Kringle Kross

What a great final day of cross racing for 2012!  In my opinion, the Kringle Kross course was the best of the year.  The course was really hard, it had a little of everything, AND the Waffle Cross crew did a great job creating a festive atmosphere by decorating parts of the course.  Did anyone else feel like their legs were going to fall off after the gradual climb immediately after the stairs run-up?  I was cryin’ for my momma there every lap.

Santa slimmed down and jumped into the Masters 35+ race

In my final cyclocross race of the season, I finally managed to suck a little bit less.  Woohoo!  Sure, my legs were screaming at me at times and I was drooling on my top tube, but I rode the tricky sandy corners well and stayed smooth the whole time.

Kringle Kross Highlights:

• Cousin Eddy on the mic all day (National Lampoon Christmas Vacation reference)

• Santa racing the Masters 35+

• Yukon Cornelius with Peppermint Schnapps hand-ups for the brave

• Huge donation table for Toys for Tots.  Bike racers are RAD!

• Bob’s Red Mill waffles!

• Costumed riders everywhere

• Christmas decorations around the course and podium. Nice touch!

I definitely finished the cross season on a high note and I thoroughly enjoyed my first Boise cross season.  Now that I know what to expect out of a full cross season, I cannot wait for next year.  I am coming for you Zuber! Ha! 

Grabbing some brake before the 90-degree corner at the bottom

Santa had to grab his "B" bike, powered by Rudolph on the bars

Festive!

Even some of the vehicles were decorated

Rooster the Rhodesian looking very festive

One To Go!

Kringle Kross is this Saturday, Dec 15th and it is the last local cross race of the season. I have mixed feelings about cross season being almost over. I have truly enjoyed the cross scene here in Boise and for some sick reason I enjoy getting my ass kicked in the "A" races each week.

Eagle Island, Race #3. Photo by Reed Cycle

Since posting last (I know, its been a while), I have raced twice: Eagle Island, Race #3 and the SICX Idaho State Championships at Sandy Point.

The Eagle Island, Race #3 was my first time at this venue and it was yet another awesome course. The run-up with logs was a highlight and it was rideable if you chose your line carefully and stayed on the gas.

The State Champs at Sandy Point was brutally awesome. Sandy Point is definitely a classic cross venue and would be worthy of hosting a national-caliber race. Tim Phillips and the SICX crew took the flyover to another level for the State Champs with fresh paint and steep stairs.

The SICX Flyover

My race at the State Champs was exactly not what I was hoping for. After a good warmup, I finally got off to a decent start and was in a good position going into the first tricky right-hander when another racer crashed in front of me, forcing me to stop, and the entire field went by me in an instant. Doh! This course had everything; twisty grassy, two sand pits, flyover with stairs, and a mini-barrier to give you a bunny-hop option. I did manage to have a good mid-race battle with Rick but he was too strong in the end...again.

Check out the great video from the Idaho State CX Champs:


Idaho State Championships from Jesse kroll on Vimeo.