Troy Races Northstar at Lake Tahoe
Cal State Series Race

Story and Pictures by Jim Sladeck

We took 6 bikes up with us for the short trip to Tahoe. Troy had his first full day of downhilling on technical singletrack and fireroads the day before his race.

The day of the race Troy lined up with the other boys, 3 of them were from Orange County, the other was a local from Grass Valley (9 years old)

Troy must have been a bit rusty with all the time off and his wrist injury. He had a bad start, his foot slipped off his pedal and he was completely stopped for a few seconds. Troy got started again and was in last place with a steep fire road ahead. Since we had pre-ridden the course, Troy knew what he had to do. If he didn't get in first place before the single track in the forest, he would be stuck behind without an opportunity to pass until the next fire road climb

One by one he passed them up and just barely made it into the single track as the leader. Two other kids tried to keep up for a while and slowly fell back so far we couldn't see them any more. Troy wouldn't slow down; he kept up a fast race pace the entire time. It took him about 35 minutes to climb to the top. He raced down to the finish line for the win.

8 minutes later the next racer came through the finish line. On the hardest race of the season Troy sped through the whole race track and wasn't even tired at the end. I guess the Black Star Canyon training ride a few days earlier paid off (1 hour 45 minute climb).

Troy has now raced in the northern and southern parts of California and is the clear leader of the California State Championship Series. Troy's next race in Big Bear in August and then it's off to the National Championship race in Mammoth.

Many thanks to Fred Currie of First Team Real Estate who sponsored Troy's race and is the local Foothill Ranch Realtor. Thanks also to the Warrior's Junior Race Team sponsors Shimano, Manitou, Clif Bar, Cytomax, The Path Bike Shop and Switchback Cyclery.

-Jim