Cross on the Rock

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).

MAZDA is awesome for continuing their title sponsorship of the COTR series. They will have the CX-9 out again at Village Park on Sunday 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 from Patrick: https://www.flickr.com/photos/palleus/albums/72157686790961104

Merchandise! T-Shirts and Hats will be available for the first time this season at Coal Cross. Limited quantities. We have socks coming as well…..yes…..COTR socks!

• If you are EVER changing categories at a COTR event. Say you raced Beginners and are moving up to Intermediate. ANY category change. You NEED to have new race numbers. Each set of race numbers will be for a specific race. This prevents an expert hanging out around the finish line from being recorded in the beginner race etc. So if you are changing races……get new numbers (and remember which set goes with which race).
• Some tips on passing at COTR without getting people ANGRY!! When passing, call out “on your left” or “on your right” when you’re close. Don’t expect them to move a lot to get out of the way, just warn them what side you’re on so they don’t turn into you. When being passed, don’t try to stop them passing, but you don’t have to slow or move a lot. You could go off course or lose grip. When it’s straight, give some room.”
• One of our racers asked a good question post-Tugboat. The question/situation was: I was running the sand section that ran parallel and just inland from the beach run, and rider number ### came riding up behind me, shouted at me, and proceeded to repeatedly run into the back of me and my bike as I ran ahead of him and even caught and pulled my bike away from me as I attempted to remove it from my shoulder. He seemed to think that because he was riding the sand that he shoud have a clear path and that it was acceptable to run into me and my bike. I am relatively new to the sport, but what I have read and watched about sand is that it is a viable strategy to run sand and force your competitors behind you to dismount and run. I wasn’t being obnoxious about it though and kept my line on the far left throughout the pit. Was I in the wrong? Am I not allowed to use this strategy? This was our response for your consideration: While I would not say your strategy is “wrong” it is not “sporting” by any means. If someone is racing and riding an obstacle that you can not/are not the sporting thing would to give that person the opportunity to do it. You of course are not obliged to….but it is more sportsmanlike. I am not saying what he did was “OK”. He sounded like he was being a “not nice person” (We used another word in here).

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1. COTR 2017 Series Schedule Change
2. Tugboat Cross Review
3. Coal Cross Preview
4. Race Registration
5. Mid week CX on the Island

1. COTR 2017 Series Schedule Change

The council of cross starts planning the following season LONG before the current one finishes. Even with MUCH advanced planning though we are often thrown curve balls when trying to pull together 8 events. With that we are announcing that COTR 2017 Race #7:

De Grote Prijs van Fairgrounds scheduled for November 5th will become “Days of Thunder – #2” with “Days of Thunder – #1” occurring the day before. BOTH events will be held at Western Speedway. Race director Drew MacKenzie is a master of course design and has promised he will deliver 2 different courses at the same venue for the Double Header weekend.

2. Tugboat Cross Review

From Co-Race director Mike Pollock (who along with his wife Tara are the BRAINS behind Tugboat)

“S” is for sand, stairs and surf!
Thanks to everyone how came out and suffered in Ladysmith last weekend. Grimaces and smiles everywhere! Transfer Beach is an amazing venue so a big thanks to the town of Ladysmith and the Parks and Recreation team who once again allowed us to host an amazing race. So many women, so many kids, the future of Cross on the island looks bright and fast. And the fastest clean up I have ever seen. Thank you all. #COTR2017

Thanks, Mike

Norm’s Notes:

• Tugboat did not disappoint…..it NEVER has. One of the most masterful courses in the history of COTR. VERY challenging. VERY hard. Unbelievably beautiful
• The weather was A factor again.
• a HUGE amount of wheel to wheel action which we LOVE to see.
• The Mazda Zoom Zoom races continue to be HUGE with us having to run 2 heats again!!
• SO many YOUTH in the beginner category!!
• Can’t wait for COTR #3 this weekend in Cumberland!

3. Coal Cross Preview

Time to get FIRED UP for Sunday. Are you registered yet?

The first thing you need to know is that Greg MacDonald‘s awesome restaurant, Bibliotaco, will be open until 9pm on Sunday. While I don’t recommend pounding one of the amazing Burritos BEFORE your race…..they make excellent recovery meals!

While you are thinking about tacos and burritos check out this edit from the 2012 Coal Cross.

This is the “working” map. Actual course set up and final racing format may vary. The IMPORTANT part is NO RIDING ON THE FIELDS!

Norm’s Notes:
Coal cross returns to Cumberland this year. The original Coal cross was held 10 years ago and it officially our LONGEST cx race in the history of our series. Check out the results here: http://www.crossontherock.com/php/race-results/?raceid=8 You will see some LEGENDARY names on the results sheet (worth checking out for length of race….and who was racing back then).

Course Description:
FAST.

Venue:
Village park in Cumberland. EASY to find! Directions. Take the hwy. to the Cumberland exit. Go to Cumberland. Turn left on the main street. Park will be on the right. See map of where to park.

Team tents:
Take a look at the map for reference. Tents will go along the road by the BMX track. I don’t think we can fit vehicles in there as well as there are normally so many tents so it will be drop-set-up and go. Must be in and set before the first race starts. First come.

Coal Cross Race Day Schedule
We are back to our usual race schedule which we will be using for the remainder of the race season.
PLEASE NOTE: We are extending our CUT-OFF time to 30 minutes before your race. Make sure you are REGISTERED and ready!

Registration/Number Pick Up/Race day Procedure

ALREADY RACED THIS YEAR: If you did the first 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. UNLESS you are changing categories….THEN you need a new set of race numbers.

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 closes at 8pm on Saturday Night as usual

Coal Cross – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14138/2017-cross-on-the-rock-coal-cross
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
Hot Crossed Bunnies – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14154/2017-cross-on-the-rock-hot-crossed-bunnies

5. Mid Week CX on the Island

Cross on the Rock is not the only thing happening on Vancouver Island for Cross over the next few months…..there is a LOT going on (at least until the days get too short to make any of this possible)

VICTORIA
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#3 is September 27
Ride#4 is October 4
Ride#5 is October 18
Ride#6 is October 25
Ride#7 is November 1
www.crossclubvictoria.com

COWICHAN VALLEY
First CX practice is a go for this Wednesday (tonight. August 30th) behind Quamichan high school (on Beverley) starting at 6:30pm. See you there – first race is in two weeks!! #crossiscoming”
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/

ALSO IMPORTANT
Put October 15th on your calendar for the second year of the Cross Fondo hosted and organized by Tripleshot. 40km of backcountry trails. www.Tripleshotcrossfondo.ca Everyone that did this event last year said it was AWESOME!! They will have a table promoting the event at the race this Sunday. Stop by for more information!

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

Parting Shot from Tugboat! (I did not even know this was a jump!)

COTR – Newsletter 2017 #3 – 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. They will have the CX-9 out at transfer beach on Sunday for people to check out. Through the season they will be displaying different CX series vehicles at different races. Check them out.

Featuring:

• SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY – Exceptional Fuel Economy
• KODO “Soul of Motion” – Crafted to Make Driving Better
• i-ACTIV AWD – 27 Sensors Monitor Your Drive 200 Times per Second.
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• SPACIOUS – Seating For 7

Before we get into the “depth” of the newsletter a couple of things to go over.

#1. Stay off race courses after we have used them. This goes for Topaz Park from last weekend and any other course going forward. We need to give the park a break. Let it recover. Let the regular users have it back. Last year we ran into a problem with one of our venues in that we would remediate and then a bunch of people would ride the course and ruin the remediation so we would have to go back again. I KNOW it is perfect for training…..but PLEASE lets be considerate and preserve our courses and relationships for future use.

#2. The word “Sandbagger” is tossed around at cross races as much as the word “Bully” is around the school yard. Both words are probably over and miss used. Someone winning their first time or their first race is not a “Sandbagger”. An Elite rider riding down a category….yes….that is. Someone lapping all but 2 riders in an intermediate race….yeah….you can probably in a joke call them that. Just be careful about how you use the word. Give racers the chance to be in the winning circle every once in a while. If they are killing everyone EVERY race……then we will give them the “gentle nudge” as it is known. If it is their first time winning and they have never been top 5 in the series. This might be their year to shine in Beginners or intermediates. We keep an eye on it……and remember……we can joke with our friends only if they can take it! Most of all we are trying to get people racing and having fun.

Do you want to check out some photos from last week’s event. Here is a link to multi-time COTR photo contest winner, Patrick Burnham’s photos from last Sunday: https://www.flickr.com/photos/palleus/albums/72157686478898634

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1. At the races (a few tips and procedures)
2. Pro City GP Review
3. Tugboat Cross Preview
4. Are you a YOUTH rider and do you want to race for FREE in 2017? (Repeat)
5. Registration

1. At the races (a few tips and procedures)

A few little bullet point reminders for this week. A couple of these things have not been in recent newsletters PLUS we have a lot of NEW people out so it is good for them to know as well.

• It is a bike race. Although CX is probably one of the safest types of bike racing accidents will happen. We wrote this up a few years ago and we thought it would be a good time for a reminder. IF an accident happens during a race it sometimes takes a FEW people to help out to make it safe for the person in the accident as well as those still racing. The first priority is to the person that is hurt. NOT the racers. This can sometimes require the course to be diverted, short-cutted and in some cases (as it was in one of the women’s races on Sunday) it stopped and maybe re-started. At each event we have first aid staff on site. We also have a number of experts that are racing and can provide their expertise in certain situations. If you see something and the course marshall is not close (we can’t have marshals every 100m) feel free to jump in, divert traffic, warn riders. If a rider has hit their head or should not be moved. Don’t move them. Again. The first priority is to the rider that is hurt. If anyone has any questions about this please fire us a note. We will also make this more visible and a LONGER version of it on the new web site.
• We are not the World Cup or even the Canada Cup. We are and will continue to be a Grassroots cycling event. Yes….a LOT of people come out….which is AWESOME but please don’t expect the nature and feel of our events to change to a “super-pro” level. We want to keep the cost down and the vibe up.
• We mentioned at the start of a few races on Sunday about “language” and aggressiveness. Racing is racing….but being overly aggressive or use abusive language at our events will not be tolerated. We had close to 100 kids out last Sunday…..it is a FAMILY atmosphere. Lets keep going. As mentioned 1 warning. 2nd offence and you are gone for the season

2. Pro City GP Review

Race Recap:

Another historic day racing bikes in Victoria thanks to all the amazing people that came out! I was blown away by how fast the course came down thanks to everyone pitching in. Despite the chaos of organizing the weekend I even managed a decent race result. AMAZING!

There were several key volunteers that deserve a BIG THANK YOU! Deb and Lisa for their dedication to the registration table, keeping the line-ups reasonable considering the massive amount of racers. The course setup crew, Drew, Joele, Curtis, Dave Pod, Kyle, Rob, Amy, Ros, Andrew, Roland. Victoria for the help with the Beginner Clinic. Also the critical number trackers in the timing tent, Patrick, Bruce, Sherry, Dave Pod, Victoria, Ros, Joanna, and Dave S, not an easy job but a job well done. I’m sure there were several more that pitched in in all aspects of the day and I’m sorry if I missed you. Andrew from Indecent Risotto was super happy to be there and he will be back for more cross, I hope everyone loved the food. The City of Victoria Parks Department will be happy we didn’t trash the park and we are very fortunate to have the use of the space so please respect the area and keep away with your cross bike until next year. Big shout out to the Sponsors of the event Shimano and Trek Bikes Victoria for donating a few grand worth of prizes.

As always Norm is the super industrial glue that holds these events together. He is always calm and collected, organized, and deserves so much credit for the success of this event and the entire series. Thanks Norm!

Thanks, Scotty

Norm’s Notes:

• We have always talked about having a little kick off event before the first race. Saturday night it finally worked. We see that growing to be bigger in future years.
• Most people are getting the new number and bike tag system. We will keep working on a few placements of the tags with people….a few out of place (check future FB post).
• Registration will continue to get faster as more people have their race numbers. The new “procedure” will be below.
  SO MANY KIDS!! It was incredible to have to run 2 waves in the half track and 4 in the ‘Lil nutcase race. PLUS a bunch of younger kids jumping into he beginner events as well. SO awesome.
• AND……over ONE HUNDRED WOMEN!!! 104 to be exact. That has NEVER happened in a cross race in CANADA! SO INCREDIBLE!! Keep bringing your girlfriends, friends and people you know out. Recruit. Recruit. Recruit.
• Tycho and Tess sold out of their Freezies. They were PUMPED. Thanks to those that supported their 2nd annual T&T stand.
• The racing was UN-REAL. The depth is getting GREAT. The wheel to wheel action awesome. Battles from 1st to 87th place.
• Oh yeah…..cough-cough……biggest cx race in Canadian History. 387 not counting the Zoom-Zoom racers. Probably come to 460 or so with all the kids. Lets keep doing what we are doing!
• It is going to be an amazing race season!!

3. Tugboat Cross Preview

This event had to move 2 weeks earlier to swap dates with Cumberland. Because of this the park will likely be busier than when we normally have this event. There will be other park users. Remember….it is their park too! As well Sealegs kayak business will be open for business if the weather is good. They are located right on our course/area….so show extra consideration if they are open.

Norm’s Notes:

• Tugboat CX in Ladysmith has been voted the most popular event by racers the last two years. Racers LOVE this venue and this race.
• It ranks as #7 and #10 for biggest events all time
• The 2015 version of Tugboat ranks as the 8th tamest (least DNF’s) race in COTR History.
• One of the easiest races to get to by both UP and DOWN Islanders.

From the Race Directors:

Course Description:
The course will be similar to previous years with all the good characteristics; sand, stairs; and lots of fast grass.

Rain is in the forecast….so tire choice will be a serious consideration!

Venue:
Transfer beach is located on the water side of Ladysmith right under (east) of the town of Ladysmith. It is SUPER-EASY to find.

Parking will be challenging, so please car pool with friends/frenemies/teammates.

Food truck will be there and Riot Brewing will have beer gardens set up in a well positioned “heckling area”

Team tents:
Team tents are welcome and there will be an area set aside for them on the lawn near the volleyball court. First come…..first up.

Tugboat CX Race Day Schedule
We will be swapping back to our usual race schedule which we will be using for the remainder of the race season. Everything is a bit more condensed than at Topaz Park.

Category	Start Time
Registration Open	9:15 am
Beginner Clinic	10:00 am
Launch Men (formerly Beginner) (Including Youth U13 and U15)	10:45 am
Launch Women (formerly Beginner) (Including Youth U13 and U15)	10:46 am
Younglings (Bigger Kids). Full lap or almost a full lap	11:40
Intermediate Men (Including U17)	12:10 pm
Intermediate Women (Including U17 and Masters Women)	12:11 pm
Lil Nutcase Kids Race	12:15 pm
Masters Men (40-54)	1:15 pm
Super Master Men (55+)	1:16 pm
Open Men (formerly Expert)	2:30 pm
Open Women (formerly Expert)	2:31 pm

Registration/Number Pick Up/Race day Procedure

ALREADY RACED THIS YEAR: If you did the first 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. Are you a YOUTH rider and do you want to race for FREE in 2017? (Repeat)

After amazing participation and response last year with their support of youth races. Quadra Island based Study-Build will again be supporting and paying for YOUTH racers (up to 19 year old) for COTR this year.

Here are the requirements:

The racer must participate in 7 or 8 of the eight races this year to qualify for free entries.
For the reimbursement at end of season the racer (NOT the PARENTS) will need to submit a request, (might be a simple google form)
Then we’ll mail them a cheque

While we LOVED the “enthusiasm” of the money mosh pit last year at Saanich. This will be a more reasonable way to do this and take a bit of pressure off the final awards.

5. REGISTRATION.

Unfortunately if you did not register for the SERIES when that was an option then you have to register for the rest of the events separately. Pre-registration closes at 8pm the night before each of these events.

Pro City Cyclocross Grand Prix – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14135/2017-cross-on-the-rock-pro-city-racing-gp
Tugboat Cross – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14137/2017-cross-on-the-rock-tugboat-cross
Coal Cross – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14138/2017-cross-on-the-rock-coal-cross
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
Day of Thunder – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14151/2017-cross-on-the-rock-day-of-thunder
De Grote Prijs van Fairgrounds – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14152/2017-cross-on-the-rock-de-grove-prijs-van-fairgrounds
Hot Crossed Bunnies – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14154/2017-cross-on-the-rock-hot-crossed-bunnies

Check your in-box next week for Newsletter #4 with a Tugboat CX-Recap

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

Example of a bike number “Don’t”. We want it attached to the seat post. NOT the seat rail please.

A few new things happening with the newsletter. We have consolidated our mailing list to Mailchimp which will make things a bit smoother (eventually) on our end. It will also make it (eventually) easier to subscribe and unsubscribe. IF you are reading this on the web site and did not get the e-mail….and you want the e-mail. You are not on the mailing list and you should sign up for it!

Just a WARNING. This e-mail is HUGE. But it is because there is a LOT of information!!

Also if you are a cyclist or knows a cyclist that is NOT racing COTR (you might be getting this because you are a super-fan) There is the ALS ride on Sunday in the Cowichan Valley. Poster is attached at the end.

A MAJOR thanks to MAZDA for continuing their title sponsorship of the COTR series. They will have the CX-3 out at the venue on Sunday for people to check out. Through the season they will be displaying different CX series vehicles at different races. Check them out.

Newsletter #2

54 people out for cross practice in the Comox Valley yesterday. 54!
35 out for the Rock City Cycles team welcome night.

Um…..things are getting S-E-R-I-O-U-S!

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1. Pro City GP Preview

2. Are you a YOUTH rider and do you want to race for FREE in 2017?

3. What you need to get used to doing to race COTR in 2017

4. Weekly cross happenings on the island.

5. Registration.

1. Pro City GP Preview

First of all. Do you want to AVOID all registration line ups on Sunday morning? Do you want to pre-pin your race number and have it PERFECT before you leave the house for the race? Do you just want to chat CX with like minded people for a while while you enjoy a BEER?

For the FIRST TIME EVER!!

For all that have PRE-REGISTERED (by NOON on Saturday) and don’t want to wait in line Sunday morning. Stop by the Trek Bicycle Store, PRO CITY RACING headquarters 338 Catherine St in Victoria on Saturday from 5:30-8:00pm and pick up your number and timing chip. We will also have some complimentary beverages to help you pre-hydrate for the race on Sunday. Join us for the Season Kick off Party. Hang out with fellow Cross Fiends and and chat tactics, brag about your new cross bike, and talk tire pressure.

Second of all. Tessa and Tycho would like you to pop by their Freezie stand to buy a pre or post race freezie. $1. They tried to do this at the MIVA Diver lake race….but their were technical difficulties. Make their day. Buy a freezie!

Course Description:
The City of Victora has allowed the use of Topaz park again for 2017.
The course will be very similar to last year. Some corners will change a bit but the layout will be the same. Taking advantage of Topaz park’s varied terrain including grass, wood chip trails, rocks, and more grass. The 2017 race course is fast, fun, and flowing with a mix of high/low speed riding, wide open power sections, technical cornering, and fluid long radius turns over varied surfaces. Race your file tread tires, bring your horsepower and your cornering skills.

Venue:
Topaz Park is located at the corner of Finlayson Street and Blanshard Street in Victoria. Parking is available on the north end of the park off of Finlayson Street or on the East side of the park by taking Spruce St off of Quadra Street. Additional parking is available at Mayfair Centre and SJ Willis School, a short walking distance to the park.

Please be courteous to other park users during race day and keep off the sports fields.
The park is still open to the public so please be respectful.
KEEP OFF THE SPORTS FIELDS!

Team tents:
Please send scott@trekbikesvictoria.com if you would like a reserved parking spot and area for your team tent. We will be setting up tents similar to last year, a bit closer to the parking area off Spruce St. Your spot will only be reserved until 9:30 am.

Shout outs:
Race sponsors: Shimano Pro and Trek Bikes Victoria
Big thanks to Shimano for stepping up big time to help with prizes, course marking, and making great products!

Directions to Topaz Park
From the Mainland:
• Please check www.bcferries.com for up to date sailing times

From the Swartz Bay ferry terminal
1. Follow the Patricia Bay Hwy/BC‐17 S toward Victoria.
2. Head southwest on Patricia Bay Hwy/BC‐17 S (go 28.3 km)
3. Take left onto Finlayson St (go 260m) and look for parking lot entrance to Topaz Park on your right hand side.
OR
4. Additional parking also available by continuing straight on Finlayson another 250m
5. Turn right onto Quadra St (go 200m)
6. Take the 1st right onto Spruce St and follow for 110m to parking lot.

From Nanaimo / Up-Island (Incl. both mid-island ferries)
1. Follow Island Hwy/BC-19A South (go 106km)
2. Continue to follow Island Hwy onto Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S (go 6.8km)
3. Turn left onto Finlayson St go 450m head straight through lights at Blanshard and look for parking lot entrance to Topaz Park on your right hand side.
OR
4. Additional parking also available by continuing straight on Finlayson another 250m
5. Turn right onto Quadra St (go 200m)
6. Take the 1st right onto Spruce St and follow for 110m to parking lot.

From Victoria
1. Take Blanshard St/Patricia Bay Hwy/BC‐17 N towards Yates St (go 2.3 km)
2. Turn right onto Finlayson St (go 260m) and look for parking lot entrance to Topaz Park on your right hand side.
OR
3. Additional parking also available by continuing straight on Finlayson another 250m
4. Turn right onto Quadra St (go 200m)
5. Take the 1st right onto Spruce St and follow for 110m to parking lot.

Volunteers needed!!!
We are currently looking for volunteers to help make the event Crosstastic!! Volunteers are key to COTR events and we are keen to get some new people out to help us set up, take down and run these awesome events!!
If you are in Victoria and would like to learn more about volunteering for Victoria based COTR events send me an email at scott@trekbikesvictoria.com I will gladly sign you up for sweet volunteer position.
We need help with:
Course Construction: Sunday Morning prior to the race, 7:30-10:00
Timers: 1 person for every race to help out…so sign up for a race you are not racing in 🙂
Kids Course Official: kids races are at 11:30am and 12:10.
Course Take down: If everyone pitches in it does not take long at all!

Food Truck

Indecent Risotto Food Truck is confirmed for the race. Cash always works best. https://www.facebook.com/IndecentRisotto/

Schedule

Please note that the schedule for this race is STRETCHED a bit more to allow for registration and data input as this is the first race and there will be a LOT of people and new systems in place. Number and chip pick up during the day will be restricted to those with the next event coming up. Ie. if you are an expert or a masters men….don’t try to get your number before the beginners. Even more reason to pick it up the night before at the Trek Bicycle Store, PRO CITY RACING headquarters 338 Catherine St in Victoria on Saturday from 5:30-8:00pm

2. Are you a YOUTH rider and do you want to race for FREE in 2017?

After amazing participation and response last year with their support of youth races. Quadra Island based Study-Build will again be supporting and paying for YOUTH racers (up to 19 year old) for COTR this year.

Here are the requirements:

The racer must participate in 7 or 8 of the eight races this year to qualify for free entries.
For the reimbursement at end of season the racer (NOT the PARENTS) will need to submit a request, (might be a simple google form)
Then we’ll mail them a cheque

While we LOVED the “enthusiasm” of the money mosh pit last year at Saanich. This will be a more reasonable way to do this and take a bit of pressure off the final awards.

3. What you need to get used to doing to race COTR in 2017

Just some fun bullet point information for you all!

• ENCOURAGEMENT for your fellow racers.
• Heckle your friends (if they can take it). Encourage all others ESPECIALLY the kids!
• Bringing your race number to EVERY RACE
• Making sure your Timing chip is on YOUR bike (not your buddies or your girlfriends)
• Making sure your YOUR PIT BIKE timing chip is on the bike you are going to use as a back up.
• Bring your license to EVERY RACE….or bring $10
• Bring money for a freezie to the first race $1
• Pre-register
• Be responsible
• Should not have to say this…..but no smoking at races by racers
• Always wear your helmet when you are on your bike
• If you are too-agro at a race. You get one warning. The second time you are done for the year.
• This is grassroots…..NOT a Euro-World Cup. We are all here to have fun and do some racing.
• You can’t take a random person’s bike if your’s breaks!
• PLEASE…..please….SIGN UP A HEAD OF TIME. It makes it WAY easier for everyone.
• Don’t but the timers when they are timing. It is hard enough.
• Don’t linger at the finish line…..you will mess up the results.
• If you DNF go to the finish line….but leave your bike AWAY from the finish.
• Most importantly…..if you sandbag…..we will call you on it!!

Looking forward to a GREAT COTR 2017!!

4. OTHER CROSS HAPPENINGS ON THE ISLAND

Cross on the Rock is not the only thing happening on Vancouver Island for Cross over the next few months…..there is a LOT going on (at least until the days get too short to make any of this possible)

VICTORIA
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 #1 and Kickoff is September 13
Ride#2 is September 20
Ride#3 is September 27
Ride#4 is October 4
Ride#5 is October 18
Ride#6 is October 25
Ride#7 is November 1
www.crossclubvictoria.com

COWICHAN VALLEY
First CX practice is a go for this Wednesday (tonight. August 30th) behind Quamichan high school (on Beverley) starting at 6:30pm. See you there – first race is in two weeks!! #crossiscoming”
cowichancx@gmail.com and Cowichan Cyclocross on Facebook

NANAIMO
Wednesday nights at Rock City Cycles. Cross ride starting at 6:00. 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/

ALSO IMPORTANT
Put October 15th on your calendar for the second year of the Cross Fondo hosted and organized by Tripleshot. 40km of backcountry trails. www.Tripleshotcrossfondo.ca Everyone that did this event last year said it was AWESOME!! They will have a table promoting the event at the race this Sunday. Stop by for more information!

5. REGISTRATION.

Remember….we are not “hand holders” at the races or before/after. Take some responsibility for yourself, your information and accuracy in what you are doing.

IF you e-mail us about the race day schedule even though it was on the page that you registered…..and on the web site…..we will not be happy.

If you register in the wrong category. FIX IT. Don’t e-mail us….go in and fix it.

In the meantime we will focus on the million details it takes to put on this race series!!

Here are the registration links.

2017 Series Page – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14156/2017-cross-on-the-rock-series
When you sign up for the first 7 races you get the 8th race for FREE!!

Pro City Cyclocross Grand Prix – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14135/2017-cross-on-the-rock-pro-city-racing-gp
Tugboat Cross – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14137/2017-cross-on-the-rock-tugboat-cross
Coal Cross – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14138/2017-cross-on-the-rock-coal-cross
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
Day of Thunder – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14151/2017-cross-on-the-rock-day-of-thunder
De Grote Prijs van Fairgrounds – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14152/2017-cross-on-the-rock-de-grove-prijs-van-fairgrounds
Hot Crossed Bunnies – https://raceroster.com/events/2017/14154/2017-cross-on-the-rock-hot-crossed-bunnies

We are looking forward to the first COTR race of the season and the series a head.

Check your in-box next week for Newsletter #3 with a Pro-City GP re-cap and a Tugboat preview.

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