What an honor for the Town of Eagle and the inaugural Firebird 40 to have this guy and so many others show up to race...National champion Todd Wells. Todd interviewed by Eddie Clark from Mountain flyer Magazine.
The weather finally broke in the high country this weekend, and it was a pretty special time in the town of Eagle, Colorado. Thanks to the Town, many of the most talented mountain bike racers in the country showed up to race the inaugural Firebird 40 (36) and the racing was fantastic, and the Eagle Outside Expo was a bug success, and there were tons of demo bikes to check out, and it was simply incredible to see so many riders introduce to just some of what Eagle has to offer. Most racers and visitors explained that they never knew that any of this even existed, and we hope they come back to ride and race again. It was a cool vibe all weekend. Mike Mac killed it bringing big time racing to Eagle. It was hard and fun. It will be better in the future. Be sure to put the Eagle Outside Festival on your map for next year....I'll be here. For sure.
The first ever charge of the neutral rollout in Eagle.
The Firebird La Femme was the first ever women's only mountain bike race in Eagle. Erin Huck of Tokyo Joe's took the win and a check for $1000 home with her. The women dug the course and the format....
That's Todd Wells, USA National Champion, on top of the podium and $2000 wealthier on Saturday. Gretchen Reeves won the women's 40.
This weekend the Town of Eagle, Colorado wants to share all of it's dirt with you at the Eagle, Outside festival and expo. Mike McCormack and other have put together a weekend of racing, demos, activities and rides for the rest of the world that are sure to be a good time. The racing will take place on town open space property and it's lower loops which are super fun screaming singletrack. Look for this event to grown into an epic loop race in the future once the BLM get's their travel management program in a straight line and we can link up some of the mega loops to the west of town, maybe in a year or two. Don't miss it, it's gonna be a big time in my home town...
As I get older and run out of ski seasons, I must thank certain factions for great ski seasons. In this case I would like to thank the second half of the 2012/2013 ski season for making this such a great ski year. This includes the best day of skiing I think I have ever had in May in 30 years of living in Colorado.
Thank you Loveland Ski Area, yesterday was a keeper.
It still freekin snowing, and it is snowing a shit ton, which is measured by weighing a ton of shit. Today I sold my soul....I read this morning's snow report of the two remaining ski areas open, which are a 15 minute drive apart, and I sold my soul, I went to Loveland, paid $36, and skied what was reported as 17 inches of new snow, on top of 7 yesterday. That's two feet in two days. I did'nt mean to do it, but I did. As I made my way towards the front range, with the pack of four dogs in the vehicle, the plan was to go to Arapahoe Basin, where I ski for free on my pass. But I detoured my plan and drove through the tunnel first to see if the snow report was accurate at Loveland first. Driving over Vail pass the temperature was a crisp 11 degrees. It was just about that cold when I got to Loveland Ski Area, and the snow was very deep, and the decision was made. I would ski at Loveland for the first time in twenty some odd years. It had been so long since I skied at Loveland that there were lifts there that did not exist last time I skied there. The temperature never rose above 21 degrees during the day, and the skiing was nothing short of spectacular. You could throw the word "best" around I suppose, but you hear that shit all the time. I'm just glad I was there on this unusually cold and deep day in May. I posted a comment on the University of Facebook during the day and bummed out a bunch of people who were not on the hill today in ski boots. They voiced their displeasure in the comments section below my post. I'd like most of you to understand something about my life and lifestyle. I'm 55 years old, I have spent the majority of my adult life much as I spent the misspending of my misspent youth, living just above or at what the rest of the world interprets as "poverty level". This is a standard set by people who do not have a very good understanding of what life is truly about. I do not have a lot of money and a nice big shiny car or big obnoxious house like many of you, with 2.4 kids and a wonderful wife. I made decisions long ago during my life that I was here for a fun time, not a long time. I made this decision after seeing some unfortunate life events when I was young which struck me very personally. I'm glad so many you are so "successful" by societies standards, that is very important to most of you. I will never have gobs of money in a bank account, but what I do have is the memories of a free spirited life and how I have managed to steal as many days away from the world as I could while I was here, healthy, doing things I love to do and sharing those experiences with cool people. The sun rises and the sun sets everyday, and if you do not enjoy the day, you do not get it back, it is a day wasted. I've always asked a simple question to myself and it goes like this, "Larry, do you think a person laying in bed with cancer would rather have a million dollars in the bank on their last day to live or would they rather go skiing or mountain biking in the Rocky Mountains. The answer seems pretty straight forward to me. My spirit plays for those who can't and wish they could, it's that simple. Today was not a wasted day, and I know my videos have become boring and barely watchable by the majority of the world, but they are reminders to myself of a good time and a great day on the mountain...I'll spare you the thousands of turns from Loveland today, but here are a handful of the ridge, face shots included. I hope you did something really fun as well today....
I spend a large portion of my life this time of year front ranging it for work as well as spending time with my significant putter upper with me. It's wonderful. I spend the other half of the month back in Eagle which is where I actually live, as you know. Some of the dirt has finally dried up and is ready for fat tires so of course it's time to hit it. I feel blessed to have this in Ted Gould's backyard so I can ride it. Has anyone else noticed that Tim Tebow has not been thanking GOD as much lately? Just wondering.
The first signs of a spring that is struggling to grasp Colorado this year. Rafters and fish will be very happy this summer.
And then just when it's getting prime, the weather shuts us down again and it dumps more snow on the first of May. Only one thing to do in this case. GO SKI THE SHIT!
The dogs were diggin it, way more fun getting muddy than staying dry.
And then there is this random bueat, posted by old friend Tom Resignolo this morning on FB. If you have to ask, don't.....
A place to come and hide away from life's daily bore, a place to smile and laugh....maybe even cry, a place to reflect on what's really important in life, where you go and who you go with....it's not about the pile of money you get to take with you to the grave folks.....your bank accounts should be a wealth of great experience and good friends. I am indeed a wealthy man. All attempts at humor on the site are just that, attempts. Most is untrue, all is purely entertainment.
Larry G
