Bl@ster

If you're in, you know...

by: Andrew Schirpke

So the best race of the year is too underground to fully explain. I’ll keep the names hidden to protect the innocent.

We start with a Friday night dance at my school. Mom’s out of town so Dad picks me up and straight to bed when we get home.

Wake up Saturday morning and clean the bikes. We don’t want to transport any unwanted plants.  Load the Jeep with the cold weather gear. The day started about 40 degrees. Off to the gas station and then the grocery store. Ribeyes, weiners and chicken. This event is described as a mountain bikers party where occasionally a race breaks out. Make no mistake this is one serious trail.

So we register and get our pie plate. I’m set to do 2 laps. Put a dollar down on 107, again if you’re in, you know. Get the kit on and try to stay warm. We get to the end of the road and then boom. Shotgun start! We start the parade lap and after a short loop we’re into the woods. Rocky single track that requires all your attention! I didn’t go in last but I lost spots on every open section. There are climbs everywhere and somehow not enough downhills to match. The rock gardens are for real and aren’t straight. There is a burm that I couldn’t ride high. It’s only 6 miles but my first lap took 45 minutes. I went down hard a couple times and was feeling it bad. I got back to the start/finish and got a gel handup. Took the lap path and after a thorough breifing with my dad I decided to start my parting early.

Got my killer T6 shirt and hung with my P@lska buds. Drank my revovery and felt better. 4 generators powered the biggest food spread you’ve ever seen. Stews, desserts and everything you could imagine. The fire was warm so I spent a lot of time there.

My dad was off shortly for his 3 lapper, bummer. He came by twice and I gave him his hand-ups. Somehow I missed his finish. No podium for either of us today but remember this is a party with some riding going on.

D@rr&n won and we were stoked for him. Now he has to defend the wooly. Also congrats to L@r$. Fired up the grill for more food. Then the winners got first crack at the Swag table. Once the winners are done everyone gets their name called and you get to go home with some pretty cool stuff. Wish I could talk more about it but I’ve already said too much.

Thanks to everyone who puts it on(you know who you are) I hope I can get an invite back. Maybe I’ll bring my bike again. Usually I do some shout outs but in the spirit of the event I didn’t see anybody. Race what race?

-Andy