Itís one thing to have people you care about come to your party. Actually having them clear the calendar, pack their kid and sibs and bikes and camping gear and funny lawn chairs and good food and traveling 130 miles, navigating confusing traffic and finding old hippy mtb dudes amidst a sea of old mtb dudes in the middle of a world class race course and arriving for a 7 am bash is quite another. And yet we pulled it off.

A full 41 Club members, athletes and their entourage, found their way from El Cerrito to the Spring Mecca of Mountain Biking, The 2004 Sea otter Classic at Laguna Seca. We placed the largest racing team in our Club history on a racecourse contested by some of the greatest Mountain Bikers in the world. A field of 13 El Cerrito Racers were set at the starting line on Sunday morning to test their months of training against High School Racers from throughout the West. We stood the test against the best. We brought it on.

Our party the night before the Race was wonderful. Patty found us the great and deadly pizza source and filled in with a few of her own AND baked bread.
Mark gave up his garage so that the guys could do what they do best, that is, hang around a garage and get greasy. Lincoln, henceforward Dr. Link, absolutely dazzled everyone with his wrenching alacrity, just blasted through any and all rigs at hand. He pronounced Brettís steed as unracable and let Brett use his own bike for the Sunday Race. Talk about giving for the team. Something tells me we have just begun to see what Dr. Link has to offer. Our families arrived from all points with a bounty of food, all in diet version, I am told. The Robertís brought huge pies, the Franks a mound of Strawberries, pound cake, and cream, Anne Malamud brought bread and cheese, the Radoseviches brought wine, and the Team popped for pizza, diet Fudge and Carrot Cakes, and drinks. Mark Kintz made a brazier of coals to keep us warm and the kids watched MTB videos and got to know each other. We were pleased to have coach Darren Stauts from Rocklin and his son Tyler join us as well as two riders from the Berkeley Team, Anthony and Keith. The party was so good even the president of the Norcal High Racing League, Matt Fritzinger, hung with us and he knows a good thing when he sees one.

On Sunday, April 18, shortly after sunrise we found ourselves in the middle of the dry lakebed, which gives this racetrack itís name. In the paved paddock, which is more often full of high performance Grand Prix exotica, the El Cerrito MTB Club claimed itís turf. The white Solano Tent adorned with our banner glowed in the crisp rising sun and marked our place amidst 40,000 spectators. It was the final nexus of our preparations for a day of racing none would soon forget.

Coach Michael and son Miguel arrived early and were met by Sara and Ted Knight, Elise Thomas, Paul, Gina, Molly and Mira Radosevich, and Madi Hunt who helped to set up the tent and table. Sara put out her cookies; Elise her Muffins and the anchor was set. Soon Jeremiah arrived with cream cheese for the Bagels and most importantly our Wrench Extraordinaire, Lincoln Linsmith who was up and running in no time. From then on it was a constant stream of arriving Club members. Family and friends arriving with more food, athletes and bikes. Sue Billings and husband Dennis arrived to deliver Chris Fortin and some really fantastic homemade bran muffins. Anne Malamud arrived for her second race this year and brought not only son Michael but cream cheese for our bagels and new rider Karin Eames. Steve and Chris Roberts pulled in with Rex in tow as well as Zoe who is becoming quite a race denizen. Bob and Lynette cruised in with Jeffrey and some fantastic muffins, cereal, bananas and more Watsonville Strawberries. Bob and Geneva Slaughter, Grand Prix aficionados, were bright and early to their old haunt and Jaeger managed his final registration task using his Yearbook for a photo ID. Harvey ìneither rain nor sleetî Hayashida arrive with Brett and Alex Hung. Phones ringing with calls for directions and the Chang-Evans party rolled up with Alvin; Christian and Pei delivered the goods. Marilyn Jaquith arrived with daughters Renee and Andrea. What Andrea was thinking one could only wonder; the last sunrise she saw was Saturday in Mexico and she barely had time to put her feet on the ground.

The tent simply bubbled with activity. Lincoln continued to amaze us all with last minute adjustments to bikes, which needed a tweak here and there, bits of course advice and mental preparation. Everyone was chatting and Jeremiah was losing his voice. Cookies, muffins, bagels, cereal, fruit, and juices flew about and dozens of bikes were spread around the tent. Our new Team Sweatshirts, gifts to the 2004 Sea Otter Racers, were tossed to surprised Club members. Everyone helped, encouraged, soothed and supported and there were smiles all around. Miguel said, ìDad, this is turning into a party.î

And then Alyse Weyman, one of our great volunteers rode up on her Green Santa Cruz race ready, and spread even more cheer all around, promising to take our ladies for their warm up. Jeremiah, Paul, and Chris had early starting times and they were off. Cytomax was mixed, Clif Bars handed out, Clif shots stashed away or taped to frames and all of a sudden the male Racers were off to warm up.

The Club made itís way to the start and, on that fresh Monterey morning, we were all together. Harvey ìneither rain nor sleetî Hayashida gave up his view of the Start of the race to guard out tent and our cookie goddess Sara Knight took over for him later. These two parents have been critical to our establishment and give us calm and confidence and the freedom to do what we need to do.

The Racing Team has learned a bit about getting good places at the starting line and put that knowledge to good use. Lincoln was there yet again offering tips and encouragement. Michael went through the ranks before his Class started to shake hands and spread good wishes. Family and friends shouted encouragement. And then we were off, up the hill and around the corner for at least 100 minutes of Steinbeck Country.

It is an odd feeling watching everyone disappear over the hill and you really know nothing till they get back, if they get back, and that is something we never assume. And yet back they came. All 13 of them, 16 if you count Jeremiah, Paul, and Michael. Heck, 17, if you count Alyse but then what could stop her?

It was a tremendous day for our club on the 20 mile course; twisty rutted and fractured singletrack, dusty loose climbs, screaming downhills (not really, folks, we never go over 10 miles an hour and always look both ways) and sandpits 8 inches deep in duff. And that lovely cool morning turned hot and dry on the east side of the course overlooking the Salinas Valley. Not complaininí, just sayiní.

Chris Fortin was the first of our riders to finish as he is now in the 19-24 beginner Men classification. Last year he was the only racer in the Boys 18 under class to carry our banner and that experience has paid off. Chris rode very well relying on his fine climbing skills and mental resources and finished with a smile.

Our top 16 under Boys rider Rex Roberts showed his stuff against some very stiff competition from the northwest and finished 13th. Looking and sounding like a pro on the course he managed this finish in spite of a ìclose encounterî with another rider, which cost him a warped wheel and a rubbing break pad. I guess thatís the only way to slow him down! Brett Hayashida, riding Lincolnís steed having never ridden it before finished high in the pack, seriously challenging other League riders. The steadfast Alex Hung finished very well and obliterated his time from last year. Michael Malamud, in his first Sea Otter and longest race to date, really brought his athleticism to the game, and finished not too far behind.

In the 16 under Girls our lone entrant was Karin Eames and new to the Club. She is known, however, from her other exploits in sports for her power and brought it on Sunday. In her very first MTB race she finished just off the podium in 6th place and scored serious Team Points.

In the very competitive 18 under Boys Jeffrey Franks was our top finisher at 20th losing his water bottle in the ìvalley of the bottlesî within the first 3 miles and having a clogged Camelback for the rest of the race. Can we say thirsty? Ted Knight finished very well in 30th place and was seen just screaming up the dusty hills. Alvin Chang, coming off of an excellent Billy Cross, finished well mid pack despite a mechanical that kept him from using his climbing gear. Jaeger Slaughter, ever the warrior, took his pound of flesh from the course, let there be no doubt and seemed to have pulled all his skills together to pull this one off.

Our 18 under Girls were a very bright spot in the Clubs presence. Despite some poorly managed finish line changes, by the Sea Otter Race Staff, when the dust settled Mira Radosevich was the top Norcal High Racing Girl in the category. The girls who took first and second were a triathlete from Colorado and a fine racer from San Diego. So Mira gets a 3rd which strongly reinforces her position as the top 18 under Girl in Norcal. Andrea Jaquith, fresh from a week of house building in Mexico, turned in a very solid mid pack performance and, despite 5 ìcrashesî finished just off the top ten at 12th. Madi Hunt, on instructions from the coaching staff, rode a very clean and conservative ride and finished 14th. Both of these women, Andrea and Madi, bring strengths from other sporting disciplines and are champions in their own right. They really brought it to the game today, laying their bodies down hard for their Team, and scoring very valuable points in our overall total.

Riders of ALL categories commented on the increased difficulty and length of the course this year. Winning times were 12-15 minutes SLOWER overall. In every case where our Club Riders competed in both years they improved their time, when adjusted for the course, and their placement to a substantial degree. This success is an obvious compliment to the hard work our Club members have put in for each other in terms of support, our workouts, and team meetings.

Speaking of Club members some of our Elder Statesmen also raced on Sunday. Paul Radosevich completed his first Sea Otter and it was his longest race to date. Over the year he has worked hard to develop as an MTB rider and it has paid off nicely. Due to an oversight by the Coaches we neglected to give Paul his Racing Sweatshirt but we got it to him on Monday and he is probably wearing it as we speak. Alyse Weyman, hardly elder and hot off of a very successful Cyclocross season, finished 6th in her category managing to tow a number of Ladies in her wake. Why does that sound so familiar? Coach Jeremiah finished 24th in his category dropping 100 places from his finish last year. A quick calculation determines that to be about 1 pound loss for each 2 places. Ya gotta love that! Coach Michael drove his competitors insane with his constant wisecracks on the course and managed a top 10 finish at 9th much to his own surprise. Congratulations to our adult racers..

On a very special note we had friends from home come to watch us. Vanessa Pratt, class President and Kensington resident and Berkeley High student Andi Domer were here to cheer us on. How cool is that?

The Sea Otter presents a number of challenges to our organization due to itís distance from home, itís cost, and the venueís sprawling nature. All these things work against our need to provide the Club with focus and timely support. So much of our ability to be together in comfort was the result of the generosity of the Calvary Chapel First Family, the Mark and Patty Kintzís. It is hard to know how to thank them enough for opening up their home to us and making us feel so welcome and comfortable. Their kids Nick, Teresa, Katy, and Jane are wonderful and we were so pleased to meet so many other Team members. By the way Nick finished 5th in the 16 under Boys and Teresa 10th in the 18 under Girls. Something tells me that we will have to watch out for Katy and Jane, not to mention neighbor Christianís daughter Emily!

One has to wonder how we pull this sort of thing off. Well the answer is clearly that it comes from all of us. It comes from the people who organize, co-operate, contribute, and support. It comes from people who never presume success but live it to fruition through grace and fellow feeling.

So thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you one and all for making this a great event. A very special and heartfelt thanks to the Kintz Family for their hospitality.

We are very lucky to have this.

Michael Mejia

Jeremiah Holland

Coaches ECHSMTB Club