USAC National XC Championships- Mammoth Lakes, CA

There are just about 550 miles between Boise, Idaho and Mammoth Lakes, California. Also, there are roughly three turns- everything else is a straight line through the hot and barren desert. After driving all day through desolate military outposts, run-down casinos and dry lake beds, the behemoth outlines of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains provided a welcome respite for the night as we set up camp beside June Lake. Sitting out by the campfire with two days till race day, I found myself calm and excited to line up once again with the best riders in the country.

Life Near Yosemite
After rolling into the sunny mountain town of Mammoth Lakes, meeting our incredible host family, gasping at the local cost of gas and pre-riding the course, one item on the travel list was glaringly outstanding: Yosemite. In case you haven't seen it (yet), photos can not do this place justice. Also, I have a much greater understanding as to why Ansel Adams used such large exposure film and cameras in his famous images of the Yosemite Valley-nothing else would work. Driving back towards the park exit at Tioga Pass, my mind drifted between downhill race lines, the stunning scenery surrounding me and the beauty of the micro adventures that compose trips like this one- no one moment could steal the show, no matter how brilliant. We drove back to our host house, swapped adventure stories with our new friends and shared a home cooked meal before sleeping soundly through the night. An incredible day in the mountains.

The Race
"Ladies, you have 30 seconds to start..."
We collectively take in a deep breath of the thin mountain air and prepare for the gun. The clock strikes 2:00 and we take off after the USAC pace car and up the steep embankment. Before the first chicane I pass two, and then a third. Pushing hard up the outside I pass two more just before we enter the climb and tech zone- things are going well and I am set up for the long climb to come. About to grab another gear, a lone rider cuts in front of me with no warning- we touch wheels and I find myself on the ground with barely two minutes on the clock. Thoughts flashed instantly through my head- What do I do? Is the race over just like that? I push them out and move quickly to my bike: chain was knocked off but otherwise fine, a little scraped up but I'm otherwise fine- really only one thing to do, so I pull out my matchbook and start burning away. To my great relief, I am able to make up a great deal of lost ground and finish on the leaders lap with nothing left in the tank. Rubbing is racing and I've never quit before.

The Course
The 4 mile course was one of contrasts- up for two steady miles at a gradual 7-8% (with a few painful 30% pitches) mainly on single track, gaining roughly 800 feet. Meanwhile, the dusty descent wound through steep, rocky and rutted forest-heavily worn from more than a thousand laps of the various categories throughout the week. It reminded me of late summer motorcycle trails around the Boise foothills, fast but untrustworthy in the corners. The Pro women would complete 5 laps at a roughly 20-25 minute pace.

Home
Looking back on the weekend, there is so little I would change.

XOXO,
-F