Epic Racing around the World

Leana writes in from the Deer Valley NMBS in Park City, Utah.

I raced my Cannondale Rize for the first time this past weekend at the NMBS national at Deer Valley. The national featured a dual slalom race on a new course built yards from the resort, which combined with the evening scheduling, drew in large crowds of spectators.

I qualified as the second fastest on Friday only beaten by the current World Champion, Melissa Buhl. The course was fast and boasted loose corners and a variety of jumps and obstacles, and qualifying times were around 20 seconds so times were close.

In the finals, I breezed through her first round against the 7^th seeded woman, and moved onto the semi finals were she was up against Lisa Myklak. The races between the two were some of the best of the night with the girls battling in both heats all the way to the finish. Lisa won the first heat by a knob on a tire and I won the second heat by about the same but in the end it was Lisa who took the win to move onto the finals by .004 of a second.

In the small final heat I was paired against South African Joanna Petterson, whom I typically battle back and forth with. Aboard the new Rize, I  was able to take both wins in the heat to secure 3^rd place finish at the event.

I had such a blast racing today, I may not have done as well as I had hoped but the heats were close, so I know I am in there. As I ride my Rize more, I can only get better and hopefully I can get a few wins at the upcoming nationals at Windham [New York], and Mount Snow [Vermont]. The Rize worked so awesome, we got it down to 26 pounds and it accelerates so well, I just wished the course had more corners for me to pedal out of.

I also competed in the downhill event, on a very challenging course and placed 5th.