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Frejus SX wrap-up (Mon, 12 Oct 2009 Posted at 02:30:00 PM)
I think 3 must be my lucky number this year. Keeping the bronze alive. 3rd at Worlds in Aus, 3rd at the SX in Chula, and this weekend I took 3rd in the final and 3rd overall for the year at the SX finals in Frejus. It was one of the most intense main events of my life... frenchies were everywhere, I think at one point we were 4 wide throwing elbows as we were jumping down the second straight, saw a frenchie explode under me as I jumped over her head on the 3rd straight, and thought I was going to take the win when I saw Mariana and Laetitia hit in the last corner. We came down the last straight 3 wide drag racing to the finish... too bad those rollers were so deep, need to work on that! Laetitia won by .01 seconds over mariana and .19 seconds over myself. Check out the shot Jerry Mania took at the finish;
So close, but no cigar! Still happy with the 3rd though, my hand still isn't completely healed so I felt lucky to even be out there pushing as hard as I did. Exact podium repeat of Chula Vista 1,2,3 in order. I was a little sad to lose the overall title, but considering I was injured or hurt at every World Cup race this year I am pretty darn grateful to even have made the podium, and just barely too... only by 2 points over Merle.
Sam Willoughby handled the Mens main event. Donny was hot on his heels but Sam wouldn't be denied. He's a one man wolfpack. I thought Strombergs would pull him, but not this time. It looks like the kid has gone from Jr to top of the Elite in no time taking the overall title this year as well. They had over 140+ guys, so crazy how deep the talent pool has gotten on the mens and womens side. SX used to be more of an exclusive thing, back in the day there were maybe 10 or 12 girls pioneering it, but not any more. Kids are popping up out of the woodwork to show their stuff down the ramp and its great for the sport.
All in all i think it was the best SX finale ever. I love South France. The track was super fun, the racing was intense, and for once the weather was as beautiful as they claim it to be (minus the wind). UCI held the first- annual awards ceremony that night for the year end overall and also special category rider awards like Best crash, Best style etc... pretty fun deal especially when your sober watching all the drunkies make fools of themselves.
The season is over for me now, time to take a little time off and get some snowboarding in before I start up training for the next season. Mike gets Thanksgiving off from training in Tennessee so we decided that instead of going to Tulsa to race that I would actually take a vacation for once without my bike, which means its pretty pointless for me to race Lancaster and Disney. Good luck out there mates, i'll be watching on GO211.
BMX is an individual event but by no means has my year been individual in effort. So many people have been influential in helping me through this year and all of my injuries. First off, my husband who is ever supportive of me chasing my dream, even when I am crazy about it. PH who has coached me the last 2 1/2 years, I wouldn't be the rider I am today without him, Sean for looking to the future. The ENTIRE Sports med team here at the OTC, they pulled more than one miracle this year to get me back on the bike. USA Cycling and Mike King for the funding and race support, Jeff Glynn, GT, Big Daddy, Spencer, my family back in Utah, Jill, Witt, Doug Thralls, Heather@ Octagon, the SD Hyperbaric crew and the Chula Vista OTC for giving me a place to train and live the dream. Couldn't have done it without you guys...Thanks.
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