Squilchuck Chainsmoker & Sun Mtn. Big Ring Bash
Cody Cupp

Things have finally started to come together for me these past two weekends and I feel like I’ve really started riding fast.
        For the Chainsmoker last weekend I was just finishing up an intensity week of training so I was pretty worn out and sore but I still was able to race much better than I have all season. I was finally able to really pedal hard when I wanted to and my legs were feeling strong enough to actually exhaust all of my energy. It was definitely a very painful race but I was pretty happy with how I felt.
        There wasn’t a very big turn-out for this race, so I ended up taking 2nd in the Open/Pro category. I was sticking with the guy who ended up taking first for most of the first lap, but I hooked my front tire around a rock and ended up going over the bars so he was able to pull a ways ahead of me. I tried to catch up to him over the next 4 laps but he only pulled farther away so I spent most of the race just trying to ride smooth and keep increasing the gap between myself and the third place finisher (who was someone that I have never beat before).

I was kind of uncertain about how I would feel coming into our home race at Sun Mtn. this weekend because I rested for most of week the leading up to it so I was a little scared I would be feeling slow and sluggish but I ended up being completely wrong. I felt amazing and I was able ride faster than I ever had in my life before, and quite a few more people showed up this weekend than last so it was a good and fun race.
        I got right out in the front of the pack on the start and managed to stay there for a few minutes. People shifted around a little bit as we made our way to the technical single track on black bear but I think almost everyone in the Open/Pro category stayed together for quite a while on the first lap. It wasn’t until Winthrop Trail (the one steep climb on the course) that the pack really started to break apart. Solomon lead the charge up the climb and everyone just tried to hang onto him. Surprisingly, once we reached the top and got to some smooth fast stuff again, I was the only one left hanging onto the two leaders and I ended up sticking with them for a bit more than two of the three laps. I was so amazed I was able to hang with them as long as I did. It was so much fun to be up in the front with them and ride really fast. Unfortunately, once I dropped off of the leaders, I ended up cracking with about 10 to 20 minutes left in the race and really lost some time. The next guy back from me was able to catch me towards the end and we sprinted it out at the finish for 3rd place. He was able to beat me to line and knock me off the podium. It was disappointing but I was still really happy with how I rode.