2022 NW Cup Season Opener in Port Angeles

Here we go again, back at it and back in Port Angeles for the first round of the 2022 season of the NW Cup.

I have to admit, I had barely been on a bike for the past 6 months, let alone my DH bike. It’s hard to get any training in when the trails are covered in snow. It can be a bit rough to be a DH mountain biker living at 3,500 feet in Central Oregon. Mt Bachelor, my main riding/training area doesn’t fully open until July!

I knew it was going to be a tough weekend, many of the kids in my Cat 2 had already done a bunch of races this year in California, Nevada, and Tennessee. The weather really cooperated, however, with rain stopping just before practice and leaving us with a sunny, tacky race track for Sunday.

I went as hard and fast as I could (forgetting, then turning on my GoPro as I started down the course). I was exhausted when I got to the bottom and got a Top 20 result, something I’m hoping on improving on as I get to the later rounds.

The afternoon after practice on Saturday, I went on hike in the Olympic National Park though the old growth tress to the Sol Duc waterwall. I love this part of the weekend, and mixed with the camaraderie of the racing has me stoked for going back.