Dirt Series by Rocky Mountain Bikes - Day 2 report of camp April 25-26, 2009

A handful of stellar coaches from this weekend's Dirt Series camp for women mountain bikers stood still for a moment for this photo on Saturday morning at The Bicycle Trip. Photo credit: Karen Kefauver.

NEW PHOTO LINK: Finally, all photos posted! (May 9, 2009)
http://picasaweb.google.com/karen.kefauver/DirtSeriesByRockyMountainBikesSantaCruzCampByKarenKefauver?feat=directlink


My arms and back are so sore today (Monday) that I can barely type, but this incredible soreness is worth it. After 2 full days of mountain bike skills clinic this past weekend with the Dirt Series presented by Rocky Mountain Bikes, I achieved my primary goal - learning key skills to lift my front wheel over logs and other obstacles on the trail. I also achieved my secondary goal: to consume a record number of chocolate S'more Luna bars... Next year, I will try to tackle bunny hops and a bigger "teeter totter."

Evan, left, of The Bicycle Trip was one of the Santa Cruz shop's mechanics who led skills sessions on Saturday night during the 2-day Dirt Camp. Here he gives Gnat a hand. Photo credit: Karen Kefauver.

I finished the all-women camp Sunday evening at 6 p.m. after a group ride at Soquel Demonstration Forest (AKA "Demo.") Our posse of 6 women was led by super-talented coach Kathy Pruitt: Current downhill World Cup competitor and US National Champion, ten-time US National Team member, former Junior World Champion and pro women’s motocross racer, living in Santa Cruz, CA. The 24-hour mountain bike goddess Melanie Dominguez of Santa Cruz volunteered to be our sweep which was helpful because she knows the trails so well.

Links from this past weekend's Dirt Series in Santa Cruz, California:
1. PHOTOS of Saturday Clinic by Richard Masoner of Cyclicious:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bike/sets/72157617234146101/
2. PHOTOS by Chris Matthews of Specialized at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrismatthews/sets/72157617406484038/
3. Post your own pics:
Dirt Series Photos - post your pics!

My pre- clinic blog post for the Santa Cruz Sentinel
http://www.santacruzlive.com/blogs/outside.

* I will post my photos of this clinic tomorrow at my photo gallery! and blog here that they're up.

Clinic time at The Bicycle Trip Saturday night! Nate tells us to keep the chain clean and check the tires and the brakes before each ride. Photo credit: Karen Kefauver

Dirt Series in Santa Cruz: Mountain Bike Skills Clinic for Women

Candace Shadley, left, founded the Dirt Series clinics. In 9 years, 5,000 students have taken the clinics! Jill Kintner, Olympic bronze medalist in BMX in Beijing at 2008, helped teach the series in Santa Cruz.

Today I was one of 53 women participating in the Dirt Series by Rocky Mountain Bikes, a clinic put on by women for women to improve mountain bike skills! The two-day workshop is hosted locally by The Bicycle Trip and is taught by an amazing team of talented coaches, most of whom are based in British Columbia, Canada. The series is now in its 9th year!! and travels to different locations in the U.S. and Canada through early September.

NOTE: Special thanks to Richard Masoner of Santa Cruz, for taking these 2 great photos in this blog entry of me (and others) at the clinic today. Check out his website: Cyclicious - Bicycle News and Views at http://www.cyclelicio.us

This is the second year I have done the camp. I had such a fantastic experience in 2008 at the Santa Cruz, that I signed up online right when registration opened - and good thing, because it sold out in 3 days flat. The waiting list was so long that another day was added - on Tuesday (space still available).

There is still space left in the one-day version of the clinic Tuesday, April 28, in Santa Cruz: I blogged out this too at: http://www.santacruzlive.com/blogs/outside.

Today's Dirt Series clinic highlights:

- Meeting at the Bicycle Trip in the morning to register, eat yummy breakfast treats and learn Who's Who of our amazing coaches!

- Practicing how to lift my front tire over logs on the trail! "Front Wheel Lift" skills clinic rocked!

- After morning skills clinics - also including cornering, straight line riding (rode a small teeter-totter!) and descending/braking, we ate lunch at Harbor High - yum! Special thanks to Happy Valley Conference Center in Santa Cruz for providing our lunches!

- In the afternoon, a group of 6 of us plus 2 coaches hit the trails at DeLaveaga Park to put some of our new skills to the test!

Dirt Series in Santa Cruz: Mountain Bike Skills Clinic for Women
Originally uploaded by richardmasoner

- The evening wrapped up back at The Bicycle Trip where we could attend different clinics. I went to Bike Maintenance Clinic taught by Nate and vow to do a better job lubing and cleaning my bike chain!

Tomorrow is the second and final day of the clinic - same structure - skills clinics in the morning, followed by a group ride in the afternoon. Tomorrow, headed to Soquel Demonstration Forest!