KEYSTONE CLIMAX

It has been a while since I have been to a bike race. I will admit, I have been a slacker this year. So I went to Keystone for their annual "Keystone Climax." It was great to show up, hop on the lift and get hiking on the mountain. A lot of the hiking I did was under the lift and having everyone shout to me in disbelief reminded me how fun these events are.

One of the things that I enjoy the most about shooting races is that I can walk the course and see the little spots that most people don't get to see.   Nobody can see any single rider on the whole course.   It just isn't possible, but getting to some of the more remote parts of the course is definitely do able.   I made my way down the course as the riders practiced.   When the race finally began I had made my way down about 2/3rds of the way down the course.  

I met up with some spectators, very friendly people who kept up some fun and interesting conversation as the Pro's Qualified.   They moved on up as I moved down and I finally met up with Willy Warren, his crutches and his friends as we approached the most spectated area of the course.   I spent the majority of the race at the stairstep section on Wildthing.  

Willy kept everyone entertained, some junior riders came up to help him out and when Scott Wilson (owner of the land from the Elliott Hoover section) showed up, well, lets just say the crowd went wild.  

Riders were pinning it through the section we were at.   Some more so than others and some with more control than others.   We saw one rider who, without touching the brakes shot through the tape and into the woods, nearly taking out a spectator.   Some of the spectators showed as much athletic ability as the riders as they dodged the flailing riders.   Some riders came and went so fast that you hardly realized that they were actually there!  

In the end the awards for the season were tabulated and awarded to the riders.   To be honest, well I missed that part.   I went off and grabbed some dinner with a few good friends.   But that is what it is all about!  

It was good to get to hang out with friends that I have not seen much this year I was psyched to get some pix in again and have some fun!   Can't wait till next season!