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Taming the Tetons
Jackson Hole, Wyoming - July 21, 2007 It
takes a bit of sacrifice to race Jackson Hole. It's a long drive, and
riders need to stay overnight to be there on time to race. But it's a fun
and challenging trail for racing. The weather was sunny and pleasant.
There were a few minor disasters that hampered our racing results, but the
affected riders survived with good humor. First-place finishes: Danny Van
Wagoner and Kellie
Williams. Second-place: Matt Flygare, Justin Griffin, and Bruce Argyle. Photo: Doing
a little bike prep in the parking lot before the race. |
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The Jackson Hole race is the most-distant
race of the ICup series. Many racers and their families camped along the
Snake River.
At left, Matt's son and Mike's daughter get physical with the
cabin porch swing.
At right, the gang carb loads with a spaghetti dinner
the night before the race.
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Amber Hatfield pedals through aspen
and fir on the way to 8th place in the
Sport Women category. |
Looking strong, Danny Van Wagoner
powers past deep ferns as he grabs
that 1st place in Sport-Expert 13-15. |
Evan Christensen challenges the
Clydesdales and motors through the
forest to 4th place. |
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Doing the board-balancing act again,
Ben Hutchings cranks uphill to the
7th-place spot in Sport Men 19-29. |
Scott Hunsaker moves to Sport
40-plus
for this race and carves a dusty turn
as he heads into the finish area 9th. |
Bruce Argyle unsuccessfully chases
his nemesis and again gets that red
2nd-place "consolation prize." |
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A spectator watches the action,
wondering if those yellow and black
things will scare out a squirrel. |
Dan Hutchings drops from the board
into the mire as he grabs another
ribbon at 5th place in SM 30-34. |
Kellie Williams loads up with loot
earned through her first-place finish
in Sport-Expert 16-18. |
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Eric Taylor rides one of many tricky
board sections over swampy areas,
taking 6th place in Sport Men 19-29. |
Hustling down the trail, John Van
Wagoner
grabs a ribbon and team points with a 6th
place in Sport Men 40-plus. |
A traffic crash delays Jolene Nosack
for
hours. Never say die, as she starts her
race after the last Women 35+ has finished. |
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Caught behind a traffic accident on the
way from Star Valley, Kris Nosack is too
late to race, and takes a "fun ride" instead. |
Dale Hutchings hits the snaking
downhill
as he speeds to the finish line, taking 5th
in Beginner Men 30-39. |
Justin Griffin can only do
one race
at Jackson, so he goes for SE 13-15 and
nails 2nd place. |
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Left: Mike Engberson hits the
end of the
zig-zag. Two laps down, one more to go,
as he fights to 10th place in Expert Men 30-39.
Right: Dicey board bridges,
swamps,
roots, big ugly rocks. Sally Hutchings
takes it with a smile on the way to
7th place in Women 35-plus. |
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Dave Larsen looks very rested during
the awards. Dave broke his derailleur
during pre-race fun and went DNF. |
Overcoming big-time chain troubles,
Matt Flygare fights back through the
pack to take 2nd in Sport Men 30-34. |
Saturday night, and it's time for the
traditional UMB team dinner at Jackson.
Mike's chicken, Bruce's taters-n-onions... |
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We fed 25 people at the team BBQ. Just
a
small token for the great effort our team
members made to race at Jackson.
Right: Ben wins the efficiency award
by toasting 9 marshmallows
at a time.
We're talking major S'mores here... |
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| Only 15 UMB racers had official finishes at
Jackson, as bad luck eliminated Jolene, Kris, and Dave from potential team
points. Revolution obviously remembered what we did to them at this race
last year, as they turned out in force and won the team competition. It's
been a great season, and it's not over yet. Wolverine Ridge counts double.
Every racer on our team -- whether expert or beginner -- could win or lose
the team championship for 2007. Just by deciding whether or not they'll
race at Wolverine. But hey, no pressure...
For additional pix and high-res versions, see Jay's
excellent work at http://picasaweb.google.com/1mtnbiker/UMBJacksonHole2007
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