Deer Valley

We stood around a long time waiting for the Deer Valley start that was delayed by a finishing 12 and under racer yesterday. When we started we were cold. In fact, I was shivering on the start line.

So maybe it was the cold, but I had a really slow first lap. I looked back from the top of the first climb and could see no one behind me as everyone was in front (there were about 20 pros, but perhaps a couple must have started super slow back there). My descending was bad too: timid partly because of ultra slick mud spots and one never knew if a spot was waiting right behind a blind corner. I was on my hardtail 29er, and the Stans Crow tires on it are very light in both mass and tread.

Anyhow, we hit the second lap and I started to warm up and the course had dryed a bit and the mud spots were gone. I had great second and third laps, catching and passing all the way up to KDay who was in 4th. Starting the last lap I thought I'd pass him too, but he was stronger by that point. Somewhere on the lap Welsh, who had been trying to drop Bart, started falling back and Holley and KDay passed him. I pushed hard, but never got him, so I finished in 5th, in sight of 3rd.

Some people felt it was crazy for Welsh to attack Bart and suggested he foolishly threw his race away. I think it is awesome, laying it all out there to see what he can do.