mommotox
03-24-2008, 11:59 AM
Whew…!!!!!
Well, our season finally started yesterday! To say it was a rough start to the day would be an understatement. We woke up to 13 degree temperatures, and snow on the ground. It was a brrrrrr-cold start, but the sun was shining, and everyone was ready to roll….up until halfway through Zach’s practice!
At the absolute furthest point on the track away from where I was standing, on the backside of a jump I could not see, he went down…and not a little tip over, but a yard-sale! I knew I hadn’t seen him come around, so I looked up there and sure enough there was a yellow flag. I started running, looked up again, and saw the medic flag. I started running faster!!! When I got there, he was standing and they immediately told me he was OK. Good news!!! His bike, however, was now minus a gas tank. Yep, in his crash, where he went over the bars and then had his leg run over by another rider, his gas tank completely separated from the rest of his bike! Bikes can be fixed, legs are a little harder. I’ll take bike damage anytime!
The medics brought him and his bike back to the trailer, and it appeared as though somehow in the crash, the screw holding it all together had stripped. The good news…we had a back-up. So, now, the bike is fine and the kid is fine, and we’re back up to the gate for Rylan’s practice.
Rylan’s practice was a lot less stressful…at least for me. Dad was running the track pretty well as the conditions were pretty tough for her and her little bike was just sinking in the muck. Yet, like the dirt girl she is, she kept a smile on her face, made it through practice, and couldn’t wait to get out there and race!
The 65 races for Zach went really well! He used his first one as “practice” and did really well learning the track. His first 7 – 9 race saw him get an amazing start, and he rounded the first turn in 3rd. He was even “accused” of sandbagging the practice. He was solid all day, and had a great time! His last race of the day, he pulled another huge start and rounded the first turn in 2nd. All in all, the 65 open class was definitely tougher for him, but he still managed a solid mid-pack finish. The 65 7 – 9 class was a huge success for him. He ended up going 8 – 7 for 6th overall. His consistency paid off and he earned a 6th place trophy (there were 20 in his class). This is a huge accomplishment for Zach in the 65s! Last year was a struggle, starting on
50s ending on 65s, and never really finding a groove. He was totally stoked yesterday, and it was awesome to see him so proud of what he accomplished!
The 50 races for Rylan were great! Her first 2 races were still muddy, and she still struggled a bit during those….she wasn’t the only one! The track did start drying by the end of the morning, and her last 2 races she was a totally different rider! She started finding her speed again, and she even made some great passes. She is definitely setting herself up for a very successful year! Though she had some ups and downs yesterday, she never lost the smile on her way around the track. Good thing too, as the other parents all look for that smile, and would be so bummed if it wasn’t there!
All in all, yesterday was a great success. The kids had a great time and both were very excited to get their trophies. However, I have to say, I am pretty sure they were more excited about getting the chocolate bunnies that the promoter gave all the 50 and 65 kids than the trophies themselves!
I'd like to say pictures will be forthcoming, but in all the getting ready craziness, I forgot my camera! We need to get back in the swing of this racing thing!! :oops:
Well, our season finally started yesterday! To say it was a rough start to the day would be an understatement. We woke up to 13 degree temperatures, and snow on the ground. It was a brrrrrr-cold start, but the sun was shining, and everyone was ready to roll….up until halfway through Zach’s practice!
At the absolute furthest point on the track away from where I was standing, on the backside of a jump I could not see, he went down…and not a little tip over, but a yard-sale! I knew I hadn’t seen him come around, so I looked up there and sure enough there was a yellow flag. I started running, looked up again, and saw the medic flag. I started running faster!!! When I got there, he was standing and they immediately told me he was OK. Good news!!! His bike, however, was now minus a gas tank. Yep, in his crash, where he went over the bars and then had his leg run over by another rider, his gas tank completely separated from the rest of his bike! Bikes can be fixed, legs are a little harder. I’ll take bike damage anytime!
The medics brought him and his bike back to the trailer, and it appeared as though somehow in the crash, the screw holding it all together had stripped. The good news…we had a back-up. So, now, the bike is fine and the kid is fine, and we’re back up to the gate for Rylan’s practice.
Rylan’s practice was a lot less stressful…at least for me. Dad was running the track pretty well as the conditions were pretty tough for her and her little bike was just sinking in the muck. Yet, like the dirt girl she is, she kept a smile on her face, made it through practice, and couldn’t wait to get out there and race!
The 65 races for Zach went really well! He used his first one as “practice” and did really well learning the track. His first 7 – 9 race saw him get an amazing start, and he rounded the first turn in 3rd. He was even “accused” of sandbagging the practice. He was solid all day, and had a great time! His last race of the day, he pulled another huge start and rounded the first turn in 2nd. All in all, the 65 open class was definitely tougher for him, but he still managed a solid mid-pack finish. The 65 7 – 9 class was a huge success for him. He ended up going 8 – 7 for 6th overall. His consistency paid off and he earned a 6th place trophy (there were 20 in his class). This is a huge accomplishment for Zach in the 65s! Last year was a struggle, starting on
50s ending on 65s, and never really finding a groove. He was totally stoked yesterday, and it was awesome to see him so proud of what he accomplished!
The 50 races for Rylan were great! Her first 2 races were still muddy, and she still struggled a bit during those….she wasn’t the only one! The track did start drying by the end of the morning, and her last 2 races she was a totally different rider! She started finding her speed again, and she even made some great passes. She is definitely setting herself up for a very successful year! Though she had some ups and downs yesterday, she never lost the smile on her way around the track. Good thing too, as the other parents all look for that smile, and would be so bummed if it wasn’t there!
All in all, yesterday was a great success. The kids had a great time and both were very excited to get their trophies. However, I have to say, I am pretty sure they were more excited about getting the chocolate bunnies that the promoter gave all the 50 and 65 kids than the trophies themselves!
I'd like to say pictures will be forthcoming, but in all the getting ready craziness, I forgot my camera! We need to get back in the swing of this racing thing!! :oops: