Turning Badass in the Badlands: Mountain Bike Trip on the Maah Daah Hey with Western Spirit

I was inspired to mountain bike in North Dakota after a random encounter with a woman with hot pink hair, a pierced tongue and great attitude. I bumped into Gnat Harris, an acquaintance I hadn't seen for a year, at Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California in May. She told me she was going on a guided fat tire trip in North Dakota with Western Spirit in June and suggested I sign up too. So I did.

Karen Kefauver is ready to ride!

Photo credit: Jereme Rauckman

  Western Spirit guide Emily leads the way on the Maah Daah Hey Trail; Jereme follows.

Photo credit: Karen Kefauver

Three other factors inspired my North Dakota trip this summer:

1. Western Spirit - The 5-day, 4-night camping and mountain bike tour in North Dakota was organized and led by Western Spirit, a Moab-Utah based company I like and trust. I had toured with them once before on Colorado Trail singletrack. (Here's the story I wrote on that epic trip for Singletrack Magazine). The only drawback, potentially, of rejoining this company was pigging out; the guides are famous for being fantastic cooks and this trip was no exception!
2. Badlands - I loved the name "Badlands" so I had to see for myself what the terrain was like. I was pleasantly surprised: it was more beautiful than I had expected. I loved the lush green grass of the flat meadows *but not the mud* and the rock formations were colorful and spectacular. With five full days of riding, I felt like I was doing interval training: there were short, steep uphills frequently. Maybe just one day with a significant sustained climb. Rolling terrain is the best way to describe it!
3. Good story potential: I had never visited North Dakota, and was curious to see what I would find in America's "friendliest state." It is also one of the least populated states. I often write about my sports and travel adventures (here is my website) and was further inspired to go on this trip because it's off the beaten track for many mountain bikers - and travelers in general.

My North Dakota Photos: Here are my shots from the Maah Daah Hey Trail, which is more than 100 miles long and connects the northern and southern units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Part of the Missouri River Plateau, the Badlands of North Dakota were formed by thousands of small streams working their way through hundreds of feet of sediment over millions of years. The trail travels through the grasslands, on top of the mesas and then dips in and out of the canyons. 

 Western Spirit Guide Simon Stewart points out the trail to cyclists Kathy of New York City, Rich of Chicago, Illinois, Nate of Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Gnat of Redwood City, California. 

Photo Credit, above, and below: Karen Kefauver

North Dakota Here I Come: Mountain Biking the Maah Daah Hey Trail with Western Spirit!

I launch my five-day mountain bike and camping tour with Western Spirit in North Dakota on Monday. I'm here in Bismarck, North Dakota's capital, thanks to a gal named Gnat. Yes, gnat, like the fly.  I will ask her why she chose that name while our group of 8 guests and three guides pedals our fat tires along the Maah Daah Hey trail. If you are headed to North Dakota, here's the office of tourism contact!

It was Gnat's hot pink hair that I noticed in the expo area of the Sea Otter Classic, a bike festival held in Monterey (an hour south of me in Santa Cruz) in April. With that stand-out hair, I assumed it was the same cyclist I had met briefly at a women's mountain bike skills clinic, the Dirt Series, in Santa Cruz, a year ago. I went to say hi.

Gnat learns about bicycle fit during the 2009 Dirt Series, a mountain bike clinic for women.

Turned out neither of us planned to return to the two-day mountain bike skills camp in 2010 though it had been excellent. Instead, Gnat told me about a bike tour she had signed up for in North Dakota.  Mountain biking in North Dakota had never crossed my mind.  I was intrigued. When she said the tour outfitter, Western Spirit, was the host of the trip, it sounded like a good match for me.

I had gone on a Colorado mountain bike tour (Colorado Singletrack) with Western Spirit several years ago and it had been a great experience - and an incredible challenge to mountain bike at high altitude. Here's the story I wrote about that trip for Singletrack Magazine.

My tour starts Monday with a drive from Bismarck to the town of  Medora and ends Friday. I am stoked to mountain bike by day and camp by night - though a bit nervous that I am renting a bike and camping gear here rather than schlep mine on the airplane.

Here are the details of our itinerary. Thankfully, other than a hefty load of water on my back, all my gear will be packed in a truck. Will be fun. Stay tuned!

I used my laptop's built-in camera to snap this photo while I was stretching in Denver Airport. I arrived in Bismarck this afternoon.

10 Tips on Radio Production from NPR's Kitchen Sister Davia Nelson

"An enemy is someone whose story you don't know," said Davia Nelson, paraphrasing one of her favorite quotes. Nelson is a master of stories: as an independent radio producer, she has teamed with Nikki Silva for 25 years and together they form the Kitchen Sisters, an award-winning production team for National Public Radio (NPR). 

They are the creators of more than 200 stories for public broadcast about the lives, histories, art and rituals of people who have shaped our diverse cultural heritage. They have received numerous awards including the duPont-Columbia Award, two Peabody Awards, three Audies and many others.

In my continued quest to broaden my multimedia skills as a journalist, I recently attended a three-hour workshop taught by Davia Nelson. During the class, Davia, a thoughtful and soft-spoken woman, shared valuable advice with me and a dozen classmates on storytelling, interviewing techniques and radio recording equipment. Here are my favorite tips.

Tips for Radio
1. Do not ever pause or stop the recording. You may forget to turn it back on. You can always edit later.

2. Be selective about where you conduct the interview. Top priority: a quiet spot. For example, if you are in someone's kitchen, turn off the refrigerator. (In order to remember to plug it back in, Davia leaves her car keys in the fridge).

3. Be at peace with your equipment. Create a checklist of items that you will always take with you. This includes having fresh, fully charged batteries and ample computer storage space for your recordings. Be sure to check all of the connections for each piece of equipment prior to the interview.

4. Carry a "sound bag" that contains all your equipment and fits your body. Select a bag that you can wear that distributes the weight across your body. Davia regrets not doing this sooner and her back has protested against the years she carried a heavy bag on one shoulder.

5. Cell phones can interfere with recording devices. Make sure to leave your cell phone far away from the recording equipment. 

6. Always start the recording by stating your name, program name, the date and who is being interviewed. This will help you organize and archive your material and provides an easy introduction. 

7. Travel with release forms for the subjects to sign to obtain legal rights to their material.

8. Prep ahead of time. Write your interview questions before the interview!

9. Make your first interview question an ice breaker. Davia always starts an interview with the same question: "What did you have for breakfast?" It's appropriate for her the subject of the Kitchen Sisters show, but more importantly, it's easy for the subject to answer and puts them at ease. 

10. It's all about the audio - so ask your subject to sing a favorite song or lullaby, Davia suggests.

Questions and Answers

 I asked Davia, "How do you direct an interviewee when the interview wanders off track?" Here are a few techniques she uses to subtly guide her subject.

1. Use physical body language - turn away or stop making eye contact - subtly!

2. Create a scene change: for instance, drop something, on the ground to cause minor disruption

3. Be patient!

Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva team up as The Kitchen Sisters. 

 
Some Surprises

1. Davia's interviews can sometimes take four hours and result in 50-page transcripts.

2. An average project goes through 80 versions to test every configuration before going on the radio.

Online Radio Resources
1. http://transom.org

Transom: A Showcase and Workshop for New Public Radio

2. http://thirdcoastaudio.org 

A celebration of the best feature and documentary work heard worldwide on the radio and the Internet.

LOVE OF RADIO 
With many years' experience as a print journalist and continuing my growth now as a multimedia journalist, I was curious about what compelled Davia to channel her storytelling passion into the medium of radio. I also asked Nathan Dalton, the Kitchen Sisters Productions' Project Manager, the same question. Here's what they said:


NATHAN DALTON:

"It's the most visual form of media, you get to use your imagination to go different places.  I love the power of voice... Radio makes you listen harder."

DAVIA NELSON:

" I was 10 or 11 years old when I fell in love with radio. I had a small transistor radio and I

loved music and listening to the rhyming hep cat DJs... It wasn't til I was in my 20's that I heard radio stories... Radio engages people. I's powerful. It pulls people in."

San Francisco Day Trip! Changing Gears from Cycling to workshop and dining!

Off to San Francisco today for two treats: a workshop with National Public Radio's guru Davia Nelson of the Kitchen Sisters, an award-winning public radio production team. Afterwards, Thai dinner with a friend near the Embarcadero. Stay tuned here for my class and dining reviews!

The Kitchen Sisters, Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva, are award-winning NPR documentary producers who have been working together for more than 25 years.

Davia Nelson of The Kitchen Sisters is conducting another round of basic recording and interviewing workshops in San Francisco on Wednesday, May 26th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and a second workshop from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The three hour workshop is for people who want to acquire and hone their skills for an array of projects: radio, online storytelling, oral histories, family histories, and other multimedia endeavors. Both workshops will cover the same information so please only sign up for one session.

We will cover miking techniques, sound gathering, use of archival audio, how to make interviewees comfortable, how to frame evocative questions that make for compelling storytelling, how to listen (which is harder than it looks), field recording techniques, recording equipment and more. The workshops are customized to fit the projects you are working on.

People who attend come from radio, newspapers, photography, oral history, historical societies, farms, music, writing, libraries, archives, filmmaking, web design and beyond. The groups are lively and good contacts are made.

Amgen Tour of California 2010 - Stage 3 in Santa Cruz Race Report

Cycling Fans Celebrate Stage 3 Finish Under Sunny Skies
By Karen Kefauver

At the finish line in front of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, spectators crowded ten deep to watch the climactic ending of Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour of the California, an 8-day, 810-mile professional bike race that ends Sunday in Thousand Oaks. The most fanatical of cycling fans had staked out their spots hours before the racers were expected. The crowds leaned over the orange fencing, cameras in hand, striving to record the excitement of the best pro racers in the world sprinting for the win. There were no umbrellas in sight.

“I am so glad the rain stopped after last night,” said Bart Coddington, a member of the Santa Cruz County Cycling Club and a Tour of California volunteer. “It’s so much better with the sun,” he said, recollecting the drenching rain that greeted fans and racers last February, the first time the Tour of California came through Santa Cruz. Despite a light rain Monday night, the weather cooperated on race day and organizers were pleased that the roads dried in time for safer cycling for the athletes.

The 113.3-mile Stage 3 race started in San Francisco yesterday morning and blasted down West Cliff Drive after the peloton’s tough seven-mile climb up Bonny Doon Road. David Zabriskie of Garmin Transitions captured the victory with a time of 4:26:10. Competitors Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia) and Levi Leipheimer (Radioshack) were only a hair behind. Peter Sagan followed in fourth place. The rest of the peloton charged into the finish area with equally deafening cheering and cowbells clanging moments later.

“This is so thrilling!” said Mary Alsip, decked out in a golden feather boa. The coordinator of the Peloton Club, a booster club for Stage 3, Alsip said she thought finish line frenzy was even greater than last year. “Cycling fans are out in force,” she noted.

In addition to the ideal weather, there was race drama when the three overall favorites broke away together on the critical Bonny Doon climb. The trio pushed full force towards the finish line as a driven pack closed to within a handful of seconds of them.

“It was an amazing finish,” said Nils Tikkanen, a competitive cyclist who races with Team Bicycle Trip. He managed to squeeze in his own training ride before watching the race from the Peloton Club. As a racer, he appreciated the work required to charge over the finish line.

Zabriskie, the reigning national time trial champion, attacked the others with less than a kilometer to go and held them off. He captured the win and a 10-second bonus that put him into the overall lead, displacing Brett Lancaster (Cervelo TestTeam). At the press conference afterwards, a visibly drained Zabriskie said, “This is my favorite race on the calendar,” he said, Then, he added with a smile, “I won the surf board!” The board was a special Santa Cruz prize awarded to the winner of Stage 3.

“It’s iconic of Santa Cruz,” said Matt Twisselman, noting that designer Judi Oyama and shaper Doug Haut had put a lot effort into the custom surfboard’s design and creation.
At the finish line, Cindy Jewell summed it up, “The crowds were loud and had a blast- what a great day for Santa Cruz!

The fifth annual Tour of California continues to day with Stage 4, a 121.5-mile race from San Jose to Modesto. For more information visit: www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Karen Kefauver, www.karenkefauver.com, is a freelance sports and travel journalist based in Santa Cruz and an avid cyclist. Visit her Sentinel cycling blog at www.santacruzlive.com/blogs/outside.

Bike Theft - The Stolen Bike To Do List and My Condolences

It's been nearly a week since my beloved blue Diamondback cruiser was snatched at night from the side of my house. The frenzy to find it has subsided and I intend to replace it. It was my fourth bicycle stolen during 17 years living in Santa Cruz, California. This latest incident led me to reflect on my stolen bikes, how to prevent future theft and the wonderful nature of fellow cyclists. If you have had your bike stolen, first, let me say, I am so sorry. It can be a heartbreaking experience.

Friends, acquaintances, even strangers rallied around me and my stolen bike tale of woe with an outpouring of generosity, sympathy and offers ranging from becoming my personal body guard to pursuing vigilante-style justice for the thief. One gal offered to host a neighborhood gathering led by a non-violent communications facilitator.  To my fellow cyclists, one and all, thank you!

For those of you wanting to protect your bikes, some tips
In three out of four cases of my stolen bikes (two cruisers and two mountain bikes), I had left them unlocked in daytime for a period of mere minutes or hours; they were snatched by people trespassing onto my deck or yard. No matter the circumstances, with each theft, I felt angry, violated and mad at myself that I had not taken steps to better protect my personal property.

 Don't mess with me! I took this self- portrait with a new, hardcore bike lock to show I mean business in protecting my bicycles after my latest bike theft!

Homeland Security
Also as a result of the crimes, I felt more vulnerable. After the most recent theft of my Diamondback cruiser from outside my house last Thursday night, I had sensor lights installed and am vigilant about leaving two porch lights on to illuminate the whole area at dusk and night time.

Steps to Protect Bike
1. Photograph all bikes, taking note of make, model, brand, serial number and accessories.
2. *** Register each bike with the police. See detailed procedure on how to do this in Santa Cruz.
For your city, I suggest you contact your local police department to find out the steps to take.
3. Lock your bike(s) at all times. Surprisingly, this can become a hassle, but it's necessary - inside and outside - lock them! That includes when they are:
On your bike rack on the car, inside your car, in your storage unit, in your garage, in your shed, on your porch, in your kitchen!


If your bike gets stolen, report it immediately:
1. To the police. Some places, like Santa Cruz, have a handy online police report to fill out. After I submitted the form, I received an email response that included a case number. I reported it even tho I had never registered it with police (my oversight).
I hope you won't need to file a stolen bike report but if you do, here's the website.  http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?page=68
2. Online. Immediately alert your family, friends and bike shops in the area. Ideally, post photos of the bike if you have some.
3. Renter's Insurance/Lock Guarantee. If your bike lock was broken, some companies, like Kyrptonite, have replacement offers. You must register your lock/keys when you purchase the bike lock. Your renter's or homeowner's insurance may cover the theft, as well.

If You Want to Search
Many friends had suffered bike thefts too, and suggested searching for the bike in these places.
I did not pursue this route, in part, because the value of my bike was quite low, and also not sure how a confrontation with a thief or supsected thief, would play out. I would want police backup.
• Craigslist (under bikes for sale)
• Local flea market
• Used bicycle shops - sometimes the frame or parts will surface there

On the bright side - YES, there was one
I was reminded of what a warm, wonderful bike community I belong to.
I welcome your thoughts and resources on how to protect your bicycle!

Bike Licenses in Santa Cruz, California
10.68.110 BICYCLE LICENSE REQUIREMENT It is unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle on any public street or sidewalk, or upon any public path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, unless such bicycle, as defined in this section, has been licensed under the provisions of this chapter or under licensing provisions of another public agency.

A “bicycle,” defined for licensing requirements under this section, is any device upon which a person may ride, propelled by human power through a belt, chain, or gears, and having either two or three wheels in tandem or tricycle arrangement, and which has wheels at least twenty inches in diameter and a frame of at least fourteen inches; or any motorized bicycle as defined by the State Vehicle Code.

You can obtain a license through the City Finance Department
Call 831-420-5050
I called and learned:
Each bike costs $3 to register. Make sure you come in with the basic info for each bike, including, serial number, frame size, wheel size, company that made it, etc. You'll need to come the office in person and pay cash or check made out to City of Santa Cruz.
Office: 809 Center Street, Room 101
Hours: Monday- Thursday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Cyclists - Ready to Pedal 2,389 miles in the U.S.? Here's the New Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route and Maps

When Adventure Cycling's Executive Director Jim Sayer visited Santa Cruz in April, I was again impressed by the fantastic work this organization is doing. Headquartered in Missoula, Montana, Adventure Cycling Association came across my radar when I registered for one of their supported bicycle road tours, Cycle Montana, in 2008. Since then, I have joined their association and tracked exciting developments like the release of the map for this epic Sierra Cascades Route!

Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route maps are now available! This 2,389-mile road-based route runs from Sumas, Washington, to Tecate, California, and brings the Adventure Cycling Route Network to 40,633 miles, the equivalent of riding around the planet more than one-and-a-half times!

This extraordinary new route guides traveling cyclists through terrain as varied as thick evergreen forests, apple orchards, wide and narrow river canyons, grasslands, glaciated high Sierra canyons, volcanic cones, and high desert.

Roughly paralleling the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, the Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route passes around and through many of North America's mountain gems, including the North Cascades National Park, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams, Mount Hood, Mount Bachelor and Diamond Peak Wilderness, Crater Lake National Park, Mount Shasta and Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lake Tahoe, Mono Lake, Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, San Gorgonio Peak and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

The route also intersects many other Adventure Cycling routes, creating fabulous new loop options in combination with the very popular Pacific Coast Route.

And here's the scoop on ACA:
Adventure Cycling is the largest bicycling association in North America with 44,500 members. A nonprofit organization, our mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle for fitness, fun, and self-discovery. We depend on dedicated cyclists to continue programs such as expanding our bicycle route network, keeping our website resources up-to-date, maintaing our education & outreach efforts, and building an official U.S. Bicycle Route System. Members are the heart of our organization. 

Mountain Biking Picture of Me, Tongue Out, Elbow Bloodied, Wins Award

Thanks to Conner Jay, photojournalist at The Salinas Californian, I will be immortalized with lolling tongue and crimson elbow. The dramatic photo he took of me after I crashed my mountain bike and skinned my arm on the pavement captures my determination to cross the finish line despite my injury at the Monterey County race in February. I was delighted that he submitted the picture of me, titled "Hardcore" for recognition.  Conner wrote me on April 19, 2010 at 10:41 p.m.

"I thought you might like to know my photo of you won a few awards recently. The National Press Photographers Association and San Francisco Press Photographers Association both gave it first place in their monthly clip contest. Check it out."

Thanks, Conner! Let's hope your next photo of me will be standing proud on the podium!

Judges’ comments for the category

First Place..A different kind of react from a sports event. Kinda of a "pride in the pain" shot. Second Place..Great contrast from victory to defeat in this photo. Third Place..Falling to your knees emotion is hard to find at golf tourneys, and that's what makes this a winner too.

Photographers Leslie Renken, Matt Dayhoff, Ron Johnson, Fred Zwicky of the Peoria Journal Star

Sea Otter Classic Bike Festival: Bad News, Good News & Wise Friends

The 2010 Sea Otter Classic wrapped up its 20th anniversary one week ago today in Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey, California. On Saturday, April 17, I raced the cross country mountain bike event,  a very hilly loop of 20 miles, in the women's sport class. Here's my previous post on other fun stuff at the event.

THE BAD NEWS: I came in 22nd out of 24 in my age group. That's the slowest time ever for me at that race. I struggled during the race with feeling bad about my lack of fitness. I battled, not with other racers, in this case, but with my own effort to stay positive and enjoy the strength of my body and the beauty of the spring days and wildflowers. I realized that this is my top priority - mental training! In the end, it's what really matters to me. And I have great friends whose words of wisdom help keep me focused! See below.

THE GOOD NEWS: Mental training is key, but I want a stronger body, too. So, thanks to my result at Sea Otter, I have also been inspired to build my endurance and strength.  I have enjoyed four daily rides in a row, all with friends - three mountain bike rides, Thursday through Saturday. Then today, to top it off, I got out the road bike and toodled up the scenic Highway 1 to Davenport.

On Apr 19, 2010, at 11:43 AM
Andrew Murray wrote:
"Ya know, you showed a lot of guts and heart out there on Saturday. I know how sick you were earlier and how little training you got in before SOC.  That’s a tough ride to jump into."

 
On Apr 18, 2010, at 5:20 PM
Jim Langley commented:

"It was nice seeing you down there and I'm impressed that you're such an accomplished racer. Don't take any guff from those wannabes. Keep getting out there and having fun. That's what it's all about."

On Apr 18, 2010, at 10:41 PM
Henrietta Stern wrote:
"That sense of personal pride for hanging in there and doing your best when bailing would have been so easy is "winning" just as much as coming in first place-- You rock!"

 • Henrietta Stern, right, captured FIRST PLACE in her cross country mountain bike race! 

• Andrew Murray, far left, battled to the podium finish in 5th place in cross country.

• Jim Langley both raced and stayed busy as a bike industry/media insider.

 

 

Amazing Bicycling Bonanza in April and my Sea Otter Classic mountain bike race!

Karen By Kris Suta Pederson KrisCanXS

I am wrapping up an amazing weekend of bicycling adventures that included the 20th annual Sea Otter Classic at the Laguna Seca Recreation area in Monterey; a talk by Jim Sayer, Executive Director of Adventure Cycling Association Friday night in Santa Cruz about the new 2,400 mile Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route; and the Santa Cruz Classic Criterium, an action-packed bike race with top notch talent that happened here in Beach Hill in downtown Santa Cruz on Sunday.



Here are the stories I wrote about the Sea Otter Classic:

• Ned Overend, part time Santa Cruz resident and full-time mountain bike legend, helps Sea Otter celebrate its 20th anniversary

•Sea Otter Classic: A down and dirty mountain bike race report from cross country course by Karen Kefauver

• Spin City: Santa Cruz cyclists prep for major events despite April showers

• Spin City Namedropping - Sea Otter Classic Day 1 Report

• Adventure Sports Journal - March/April 2010 Sea Otter Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

Try ziplining in San Francisco for free in April!

In April, San Francisco visitors have a chance to experience free urban zipline fun that will bring them flying over 600 feet across Embarcadero Square. This unique event will let visitors experience the thrill and exhilaration of ziplining – brought to prominence in North America by Ziptrek Ecotours’ flagship operation in Whistler, British Columbia.

During the Winter Olympics, thousands of visitors enjoyed a similar urban zipline in downtown Vancouver  — it was one of the most popular public activities during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Now ziplining is coming to San Francisco as part of The British Columbia Experience, an 11-day celebration kicking off on April 8 in Justin Herman Plaza. The event spans April 8-18. The event will also feature free public dance performances by the world-renowned Aboriginal dance group the Le-La-La Dancers, an interactive video display, a 3D art installation, and more.

On April 8, The British Columbia Experience launches with the special appearance by two gold medal winning Olympians, US Speed Skater Shani Davis and Canadian Ski Cross Racer Ashleigh McIvor. They will be among the first to try out the zipline and participate in a public autograph signing on April 8th.

When:			Thursday, April 8 - Sunday, April 18th
			10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
What:			The British Columbia Experience, featuring:
			- Free 600 ft. Urban Zipline: Open to the Public
			Note: There are no age restrictions, but guests must weigh more than 65 pounds and no more than a maximum of 275 pounds. The ride will be free of charge.
			- Interactive Video Display, 3D Art Installation and more
Who:			- Launch event on April 8th from 12:30-2:00 featuring a public meet and greet with 2010 Olympic Gold Medalists Shani Davis (US Speed Skating Team) and Ashleigh McIvor (Canadian Freestyle Team – Ski Cross)
			- Performances by the world renowned Aboriginal dance group the Le-La-La Dancers (April 8th - April 11th at 12:00pm and 5:00pm)
Where:			Justin Herman Plaza at Embarcadero Square, San Francisco, California

British Columbia Stays in Spotlight as Paralympic Games Launch March 12-21, 2010

British Columbia, Canada’s westernmost province, rolls out the red carpet for the Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler,  March 12 - 21, 2010.  After two weeks of the amazing 2010 Olympic Winter Games, disabled athletes from around the world will compete for medals in five winter sport disciplines. When you are not watching events, there's plenty to do in Whistler and Vancouver - here are two stories that I wrote about my trip there in 2009!
• Olympics Aside, There’s Lots of Cool Stuff To Do in Whistler This Winter
• The Last-Minute Guide to Olympic Fun in Whistler/Vancouver Three Adventure Activities That Will Get You Moving

I took the three snow photos, below!

Visitors and spectators will visit hotspots, including the British Columbia Canada Pavilion at the Vancouver Art Gallery. And  LiveCity Sites in Vancouver and Whistler will come alive again with free music and entertainment.

Tickets to Paralympic sporting events are available and affordable!
To purchase tickets to the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Accommodation can be found at a variety of price points in Vancouver and Whistler as well as around the province with spring promotions and other special offers.

For travel information and to book accommodation and activity packages in British Columbia, visit www.hellobc.com. More information on the Paralympics can also be found on the blog of Tonya and Ian Fitzpatrick, the talent behind World Footprints (formerly Travel'n On Radio) headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Olympics End, but Vancouver remains in spotlight for Parlympic Games

While the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics officially close tomorrow, it's just the beginning for the Paralympics Games, March 12-21, held in the same venues. Surely, Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada, will remain in the world's spotlight long after both events conclude. I didn't go to the Winter Games, but I had the opportunity to visit all the Olympics venues in Vancouver, Richmond and Whistler before the Games. While I was there, I scoped out all kinds of fun things to do on a visit there. 

Here are the links to two stories that I wrote for Tripatini and Fanatchicks websites. You can use the activities I experienced as a winter vacation guide to Whistler and Vancouver - Try all kinds of fun stuff, from a Sno-Limo, to the Peak to Peak Gondola, to just chilling out in a cozy lodge!

Fanatchicks.com
February 12, 2010
The Last-Minute Guide to Olympic Fun in Whistler/Vancouver Three Adventure Activities That Will Get You Moving

Triapatini.com
February 1, 2010
Olympics Aside, There’s Lots of Cool Stuff To Do in Whistler This Winter

The Challenges and Joys of Cross Country Mountain Bike Racing - Blood and Medals

SV Endurance Dirty Gears Mt. Bike Race, Monterey, CA USA, 2/21/2010

Two bad crashes before 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning
Slamming into the ground, not once, but twice, made me wonder if it would have been smarter to stay in bed on a rainy day rather than join the opening cross country mountain bike race of SV Endurance at Fort Ord, an hour's drive south of me in Monterey County.

I felt like a real nut case as I flashed my bloodied arm to pro photographer Conner Jay who was onsite shooting for the Californian, the Salinas newspaper. 

It was hard to motivate
Only hours earlier, at 7:30 a.m. I looked at the rain and thought no way am I going to race in this muck! The race, first in a series, had sign-ups until  8 a.m. and a start time of 9 a.m. I had already paid but was still supposed to get there by 8 a.m. The rain gave me an excuse to stay home. Yet I did not feel right knowing that my friends on Team Santa Cruz, our race team, (Andrew Murray, Winona Hubbard and Alex Anderson) had rallied and were going to compete despite the nasty weather.

I couldn't let them down.  So I dragged myself out in the cold, gray rain,  feeling fast as a slug. I made it to the venue by 8:15 a.m. and wondered why so many people thought this was a fun way to spend a cold winter morning. My women's race started a bit after 9:00 a.m. I had all the enthusiasm of a grumpy bear emerging from its winter lair. I warmed up thought and then was happy to ride with my friend Winona.

Struggling up 2300 feet of climbing
Owww! The pain in my legs was humbling. I realized that since I signed up to race at the Sea Otter Classic's mountain bike cross country event in April, I have a lot of hill training to get up to speed, literally, for that event. I had to endure one 13-mile lap for sport class. Only the experts - all 3 of them in the men's class, including Alex Anderson, had two complete two grueling laps- unthinkable! Those tough hills at Fort Ord felt endless due to steep climbs, many muddy slick hike a bike sections and my two crashes.

The Classic Face Plant: Crash #1
One crash was so dumb you would swear that I had just started riding - how else to explain going off course and tumbling face first into the mud/sand off a wide, fire road descent. And no, it was not a sharp corner. Just a little off-camber. It was unnerving, but I wore my new armor of sand and mud proudly and regrouped.

Wipe Out on the Pavement: Crash #2
I waited for an ambulance who knows how long. Felt like half an hour, but most likely was 10-15 mins. total. No, the ambulance was not for me, but for the poor girl whom I collided with. About four of us took a wrong turn at an unmarked 4-way intersection. Naturally, we opted to go DOWN the paved road, but those of us in front found out from a random official that was the wrong way. So we started to turn around. As I began my U-turn to go back up the hill,  a woman speeding down the road did not see me/could not stop in time and smashed into me. She was going at high speed and flew over her bars. When she t-boned me, I went down skidding, hitting hard on my left side, scraping my elbow and smashing my thigh.  But I did not have her speed since I was turning around.

Who to Blame?
As I see it,  three people were at fault:
1. The Race Directors - the course was not marked and a group of us went the wrong way and the crash happened, on pavement! eek while I was turning around, U turn.
2. Me - Yep, needed to make sure the path was clear before turning
3. The Poor Gal - needed the control to avoid me on the road

She clearly had a concussion and was in agony. It was really scary. I have never been involved in an accident with another rider, much less on pavement. I ignored my own gushy, bloody elbow and held her hand while the EMTs were called and arrived. I waited with her, praying her neck was not broken, til they put her on the back board and loaded her up. She was valiantly trying not to black out.
* Good news: she contacted me via Facebook the next day and said despite the concussion she is on the mend!

A happy moment! I got a second place medal in my age group. Captured by pro photographer Conner Jay, whom I had the pleasure of meeting when he took the other picture, of my bloodied elbow!

Very intense experience. I am grateful to find out tonight she is okay. Despite the blood and adrenalin and guilt for my part of the crash, I declined treatment and said I wanted to finish. I did finish and am proud that I continued. At the very back of the pack with the last few stragglers from beginning men.

I did get a medal which was satisfying for a different reason
To me, it was a reward for doing the right thing: sitting with the gal who was hurt, reassuring her and staying til she left.

After I crossed the finish line, I was cold wet and eager to have my wound cleaned. I was irritated that there were no medics left (both had taken off with the injured gal). Seemed irresponsible to me that there were none onsite should other issues arise. Thankfully, Andrew Murray, after his own race, was on hand and used his EMT training to clean my wound as well as any pro. In fact, much later, when the EMT returned and asked to see my wound, after she looked at the great bandage job he had done, she too, felt confident he had done an ace job.
Despite everything, I plan to race this series again. My next mountain bike race is next week, back at Fort Ord, with CCCX series.

For full race results and more about the races put on by SV Endurance, visit: Dirty Gears MTB XC Series 1 http://bit.ly/9BWI5J