Keith Morelan - 5th Place, Category 1, 17-18
Khaner Smith - 7th Place, Category 1, 15-16
Dustin Smith - DNS Category 1, 35-39
On Tuesday the 14th of July, Khaner and I began the 18 hour drive from San Francisco to Granby, CO for the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals at Sol Vista. I had a lot of work stuff happening, so it was literally two days before we left that we decided to hit the road. Otherwise, we probably would have flown. The drive was a bit brutal, but a stay overnight at Lodgepole campground just on the East side of Salt Lake City, broke it up into two manageable segments. We drove about 10 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday was about a 7 hour drive.
We got there early enough Wednesday to register and walk the course with Keith. He and James took the easy road and flew. The course looked fun, rocky, with surprisingly large jumps for Cat 1, 2 and 3. There were opt out lines for each jump, but it was obvious to us that if you wanted to win, you hit the jumps.
Thursday morning we headed back up to the mountain to practice. We got a little riding in on some of the other trails before our practice officially opened, so we were warmed up to ride the race course. We took a few runs nice and slow, picking lines, and picking up a bit of speed each time. I timed myself on a chill run with no pedalling and I was just over 3 minutes. Keith timed himself and he was just under 3 minutes.
After a few runs, I hit the road gap to virtual flat, and Keith and Khaner followed. Shortly after, Keith and Khaner hit the 25 foot hip mid course.
I went around it a few more runs, but the opt out line seemed like a cop out line to me. Toward the end of practice I was getting ready for a run and a kid I had known from previous races asked me if I had hit the hip yet. I responded with a "nah, not yet, you?" Of course he had hit it. I took off and followed Khaner down the course. As we rode the stair step section just before the hip, I decided I was going to hit it. I took a few pedal strokes, but it turned out not to be enough... I came up short and braced for impact. I hit and was thrown over the bars and onto my head and shoulder. I felt some snapping and crunching in my chest. Not good, I thought. "I wonder if I'll be able to get up and hit this thing again?" A few moments later I knew I wouldn't be giving it a second try. A few moments after that, I knew I wouldn't be racing nor would I be getting down the mountain by my own power.
The paramedics helped me out, put my arm in a funky gauze-ey sling and prepared me for the ride down in a Suburban. I started feeling sick, so they gave me some O2, which took the edge off. The altitude and my inability to breathe wasn't helping me much. I felt like I had broken my shoulder, cracked some ribs, and there was a concern that I may have punctured my lung. None of which are good, but I was rooting for no hole in the lung.
I opted for no ambulance, and went to the infirmary at the resort. The doctor was cool, and knew pretty much right away that I had a separated shoulder. He recommended a cheaper option than going to the ER, and James drove my car and I to the Timberline Family Practice. They took X-rays and found there to be nothing broken. My Clavicle was separated from my Scapula which constitutes a shoulder separation. In my case they said it was level 4, but later the Radiologist would confirm it was a level 3. All ligaments were severed. That's why my Clavicle was sticking up. Nothing to hold it down, so Boing! I got a wonderful sling to wear for at least 3 weeks and was told to see the Ortho doctor when I was back home.
The kids kept practicing while I was getting looked at and Khaner had done the 44 foot "lip-skidder" jump. Keith followed him off, so they both were hitting it. I was so psyched that they were truly working together as a team. It was a milestone for Khaner. I had always wanted him to follow Keith and learn from him. But, I was extremely happy that he was helping Keith as well.
The next day I was spectator and hung with James taking pictures and supporting the kids. I had thought about doing that on this trip early on, but it took an injury to make it happen. It was a good time actually. I really missed being able to ride the other trails. I had hoped to get to know each trail intimately, but had only had a few runs down Silky Johnson.
In Friday practice, Keith and Khaner started hitting the jump over the road at the bottom of the course. Rolling it was awkward as hell on Thursday, but it looked like it started to pack in a bit by Friday afternoon.
They were clearing it with ease and drifting the turn out of it down toward the bottom section of the course.
Saturday, race day, both kids got some good practice runs in. I'm usually riding with Khaner, so I know how fast he is or isn't, but this race, I'd just have to assume the best. Khaner came down and was about 10 seconds off the leader in his division with a 2:42:46 and a seat grab over the table top finish. He had went off course after the trail gap. He went over the berm and had to get off the bike and push it to get back started again. He had cleaned that whole section every time in practice, but the time that mattered most, he made a mistake. I was still incredibly proud of him. Without that mistake, he may have won, or at least had a top 3. He ended up in 7th place in 15-16 Category 1 (Expert). For his first year in Expert and having just turned 15 a few days previous, that's a solid finish.
Keith came down shortly after and had a great time of 2:23:46 which put him in the top 5. After all 17-18 Cat 1 riders were down, Keith managed to hold a podium spot with 5th place. Keith's consistency this year is one of his biggest strengths. He's been in the top spots at all the major races he's attended and podiumed at most of them. We're hoping it gets him a spot on the Worlds team for this year. Fingers crossed...
Mitch Ropelato took the top spot in 17-18 Cat 1 DH, and in Pro 4X that night. JD made a sly move in an attempt to take Mitch out, but Mitch managed to keep the bike upright and take the win.
Sunday, we went out and watched the pros race. The jumps they were hitting were huge. The largest I've seen on a DH course in the US for sure.
Khaner and I headed back to SF on Sunday afternoon and made it into Nevada before we had to stop to take a nap at a rest area. We napped for about 4-5 hours, then drove the rest of the way home. It was a great trip. Epic actually. I wish I hadn't jacked myself up, but I'm happy we went. And I'm proud of the kids for their teamwork and effort. Looking forward to next year!!!
