Up until 1997 or so, a membership to NORBA, would warrant a subscription to NORBA news. (click on photos for better viewing)
The issue above was August 96. Jonell, Jake and I living in Essex, MT at the time. On the southern tip of Glacier Nat'l Park working at Izaak Walton Inn and I was racing in the WIM (Washington/Idaho/MT) race series. Talk about travel. Just to head down to RLM from Essex was a 12 hour trip one way. Remember going to a race in Idaho that I thought would be a 9 hour one way trip and was more like 12 again.
Gore hadn't invented the internet yet so the NORBA News was a nice way to stay on top of what was happening including races in the Midwest.
Think this was the first year Jeff Hall raced Pro, one year after racing JR Expert. Looking at the names on that list, pretty impressive. Looking at the top 50, there are 4 Cheq. 40 winners in there I believe.
Top 10 finishes like the race at Shanty Creek, believe that was a hard core mudder, putting him up there. Yes, that is the Cadel and Floyd of TDF fame and shame?!? 30 seconds behind JT...impressive!
JR X results fun to look at, seeing who is still going at it. Like the less than a hour race time. Didn't seem to hurt Tom Danielson and JHK. Brian Matter mixing it up.
There were a lot of downhillers that made some good coin in the mid 90's.
Found another result sheet with Landis on it. Above race from one of the Specialized Cactus Cup races. Hit that race the summer in 95 living in Dent, MN. before going to Norway. Never got bent in Dent. The Specialized Cactus Cup was held in a few spots throughout the country with the biggest race always happening this time of year in AZ. They usually had a tt, fatboy crit and the xc. It was the race of the Spring before Sea Otter gained steam, probably because of the demise of Cactus Cup. The above race at Chestnut mountain was a fun race. Just did the xc. Had this huge straight up climb. Nice mix of riders from various states.
3 comments:
I remember Colby Brooks from back in the day. When I first started racing I was shocked to see him taking flat Coke bottles as handups on the last lap of expert races.
Fun stuff, I missed out not racing until age 39? I'm with you on the cat conundrum. My plan to do Nat's changed, maybe in 2 yrs, 45+! I'll find one or two out of state races again in 09.
You are livin the life Jay,
One week you're grooming ski trails in Minnesota, the next surfing and riding mountain bikes in ole' Mexico.
Good stuff again Jay, Jeff was riding for Breezer Bicycles in 1996. He won the U23 National Championship and went to Cairns, Australia for the Worlds, riding for the USA National Team, taking 17th overall and 1st American. That ranked up there as a great adventure among the many over the years that I was able to share with Jeff.
When I read those result lists I see so many names of riders who we got to know along the way. We could always count on Geno to offer advice. Like the time at the National in Mammoth Mt., CA. Jeff was bonking from the altitude and early race pace. Well Geno caught Jeff and told him to get his butt in gear and not to quit, Jeff gathered himself up and finished. Geno was the Professional, always the smile and taking care of the details, the dude knew everybody out there on the road.
On Colby, he was one of the group of Junior riders that I trained back in the 90s'. I was using that caffeine as a last 30 minute kick and he started to use it also. The guy was fast.
Post a Comment