Race Day

Sunday I awoke and headed into Mission to begin training early. Fast lines on the course required you to be perfectly balanced while being powerful yet light on your tires. Precision in line choice was everything. The course was also extremely rough and forced you to be making saves constantly so it was very physically demanding. I started to open it up and began to find my confidence but I also tired more quickly than I would have liked, so after 2 runs I called it. After some food and a stretch my Mom showed up so we hiked up the course to find good viewing spots for her to watch from. Tippie was on the mic at the bottom jumps so we had a brief stop for a chat on his couch before moving upwards. Up course in the amateur categories it seemed to be a war zone, the injured walking down the trail, crash stories coming from every angle, radios calling in severe injuries and stretchers going up-trail with paramedics, so after re-assuring my mom I was not long in staying. My vibe was a bit thrown so I headed back to my van to listen to some sweet tunes, re-focus and visualize. I got my head back in the game, had a really good warm up to G’n’R and headed up the hill with confident anticipation. The start area is seriously my happy place, and at the top of the hill looking down into the valley everything was really green and fresh looking so I was extra content. I also really enjoy the presence of the officials who grant me my run with their countdown. I thanked them, put on my goggles and at 5 seconds to go was out of the gate. My first section was really solid, but perhaps a bit on the aggressive side. Maybe 20 seconds in, coming off a wide open root infested side hill I got a little late bounce turning off a rock pile and missed the critical catch root to give me direction into a cross-rooted wall-ride high line so I ended up lower then I needed to be and started sliding. I tried to save it but on the side hill laced with exposed downwards facing roots there was nothing I could do. I slid out, hit the tree I was supposed to be above and flipped off the trail. I righted myself, got my bike through the tape and started on again to the encouraging shouts from spectators. Unfortunately the biggest thing I had lost other than my speed across the rooty flats was my headspace. I tried to get loose and start flowing again but all I could think was about was making up time. This was not a course to muscle your way down, so my aggressiveness saw me quickly shoulder a tree and from there my headspace was shot. I tried to refocus but I started riding defensively, fatigue set in and after 2 more crashes, what was left of my run was done. What a disaster. With the course being my favorite on the circuit and after my second place there last year I was definitely emotionally attached to putting together a good run, and the hype that surrounded it didn’t help. More than the result, what disappointed me the most was my loss of headspace. Despite everything, I could not be presented a better or more personal situation to analyze and grow from. I had an amazing weekend surrounded by everything I love, got to partake in an epic challenge and am left inspired and empowered to put together better race weekends.

Many thanks to the race organizers, volunteers, medics and everyone who was involved in putting on such a flawless event. There could not be a more challenging event to host, but it went off as well as could possibly be accomodated. My start time was even on time despite all the course holds. As well, props to the two juniors who won the top male and female times of the day and their coaches who got them to where they are today. Nice work all. Can’t wait to see everyone at Bear Mountain in two weeks!

Justin