CYMBL

CYMBL: Carolina Youth Moutain Bike League
Race #1
Falling Creek Camp. 

The kid's first race was last Sunday.  We had planned on trying to camp out the night before, but with temps dipping close to freezing in some areas, we opted to stay home and stay warm.  

In the truck on the way out, he would not stop talking.  He was so excited that this day was all about him. 

We arrived at the low stress venue and got checked in.  I wished that I had bought a CYMBL T-shirt for him,  I could do that at the next race.  We were to spend the morning monitoring the "Skinnies Comp".  After a while no one showed up, so we went out and walked some of the course.  I misread the map and we walked a lot of gravel road.

When race time came, the kids lined up with the dads grouped behind. 

The gun went off and the 7-8 yr olds took off like little greased lightnings.  200 yrds into the course was a steep gravel road that switch backed a couple of time.  The kid rode as far as he could before jumping off and alternating between running and walking to the top. 

Breathing heavily, he got on the bike and got some momentum.  Turning onto some singletrack, we realized that we had not walked the correct route.  What can you do? 

The kid was raging single track like I had never seen him do before.  Neither one of us were mentally prepared for the technical (for a kid his age) singletrack, but he was attacking it and riding rock gardens and switchbacks with confidence.

And then he crashed.  Slamming his already skinned elbow, from a previous high speed crash, into the trail.  He had a long sleeved shirt on but it still hurt like mad.  The tears started to flow, but with a little encouragement he go back on the bike.

He pushed hard for 25 minutes, and wound up in 7th place out of 9 kids.  (hmmm,  that looks a lot like my results).  He is at the bottom of his age group though, so as he grows,  so might his results. 

I'm so proud of my little mtn bike racer!!

The best part is he loves it and looks forward to doing it again!!

The next race will be held at Jackson Park: May 22.

2011 Race Dates:

• April 17, 2011 - Falling Creek Camp - Tuxedo, NC

• May 22, 2011 - Jackson Park - Hendersonville, NC

• August 28, 2011 - Camp Carolina - Brevard, NC

• September 18, 2011 - Christ School - Arden, NC

• October 23, 2011 - Championship at Falling Creek - Tuxedo, NC