Pirate Ride #4 - Running From Rangers And Bucketing Brains
PirateRide4_Frame070.jpgPhoto Album
Ride 4 was blessed by the angels of shred and sunshine, the first dry Pirate Ride this season.  With an enthusiastic turnout of riders ranging from Fortuna to Shasta, CA energy levels were high.  Conditions could not have been better as the trail had just reached dry status and had not yet degraded to dust.  More than 25 riders were thrilled with the rough high speed moto run down Waterman ridge. Practice runs progressed smoothly toward the afternoon and the course became faster and more brushed out with each run.  Timed practice (seeding) kicked off at high noon and race pace revealed a much quicker course then anticipated.  The brushing and marking done before the event created an incredibly high speed run from top to bottom motivating riders to "Put their brain in a bucket" and let it run.  The atmoshpere in the finish area was electric with riders shooting out of the course's final rocky shoot and onto the pavement in top gear before rocketing off the GT's, now famous, two story uphill launch.  Andrenaline  was already fueling riders to push the limits as witnessed by magnificent bails on the finish jump.  Brian Hapgood and Matt Snyder both set competitives times before performing physics defying slowmo endos off the gigantic obstacle.  Luckily the uphill landing proved friendly and all escaped the day without injury.  Times were faster and tighter than anyone could have predicted with two pairs of riders tying  within the top five times.  Despite both experiencing crashes Jared Delong of McKicleyvile and Brian Hapgood of Eureka shared the second at 2:35 putting them into a tie for fourth fastest times.  Justin Graves of Arcata and Erich Weidenkeller of Redding put in smooth runs to tie for third fastest time at 2:28.  Remarkable was the ripping run set by Sean Tetrault of Eureka who, despite significant "couch" time, claimed the second fastest seeding time at 2:26.  Equally impressive was the fast seeding time of 2:16 set by Ryan Delong of Blue Lake, setting the bar high for his competitors on the short course.
Enroute to the final heat an overloaded shuttle truck, carrying 11 DH bikes and six passengers in the bed, met a Forest Service Officer who was less than pleased with the groups blatant disregard for California vehicle law.  The shuttle was held motionless until all riders had evacuated the bed, some joining another truck and some continuing on foot until another ride could arrive.  Thankfully the officer allowed the vehicle to continue its service with only a stern warning, a relief when considering the ringing which could have been dealt.  Nevertheless many questioned whether or not the piracy of gravity should continue with the emminent presence of the officer at the make shift finish area.  After a brief pow wow riders decided to finish what had been started and the final heat began a mere ten minutes behind schedule.
The finals were stacked slowest to fastest, postponing the excitement as riders would seek to find even more speed on the already frighteningly fast course.  Fantastically all but two riders improved their times on the second run.  Even the two who did not improve showed great consistency, with Nick Polito of Manilla tying his first run time and the inspirational team of guide Jason Allan (Shasta) and legally blind Bobby McMullen (Whiskeytown) falling back only one second.  Fastest female and 18th overall Sandy Ross improved her seeding time by a remarkable 11 seconds, and first place hard tail ripper Max Capps cut an incredible 21 seconds from his first run time.  As the top ten men took to the course it was clear that the pace was turned up with riders exploding onto the finish pavement on the verge of control.  Eric Geist of Redding had crashed in the seeding run and came down mid field to take the hot seat with a 2:40.  This time would hold through the next four riders until boy wonder Robert Rhall of Blue Lake would take the lead with a 2:35.  Rhall was then tied two riders later by fellow youngster Joel Graves of McKinleyville.   The  next five riders would be spread by only five seconds as Jared Delong took the lead with a 2:26, to be tied two riders later by Eric Weidenkeller.  This lead was short lived as Justin Graves bettered his first run by four seconds to take the lead with a 2:24, to be immediately matched by Sean Tetrault who shaved two seconds from his first run sharing the 2:24 with Graves.  Finally it was ripper Ryan Delong who burst into the finish area with a fury that was unmatched, taking the lead by a crushing ten seconds posting a 2:14.
The proceedings were watched closely by the officer and concluded with an open invitation to return given that the Pirates alerted him to their intentions inorder for the Forest Service to provide better marking materials for the finish area.  This boosted morale to fanatic levels as all disembarked with large smiles and contented adrenale glands.  All enjoyed the unique course, especially Bobby McMullen who was overjoyed with riding the courses' large finish jump, stating he had never accomplished anything like it and felt that this achievement alone was worth the trip (sorry for eaves dropping Bobby : ).  In the end the Pirate legend grew, our welcome mat was padded, and all involved stepped it up.  Success.

Results
Ties Broken By Seeding Run Time
PlacingRider
Seeding
Final
1
Ryan Delong2:16
2:14
2
Sean Tetrault
2:26
2:24
3
Justin Graves
2:28
2:24
4
Erich Weidenkeller2:28
2:26
5
Jared Delong2:35
2:26
6
Brian Hapgood
2:35
2:29
7
Joel Graves
2:42
2:35
8
Robert Rhall
2:47
2:35
9
Eric Geist
4:52
2:40
10
Matt Snyder2:44
2:42
11
Shane Swanson2:48
2:44
12
Paul Wilson2:50
2:45
13
Nick Polito
2:49
2:49
14
KJ Nissen2:55
2:50
15
Mark Matthews
DNF
2:55
16
James Seiberlich
3:10
3:01
17
Dave Richmond3:09
3:04
18 (1st Wom.)
Sandy Ross
3:22
3:11
19
Brian Zawarski
3:16
3:14
20 (1st H.T.)
Max Capps
3:38
3:17
21
Andreas Ferman3:26
3:20
22 (2nd Wom.)
Therese Conner3:32
3:24
23
Bobby McMullen/Jason Allen3:50
3:51
24 (2nd H.T.)Thomas Owen4:05
3:59
25 (3rd H.T.)
Darren Young4:52
4:22


All are invited to this free timed group ride.
Timed Training Begins at 12:00pm, Practice Before.

Directions:
From H.W. 299 Willow Creek, CA Turn onto Country Club Lane at the Gas Station.  This is a right if you are approaching from east of Willow Creek, a left if approaching from west of Willow Creek.
Follow Country Club .8 Miles, stay left on to Seely McCintosh Rd.
2.9 Miles in stay right at Sun Valley Floral Farm.
4.8 Miles in stay right on pavement toward Hawkins Bar JCT.

Follow pavement 2.3 miles to finish line staging area.

Details:
Photo of finish area stepup.
Course is high speed, rough double track with three brief uphill bursts.  A DH bike is still recomended due to the rough "chunderous" nature of the trail.  The course drops 900 feet in approximately 3-4 minutes.  One rider was qouted as saying "F*#kin Awesome!"
2.5 miles shuttle, 75% paved, no 4x4 necessary.
All are invited to this free timed group ride.