Mammoth Mountain Biking - Part 1

Well, of course there had to be some mountain biking this week!
Doug, Jeff, Tati, and I did the Mammoth Rock Trail.
And then I took John and Ivan on the same trail.  Check out the difference in the sky.  Smoke from all the wildfires in California had blown in.
With Mammoth Rock in the background we head out through the meadow to Hidden Lake.


Wedding Week

Starting on Monday, family and friends began showing up for the wedding.  First was Ivan, Eliza, Neveah, & Eden, then the Heilmans, and then Tati's brother Ervin & wife Allie from Canada made a surprise arrival.
Then later in the week, my sisters Leslie and Laura (and her family of course) showed up.






We had a wonderful week with our  families.  It was so nice to have everyone up in Mammoth with us.

Mammoth MX 2008 - Race Day 2

This year happened to be a year that a bunch of my friends also raced.  For sure the biggest turnout of my buddies at Mammoth ever.  I gotta say though, we missed B-Rad, Keating, and Big Al.

I think I got a picture of just about everyone, see below in alphabetical order (first name).

Boris Mahlich.
Don Pastell
Doug Perry
Ed Paulsen
Fudge (Robert Fudge)
Happa (Jason McCune)
Hodges
Jason Ingersoll
James Jongkind
Kevin Aschenbach
Mag 5
Matt Mantz
Mick Sakakeeney
Rich Schauwecker
Rod Hendrickson
Slicer (Rick Simily)
Jeff Tigert
Todd
Travis Marks
Wayne Lambert
John Dowd and Jeremy McGrath were this close all weekend.  Dowdy got the best of MC this year.  Amazing considering he also won the 40+ Expert class.
I love the picture below.  It really captures the essence of Mammoth MX.  Perfectly watered track, big evergreens, snow capped peaks, blue skies.
By the way, I got second in my qualifier, but in the main event I tangled with another rider on the first lap and went down.  I remounted, counted my blessings, and finished off the weekend safely... I do have a wedding to go to!

Mammoth MX 2008 - Race Day 1

So yes, I did race the weekend before my wedding. Yes motorcycles are dangerous and there's always a risk of injury, but as Dave Potter says, "it's what I do." Tati was nothing but supportive. Her mom was too, in fact she told me , "don't think about anything. No negative thoughts, just concentrate on what you have to do, and go out and win!!!
In my first qualifier I got my typically bad start. Said to myself, "here we go again" and just put my head down and passed as many guys as possible. On the last lap alone I passed 5 guys. When I came around the last corner I saw the checkered flag, but no one in front of me. I figured that the lead pack got away and I probably didn't even qualify. (Top 8 go to the main). When I pulled off the track my buddy Rich told me, "impressive ride." When I got back to the truck and pulled my helmet off, Rich told me again, "impressive ride ... you went from around 20th to 1st." 1st!?!?!? I won? I didn't even know I actually won my qualifier!
In the main event I got another mid pack start, but rode aggressively and made it all the way to 4th. My buddy Jeff Tigert finished 3rd, we joked "Shake-n-bake".

4th place trophy. "Trophy The Bear".

Mammoth MX Practice

Thursday and Friday are practice days at Mammoth MX. Track is fully prepped and watered all day.For the Double D Death Ride (Doug & my bachelor party) Dax had his mom sew up these "flight suits" for the Mag 5. (The Mag 5 is a revolving crew of riding buddies). Doug, Ed, and I represented the Mag 5 by rockin' the suits.
3 of the Magnificent 5 head out in formation for moto-battle.

Double D fly in formation.

The Wedding March

We took delivery of Tatiana's new Honda Ridgeline just in time to use it for our Wedding trip! 

Mammoth, Moto, Mountain bikes, Marriage

Agenda:
Mammoth Motocross - June 18-22
Mountain biking at Mammoth Bike Park - June 23-27
Wedding in the woods by twin lakes. Reception at Mammoth Mtn. Inn - June 28
Honeymoon in Tahoe and mountain biking at Norhtstar - June 30 - July 6.