Whenever I think about the Firestone Walker race up in Santa Barbara County, usually, I think of a good time. This might sound alittle weird for those who know the history between me and the race course there. First encounter came in 2004. Hauling ass on the singletrack by the creek like usual out of control and way too fast I ended up in the gulley ten feet below the trail. Luckily there was no water at the time but that damn tree in the bottom punched a hole through my hydration pack with a branch that could part the Red Sea again. Luckily it wasnt my spleen or kidneys (and maybe my ass itself). With water gushing out and stuck laying down on the ground
I had to let it go and climb up back on the trail to jugalong. Thanks to the race crews for dropping it off at Jimbo's trailor.

Going in to the 2005 race I had full confidence because of the 4th place finish at the NOVA Nationals in Arizona couple of weeks earlier. On top of the Olympic ridden Tomac of impending collapse (which was my brothers) the race started off great until we were tossed onto the downhill course. Cross country geometry and tin can thin aluminum was not meant to take a gap jump. Getting bucked and tumbling down the course happened in just a few seconds... still got up and rode off. Not so bad you might say about this race. Not done. couple of miles later on a steep downhill section on the back of the course something happened that I have never felt before and hopefully never will again. Confusion can best describe it before the pain set in. The bike split in half right down the middle, no joke. It was a total SuperMan slide because I still had my hands on the handlebars. Riding glasses shatters , helmet dented, wrist mangled... sitting inbetween two pieces of a bike that were being held together with the cables only. Holy Shit ! What just happened ? My bro is not going to believe this. I actually chuckled to myself.

For 2006 I entered the endurance race there at Firestone. Five laps ...15 miles each... oh yea chugging a beer every lap. That part did not go so well, basicly , the whole thing didnt go so well. I did complete it in just 8 hours but could have had a better time if that freaking BULL wasnt in the way! All I saw were nads as I was braking as hard as I could not to go fast first into the rear of this bull out on the singletrack. With a cliffside on the right and a fence on the left that bull had one way to go, thats what I thought, until it made a 180 to come right at me. With a fellow racer that was even more stunned than me we ended up climbing down the cliff so the bull can pass by. The bull didnt want to pass by and intended on Moo-ing us to death. Quick scram to the left and we were out. Saw the fellow couple of more times during the debacle that day.

Don't know what to expect this year at Firestone Walker. Expert class , nationals, borrowed bike again ... its a recipe for disaster again. The beer will be ready thats for sure!

Pic from 2005 : Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale and ice cream provided by Rhoda : makes it feel all better.