Welcome to Salt Lake, No-one talks about races anymore? Options

[Mike Fields]

So after many months of "civilian" life, Conman and I make our way up to Utah for the Great Salt Lake National, surounded by lovely bedroom communites around Salt Lake, picturesque mountains and families with small children.

Ahhhhh.... it is good to be back. But no threads on the race?

I was taken aback at how big so many kids/riders had gotten since the last race I was at (Grands Jeez what are you people feeding your kids? I honestly didn't recognize a lot of kids until identified. Goes to show how quick things change! New team jerseys, factory logos - wow.

So the track/facility here remains first class. I particularly like the asphalt job behind the 2nd straight for olks going up to watch from besides the starting hill. As aways the bleachers on both sides are sturdy and as Tommy Gaiain wondered aloud, "I got here Thursday afternoon and all the top bleacher spots had tents on them already. WHen do people get here?"

As always, we're expecting a hot weekend at Rad Canyon, on and off the track. As a veteran of many of these campaigns. the car is filled with waters, sun screen and things to read while hiding in the car in the AC. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Hard to say the size of the race without the Friday night race count, but I am guessing about 170 - 180 motos tomorrow, with 30 Elites. Good to see a few injured riders back including Maris, Joey and Conman. Connor finaly turned Pro today and will use this weekend as training in prep for Worlds.

Elite riders looking good included many like Khalen, SamIam, Herman, Long, Tory, KB, and Corben. Gotta throw Nesvig in there, too, he was holding his own and I would put money on him to bring home Jr. Elite WC next month. Maris looked in the mix as well and I know for a fact he has a race gear, unseen in practice. I think everyone is here except Myers.

Should be a great event, as it always is. Maybe someone familiar with the younger riders can throw a few bones to the folks staying home this weekend in their own yards for July 4th BBQ's?

Hopefully, some other folks will chime in

[b2]

Motos tonight were only 56! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I hope the "formula" is wrong this time and we do have a moto-count similar to what you mentioned, Mike, which is on par with what we've had since my kids and I started racing in 2008.

Local Fox13 was out there today and after interviewing Track Director Ron Melton, talked to both me and my 7x. I guess I was on just prior to 6 pm and word is my son will be shown on the 9 pm news (which is on now--we're watching to see).

It is HOT.. but is that uncommon for Utah this time of year? I'm surprised that someone from Vegas thinks it's hot, however... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Mike Fields]

The altitude is what makes it hot here, plus I've been hiding in the house for months.

Great news on the local TV front. One of many things SLC always does is promote this event. Nice story in the SLC paper this morning on the race, too. Congrats on the coverage... make us proud!

I neglected to mention Marc Willers who also looked great tonight. I have a hard time with Marc, a valiant Kiwi who doesn't like rugby! I love him, but that's so un-New Zealand.

I will be getting up at 2:30 a.m. to watch the Brisbane Reds take on the Auckland Blues in the
SuperXV semis. I should get the silver fern

I also neglected to congratulate Jordan Miranda on his GT ride. Congrats!

I also spotted Corben's totally cool GT jersey with the USA stars and stripes left sleeve. COOL!

ANyway, 56 motos would suggest a 140-150 moto race and I think we'll see a bit more than that. Still thinking 170 +/- 10.

G'nite all from beautiful Sandy, UT! Gotta get up early for the rugby....

This post has been edited by Mike Fields: Jul 1 2011, 09:31 PM

[bikesrus]

Whew....glad you're back. Nobody updates the races like Conman's dad.....enjoy!!!

[bnd]

I read that article too Mike in todays paper.



THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

First published Jun 30 2011 05:18PM
Updated Jun 30, 2011 08:34PM
Elite racers from around the world will be at Rad Canyon BMX, 5200 W. 9000 South, in South Jordan Friday through Sunday for the Great Salt Lake Nationals.

This is the 15th year that the American Bicycle Association’s National Series has come to Utah. Last year’s event involved more than 1,250 participants from 24 states and five countries, including 205 Utahns.

Maris Strombergs, an Olympic gold medalist from Latvia, won one event, while Sam Willoughby of Australia had a second and a first. Former Pleasant Grove resident Arielle Martin also recorded two seconds.

Admission is free. A pre-race kicks off activities at 6 p.m. Friday. Racing is set for 11:30 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday.

Jeff Robbins, Utah Sports Commission president and CEO, said the event is expected to generate $3 million in economic impact for the state.

For additional information, www.ababmx.com or call at 1-800-886-1269.




b.

[b2]

6 PM news segment:
http://www.fox13now.com/videobeta/42953750...in-South-Jordan

[sxebmx]

Whew....glad you're back. Nobody updates the races like Conman's dad.....enjoy!!!

Seriously. Mike's updates are always awesome.

[K Robison]

Any media out there? Anyone on Twitter, etc.?

Ken

[Mike Fields]

So about 154 motos. prety small and the vibe is a bit more mellow than previous years.

Looks like some amazing mexican food on hand from one of the vendors which will suit me down to the ground a bit later.

27 elites. Willers looks like the favorite. ALthough Jeoy Bradford laid down one very zippy lap in his ninja, all-black outfit. Dark horse? He is dressed the part... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Chief Steve]

So about 154 motos. prety small and the vibe is a bit more mellow than previous years.

Might be small because of how close this one is to Vegas, many are not able to afford 2 nationals in 2 weeks.

[sxebmx]

2 Americans in the main, 3 Australians on the podium.
Dominique Daniels had some terrible luck, the internal axle on her front wheel blew apart leaving her in a prime spot to get hit in the first turn in moto 3, then blew up on the first straight in the main.
Alise Post and Willoughby picked up the wins.
Khalen young is looking FAST.
Barry Nobles did the ninja turtle back slide through the first turn in the main.
Connor Fields is back, looked sick in Single A and his confidence is up, bumping up to Elite for tomorrow.
Austin Hiatt picked up Junior Men in one of the most exciting races of the day. Brooke Crain took Jr. Women.
Corben and Maris both got pinched out in the semis, Maris was looking pretty solid all day.
Willers got pinched on the first straight in the main and then balled up in the BN fiasco in the first turn. He Khalen and Maris battled it out in every moto.

[Mike Fields]

Well what a day. Hot, reasonably fast and entertaining.

Favorite race of the day: Junior Men. Austin Hyatt didn't read all the press on Rusty and took the gap Rusty gave him and dove into turn one to take the lead. Rusty could have pimped him in turn two but didn't. Austin drag raced him flat out and took the win. Meanwhile Bryce Hocking having the lap of his life, never backing off and gets pimped over turn three - great run for him. SHowing real confidence.

Padilla/Van-Ogle had a great one in class with Lain not giving up and tkaing the win at the very end of the last straight.

Conman enjoyed his 1st A Pro win today. Congrats on an undefeated A-Pro career - tomorrow time to step up and time to train with the Elites. Be nice to stay there and make some money, but Copenhagen hails in a very short period of time.

Elite was great fun to watch with a crazy stacked first moto. Sam was not to be denied holeshotting in the main despite the great drag race with Nick and Khalen and Marc. Sammy swooped from outside and put everyone on notice to grab brake. Interesting main with three Aussies, a Kiwi, a Canuck and three yanks. Good for Kirkham trying to make a name for himself competing against KY and Sammy. And Luke. Hard team to crack, those Aussies. Three Aussies, four Southern Hemisphere (with WIllers), 5 Commonwealth (with Nyhaug) nations and three USA's.

My other son Nyhaug had a great day taking 5th in the main and keeping that beautiful smile all day. Great to see he and his handsome dad, Greg, down in the States. Canada ought to be flying this kid in a private jet everywhere as he is truly Canada's only and best shot at hardware in London. Poor kid's next stop: Holland to train and then off ot misurable Switzerland for more training then Copenhagen. If ever I could swap places.... I am not bitter. Just envious.

D Daniels incredible physique kept her from getting hurt with two gnarly crashes in a row due to her front wheel falling off. Tim - get a mechanic! She's tough, but not invulnerable. Can't be that hard to keep a front wheel on. ALthough with her, maybe so... Maybe she needs industrial strength stuff - she is VERY strong.

Seannie Seannie Gaiain puts together a pair of wins despite his grumpy, complaining about tagging the gate all day. Dads would write checks for that kid's gate. Including me.

If history is to repeat itself, we should lose at least 15 motos tomorrow, maybe 25 due to Church so tomorrow could be a 135 moto day and done by 12:30. Not a bad thing as it is

Good night all, despite the brightness here in beautiful Salt Lake. Will mumble via text tomorrow.

[Thumperpilot]

Check the ABA BMX twitter. I tweeted all day for the fans.


Results are up!

http://www.ababmx.com/index.php?page=defau...=86731&fn=2

[b2]

It's interesting to hear from people when they come out to our track for the first time and say "wow! this place is amazing! the track is great. the turns are smooth and fast and the facility is top notch." but then we don't pull but 154 motos today. maybe i'm biased. add in that scenery, too with the snow capped Wasatch Mountain range to the east.

maybe this year is due to Vegas being only two weeks after this one, as previously mentioned. maybe it being over the 4th of July weekend? last year we had 179 motos, i think, with racing ON the 4th of July.

maybe it's harder for people to get here?

dunno, but there was still some GREAT racing happening on a GREAT track!

and more of the same tomorrow... but Mike, I think you're right with the count dropping... lots of locals in total point motos for inter and novice and it's possible that some of those will be in church tomorrow.

thanks to all of you who made the trip!

PS: i love me some BMX!

This post has been edited by b2: Jul 2 2011, 10:19 PM

[tommy2x4]

maybe it's harder for people to get here?

bingo!