Epic Racing Cycling Team: Weekend Race Report: BuDu XC #5 and Dry Hill Shuttle

This weekend was a busy one for Epic Racing. I was tempted away from XC for a day of trail maintenance and DH shuttling at the Dry Hill NW Cup venue in Port Angeles. Many of us are co-sponsored with Knolly Bikes and our Knolly team organizer generously arranged for some trail work and shuttle time to exercise some of the brand new Podiums. It was a great day with lots of smiles for the near perfect trail conditions!

Dry Hill (photo by George Smilov)

In contrast to the smiles was the toughness of this weekend's BuDu XC race #5 at Lord Hill Trails in Snohomish as seen by Thomas Farmer en route to his 4th place finish.

Thomas Farmer (photo by Northwest Adventuring)

Thomas received a moral boost in the form of a brief ride-a-long from Joshua Viborel-Baker at the start of the third lap. This initiated a second wind that sustained Thomas through to the finish line! Thanks Josh!

Other Highlights of the Day

Tracey Koziolek
(photo by Full Suspension Studios)

Tracey Koziolek decided to get in on the racing action too. This was her race debut and boy she picked quite the course for it! Although it was a tough one I hear she is already looking forward to the next.

Janna Houchens, head down and determined, powered up the final steep and rocky ascent to the finish line. She crossed the finish line with a big smile on her face. It may have been because she had so much fun or simply that her race was finally over!

Griffin Barlow being the young family man that he is, opted to take in the sights and sounds mid-race whilst waiting to join his mom, Sandra Barlow, as she passed by on her lap.

Anthony Barlow spent his first mucky lap plotting and scheming his way out of a second. He pleaded for a refund of half his entry fee to call it a day but the timing staff, though amused, were not interested in the offer. Always the showmen, Anthony appeared to reserve his finish line encore - popping a wheelie across the finish line.

Anthony Barlow (photo by Thomas Farmer)

Marc Garoutte gave a valiant effort with singlespeed versus hill. Having conquered 1,600ft of elevation at Lord Hill, Marc is now that much stronger and ready to take on the next venue.

Chip Richardson made an appearance at this close to home venue, appearing at the tent only minutes before his start. Deciding he had had enough mud in the face, he installed one of Marc Garoutte’s awesome front fenders. With the zip tie antennae left intact he worked his way to the start line to bump shoulders with his competition.

Dave Savory also makes his return to the race scene after a string of setbacks over the past several months. Jumping right in to the fray with the Expert class he finished up all three laps with a smile. Welcome back Dave!

Thanks once again to all of our sponsors including Chainbrew, Wildwater River Guides, Wolf Tooth Components, Center Cycle, Pearson Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, Schwalbe Tires, Bicycle Centre, Crank Brothers, CrapPhotos, Fanatik Bike Company, Lezyne, Mazama, and Boundary Bay Brewing Company. Our Crank Brother's mud shedding pedals came in handy during this race and our Chainbrew chain lube will be used quite a bit post cleanup!