The weekend racing for the XC guys started with a very short 1 1⁄2 mile TT course. There was nothing too technical and functioned more as seeding for the Short Track the following day. The team approached it as a good opportunity to test their high end speed against the worlds best. We wouldn’t read too much into the results other than part of the Sea Otter show. Trebon was 10th, Sneddon, 12th and Wicks 18th.

On Saturday just as the rain apexes Erik Tonkin started in the B Heat (as a result of missing the time trial) and showed a red eye flight or rain would not deny him. He put down the power to a convincing win to set the bar for the rest of the team as the “best of the rest”.

The Twin Timbers took the message and on the mud bedeviled course in the A Heat. Trebon took a flyer from the gun and nearly stayed away for the victory but was caught with two laps to go by Jean Cristophe while Wicks blocked for his teammate and scrapped with the chase group to hang on for 5th Place. Kris Sneddon recovered from a bad start to finish 17th. Wendy Simms rode a spirited race with a chase group that was hot on the heals of cyclocross National Champion Katie Compton. She was caught one lap to go to just fall off the podium in 7th place.

High gusty winds replaced the rain for the final day of cross country racing on what turned out to be a long day in the saddle for the riders. The race started and all Kona riders were in the two chase groups just off the lead. On a course like this it was important to work together to share the work into the wind. It looked like the Kona trio Sneddon, Wicks and Trebon was
getting ready real back the chase group when Trebon dropped his chain on a rough descent.

This broke the rhythm of the group a bit and left the riders splintered and hanging in the wind. Kris Sneddon pedaled tough into the wind and rode to a career best finish to 11th place followed by Barry Wicks in 12th place. Ryan Trebon spent some time on the side of the course figuring out what Trebon said “the most twisted chain I’ve ever seen,” to finish in 17th place. Erik Tonkin finished 27th.

Wendy Simms had a good start and was with the lead chase group for the first lap. Mid race she had a bit of a rough spot and dropped off the chase group. She spent the rest of the race dangling in no woman’s land alone in the wind. “I’d see the chase group just ahead of me on every open section but I never could make contact. I felt strong but the four of them working together was too much,” said Simms who finished in 9th place.

Coming out of Sea Otter with a couple of podium finishes is good start to the year. Everyone on the team felt good about where their legs and fitness are right now in anticipation of a long season.

Next up for Wendy Simms and Kris Sneddon head across the Pond to the Houffalize World Cup in Belgium April 22nd.

For the Kona Clump riders it was a rough weekend. The John Cowan designed jumps were great and the riders were raving about them during the Friday practice sessions. Unfortunately, the torrential downpour on Saturday forced the postponement of the event and gusty high winds compressed the competition to a short 2 1⁄2 hours on Sunday.

The Kona Clump riders were going big but some of it came at a cost. Lluis Lacondeguy crashed in practice and after a visit to the aid tent found out he had a broken rib along with lots of dirt rash so he was out for the weekend. Next to go out was Andreu Lacondeguy with more severe injuries like torn ligaments in his shoulder. Cowan decided to jump in with the fun too
and went down and smashed his right wrist pretty good but nothing serious.

Paul B and Grant Fielder saw all the carnage and decided to play it a bit safe. Paul rode conservatively through the competition to a safe 4th place one point off the podium. “I like Sea Otter and all but it is a long season…the crowds are great but it’s always windy. I didn’t want to get injured before heading to Europe,” remarked Basagoitia. Grant Fielder
also felt the same way and said, “I’ve never liked jumping in the wind and it’s bothered me a bit so I took it real easy. “

It looks like most the riders will be ready for the big European swing injury free but Andreu may be out longer.

Till Next Time,
Marko

All photos courtesy of John Gibson

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