus Russian military gas masks for only $13. It had the makings of an adventure. I journeyed to that magical land and purchased one just for fun. Then my sister came home and with her imac and photobooth we had some fun playing with it and some basic effects, enjoy.

You don't know what you missed.

Vote in my poll to decide what Halloween costume I will race in at the Halloween cross race at Wheeler Farm, keep in mind I would like to finish well so pick the costume you think would be least intrusive but still awesome.

P.S. I got my skis finally mounted up and tuned, bring on the snow!

P.S.S. The Pray For Snow Party will be a go for this year.

P.S.S.S. ( I really do like parentheses and exclamation points!!!)

I hope that you enjoyed this epic post.

Cross Season is Back!

Last Saturday was the first Utah Cyclocross series race of the year and my first race in the elite men's field. I am amazed at how large cross has become in the last couple years there are more Fields, larger fields, and faster fields. At the start I was a little overwhelmed because I was racing with all the fast Utah racers that I have watched and looked up to for inspiration for years so you can imagine that there was a little bit of awe in my eyes. Due to my stupefied attitude I botched the start and got pushed almost to the back of the pack but was able to move up again fairly quickly. This season I feel the best that I have ever been technically on the bike though I still don't think I am as good through the barriers as I was last year yet. It will come. I raced most of the race with a group of about 4 guys who are all very fast and smart riders, I am not a smart rider. I spent to much time on the front early and was not able to go with the attack on the last lap so I finished just behind the guys that I spent the race with. I am happy with my first race of the season and look forward for more to come. Look at these pictures and take the link to watch the cool video of my race.

the new skin suit and matching baseball socks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ZVXma4ahg watch the video of the first race.

Its been a while

I started school which has been fine. Won the Park City Point to Point duo race with Keegan Swenson by 32 minuets and won a tent. Got a replacement frame for the one I broke. Raced DMV last nite, tried to make people suffer, don't know if I succeeded but I drove the pace from the gun and pulled a lot. Pictures and more posts to come. Cross is a coming!!!