Making the most of it

Big week last week.  

I went into Vancouver to work for a few days after the Elk / Vedder / Cheam trio.  I broke up long days at the office with morning runs around Stanley Park.  On Thursday night, I hit the Grouse Grind with a colleague.  

Friday morning, Connor and I headed out to Chilliwack to organize for RedBull Divide and Conquer and put in a quick Den lap on Vedder.  Vedder is so good.  I just can't get enough.  Fast, smooth, steep, and lush.

(Toby, rolling it)

(Connor on one of many, many stunts)

We headed back in Van in the afternoon, after picking up the Dudeman car and some team kit.  

The RedBull race was on Saturday.  We got off to a wicked start.  Joren had a stellar run and put us in front by 5 minutes over Ed McCarthy and Mike Simpson, the two runners on our radar.  

(Joren, pulling through for the Dudemen)

Ricky started off well and had the lead up to 11 minutes through the first descent.

But he crashed at the bottom.  He managed to get through the next climb, but couldn't get through the next descent.  He walked out and into an ambulance, and spent the rest of the afternoon in the hospital.

I knew he was in trouble when he was only a few minutes slower than expected.  If there is one thing Ricky is not, it's slow.  After Connor's team came through the bike - paddle transition, our race was over.  I gave Connor a few minute head start, then busted my balls to catch him.  I got pretty close!  And he didn't know we were DNF, so he busted his balls too.

(Dave, Connor, and Mike - dudemen on the day)

With two of the top teams out - Stephen Matthews crashed and ended his day at the hospital too - North Shore RCMP (Dave Vunic, Connor, and Mike Simpson) bested everyone else easily and walked away with the glory and the cash.    

(Win or hospital)

Then it was off to tend to this dudeman.  He was hurting, with a dislocated bone in his hand.  He'll be OK, but out for a while.  

You win some and you lose some.  We went for it and that's how to do it.  And it's the how that counts, if you ask me.

With some help from RedBull, we got a lot of press in the weeks leading up to the race and some good exposure for our partners - Mt. Waddington's Outdoors and the Clearbrook Coffee Company.  These are good guys doing good stuff.  Patronize them.  Here are some links - 

http://globalnews.ca/video/596510/red-bull-kayaking

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Calgary+kayaker+returns+Vancouver+defend+Bull+Divide+Conquer/8491137/story.html

http://globalnews.ca/news/626251/teams-of-runners-bikers-and-kayakers-compete-in-annual-red-bull-divide-and-conquer-endurance-race/

http://www.redbull.ca/cs/Satellite/en_CA/Article/TEAM-“NORTH-VANCOUVER-RCMP”-CROWNED-RED-BULL-021243350181005

http://www.redbull.ca/cs/Satellite/en_CA/Video/Red-Bull-Divide-and-Conquer-Action-Clip-021243350941623

http://www.theprogress.com/sports/210880871.html

I got another Den lap in before making the big drive back on Sunday.  

A big weekend in Chilliwack

Ricky and I both spent a lot of our racing careers in Chilliwack.  It's a great training venue for both mountain bike and slalom racing, but other opportunities abound.  For my part, I didn't quite realize to what extent until I 'retired' and pursued a more diverse set of interests.  I was in Chilliwack again this weekend, the river was at a great water level, and I didn't go paddling. 

After an all-nighter in the car, I arrived on Saturday morning and needed to stretch my legs out and get some fresh air.  So I drove up to Elk Mt. and ran up it.   35 minutes and you're here, with big views of the Fraser Valley.

(Elk Mountain)

Then we got down to business.  

We're racing RedBull's Divide and Conquer next weekend.  This year, we've teamed up with Joren Titus, a man not bound by gravity - this dude can run uphill - and we aim to repeat.  Last year's race was super fun, with three hard legs and a very strong field.  This year will be no different - we're going head-to-head with lots of old friends and sparring partners.

Anyway, we're working with Mt. Waddington's Outdoors and Clearbrook Coffee Company this year, helping to promote their Fraser Valley businesses.  So we have a team car.

We painted and stickered it up on Saturday afternoon and put on a barbecue for the whole crew.

Sunday morning brought the Vedder Mountain Super-D race for Ricky and the same ride for Connor, Melanie, and I.  Vedder has some of the best mountain bike trails in the world and they were in incredible shape.  So many bridges, stunts, and bermed corners.  Places to open up and places to hang on for dear life.  From the high trail, The Den, you can stretch the downhill out for 20 minutes!  

(Race start)

There were over 100 racers.  I think that's the FVMBA's best turn-out ever.  Ricky broke his bike about half-way down and coasted to 8th place, less than a minute off the pace.    

(Ricky, sending it)

Straight after the race, it was back in the car and off to ski Mt. Cheam.  

The dudeman car was packed to the gills, with Ricky, Nathan, Melanie, Connor, Jon, and I, and Max the dog making the trip.  Nevertheless, with a little pushing, tailpipe collateral damage, and some strategic rock placements, we got it all the way to the snowline.  

(Oops)

With just a few km to the base of the mountain, we made quick progress and were up to the saddle in a few hours.  It was late and the weather wasn't so great - we were socked in a few times on the climb - but the snow was, so we turned it around and got in some good turns on the way down.

(A man and his dog)

(Nathan Etsell, Ricky, Connor, Melanie, and Max take in the view of Lady Peak and Jones Lake)

 (Connor, hucking it out of a natural booter)

 All in all, about as good as weekends get.  And all right in the backyard.