Hi Everyone!
Well, we are less than 24 Hours away from a BIG 24 Hours (the World Championships!). Rebecca and Greg are napping as I write. This morning was busy with interviews, registration and the last course “pre-ride”. Now the crew is prepping while the “talent” is resting…ahhh to be a professional athlete :-)

So I came to Canmore having heard that it’s beautiful (it is), the weather is unpredictable (also true) and that the riding is “tough” (TOTAL Understatement!). On my first pre-ride of the course I could barely manage all the roots, rocks, trees and unpredictable turns and ups and downs. I made the comment today, that most of the singletrack that the race course is on, would be slated for a “reroute” in Ketchum. The riding here makes the Curly’s downhill seem like a nice, wide paved path. On part of the course the trees are so tight that Greg’s handlebars don’t fit.
That said, Reba and Greg are riding this stuff like the Champs they are. It is going to be incredibly difficult after two hours of racing, not to mention 24! Thankfully the race director has heeded some of the warnings from racers who are pre-riding the course and he has re-directed an insane 2 mile section of single track that has sent a few to the hospital for stitches. The course is now about 9.9 miles long with 1300′ of climbing per lap. We’re predicting early lap times just around an hour. The weather forecast has gone from 90 and sunny to 72 and a 50% chance of rain. We’re hoping for 72 and sunny…maybe they can split the difference? I’m not certain that I’ll have internet access at the course, but the director is saying we will. I’ll be sending out updates whenever I can.

I’ve attached some photos from the last two days. Jason is bike mechanic, Charles is the cook. Donna and I are logistical support and general entertainment!
Hope everyone is well!

Karoline Droege