BradleyJReece

This is one of my favorite race events of the year.  It takes place each Summer at the Firestone Walker ranch and vineyard in Santa Ynez just inland of Santa Barbara.  I have been going for a few years now and it’s totally fun.  The downhill course is really quick and fast and the race is a combined-time two-run format.  Since there is  no lodging for  many miles, it’s better to camp.  There’s actually a zone for DH racers to camp in…which makes sense because we go crazy at night.  At night we set up little fires and make BLTs and drink strange spirits–great preparation for an athletic event, right?  Well, who cares?

So, this year I went with my buddy Bryan Haas.  We both raced DH, but I brought my 4x bike and we both rode the slalom and pump tracks in the morning and evenings  between training and racing.  We actually got to the event a day early so we were relegated to the slalom track for the better half of that day.  It was a great way to get the cob webs dusted off.

On Saturday we got in some practice runs early in the morning.  Training was great with really nice weather and very little wind.  We pretty much had the course wired within a couple of runs and were ready for race time.  Later that day we threw down our race runs in what became gusty conditions.  At some point, each of us got blown off line or even completely off course, be we each managed to get spots on the podium in our respective divisions.  For me, it was the top step with a first place.  My first run was nearly ten seconds faster than second place even after getting blown off course.  My second run found me with a broken chain 2/3 down the course.  I managed to put in a good chainless run though and held a good time to take the best combined time and the win.  I guess I sandbagged it–better move up a class.

We were both super stoked on our performances and capped off our day with copious amounts of beer, pulled pork sandwiches with BBQ sauce, and the pro dual slalom.  There is nothing better than being well buzzed and heckling at an event like the slalom.  The racing action was wild and crowd was even wilder.  Eric Carter was the only notable pro, but there were a lot of young riders out there sending it like it was their last race.

After a lot of hootin’ and hollerin’, the event was finally over and it was time to pack it up and head home.  Unfortunately, this was not to be.  Haas somehow managed to fall off his bike into a ditch, hitting his head with a knockout blow and serving up a broken collarbone.  Without getting into details, Haas got a ride in a helicopter to a local hospital in Santa Barbara.

Well, here is the helmet camera footage from my race run one.  It is boring by comparison to the weekend’s events, but certainly a highlight for me.  Enjoy.