Southridge Series, DH Race #3 - Fontana, CA

Southridge Downhill Race #2 Report - as told by Denis Kremenetskiy

This was an exceptional race, much different from the previous two Southridge races. It was steep and wet, the complete opposite of what we were all expecting. We got to experience the track in rainy conditions due to the rain throughout the week and on Saturday. The only sunshine we got the whole weekend was on Sunday, the day of the big race runs.

I woke up Saturday morning to rain hitting my window. It took a few minutes to realize what day it was, and how the weather had relevance to what I had planned out for the weekend. Usually rain in the morning is a good sign for me. As soon as I heard it I got a smile on my face. Unfortunately, I wasn’t so sure that rain was a good sign for the morning of the first practice day. I was starting to get a bit discouraged. What if the race was canceled?! That would ruin the whole weekend! I called Tani with high hopes that the trip was still on. His response was very reassuring, “If it rains, it rains”. That set the mood for the rest of the weekend. All my worries of the race being canceled vanished and I knew that we all were going to have fun in the mud, no matter what.

This time The Path racing team was traveling in a caravan. It was most of the usual guys in the shuttle bus followed by Mark Olsen and Fontana first-timer Randy Lovin. Even though it was not the sunniest weekend to race Downhill, Randy kept up a good spirit about seeing what Fontana races are all about.

Tani & Randy

Randy at practice

Mark's race run

As we arrived, we decided to not waste any time and just hike up to the top of the course, just as it was starting to rain really hard. We all quickly discovered the difference between windbreakers and rain jackets is that while windbreakers are effective in protecting you from the wind, when it comes to rain they're next to useless. By the time we were getting ready to drop in for the first time, we were already drenched. Once we got going though, I was surprised to find that the rain made the track even more fun. Especially seeing as how it was a steep enough course that you didn’t have to struggle keeping your speed through the mud puddles.

Tani, Jim, and Denis in line for the shuttle truck

Right away riders entered the first rock g-out, into a sharp 90 degree turn, which was a perfect lead in to the rest of the track. The whole way down all you had to aim for was perfectly shaped berms at the bottom of the rock g-outs. During Saturday practice we couldn’t stop going back. The track just kept getting better and better each run. Even though we probably wore our legs out more than we should have on the day before a race, and even though our bikes got drenched in mud, we didn't care! The conditions were excellent so we left tired and ready to give our bikes a good wash down.

Denis & Tani doing a practice run

Tani & Denis at the lower rock garden

Sunday morning the younger part of the team drove out solo, but when we arrived at Fontana we all regrouped at the van once again. Everyone was full of anticipation about what conditions the track was going to be in for their race run, but we all still kept the mood of “If it rains, it rains”.

Tani & Randy

Even though we were totally ready to race in the wet, Mother Nature decided to give us some sunshine for the race. During the runs, the track was in nearly perfect condition, the dirt was perfect, but the wall felt even longer with all the mud puddles that hid in the shadows and didn't quite dry out.

Denis in his race run

Tani in his race run

After the race runs most of us hiked back up to join the cheering on of our fellow racers.

Jim, Cory, Randy, & Denis - The "Unofficial" Path Cheer Team

From the fun & wild muddy practice conditions to the perfect sunny race runs, the weekend proved to be as exciting, amusing, and delightful as any other. It was a thrill to finally do a race where the rain separated the men from the boys. Some people decided to not race due to fear of a little mud, but I learned that apparently in Fontana the rain only means more fun. We'll be looking forward to more great tracks out there!

Tani Walling, 4th place - Expert Men Class

Jake Payne, 2nd place - Junior Expert Men class