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Reported
by Darren Lott. Photos by Kent
Kochheiser.
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I
awoke on my 41st birthday to the sound of pouring
rain. In fact, almost all Southern California was
wet and drizzley. As an act of faith (and because
no one called to cancel) Arlene, Kent and I slogged
out to the Cheese Grater. As we drove above the
cloud layer, I got my first and best present: "A
Nice Day."
The
initial idea was to have a Buttboard only practice
session. Everyone seemed up for my notion of making
each run unique, with a "kid's party"
theme.
We
were all there to have as much fun as
possible.
Pat
Moody brought "the Beast" which dutifully hauled
all the riders up for each run. Even Biker showed
up; although he stayed in the truck all
day.
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The first race
was called "Washington Start."
Everyone had to
run for their boards. A bit of good natured
jostling ensued in the crowded outside lanes (ie
Pickens cheated).
Jeremy Kahn was
the youngest and spriest of the group. He figured
anything that involved a mad dash for the boards
was going to be all about him. He was,
unfortunately, a little "too amped" and nosed his
board right at the start.
The cross
trainers (part time standup guys) had an advantage
with a run, ride, roll and sit later start. I made
a daring attempt to join them, but good sense
overwhelmed me and I was forced to stop, sit down
and then paddle. The worst strategy.
Almost...
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The group was
quickly separated by varying success with start
technique.
Oh. One more
rule. You have to ride SITTING UP the entire race.
Bend forward if you like, but no leaning back.
Doing the first race as a sit race added to the
fun.
Everyone had a
BLAST,
Except Kahn. Who
spend the first part of the race searching the
weeds for his board after accidentally kicking it
down the track. Pretty spry.
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Pat Moody had a
huge lead and continued to outdistance the other
racers. Then he figured out why. He was the only
one laying down. Oops!
First across the
line (sitting up) was John Rogers, followed by
brother Dave and then Birthday Boy in his only
podium appearance for the day.
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The next event
was "Australian Rules."
The riders who
finished last previously, had front placement and
visa-versa. Except Pat Moody, who's DQ put him in
the very very back of all the riders. Mr. Kahn had
a place of honor.
Oh. One more
rule. You have to ride with the board facing
backward. Pointy end forward. Yeah, the wrong
way.
I had a great
start, leading the pack into the first turn about
40 mph. Then HUGE WOBBLES. Tank slappers. Scared
everyone behind me. Almost came off. Twice, later
down the track, I did come off at speed! (Patching
leathers today before Scotland.)
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Brent took over
the lead. "Oops. Missed it!"
Oh. One more
rule.
You had to stop
at "Wonderview", the mid point of the track. Then
run up to the truck and drain a Red Bull before
continuing. Tip it upside down to prove it was
empty.
Pam brought the
Red Bulls and came up with the guzzling
idea.
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Pam also had a
stylish plan for stopping at
Wonderview.
Pitch it
sideways into the gravel!
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The truck was
waiting with the tail gate down. Thanks to Julie
and Kent for setting up all the cans where we could
get to them. (Also for picking them up
afterward).
One discovery.
You can't OPEN the darn can with your gloves
on!
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The next problem
was how to drink with your helmet still on. And
remember, it's a race.
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After draining
the Red Bull, you had to hop back on your board,
and continue down the track at speed, with a wobbly
backward board and a belly ache.
Note the two
"switchbacks" visible in the distance. The first is
called "Berm Turn" and is taken in full slide. The
last is actually a left hander before the
finish.
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Brent regained
his backward lead and went on to Victory. He was
closely followed by the Rogers
Brothers.
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The next event
was called "Secret Teammate."
The group was
divided into the "Fast Riders" and the "Faster
Riders." The Faster group all wrote the names on
envelopes, while the Fast riders wrote their names
on index cards. Cards were later randomly inserted
into envelopes and sealed.
Again we stopped
at Wonderview. I managed to lead, but the dogs were
at my heels.
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Again to the
back of the truck.
This time to
search for the envelope you had put your name on
earlier. Turns out the gloves make envelope opening
difficult also.
Oh. One more
rule. You have to SWITCH DECKS with your Secret
Teammate before either of you can
leave.
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Meanwhile, the
rest of the Fast group is anxiously waiting to hear
who their "Secret Teammate" is.
"Pan? Who is
Pan?"
"It's me, Pam!
Give me your board! Let's go!"
"No. This looks
like a N to me. Pan? Pan?"
Oh. One more
rule. Your TEAM finished after BOTH riders cross
the finish line. So don't mess up your Secret
Teammate.
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In a card and
envelope snafu, Brent was assigned to the "Fast"
group and then randomly assigned to Dave Rogers.
Guess which team won?
Second went to
Jeremy Kahn and John Rogers.
Third place was
Mike Pickens and Pat Moody.
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The most fun was
the "Relay Race."
We checked the
ongoing point totals from the previous races and
determined four team leaders. Then each leader was
given three colored hats for his
team.
"Pick me! Pick
me!" echoed as riders were selected one at a time
for the teams.
One rider from
each team was then dropped off at various Relay
points on the course. Strategy ensued as to which
rider on each team would be the best at which leg
of the course.
Oh. One more
rule. Your team only gets one deck.
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The first relay
point saw all four teams in almost a dead heat.
From each relay point, you could see the hand offs
of the other riders. Exciting.
The most
brilliant draft choice was John Rogers's (Green
Team) early pick of Pamela. Pam rode the 2nd leg of
hard turns and developed a great lead for the
Greens.
Jeremy moved the
Red Team into second, and Bill Dozer, Gold Team,
hit the last relay point a close
third.
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Each team had a
different transfer strategy.
"Standing
skateboard" worked well. Or "Push your teammate"
was another good method.
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Blue Team was
the Big Boys. Three guys at 200+
lbs.
Rob Rhuman
invented the Blue Transfer method: Skid, and then
before you stop, lift up and let the board continue
out from between your legs.
Pickins pulled
into the transfer area last, but provided a fast
exchange.
Blue team used
weight and skill, gradually gobbling up the slower
teams. But there was not enough track to catch them
all.
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It was all about
GOLD TEAM.
Brent, Bill, and
Pat put together the best runs and transfers, and
crossed the finish line first.
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The final event
was "Blinding Ballons!"
I was accused of
having thought up this event just to get a picture
of all the riders wearing party hats and holding
ballons on the start line.
GUILTY!
Dave Auld
arrived late and didn't get a party hat. He
remarked sadly,
"I have Cone
Envy."
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The balloons
were tied to each rider's wrist. String length was
set to put the balloons right in the racer's face
at speed (hence the "blinding"
part.)
Oh. One more
rule.
It's a 15 second
penalty for each balloon that pops before the
finish line. Worth protecting them
eh?
Dave Rogers
popped BOTH balloons in the truck on the way up.
Finally a chance for someone else to
win!
Once under
speed, however, ballons started popping like crazy.
Pat, Brent, and I lead into the first sweeper, and
have already each lost a balloon.
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By the last
turn, only I had a balloon left. As a natural 4th,
I was about half a second behind the Rogers, who
were ripping it up unencumbered by Blinding
Balloons. But with my 15 second penalty advantage,
it was ALL ABOUT THE BIRTHDAY BOY!
Then it popped.
Damn.
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Pat held off the
Rogers to take 1st, and bring home his mini
Championship cup.
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Mac Daddy
brought a gas powered grill and we had a cook
out.
Pam suprised us
with a brilliant Lott Classic birthday cake, which
was ironically, German Chocolate.
And it came
complete with ABEC 11 Flashbacks in the softest
durometer ever
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We tabulated
points from each of the races to come up an overall
winner of the series.
The points race
over 5 events was pretty close between the Top 3.
Pat Moody gets an Honorable Mention for
4th.
There was also
an award for a new rider who stuck it out with the
big boys through all the racing.
Claudia got a
medal which said "I MADE IT!"
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Overall Points
Results
1.
Brent
DeKeyser
2. John
Rogers
3. Dave
Rogers
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