US Open – Diablo Freeride Park, Vernon, NJ – May 22-24, 2009

Arrived in NJ a full week before the US Open so I could ride Lars Tribus’ awesome private mountain bike park.  I met Lars when I was in La Parva, Chile for the Pan Am Continental MTB Championships.  Lars is an old-school Pro DH racer who could have his way with anybody anywhere for years, including consistent podiums and a first at Worlds Masters.   He has a pretty rad setup – huge pump track, mobile starting gate (which I helped build on the back of his truck aptly named “The Death Mobile”), huge doubles, a moto track and DH trails.  I got to stay in his pool house for the whole week, which was pretty sweet, and Ethan Quehl (Jr. Ex National Champ 2008) joined me mid-week.  I spent some time doing trail maintenance after an east coast winter, and then did some rad riding with Lars, Ethan, Sean McClendon, Cody Warren and Kyle Strait.  It was the highlight of the trip.

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Fluidride Cup #2, PGRT #1 May 1-3 2009

Sometime the week before the race:  Arrived in PA ready to get the track figured out and just get used to the scenic Pacific Northwest.  Connected with Olympic Dirt Society guys Lars Sternberg and Scott and managed to get in four runs on Tuesday.  Walked the course on Wednesday and helped ODS set up.  My first impression riding there was “Incredible!!  This is awesome!!!  Exactly the same as the trails at UCSC but rougher.  With super-hammered old tires that I had lying around, I still had traction.”
Thursday:  First day of practice.  Track was incredible; it had dried out since the first time I rode it, so it was even faster.  Felt good, Kirt and Lindsey Voreis arrived with the Santa Cruz AllRide trailer, and most importantly – Travis Lucas, team mechanic!!!

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