It’s official! I won the pro women’s Super D event at Crankworx. CO.   Just 8 days after winning 24 Hour Solo World Championships, I found myself at the finish of a downhill event that took just a little over 13 minutes.  Not the length of course I am used to, but it was a blast.  I was hanging out at the Specialized demo booth at Crankworx.  I was there signing posters, doing casual group rides and watching all the races.  I did not take part in the cross country race because my lungs and legs are still fried from the effort in Canada.  With lift access at Winter Park, a sweet trail system, and all the 2010 Specialized demo bikes available, I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to work on my downhill skills.  I did a couple of practice runs on the Super D course and on a whim decided to enter the pro women’s race on Sunday.  The goal was not to hurt myself and to try to follow a few of the better women and try to learn from them.  The race started with a run and about a 30 second uphill.  I surprised myself and entered the single track first.  From there, I just held on and kept waiting for the pass.  The girl right on my tail would catch up on the more technical bits and I’d drop her anywhere that had some pedaling.  We continued this yo-yo down the course and she was never able to pass me.  It was a riot and she pushed me to ride faster downhill than I would have on my own.  I finished the race a few seconds in front of her with a huge grin on my face, took home a bit of cash for my efforts, and accomplished a personal life goal of winning an oversized cardboard check.  I rode the 2010 Stumpjumper and had an absolute blast on that bike.

Here’s the race results and photo proof that I won a downhill event!!!!
http://mountainflyer.com/news.cfm?itemid=261

Right now I am at home again in Ketchum resting up and changing gears for the next race, the Leadville 100.  That one will take significantly longer than 13 minutes!

Cheers

Reba