Ride #5
SWD DH
Hoopa, CA
March 12th 2006

Riders who turned out to Sundays's SWD DH in Hoopa California were greeted by the snowiest race conditions in Humbolt History. The weekend had begun with over two feet of snow atop the hill and brave mobbers Brian Hapgood, Hank Matheson, and Amos Pole plowing snow half way up the road and then busting trail on foot the remainder of the way. Riding continued through Saturday which had the course worn down to dirt. Conditions had melted little come Sunday, and while no chains were required on the highway to Hoopa, it was not possible to make it to the original course start, the Wood Rat, after numerous close calls and butt clinching maneuvers were performed by the crew on Saturday. Race day mobbers were blesses with clear sky and noticeabley warmer temps. Despite this a foot of snow remained at the top and the trail became a single slippery rut for the first half of the descent. "Poop Groove" was the technical term being passed around, and all were well prepared with water proof jackets being the minimum. Practice was all fun and frolocking as riders enjoyed the rare opportunity to shred the powder. The race was to be a best of two format which meant an effort would need to be put in on the first run so as to minimize the effects of fatigue come round two. With the pace cranking up and the trail becoming more slipppery and misleading few made it through the first run atop their bicycles. Local Favorites Hank Matheson, Brian Hapgood, Jed Olson, Jared Delong and Jake Todd all had bails in run 1. Todd's crash audible form the camerman's nest some 200 hundred yards down the trail. The hard stack left his bike with bent handlebars and a seat damaged beyond repair. Despite the loosness many found the first run to be there fastest, being cautious in run 2 did not necessarily make up for the free fall method. With the local advantage tossed out the window by constantly changing trail conditions, it was Chicoite Scott Fellers who posted the fastest time of the day on his first run. Fellers was simply flying, maintaining his ride on the edge of control top to bottom posting an untouchable 3:18. In run 2 some would improve and some would fall back. After a crippiling crash in round 1 that got him to the bottom with a time of nine minutes and change, SWD 661/Azonic rider Robbie Rhall picked up the pace and finished with an impressive time (3:45) that would put him first among the juniors and eighth on the day. Coming in seventh was course designer and SWD rider Hank Matheson whose second run was not up to the pace of run 1 (3:42). Just a breath ahead was Rhall and Matheson's teammate was Brian Hapgood who smoothed out the first run explosion he had experienced off the courses' log drop to put down a 3:40 aboard his SWD Crazy 8, good for sixth place. The top five consisted of three locals and two visitors for a very balanced podium. Fifth was claimed by Nick Olson of Chico who rode very consistently to post a 3:37 on his final run. Jed Olson, with one of his best Pirate DH finishes to date, claimed fourth with a 3:34 in run 1. Third place was Jared Delong who, despite a clean second run, could shave down the crash ridden time he placed in round one of 3:27. Having an impressive performance of grit and will was Jake Todd, having lost his seat after a round 1 crash he removed the entire post for his second run. Despite the less then comfortable cockpit Todd Managed a 3:26, narrowly sliding ahead of Delong to claim second. By the end none could touch the time set by Scott Fellers in round one, including himself. Fellers came into view with an excellent split in round two, though looking very fatigued. He was carrying good speed into the final turn but scrubbed too much speed heading into the inside line drop off. Fellers' front end stuck sending him O.T.B. with surprising force. Luckily he was unharmed and rode through to the finish, still managing a descent time. In the day ending raffle, as luck would have it, it was Feller's who won the free SWD custom DH frame. Ansel Walters was the proud recepient of the fifty percent off coupon and much schwag was spread. The afternoon concluded with a jump session of sick proportions at the Dome jumpsite. Everything from no footers, whips, no footed cans, no handers and more were thrown over a thirty something gap. Half of which were pulled with the T.R.P. avalanche set in the center. A fantastic ride period.

1	Scott Fellers	3:18	3:59
2	Jake Todd	4:37	3:26
3	Jared Delong	3:27	3:27
4	Jed Olson	3:34	3:47
5	Nick Olson	3:39	3:37
6	Brian Hapgood	3:53	3:40
7	Hank Matheson	3:42	3:50
8	Robbie Rhall (Jr.)	9:48	3:45
9	Shane (Shady) O'neil	4:19	3:53
10	Jason Allen (H.T.)	5:26	4:27
11	Ansel Walters	4:57	4:37
12	Shawn Cole	4:59	4:46
13	Jon Martin	5:16	4:59
14	Matt Snyder	5:08	DNF
15	Ray Ray Williams (Jr.)	5:13	5:53
16	Trevor Graham (Jr.)	5:21	DNS
17	Curtis Lonn	6:13	5:32
18	Ray Williams	6:09	5:38
19	Amos Pole	6:28	5:48
20	Brian Ritola	7:47	6:09