When one thinks of the Sea Otter Classic, they envision inconsistent weather and the cycling industry masses filing into the infamous Laguna Seca race way. A new year brings new developments at this long-standing season opening institution. Downhillers and gravity lovers can finally get excited for a fresh and flowy course that has had to overcome many barriers to become a reality.
Year after year brought shiny new bits and progression to the expo zone at the Otter. External circumstances kept the same from happening to the DH track. The one good jump and really good sandy right-hander will remain but I’m sure that’s about it if the Momentum trail crew and the team from Truvativ have anything to do with it…
When you have the means and the team to pull off something that can make a mark, you have to capitalize and do it for the greater good… Enjoy the first look and tease of the new Sea Otter Classic DH course.
There are some pretty interesting reasons this course hasn’t gotten the TLC it needs over the years. For one, there’s a shooting range near the bottom by the finish that didn’t close until Wednesday. Two, there’s an endangered Long-Toed Salamander that constricts the use of heavy machinery on much of the track. Long-Toed Salamanders and hot lead. Who’d a thunk?
Matt Thompson from Momentum Trail builders creeps up on T Sage in his Mini Ex. The crew hails from Denver, but their labor of love lies just west inside the SolVista bike park. These boys gave you the best US National DH this country has seen in a lot of years!
Matt carefully widens up the once grassy double track near the finish line.
Machines are necessary because of how big this track is. But the handwork is what makes this new track sing.
Welcome to the freshly finished, hallowed halls of the famous catcher-berm. Ride into the light.
Hours of back breaking work. Half of this is a selfish endeavor, dude gets to ride it before you.
Momentum Trail builders are masters of these machines. Those little salamanders are in good hands. Treadin' lightly.
Versatility and sustainably are the two words that kept coming up during the planning of this project. More dirt was needed for the famous hip that's right after the catcher berm to make it wider and higher. This course has to be everything for everybody. Still gnarly for the pros, but still fun and flowy for the groms. Choose your own adventure.
How many truckloads of dirt do you think for this whole project? Put it in the comments. We'll tell you on Wednesday.
Lots of these sorta hand gestures. Lots.
Momentum worker packs down the landing of the hip.
In five short days, this could be your POV.
Steve “I just don’t want to micro manage” Wentz from Momentum takes a much needed break.
Do it right or don’t do it at all. Drainage is the key to making this track sustainable and rad for years to come.
The boys from Momentum have tried to build something that lasts, something to challenge riders all the while evoking rhythm to keep speed, nearing the end of the elevation gain on these last puzzle of mounds to take you into the trees. Get your sprint on!
After 14 years of helping with the Sea Otter and the DH sinse its inception, I can tell you that this has been the best thing that has happened to the gravity scene here at the Otter! Truvative brought in Momentum Trail Concepts and Matt, Mihai, Phil and Steve to overhaul this course, and that we have! While it's not yet complete, I can assure you, after a dozen runs or so, that it has way better flow due mostly to the improvements to lips and landings, and bigger berms! Way bigger berms! Your busy the whole way down. There are several new whoop sections that offer step off features at higher speeds. while this is still a course that requires a fair amount of fitness, the fun factor has been raised big time! And yes, if your coming from Oregon Uncle Cliffy, it's worth the $$$$ to ride and race this course!
wow the cost of racing there sure has gone up in the past 10 years! yikes! i remember way back ten years ago when brett tippie was announcing at the finish line and called out my name, and said that i was sandbagging my class for winning by such a margin. ha ha. oh well, good luck to all of you this weekend. rip it up!
I've been working on the course sense last monday and still can't count the number of loads that have been added to this track! But it done and now the only thing left before we Shred it is Water... Lots of Water! oh... and this video at www.ashmtnadv.com
im guessing this is Billy? because of the SC? ya i had a good race. pretty happy. sucks about your brake, cant do much w/o a front break. the last torture climb was such a bitch! its like "the finish line is right over there, but first im gonna f*cking destroy your legs before you get there. other than the brake how was yours?
nope not billy, but my race was going awesome. the suspension soaked up all the braking bumps and it was fun, but after my brake stopped working, everything went south. ended up only finishing 1 lap. Congrats on finishing all 3 (or 4?) i would have def died.
this shity flat "Downhill" track is an excuse for organizers here in Brazil keep doing "Downhill" races on “tracks” that are flat, even with uphill’s!!! What about the UCI Rules????
There are some pretty interesting reasons this course hasn’t gotten the TLC it needs over the years. For one, there’s a shooting range near the bottom by the finish that didn’t close until Wednesday. Two, there’s an endangered Long-Toed Salamander that constricts the use of heavy machinery on much of the track. Long-Toed Salamanders and hot lead. Who’d a thunk?
