Jet Blue

Finally, we’re back to racing. I’m so happy that Eastern States Cup managed to pull off a competition in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Things were delayed and delayed and postponed, until finally the first round of the 2020 ESC was able to be hosted at Blue Mountain Bike Park in Pennsylvania.

I have raced the Formula One DH track at Blue twice before, but have never won. I had also never lost my first race of the season…so which was it going to be?

The weekend was was sunny and super hot because of course it was. My memories of Blue all involve blazing temperatures. There is no shade to be found at the base and clouds seem petrified of hovering anywhere nearby.

Weather aside, it was fantastic to be racing with my new team, Danny’s Cycles Racing. There were five of us racing this weekend. I flatted in my first practice on race day, so having Nelson there to quickly fix my rim and get me rolling was amazing. I also had Michael show me lines and help get things dialed on the track.

During practice, one of the other U12 kids crashed hard and had to go to the hospital for possible broken arms/elbows in a wreck that was reminiscent of last year when Jake, also of Danny’s Cycles Racing, broke both his forearms in practice.

We were down to five of us for the race. I went first and had a fast, clean run that was good for first. I am so stoked and hope we can race another soon…though I’m not sure when that will happen. Unfortunately nothing more is on the calendar, but maybe in the fall…