Story by Chris Vargas
Pictures by Barry Wood, John Early and Gerritt Slingerland
Web Editor Barry Wood
Thanks to all who participated in the Switchback 6-Hours of Orange County! We are always
amazed and impressed by the participants in our events. Extending our race season has been
a learning experience and the feedback and enthusiasm you have given us is greatly
appreciated.
The one thing about having events in October is you don't know if it'll be hot or cold;
and this year it was hot. The demanding course at 5.6 miles long and 1,253 feet of
elevation gain per lap was made a little more difficult with temperatures in the mid 80's,
which when compared to the temps at the 24-Hours of Orange County (over 100) must have
seemed a cool for those who competed in both events.
Putting on events reminds me of the scene from the Wizard of OZ where the Wizard is
amazing Dorothy and her companions with his abilities until the curtain he is behind is
pulled away by Toto and the "Wizard" is revealed to be at the controls of his special
effects machine furiously pulling levers and dials.
Though the events at their face may look like they run amazingly, in truth at times we
feel like the Wizard; behind the "curtain" furiously pulling levers and twisting dials.
This year was no exception. Two day's before the event it was discovered that workers
employed by one of the property owners had graded a portion of the course causing
extensive damage.
Scott Tedro, the CEO of our major sponsor Sho-Air, took the lead in repairing the damage.
He was out there with his race team members on Friday furiously working to repair the
damage in time for the event. The work was completed in time and Scott and his team saved
the day. Scott was recognized at the awards ceremony for his help in making the event a
success.
We had some great competitors at the event and two of the best were Manuel Prado in the
solo 17 to 30 Expert Class and Warrior's Society member Mario Correa in the 31 to 45
Expert Class who both rode 9 laps (50.4 miles and 11,277 feet of climbing) winning their
classes. Manuel's time was 5:45:49 and Mario's time was 5:46:46. Both Manuel and Mario are
sponsored by Sho-Air.
Mario Correa wrote about his experience at the Switchback 6-Hours Of O.C. on his blog
"Enjoying the Ride".
In the 31 to 45 Solo Female Expert Class Louise Kobin finished 1st with 8 laps (44.8 miles
and 10,024 feet of climbing) followed by Fiona Peterson and Warrior's Society member Mary
Huth who both completed 7 laps (39.2 miles and 8,771 feet of elevation gain). Fiona
captured second place by finishing her last lap about 3 minutes before Mary.
In the Solo Male Expert 46 and up Class Warrior's Society founding member and Director
Keith Eckstein finished 1st riding a rigid single speed with 6 laps (33.6 miles and 7,518
feet of elevation gain). In second place was Randy Profeta with the same amount of laps
finishing his last lap about 11 minutes after Keith. Phil Kramer and Steve Ellis both
finished 5 laps with Phil finishing in 3rd place due to his last lap being faster.
In the 2 Person Class the Sho-Air Single Speed team of George Muñoz and John "Fuzzy" Mylne
and the Sho-Air geared team of Josh Smith and Jason First both completed 10 laps (56 miles
and 12,530 feet of elevation gain) with the single speed team winning 1st place by
finishing there last lap about 6 minutes faster than the geared team. In third place was
Team Tandem Champs made up of Jeff Nelson and Spencer Hurtt (who hold the Vision Quest
tandem record) who completed 7 laps.
In the 3 Person Class the Sho-Air Team of Scott Tedro, Terry Best and Craig Hopps came in
1st with 9 laps (50.4 miles and 11,277 feet of elevation gain). The following 3 teams
(team DRT, team Jenson/JAX/STR and team Lusardi) all finished 8 laps with team DRT (Dean
Long, Rod Leveque and Thomas Stockton) and team Jenson/JAX/STR (Jeffrey Do, Matt Snow and
George Gonzalez) coming in 2nd and 3rd based on the time they finished their last lap.
In the 2 Person Coed Class Gerritt and Kym Slingerland of team "The Wiener and the Whiner"
came in first riding single speeds with 9 laps (50.4 Miles and 11,277 feet of total
elevation gain). They were also the coed champs in 2005. In 2nd place was Team KHS made up
of Bryan VanVleet and Brittany VanVleet with 7 laps with team Pylons made up of Greg
Ackerman and Ann Ackerman finishing 3rd with 6 laps.
In the Solo Novice 16 and Under Class 16 year old Matt Nourmohamadian came in 1st with 6
laps (33.6 miles and 7,518 feet of total elevation gain) followed by 13 year old Camron
Pattaja with 4 laps. Both Matt and Camron are members of the Warrior's Society.
The oldest competitor was Douglas Kubler, at age 62, who came in second in the Solo Novice
46 and Up Class with 5 laps and Jud Oshier coming in 1st also with 5 laps (but with a
faster time on his last lap). In third was Geof Sanberg who also completed 5 laps.
After the 3rd event of our Orange County Championship Series Manuel Prado with 185 Points
and Bernice Pierson with 195 points are the current leaders with only one event, the
November Sho-Air / Rock N Road Fall MTB Classic, left. Both Manuel and Bernice are part of
the Sho-Air / Rock N Road Race Team.
The complete results can be found on our web site here.
To view the Orange County Championship point standings go to our web site here.
Of course the Switchback 6-Hours of Orange County would not have been possible without the
help of our club members, volunteers and sponsors. Most important of these volunteers is
Sherry Panttaja our Executive Director in charge of events and sponsorship. Sherry has
brought a new sense of drive, commitment and enthusiasm to the club. Sherry had the
following thoughts to share:
"I want to personally thank all my customers and friends who participated in the 2nd
annual Switchback Cyclery 6 hours of OC. I love being in the timing and announcing
watching you all come through transition with either a smile or a grimace. Thank you for
your support by racing at our event and supporting our shop (Switchback Cyclery) over the
last eight years. Without all of you out there racing we would not have been able to
bring mountain bike racing in Orange County with The Warrior's Society."
Making Sherry's job easier is our timing Director Suzanne Martin and Course Manager Jason
Martin. They have been key to prepping for the event and making sure the timing and
scoring goes off without a hitch. Our timing staff of Jenny Hardison, Barry Wood, Annie
Finken, Elsa Hutton and Adam Potter did a great assisting Suzanne.
Our Communications Director Joe Lopez, as always, kept us informed as to what was going on
with this team of Bill Hines and Ken Rands.
Our course marshals, Suzanne Wilson, Mark Wilson, Bob Haislett, Serge Viau and Mark
Cluttey did a great job keeping people on course and encouraged. Our logistics team of
Reed Price, Bob McCarter, John Early and Matt Forest made sure the course was properly
marked and quickly taken down after the event. Jeff Parish and Treve Misemer also stopped
by Friday night to help set up the staging area.
All of us were kept well fed thanks to our lead cooks Alec Martinez and Gena Vargas, who
were assisted by Chip Leopard. The great t-shirt design was created by our Graphics
Director Barry Wood, who always does an outstanding job, and screen printed by Salinger
graphics, who also did a great job. We also thank the Sho-Air / Rock N Road "kids" cheer
team who rooted for all the participants near the exchange area.
Many thanks to Core Chiropractic with their DMS massage, which the participants will
attest affectively moved lactic acid and kept their muscles fresh during the event. Check
out their website.
We also thank Larry "Lare-Dog" Branham, our Safety Officer, for overseeing our volunteers
making sure everyone operated in a safe manner.
We are blessed with so many great and loyal sponsors, including our major sponsors,
Shimano, Manitou, Clif Bar, Cytomax, Sho-Air, Switchback Cyclery, JAX, Rock N Road and
Felt Bikes. For a complete list of our sponsors go to:
https://www.warriorssociety.org/sponsors.html
The pictures David Bourne took at the event for purchase have already been posted on his
website.
They are listed under 6 Hours of Orange County. He has them organized by rider number and
then the unidentifiable and general event photographs were placed in the gallery called
Odds and Ends.
Sho-Air is having an amateur $5,000 bike sponsorship contest that is in the new
Mountain Bike Action
December issue and on their website.
All those wishing to take part in the contest have to do to enter is go to the site and
write a brief story about how mountain biking has done something good in their life.
Thanks again for your support! See you at the Sho-Air/Rock N Road Fall Mtb Classic
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