Last night the Vail Rec District hosted the Vail Grind. The Grind is 5th leg of the 2011 Mountain Bike Race series and had a fantastic turnout on a beautiful evening. The course, a 4.7 mile loop that includes 1200′ of climbing, is situated on the Lionshead side of Vail Mountain. From the kids to the Pros everyone seemed to have a suffering good time.
I had the opportunity to shoot the 2011 XTERRA Mountain Championships for Vail Resorts in Avon & Beaver Creek, Colorado. The race featured a kids race, as well as, a sport and pro class race. The course began with a swim in Nottingham Lake followed by a mountain bike leg up to Beaver Creek and finished with a trail run on the trails of the Beaver Creek ski area. The weather was perfect and the course proved to be a challenge for all. The Beaver Creek stop is part of the XTERRA American Tour which hosts races all over the US. Many of the Pro athletes that competed here will travel to Ogden, Utah on September 24th for the XTERRA USA Championships, part of the XTERRA World Tour.
I am testing a new feature on the blog that gives the opportunity to create a gallery of images, as opposed to posting them individually. The jury is still out as to whether I like this feature.
Last Thursday we went to check out the Beaver Creek Rodeo in Avon, Colorado. What a show! There is face painting, pony rides, bouncy house and a mechanical bull for the kids and good food and drink for the adults. The show put on by the local cowgirls and cowboys was awesome. What a great way to spend a Thursday evening.
What a place and what a turnout. Eagle County BMX, located in Eagle, Colorado is home to an awesome ABA certified BMX track. The track is run by Jay Lucas and hosts weekly gate training and races. Last night there were 12 motos ranging from 5 yrs & under to 40 yr+ “dinosaur” class. They even host a Strider, kick-bike class for the aspiring young racers. Last night was a special night. Good riders, colors, clouds and fun.
And my big winner bringing home her first, “First Place” medal…. couldn’t make a father more proud!!
Day two & three of the tenth annual Teva Mountain Games in Vail have given spectators some awesome performances by some unbelievable athletes. Friday featured the bicycle freeriders in the Teva Slopestyle sponsored by Chipotle. The riders showed their stuff on a track that included gaps, berms and spines some of which were taken from the winter freeride park of Vail Mountain. Saturday the kayakers took on a very swollen Gore Creek at the Vail Whitewater Park in the Freestyle Competition sponsored by Bud Light Lime. The hole was big and provided a great spot for some fantasctic boaters to show their stuff.
Today is the first day of the 10th annual Teva Games in Vail, Colorado. Over the weekend athletes will run, bike, paddle, climb and jump all over the Vail Valley. The event kicked off with some awesome kayaking in the Steep Creek Championship presented by Thule on Homestake Creek in Red Cliff. With all of the great snow that we had this winter and the warm temperatures the creek was raging. Men and women had the opportunity to race against the clock for two-run combined times down class-five rapids. They put on a great show and all competitors did a great job in challenging conditions.
