Cross on the Rock

A MAJOR thanks to MAZDA for continuing their title sponsorship of the COTR series. We will have the FULL CX Mazda line up at Days of Thunder. Check it out!!

The Warm Up

Western Speedway. A holy ground for cyclocross. So many GREAT battles. Home of the SSCXWC2015. This weekend will be amazing! One note though is that this venue for the weekend costs us over $3500+ JUST for the venue. That is why this event is $5 more to register. Just wanted to make that clear so people know the reason.

COTR MERCHANDISE
We have the following inventory left of merchandise for the season:

T Shirts (2017 Version and a few 2016’s left) YOUTH, WOMEN and Men’s sizes
Socks
Hats (Black on the front and white on the back)
I will put the full – remaining inventory on a post on FB later tonight for reference.

• After the SUCCESS of both their Freezie Stand and their Licorice Stand Tessa and Tycho have built something entirely NEW for this weekend’s day #1 of the double header. Cross on the Rock is sponsoring a friendship pin table. This will be FREE. They are setting up after the ‘Lil Nutcase race at the Frontrunners Van. Kids and adults are welcome to come and make their own friendship pin. All supplies will be provided. Directions, if needed, by Tessa and Tycho.
• If anyone is staying up at Bear Mountain on Friday and Saturday nights and can bring my crew down to the race venue a bit later in the morning please let me know. It would be nice for them to NOT have to get up before dawn to head down the hill with me.
• Wendy’s Super Jake is for sale. Size 53 if anyone is looking. (More details to follow)
• Norm has a portable (battery or 12V powered) power washer for sale just perfect for CX bikes if anyone is looking (More details to follow).

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1. Are you READY for the Days of Thunder (all the details)
2. Norm’s Notes (A separate feature this week)
3. Practice Groups are still happening (but fading quickly with the light)

1. Are you READY for the Days of Thunder (all the details)

Registration
Registration for Day #1 CLOSES at 8:00 PM on Friday Night: https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14151/2017-cross-on-the-rock-days-of-thunder-1
Registration for Day #2 CLOSES at 8:00 PM on Saturday Night:
https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14152/2017-cross-on-the-rock-days-of-thunder-2

Honestly for the double header…..we would like to have as FEW day-of-race entries as possible. PLEASE pre-register.

Course Description:
Both days will feature modified versions of 2015’s SSCXWC (Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships) course with (possibly) less boats, snow, shortcuts, but hopefully more mud!

With a wide motocross style start on dirt (one day and one day regular grid), a paved finish line straight away, and every other type of surface in between, the courses for both days are a great mix of slow, fast, and really slow with a number of potential on-off bike sections thrown in for good measure.

Venue:
Western Speedway is located just outside of Victoria in Langford @ 2207 Millstream Rd, Victoria, BC V9B 0J7. Pretty straight forward to locate using your preferred map service and lots of parking in the main lot near the Speedway. Once you turn off Millstream Road into the venue follow the signs for the Speedway which is located in the back right corner of the massive parking lot. See map below for where to park.

Team Tent Area:
There will be a designated tent set up area close to food trucks and finish line area of the course. See venue map for exact location. No parking in the Team Tent area. Unload, setup then park in the main lot. MUST be on site BEFORE the first race as the course runs through the team tent area. If you want to reserve a team tent spot fire Drew a note (drew.a.mackenzie@gmail.com). You can not pack your stuff up and LEAVE the team area UNTIL the last race is FINISHED.

Event Sponsors:
A massive thanks to our extraordinary event sponsors for supplying all the race tape (so much race tape!) and a huge amount of prizing.

• Shimano (bike.shimano.com/)
• Pearl Izumi (www.pearlizumi.com/)
• Pro Components (www.pro-bikegear.com/en-gb)
• Focus Bikes (www.focus-bikes.com)

Food and Expo:
The best waffles in the business, Wannawafel will be on site serving up tasty Belgian inspired goodness.

Indecent Risotto Food Truck is also confirmed for the race, serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Venue Map: (Take Note: This is more of a VENUE map rather than a PROPER Course map)

2. Norm’s Notes (Mosty about CX Nationals)

• Small note. In 2011 (I think) Naked was AWESOME and got on board to sponsor the series with a frameset for some AWESOME rider. We set up the draw at the final race with everyone’s names being cut up and put into a bucket (it took forever). The first person’s name to be drawn out was Wendy Simms. Now we KNOW that Wendy (or I) and EVERYONE else at the races would LOVE to win a Naked frame. BUT we pulled another name and someone else took home the bike. I think it might have been Jennifer Erlendson? SO……when I hear little comments about “the fix” when my kids names legitimately and fairly get called for a draw prize it bugs me. My kids LOVE the races. And like anyone LOVE to win prizes. Keep your comments to yourself please in these cases. There is NO fix. If anyone knows me….our family is more than fair…..in fact we gave up a Naked frame……need any more proof?
• I had a great weekend racing cross this past weekend. NOT at our usual COTR races which I LOVE but in Quebec with a few other COTR’ers. One thing I know for sure. Our series equips riders with the skills needed to tackle almost any course that we are likely to find in Canada. The one in Sherbrooke was TOUGH….but all our crew never mentioned it. Instead they all revelled in the technical nature of the set up.
• It had been a few years since I raced CX Nationals…..and nothing had changed. This is NOT a good thing. With the sport growing all around us on the Island and in BC…..Nationals has remained stagnant with no real changes. As a race organizer and someone who has been around CX for now 14 years it is sad to see the lack of vision or innovation at our highest level in the country.
• Emilly Johnson is a Canadian Champion. I don’t care what the CCA and their STUPID rules with regards to youth racing are. I don’t care if it was in their eyes a “challenge” category. She was 1st and should have been awarded a jersey. The fact that she was not is simply laziness and short sightedness.
• I could go on and on about the things that SHOULD be changed and modified at CX Nationals…..but I have to move on and get ready for the DOUBLE HEADER.

3. Practice Groups are still happening (but fading quickly with the light)

COWICHAN VALLEY
Wednesday nights. Check their page on Face Book.
cowichancx@gmail.com and Cowichan Cyclocross on Facebook

NANAIMO
Wednesday nights at Rock City Cycles. Cross ride starting at 5:00 (NOTE EARLIER START TIME). Will adjust length based on daylight.

COMOX VALLEY
Wednesday Night cross practices. 5:30pm. Location will vary each week in either Cumberland/Courtenay/Comox. FB group for more info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/457383181299940/

VICTORIA – 1 Practices left (LAST PRACTICE TONIGHT)
In Victoria there is the Cross Club. 7 training “rides”.
Cross Club 2017, Victoria’s Underground Cyclocross Series Returns
Rain we need rain…. regardless it’s Cyclocross Season, so time to sharpen your CX skills!
B’s ride at 5:30pm
A’s at 6:00pm.
Details on locations will be emailed to the registered riders list each week.
Ride#7 is November 1
www.crossclubvictoria.com

The Council of cross signing off until next week with the Review of the Days of Thunder Double Header.

A MAJOR thanks to MAZDA for continuing their title sponsorship of the COTR series. We hope to have the FULL CX Mazda line up at Days of Thunder…..stay tuned!

The Warm Up

Last week we talked about killing an event. Most of you were listening…..a few of you were not (the ones that parked on the grass at Qualicum Beach instead of parking on the road and riding an extra 50 meters).

This week we are going to talk about how to “Love” and “Save” and “Support” and event. And the best part about it is we will make it FUN with Prizes.

Here we go……as you know Cross on the Common’s was a MUD fest. While we LOVE MUD (as I can tell from the number of people that have commented on the course yesterday) some residents, park users and general…..well…..people that don’t love anything…..will try to complain. The name of the game now is to drown out the complainers with LOTS of SUPPORT.

So we will make it fun. I will put up a prize pack of some Phillips Beer and the one SUPER Muc OFF Kit that we received from Peter Creighton. It is a great prize!

All you have to do to enter is e-mail the following 2 people with “supportive” and “positive” comments about the event yesterday. In your writing don’t mention the “negative” impacts or people. Focus on POSITIVE aspects of the event and your trip to Qualicum Beach. I just want to tell you that Clayton Hiltz has already got a head start. BCC (Only BCC’ed entries will qualify….not those “CC’ed” ones) us on your e-mail and I will enter you in for the prize. Must be done within this week. So the deadline is FRIDAY at the end of the day. These things are BEST done QUICKLY after the race.

Here are the two e-mails:

Daniel Sailland, CAO: DSailland@qualicumbeach.com

Heather Svensen, Corporate Administrator: hsvensen@qualicumbeach.com

PRAISE and ACCOLADES! Do your best and thanks in advance!

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1. Cross on the Commons Review
2. Norm’s Notes (A separate feature this week)
3. Practice – Practice and Practice (Updated)

1. Cross on the Commons Review

Cross on the Commons (COTC) – The Rear View

The biggest mention has got to go out to Cross On The Rock for letting Qualicum Beach host the only new event for 2017. May there be more! Awesome!

Wow, what a great day! Was that wet/slippery/muddy/sandy enough? Long enough or short enough? Tough but fun enough? Hope everyone got their fills worth and came away smiling (and hopefully with some swag).

A special thank you to all those, especially Scott Richard, Parks Supervisor, associated with the Town of Qualicum Beach for supporting this event and letting us use the Civic Centre facilities.

And the next big shout out goes to all of the volunteers for making the race run so smoothly. Start at 7, home at 5 for a Big Day. With an extra big, high 5 to the main COTC organizing team of Dean Vinden (course design), Geordie Greenwood and Paul Connor (volunteers), Michael Addiscott (sponsors and course design) and Laz Difiore and Nicholas Knight (Beginner clinic and more). A big pat on the head to Richard Franklin (Parksville) for the Facebook banner and poster and with extra thanks to Juan Pablo for the video production. Special thanks to Sally Vinden for jumping into the Registration fray, taking charge and getting the job done!

Fine job everyone!

Glad to have had the Medix staff on hand to deal with some accidents and I hope everyone heals up fast. Also good to have the RCMP Garage 529, bike registration project there. And of course, AJ’S food truck to keep those needy folks full.

And far from last, is the awesome support we received from a large number of business’ and companies in Qualicum Beach, Parksville and Coombs that donated product, gift certificates and a whole lot more to a great event. Truly impressed!

Thanks one and all,
Roy

2. Norm’s Notes

I am doing a separate section for Norm’s notes this week rather than bunching it in with Roy’s Cross on the Common’s stuff. There is always a LOT of stuff going on behind the scenes at COTR headquarters between the race organizers and other people that help out with the series. I just wanted to fill you in on a bit of behind the scenes stuff.

Roy has been racing the series since 2013 One year…I think 2015 he won the GRAND prize of the Naked bike. Since before that he has been working me HARD about putting on a race in Qualicum Beach. He would e-mail me. He would text. He would roll by Frontrunners QB Triathlon aid station to talk to me about it. He would get mad at me in 2016 when they were not on the schedule. Finally this year the pieces call came together and I have to say it was one of our best events in close to 80 COTR races. The number of people helping out. The marshals on the course. The set up. It was SO smooth. Normally first year events are NOT this smooth. This crew not only put on the event on Sunday BUT they sent people to Coal Cross and the Kona Kup to help out and to learn a head of time. If there is ever another group that wants to put on a COTR event in the future……the Qualicum crew have set the standard for a first year event!

Now our challenge it to get invited back!

More notes:

• Did you see how many people were watching the “Lil Nutcase race? That was the biggest spectator crew EVER for that race. People had lawn chairs!
• A special thanks to Glenowyn Carlson – Pirate Kitty Racing s for organizing refreshments for all the Expert women at the finish line (of one of the longest expert women’s races of all time). She took it upon herself to get beverages from our sponsor Phillips for all the riders.
• GREAT to see Dylan Tremblay out at the event yesterday. Dylan raced 3 seasons of COTR before long standing free-riding injuries got to him and he could not continue. Then his wife took up the charge…..now his kids are out there. I think one of his kids’ pedals fell off during the nutcase race? Anyways 8 different people offered him their bikes and entries just to see him rip it up. Such a great rider to watch. We hope his back gets stronger (keep doing your core) and he can join us with his kids one day.
• Lastly, Roland Rabien, who was battling with Ozzie Cyclings Lee Blais (Look up Rule #1 in the rules section of the COTR web site) for most of the race. On his way to his best finish of the season he crashed the last time down the sand back on the last lap. Not wanting to record a DNF he made it to the finish line in 32nd place. Then to the Medix crew. Then to the ambulance. Then to Nanaimo Regional…..and a broken clavicle was the outcome. So bummed! (Another behind the scenes) In 2009 when Tycho was on the way we thought we would not be able to continue with COTR. Roland and Katie stepped WAY up to help us run the series and make it a LOT more smooth. Basically we would be no where without them (and a lot of other people). We wish Roland a speedy recovery. He said that the results will be even MORE accurate at the last 3 races with him NOT racing! So there is a small “plus” for all the results driven folks out there…..but we really wish he was racing the last 3 races instead of just helping us.

OK a few links to keep your PUMPED up and motivated until Days of Thunder.

First from Sean Voigt from Pacific Mazda. He says there are some good crash shots in here:
The link to my unedited photos and video: a couple great shots https://photos.app.goo.gl/SsYg555byOcfgtmG2

Second a link from Ted Hobby of his edit from the Experts A few people have asked me why there is no edit of other races…..well……the people making the edits are RACING those races!!

Third a link from Patrick Burnham of his photos from the day: https://www.flickr.com/photos/palleus/sets/72157687724136220

What kind of a community is Cross on the Rock? Well the Egan clan won the Kona Private jake at the Kona Kup. They already had a bike in their stable for their kids. Brand new. Instead of selling it they brought it to Cross on the Common’s and we gave it to the kid in the Zoom Zoom race that was the biggest kids on the smallest bike and could use it the most. How awesome is that? (Mick is also missing his wheels if you have an extra set that you picked up).

What kind of an event gives away not 1 but 2 bikes in one day……our kind of event. I have the lucky winner of the bike from Arrowsmith bikes somewhere in my notes that are still deep in the van…..we can post it later on FB but for now look at that smile from both the little racer and his dad! Thanks Laz and Kebble for supporting this up and coming kids!

Most importantly the T’s Licorice stand was a SUCCESS. They sold out. They were excited about the day ranking it 11 out of 10. Both of them are already working on their ideas for Days of Thunder. Stay tuned.

3. Practice – Practice and Practice (Updated)

Days are getting shorter BUT you can still get out there with a group to practice and get a good workout in.

COWICHAN VALLEY
Wednesday nights. Check their page on Face Book.
cowichancx@gmail.com and Cowichan Cyclocross on Facebook

NANAIMO
Wednesday nights at Rock City Cycles. Cross ride starting at 5:30. Will adjust length based on daylight.

COMOX VALLEY
Wednesday Night cross practices. 5:30pm. Location will vary each week in either Cumberland/Courtenay/Comox. FB group for more info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/457383181299940/

VICTORIA – 2 Practices left.
In Victoria there is the Cross Club. 7 training “rides”.
Cross Club 2017, Victoria’s Underground Cyclocross Series Returns
Rain we need rain…. regardless it’s Cyclocross Season, so time to sharpen your CX skills!
B’s ride at 5:30pm
A’s at 6:00pm.
Details on locations will be emailed to the registered riders list each week.
Ride#6 is October 25
Ride#7 is November 1
www.crossclubvictoria.com

The Council of cross signing off until next week with the preview for Days of Thunder Double Header.

GOOD LUCK to at the Cross on the Rock racers that are making their way to Sherbrooke Quebec this weekend for the National Championships.

A MAJOR thanks to MAZDA for continuing their title sponsorship of the COTR series. Sean is bringing the CX5 out on Monday to Bowen Park for people to check out. Through the season they will be displaying different CX series vehicles at different races. Check them out.

The Warm Up

We will have T-Shirts, Hats and SOCKS for sale on Sunday. We still have quite a few youth sizes for the T-Shirts. We will post a photo of the new socks once we have one. Win your category on Sunday…..win some socks!

Want to know how to kill an event? Let us tell you how. Despite the Kona Kup being one of the best events that we have ever had in our 12 seasons it only takes one or two people to kill an event for the 450 people. While we were in our after-glow of a great weekend Nanaimo Parks and Rec. woke up on Tuesday morning with an e-mail in their in-box from one of the parks employees. Not a random person or someone that has something against bikes……someone that works for them and is a trusted and hard working city employee.

This is part of what it said, “Total safety issue with cyclists disregarding all traffic. It took me 10 minutes to drive from the garbage cans at Bowen east to the roadway ,with having to brake every few seconds for cyclists popping out of no where ,with no regard for oncoming vehicles. I tried to get to bowen complex washrooms as well with the same issues. Other vehicles were slamming on there brakes and cyclists were laughing about it. Popping wheelies in front of cars trying to get through to park.”

To all our community. That is how you kill a race. Wanted or not we ALL have a responsibility when we are at events. That responsibility it to act in a GOOD manner in ALL situations. One complaint from the right person to the right person can and will kill an event for everyone.

Always act like our events depend on you because they most certainly do.

That is it for the warm up this week.

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1. Cross on the Commons Preview
2. Cross Fondo WOW!!
3. Practice – Practice and Practice

1. Cross on the Commons Preview

The only new event for #COTR2017 takes place in little, old Qualicum Beach at the Community Civic Centre. The course is centered around the various playing fields adjacent to the Civic Centre. Expect lots of grass (probably wet and slippery), not much elevation, sections of single track, a BMX track (ridden backwards) and some sand pits. The Ravensong Swimming Pool is only a hop-skip-and-jump away so a great family location.

NOTE: Absolutely NO riding on the playing fields! The marked course is the only place to be!

Registration

(Almost) Mandatory pre-registration will close at 8:00pm on Saturday as usual. The link to register!

Team Tents

Team tents will have a great course location next to the Skateboard Park. Two rows with one parallel to the race course and one behind next to the trees. First Come, First Served. No parking in the Team Tent area. Unload, setup then park. MUST be on site BEFORE the first race as the course crosses over the entrance.

Race Plate Numbers

On the LEFT! (Hopefully….but you have a 50% chance as always)

Location

If coming from up or down Island on Hwy 19 take the exit for Qualicum Beach, continue northward for about 1.5kms to the traffic circle. Take the Rupert Rd W exit after travelling 3/4 of the way around. Go another 0.5km and turn right onto Jones St. Easy!
If travelling on Hwy 19A (Oceanside Hwy) from up Island take the Laburnum Rd bypass. It will turn into Rupert Rd W, follow until Jones St and turn Left.
If travelling from down Island on Hwy 19A, turn left at the lights onto Bennett Rd (also goes to the airport). This will turn into Rupert Rd E follow to the traffic circle, half way around take exit onto Rupert Rd W, another 0.5km brings you to Jones St. Turn right. Done!

Parking

The parking lots could be under pressure come race day. A lot of other people use the facilities at the Civic Centre so share and share alike. If you can park on the road outside of the main parking ares or in the overflow areas on Park Rd near the BMX track you will still be CLOSE to the action but we will be far more likely to be able to use this location again. PLEASE keep in mind other park users.

Of Special Note

A food truck (AJ’s Island Grill) will be there for your dining pleasure. It will have a BREAKFAST menu and a LUNCH menu. No need to go hungry!

2. Cross Fondo WOW!

A good number of COTR regulars had the opportunity to race Triple Shot’s Crossfondo last weekend.

We were blown away by this event. It was incredible. For a 2nd year event they ticked all the boxes and had things dialled in! An incredible course. This event has the opportunity to be the Canadian version of Britain’s Three Peaks event.

Put it on your calendar for next year….and make a note to ride your cx bike as intended (there were a few MTB’s out there…..not as cool!!)

3. Practice – Practice and Practice

Days are getting shorter BUT you can still get out there with a group to practice and get a good workout in.

COWICHAN VALLEY (Cancelled tonight – Wednesday, October 18th because of the “storm”)
Tonight’s practice will be a ride on the TCT – bring cross bike, geared or not geared, and meet in the parking lot at Quamichan High School at 5:30.
cowichancx@gmail.com and Cowichan Cyclocross on Facebook

NANAIMO (Cancelled tonight – Wednesday, October 18th because of the “storm”)
Wednesday nights at Rock City Cycles. Cross ride starting at 5:30. Will adjust length based on daylight.

COMOX VALLEY
Wednesday Night cross practices. 5:30pm. Location will vary each week in either Cumberland/Courtenay/Comox. FB group for more info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/457383181299940/

VICTORIA (No word on if the practice is a go at the time we sent this out)
In Victoria there is the Cross Club. 7 training “rides”.
Cross Club 2017, Victoria’s Underground Cyclocross Series Returns
Rain we need rain…. regardless it’s Cyclocross Season, so time to sharpen your CX skills!
B’s ride at 5:30pm
A’s at 6:00pm.
Details on locations will be emailed to the registered riders list each week.
Ride#5 is October 18
Ride#6 is October 25
Ride#7 is November 1
www.crossclubvictoria.com

The Council of cross signing off until next week. Will keep FB updated and will see a LOT of you at Qualicum on Sunday.

A MAJOR thanks to MAZDA for continuing their title sponsorship of the COTR series. Sean is bringing the CX5 out on Monday to Bowen Park for people to check out. Through the season they will be displaying different CX series vehicles at different races. Check them out.

We are having a week BETWEEN races this week as we prepare for Cross at the Commons in Qualicum Beach on October 22nd. There is still a LOT of action to report on!

The Warm Up

Amazing Video Edit from Ted Hobby:

Photos of KONA KUP from Patrick

Un-edited Photos of KONA KUP from Sean from Mazda

A HUGE photo album from Petra Knight (quite a few crashes)

• If anyone has photos or video of the finish of the masters race and the battle between Norm and Justin we would love to see it.
• If you have been following the stats for the last 3 races you will notice they have all been in the “HIGH” DNF category. We figured out that the Zoom-Zoom races have not been placed. Kona Kup was fixed and it is into the top 6 tamest races for the 2017 event. Impressive!
• Get well soon to series sponsor, event organizer and masters racer, Corey Piket, who experience a crash on Lap #1 at the Kona Kup and will be on the mend for the next little while.

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1. Kona Kup Review
2. Cross Fondo this weekend
3. Keeping up your SKILLS in an OFF week (what is going on TODAY, Tomorrow and next week)

1. Kona Kup Review

How awesome was it to see Ella Egan win the Kona Private Jake from Kona and Rock City Cycles on Monday. Ella at the age of only 10 years old has done 15 cross on the rock races (not counting little nutcase). She started racing the Mazda Zoom Zoom half track as soon as it was introduced and has 6 overall wins. This year she moved up to Beginners even though she is only 10. Obviously a climber and a good technical rider as her best placing is 16th at Ladysmith this year. Her first beginner race. Pictured here with Sean Lunny from Rock City Cycles.

414 racers (not including the little nutcasers). 2nd biggest race in COTR History. Over 110 women!! Sold out Intermediate Men and Masters men (Biggest category to date). Tonnes of kids!! PLUS an amazing atmosphere in Bowen Park. Great weather. Taco Revolution! FREE Beer. HUGE number of spectators!

Lets just say the Kona Kup was one awesome day in Nanaimo!

From race directors Sean and Corey.

It was a great day of racing, perfect weather and an awesome course. It’s one of the hardest tracks but also one of the riders favorites. Thanks to all the volunteers who came out and helped get it set up so quickly and to everyone who helped tear down, it’s always appreciated. This was the most help we have ever had and it made a huge difference.

Thanks to Pete and Jamie from Lambert for coming out and MCing and wrenching and for help with the prizes. Thanks to Kona for tape and prizes. Also thanks to Norco for prizes. Thanks to Taco Revolution and Wolf Brewing for keeping everyone fed and happy! Special thanks to Medix for patching me up and getting me prepped to go the hospital! We are so lucky to have Cross on the Rock, so many new riders out again this year. It’s so cool to see the young riders moving up the ranks.

Special Congratulations to Ella Egan (Harbour Air Seaplanes) for winning the Kona Private Jake!!

Norm’s Notes:

• How awesome was the BUZZ in Bowen park on Monday!
• Thanks to Peter Creighton from cycles Lambert for making fun of the music and doing all the announcements at the Kona Kup. If you missed my explanation of Peter’s support at the awards I will just repeat that he has been supporting this series since before it was a series. Peter helped us out when we were just one race in Beban park and every single year since. He is a HUGE part of making COTR happen from year to year.
• Awesome to see COTR rookie (season) Oliver Evans take his second victory.
• Also great to see 16 year old Carter Woods come back from early season injury to earn his first even EXPERT podium.
• Huge thanks to EVERYONE that helped out with the day. We had a great crew of people out there along with racers that helped out when their day was done.
• EXTRA thanks to Nik Kay and Andrew Hamilton for staying later than everyone else to rake out a huge portion of the course and make it look good for other users.

2. Cross Fondo this weekend

Sunday down in Victoria the Tripleshot Cycling Club will host the second annual Cross Fondo. This event is one of the club’s main fundraisers for the year. With all the support this club gives to young riders they need the funds!!

It is a super fun event.
http://tripleshotcrossfondo.ca

Check out the video from last year here: http://tripleshotcrossfondo.ca

Registration closes Thursday: https://raceroster.com/events/2017/13462/2017-tripleshot-crossfondo

3. Keeping up your SKILLS in an OFF week (what is going on TODAY, Tomorrow and next week)

Days are getting shorter BUT you can still get out there with a group to practice and get a good workout in.

COWICHAN VALLEY
Tonight’s practice will be a ride on the TCT – bring cross bike, geared or not geared, and meet in the parking lot at Quamichan High School at 5:30.
cowichancx@gmail.com and Cowichan Cyclocross on Facebook

NANAIMO
Note earlier start time. Wednesday nights at Rock City Cycles. Cross ride starting at 5:30. Will adjust length based on daylight.

Thursday nights starting September 7th. Cross practices hosted by MIVA and run by Carey Mark. Carey3221@gmail.com . 6:00pm at Bowen Park off Wall Street. 5 weeks and re-asses based on light.

COMOX VALLEY
Wednesday Night cross practices. 5:30pm. Location will vary each week in either Cumberland/Courtenay/Comox. FB group for more info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/457383181299940/

VICTORIA (No “ride” this week with the short week and the cross fondo but will be back next week)
In Victoria there is the Cross Club. 7 training “rides”.
Cross Club 2017, Victoria’s Underground Cyclocross Series Returns
Rain we need rain…. regardless it’s Cyclocross Season, so time to sharpen your CX skills!
B’s ride at 5:30pm
A’s at 6:00pm.
Details on locations will be emailed to the registered riders list each week.
Ride#5 is October 18
Ride#6 is October 25
Ride#7 is November 1
www.crossclubvictoria.com
The Council of cross signing off until next week with the Cross on the Common’s PREVIEW (we will still be live on FB though).

The Wolf Brewery just pulled up to the parking lot and started handing out beer. How great is that?

Bikes were EVERYWHERE in Bowen Park.

COTR – Newsletter 2017 #5 – Powered by MAZDA then cleaned and prepped by Muc Off. #COTR2017

A MAJOR thanks to MAZDA for continuing their title sponsorship of the COTR series. Sean is bringing the CX5 out on Monday to Bowen Park for people to check out. Through the season they will be displaying different CX series vehicles at different races. Check them out.

The Warm Up

Photos of Coal Cross from Patrick: https://www.flickr.com/photos/palleus/albums/72157686832375150
Photos of Coal Cross from Colin Wilson: https://www.flickr.com/photos/25680586@N06/sets/72157686602239111
Photos of Coal Cross from Sean from Mazda: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dp1M8OZLOVwxAvMg1

Amazing Video Edit from Ted Hobby:

• Cross on the Rock Hats and T-Shirts (youth and adult) will be for sale again at the Kona Kup. Only while supplies last! (Special socks are on the way…..but only 60 pairs). (Cash only)
• Reminder that (Almost) mandatory pre-registration closes for Kona Kup at 8:00pm on SUNDAY night as the race is MONDAY
• Congratulations to COTR racer, Parker Bloom, on his two top 20’s a UCI races in Sacramento last weekend. Bummer you had to miss Coal Cross but we understand…..#nextlevelcx
• Get well soon to Masters racer, Brian Green, who experienced a BAD crash in training and will be out and on the mend for the next little while.

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1. Coal Cross Review
2. Kona Kup Preview
3. Race Registration

1. Coal Cross Review

From race director Dave Nowak:

So I am just getting over the Coal Cross hangover today and I am still blown away by the sheer magnitude of that race. 10 years ago there was just over 60 racers at the first Cumberland Coal Cross in 2007, it was small enough that we could host the race at the No 6 Mine park. This race was HUGE with 402 racers registered and 360 racers starting.

Huge thank you to my co-director Chris Sykes for designing such an awesome course and all the work he did with the poster and hats. I sound like a broken record but we had such an awesome crew that it went off without a hitch. Although for such a flat course I have never seen so many destroyed derailleurs and dropped chains…

Thanks to: Hilary Grant, Michelle, My Mom, Emilie, Deb Webster, and Breckin for doing the back up timing. So pumped to have Mical Dyck, Carter Woods and Emily Johnston from Team Naked doing the beginners clinic. Registration crew was awesome! So good to have Sarah Johnston and Evan Loveless from UROC (AKA Mr. Registration) along with Gord Giesbrecht, who helped with registration at the first Coal Cross years ago. I have to thank Michel from Trail Bicycles for keeping the whirl-ee-whirl up and running during the race and my dad for watching the back section through the sand pit.

Saturday’s course crew was amazing. Tim Roberts’ section behind the BMX track was a work of art. The Trail Bicycles dads (Ken, Dean, Dan, Chuck, and Bryan) take instruction pretty darn well and know their way around a roll of flagging tape. Also so good to see Steve Grant and his boys out again pounding posts (and throwing down the next day).

I will also give a big shout out to Brett Whitehead and GMAC for putting on the CV Wednesday Night Cross practices. And a huge round of applause to everyone who took down the course post-race. I have never seen a course come down that quickly!

Finally I want to thank all the local sponsors:

Sew what I Sew, Blue Toque, Gladstone, Guerilla Pizza, Bibiliotaco, CVCollective, The Riding Fool, Cumberland Crate, the Rusted Tricycle B and B, Milano Comox, Eatmore Sprouts and the title sponsor Trail Bicycles, who have been supporting #cross in the valley since the very first race held in 2006.

See you Next Year!

Dave

Norm’s Notes:
Amazing to be back at Village park after a 3 year absence.
Course was again a masterpiece. The course designers this year have taken things up a notch.
Great weather….but a lot of people looking forward to racing in the wet and rain!
The second race of 2017 to make it to the top 10 toughest races. Coal Cross on paper looked “tame” but it slayed quite a few riders. Broken derailleurs. Mystery crashes in the opening straight away. Crashing while over-taking. Everyone had a good story of disaster….or near disaster.
OVER 100 Women and the biggest ever women’s expert category. AWESOME!!

3. Kona Kup Preview

Do you want to have a VERY good chance of winning a KONA Private Jake this Monday? Well you have to be PRE-REGISTERED for the race to start. Then you have to be at the awards. Do both those things…..and you will have a VERY GOOD chance of winning!!

Norm’s Notes:
The statistics tell an interesting and crazy tale. The 2014 version of the Kona Kup is ranked as the toughest COTR event EVER. While the 2016 event was ranked the EASIEST. Same race. Virtually the same course. Different conditions. Complete opposite ends of the scale of 75+ COTR events.
From the Race Directors:

Taco Revolution Food Truck will be back again this year. There were RAVE reviews about these guys last year so bring your appetite!

Course Description:
The Kona Kup is a true European cross course. It starts with a long wide open paved road before it heads into a switchback climb. The course incorporates a large grass area with tight turns but still has places to pass, a long stair run up and two sand sections. It has lots of elevation gain in a small footprint, no need for barriers on this course, it’s a lung burner.

Venue:
Bowen Park is a gem located in the heart of Nanaimo. There is quite a bit of parking close to registration which will be off Wall Street close to the volley ball courts. Additional parking can be found across Wall street at the Curling Club as well as in other locations in the park off Bowen Road.

This is a BUSY park on a BUSY weekend. Please be aware and respectful of other park users.

Team tents:
Team tents are welcome and there will be an area set aside for them on the lawn along the edge of the parking lot. We will be doing one row on the grass. Another row on the dirt.

First come first spots.

Drop and go. Don’t park by your tent…..’cause we will have to move you!

KONA KUP Race Day Schedule
PLEASE NOTE: We are extending our CUT-OFF time to 30 minutes before your race.
Make sure you are Checked in/REGISTERED and ready!

Registration Open 9:15 am
Beginner Clinic 10:00 am
Beginner Men (Including Youth U13 and U15) 10:45 am
Beginner Women (Including Youth U13 and U15) 10:46 am
Zoom Zoom Half Lap 11:30
Intermediate Men (Including U17) 12:00 noon
Intermediate Women (Including U17 and Masters Women) 12:01 pm
Lil Nutcase Kids Race 12:10 pm
Masters Men (40-54) 1:00 pm
Super Master Men (55+) 1:03 pm
Expert Men 2:15 pm
Expert Women 2:16 pm

Registration/Number Pick Up/Race day Procedure for Kona Kup

ALREADY RACED THIS YEAR: If you have done another COTR race this year you need to bring three things: Your bike number (attached to your bike). Your race number (either attached to your jersey or ready to attach). Your license or $10. Check in at registration. Show them your license or pay $10. Check your bike tag at a separate spot set up by reg. Good to go.

HAVE NOT RACED THIS YEAR: Head to registration. If you are pre-reg then you don’t need a reg form (otherwise you do). If you have a license you don’t need a license form (otherwise you do). Head to the counter. Show your license (or pay $10 and give them the cycling BC form). Pick up your bike number and your body number. Check your bike tag at a separate spot set up by reg. Good to go.

4. REGISTRATION.

Almost Mandatory Pre-Registration for the KONA KUP closes at 8pm on SUNDAY Night (NOT Saturday as is usual).

Kona Kup – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14149/2017-cross-on-the-rock-kona-kup
Cross on the Commons – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14150/2017-cross-on-the-rock-cross-on-the-commons
Days of Thunder #1 – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14151/2017-cross-on-the-rock-day-of-thunder
Days of Thunder #2 – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14152/2017-cross-on-the-rock-de-grove-prijs-van-fairgrounds
Series Championships – Hot Crossed Bunnies – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14154/2017-cross-on-the-rock-hot-crossed-bunnies

The Council of cross signing off until MONDAY (we will still be live on FB though).