AnD So It BeGinS...

Post one of a long series of post to come for the SSAR write up. As I post pics and photos I will follow with commentary.

FOr starters my file of pics.
Friday night we headed up a day early, seemed like the smart thing to do since we were starting crazy early the next day. We got there to find a nice surprise as Sand Pine had set everything up. We threw up our tent and got busy hanging out as participants slowly trickled in to camp and hang out.

After attending the Double Dare Last Ocotober in Pisgah Forest, I was inspired. All the other places have races that we just dont get into this far down south and I think its a travesty. My mission is to add more fun and more dynamics to the types of races that Floridians can participate in, thus the SSAR was put together and put on. Admittedly inspired by Eric Wever and the Double Dare, with its own distinct differances.

Team Jenkem: Mike Kanning and Jonathan Stewart. 2nd place

The start was a 24 to 34 mile time trial with the only rule being that you had to stay on single track. Teams started 2 minutes apart and were pulled radomnly from a hat. I had Teams Flaking right up to the last minute, thankfully we had 5 teams, so we at least had 1o competitors, a team was put together that very morning. In retrospect I made it too easy this race, next one I guarantee will be alot harder.

Team Speedy Turtles: Kevin and Bill Hoover 5th place

Team Ebony and Ivory Morrison Carbolinas and Robert Roberts, time trial winners with 24.1 miles covered in 2 hours and 1 min. 3rd place

Team Acid Police Cristian Arroyo and Dave Ruckstuhl 4th place.

Team Bad Ass Mother F****** Brett Wycoff and David Hawkins 1st place, overall winners.

Pruitt memorial is beautiful and it was the perfect place to meet up with the racers to distribute the checkpoints and for their special test.
Sand Pine, assistant and race hound.
The man the myth the legend.

Treadlight rolling in, looking good, Brother rode strong all day.
Robert Roberts, I expected him to get here first since he is the one who showed me this place existed.



The challenge was to drink 5 beers in ten minutes OR hit a can on the other side of the circle with three throws. Number one Rule of MTB adventure racing is to drink for the point. Warrior Princess was the only person that day to hit the can. Took her only 42 tries.







Only two teams eared the beer points. Acid Police and Team Jenkem. Because they got there second on the Time Trial and they got the point for drinking, Team Jenkem was in First place for most of the day.



He actually hit the rock right below the can, very, very close, but NO POINT.








In the spirit of adventure, there extreme creativity was rewarded with a victory. The original clay mountain we called the wall was closed off. But there was another freeride wall there, and they conjured up the cojones to ride down it. As the race promoter and only judge I felt that truly embodied the spirit of the game. Not settling for a close off, but instead finding a wall to ride down close to the described location. The other point they managed to get had to do with the 49th ave trail sign, that could not be found. As well the checkpoint sheet said 49th st, a typo. So, the team rode to the trail head and found a green and white lettered sign that said 49th avenue, I had to award the point for goinng above and beyond and finding the closest thing to what was on the sheet. Congrats guys!

I had a lot of fun watching and seeing everyone enjoying the fun and adventure. All this and the race was free. Maybe one day I may have to start charging, but these days, its this type of event that brings us together to enjoy a fun format and adventure on a budget.


Enjoy,
Laters,
LOS