Jay Richards

Things are looking great for this upcoming weekend. We have been fine tuning the course, working on the flowage. Jake has learned how to use the pulaski which has been interesting and good. The downhill section leading down to the bottom of Suicide is really, really fun and the singletrack sections after that riding quite nicely. Rode a S/C/E lap tonight in 42 minutes. Felt really, really good and relaxed which was surprising after a full day slugging things around. Found some more spots I want to fine tune tomorrow. Looking like a shot of rain tonight which would be welcomed to settle the dust, tack things up and help with blowing debris off the trail activity the rest of the week.
The big cheezy trophies for overall male and female expert stage winners. More trophies for all the classes. Should be some good battles this weekend. Short track is always the most exciting. I'm keeping my predictions to the chest.
The one year I ran helmet cam and chased Doug for almost a half lap...going up Suicide Hill in the big dog passing those riders was cool.



Short turn, line was getting pushed to the left and too many people braking and roots catching weight and going over so took all the roots out and now you can ride the original trail and flows a bit better.


Jonell was hanging up all the shirts from years past. Hard to believe 18 years ago was the first Laddies Loppet. The name is confusing at times, some people think it is Ladies but the name "Laddie" was our border collie we had back then we named the race after since he was always running through the woods with us. Jonell doesn't like that shirt we put him on the front. Lakeshirts continues to provide the threads for us always coming through. I really like this years version.
Hopefully the garage sale action will be light.

What gets people in trouble on the drops and thereafter is too much braking. Its better to keep the wheels moving and let it roll. There are a lot of sections on this course you just need to stop pedaling and pump it through. After the first drop, lift the front wheel up a bit, make sure the pedals are flat, roll over the rock and pedal once the rear wheel clears the rock. If you brake before, your weight will go over the rock and chances are you will swim. Like Steve W told Jake last week, the drops are much tamer now then they were 15 years ago.
Plenty of action on the bmx track. We fine tuned the jumps a few weeks ago and have been watering them down, trying to keep them packed and buffed. Not much big air action the past few weeks, playing it safe. I wonder if Colin is coming with the Bensons from Canada. If he does, we'll send him to the new hip jump at the soccer field and he can throw down his 360. Last night when Jake was packing while I was watering, he hit the gap jump, landed, flatted but kept his speed rolling to hit the next jump while the tire was hissing away in mid air, landed and kept upright the entire time. It was wild. Never seen anything like that. The small blocks are not good jumping tires. He ripped a hole the size of a dime when he landed after the gap jump and caused the flat.

Jack and Jens due home tonight. Word is camera is still in one piece. Knowing Jens, and his liking to take multiple pictures of the floor, fan, chairs etc. I expect a couple hundred pics. Maybe some post next week.


If I don't post before the race, safe travels and thanks to everyone who is supporting our event. Looking forward to the weekend.