Utah Tech Devo, Pro XCT C2- Soldier Hollow, UT

A very long time ago, I was (ok, get ready for this) a figure skater. I loved the feel of the cold, crisp ice crunching under my little skates as I warmed up at 5:30 in the morning (although I DID hate that morning part with a vengeance). I always relished the chance to isolate myself with (don't laugh) my Walkman's private music selection, and lived for the huge satisfaction of finally nailing a footwork piece or jump section after the one-millionth time of stumbling through it or falling on my bum.

I remember how it always felt impossible until it clicked just once- after that, the spell seemed to break and I could usually finish the "sticky piece" reliably after that watershed moment. Until very recently, I hadn't thought much about my figure skating days. In junior high, they had helped me to find my way into ice hockey, which subsequently became my collegiate sport (and like figure skating) eventually faded into the background as life moved forward.

Pre-riding the lush and scenic Utah Tech-Devo course brought back a flood of those memories. It was the kind of course that, like a good skating routine, was made or broken based on an athlete's ability to string their fitness and technical mastery together smoothly. An even mix of non-technical singletrack and wide, paved 12-16% grades separated four different A-Line/B-Line options (including a rather menacing drop), as well as a rock garden, large boulder drop, one troublesome technical climb, and some really fun, steep "slalom" descents towards the end of each lap.

Every feature was rideable, but practice was essential for smoothing out transitions and ultimately defusing the (almost) overwhelming sense of anxiety that hung over me after my first quick look at the course- I knew my routine needed work. Here the figure skating of my childhood past would finally pay some dividends as I began my work of breaking the course into smaller pieces and practicing "my footwork." It was funny to think about my iPhone library, now serving as a much smaller and more durable Walkman substitute. The times have really changed, my friends.

In what was possibly one of the biggest highlights of our Utah Adventure, Greg and I visited a Park City Restaurant called the Grub Steak for a Pre-Race meal. I struggle with eating enough calories on race day, so a big dinner the night before is helpful. When they heard we were in search of a place for dinner, our dear friends Nikki and Zep Tittensor steered us to the Park City locale and promised us the quality would be incredible- and let me just say, they were so right.

Started in 1976, The Grub Steak has been serving up some mean orime rib, steak cuts and seafood year-round since that time. Sticking with my usual Pre-Game routine, I ordered a small sirloin with Garlic Mashed Potatoes which was as tender and perfectly done (Medium Rare) as a steak-lover like myself could dream of. For dessert, a giant Rum and Huckleberry Bread Pudding mysteriously appeared on the table before me. As to how it got there, I have no idea. If you ever find yourself on Sidewinder street in downtown Park City, UT be sure to check this place out. They don't do frills but they definitely know how to do real, delicious and top-quality food- stop by if you're ever in the area!

Race day arrived early the next morning and we lined up at the base area of the Soldier Hollow Nordic Complex, the site for the 2002 Winter Olympic Nordic Competitions. The first 3 minutes of the race involved a sprint on pavement up the steepest grade on-course, winding us through the resort's steep but small acreage before butterfly-ing back through the pits for the start of the second and more technical half of the loop. Pit Note: The Kenda Honeybadger was a perfect tire selection for the pavement and technical feature combination on this course, as I didn't have to sacrifice speed on pavement for reliability when things got hairy. To date, I believe this was the hardest, and my favorite course on the XCT circuit- it was just so dynamic and required constant attention to detail. I gave what I had to give that day and finished up 11th (my best UCI XC result to date), moving me to 29th in the overall US standings. I even received my FIRST UCI payout! This year will be my third racing and second at the Pro level; as a result, I find that I'm constantly humbled by the gaps in my racing knowledge, fitness and skill. Time on the bike and racing experience are essential for progress in those areas and I have to remind myself (or be reminded) that consistency and hard work will get me there. It's all too easy to get discouraged for reasons that essentially boil down to impatience with ourselves. For any of you readers who might be pursuing goals of your own: Remember to be kind to yourself, acknowledge your progress and remind yourself that it's not against the rules to believe in yourself- it's actually essential to achieving those goals.

If you find yourself looking for a place to ride this summer, be sure to head through the Utah mountains to Park City, Heber City and Soldier Hollow- its gorgeous, the mountains are big, there's plenty of camping and the locals are wonderful. The ski resorts in the area also provide plenty of lift-assisted climbing for those who prefer adrenaline to lactate.

Another huge thanks to Chinook Winds Casino Resort for the opportunity to represent my tribal community and chase big dreams!

Stay tuned for the Missoula XC Report.
XOXO,
FF