Grand Beach Race Report

Grand Beach - sand, trees and flat?

I was definitely disappointed to hear that Provincials were changed from Falcon Lake to Grand Beach.  I was pleasantly surprised when we pre-rode the course at Grand Beach on Saturday.  The course was fun, challenging, and fast.  It was a thrill to come in first in my category - my first time.

Quick play by play:
I started in the second row, so lots of guys got away on me.  I fought my way past some of them in the uneven stuff on the right side, knowing that passing would be next to impossible after hitting the singletrack.   Right at the bottleneck of the first singletrack, a rider wiped out.  He opened the pack for me to get in there in better position, maybe 5th or so.  Gord B was pulling us all, doing a great job.  I took every opportunity as the trail dumped onto the fireroads to try passing a few more guys.  Wayne B and me paired up to ride the second half of lap one.  One rider (we never saw him - young whippersnapper) was ahead of us. 

I especially want to mention Wayne's pass in the big switchbacks.  Two of us were negotiating the first right turn and Wayne neatly bypassed us both and went straight over the first switchback.  I was a bit green.

Wayne faded in the "long" climbs of the end of lap 1, and I noticed Paul S taking his place as my new shadow.  He seemed deadly intent on passing me, and that started the feud for the entire second lap.  I was feeling my lower back starting to seize up.  Tried to keep moving and loose while maintaining intensity.   Paul simply would not shake off, and passed me when my chain went into my spokes on the climb right before the third rock garden.   Then his low line on the rocks turned out to be a bit slower than my high line.  I pulled past, and that set the stage for the last 5 k. Our routine: I start to fall apart on a climb, Paul pulls close, I dig deeper to stay ahead, and repeat.  One highlight was when we overtook an expert rider just before a bit of singletrack.  He suddenly came alive and burst away from me into the trees.  I figured if he could carry that speed there, I should be able to too.  Turned out he was getting speed to zip up one of the short steep climbs.  Perfect modelling, the teachable moment for me.

My quad were considering going on strike every time I stood up in the last minutes, but I knew Paul wouldn't hesitate to tread all over me if I faltered, so I gave it all.  The last rocky downhill was pretty sketchy on my hardtail - didn't feel like the tires were on the ground much.  I finished just seconds before Paul.

I felt good and like I used my energy up.  Sometimes I save too much.  Thanks Paul for pushing me (i.e. the pace).

I learn so much from the other riders, thanks everyone for the race. 

By the way, Raven and Furious Fred were fine.  I sometimes have my doubts about the semislicks in varying conditions, but they've proved to be fine for almost every condition so far (notable exception - Birch in wet weather).

I want to point out the Tinker Creek team results at this point:
Jaydi - Gold
Tristan - Silver
Jane - gold
Gerald K - Gold
Linc - Gold
Kevin - DNF but was in good position before breaking his chain.