I have been in school this fall studying geography, chemistry, biology, and english. it's a little different for me but I am enjoying it and I only have a few weeks left of classes and it feels like it has gone by super fast.

Riding has also been good. I started my training again at the start of November and I am having fun with that. I am doing some more runs this year and going to the gym a couple of times a week. One thing that is different is I am doing all my road training on a mtb. The bike is a Norco LRT commuter bike which I have put a set of Ultegra road cranks on and some clipless pedals. I actually like it more because I have the same position as on my XC bike so there isn't a huge difference between bikes when I am training. Also when I go on the weekly group rides I am able to have a better workout. So far so good. Also because the speed is a couple of kilometres an hour slower then my road bike I actually stay warmer when I am out riding in the rain. ( i average about 27-28km/hr on a longer training ride) Maybe I'll have to post a picture of the bike.

Its also been raining a lot here. The trails yesterday were like little creeks and the low spots had water over the hubs which was a little crazy! I guess all the rain is good though, it will definitely be good come summer.

Leadville 100

My first Leadville 100 is now completed and I am back in Victoria where there is supposedly more oxygen although the mountain air is something I like.

Leadville 100, the highest mountain bike race in North America starts and finishes at 10, 000 ft in Leadville Colorado with the highest point being 12, 100 ft. It's also an out and back with a total of 14, 000 ft of climbing over 100 miles.

Leadville is a small town just on the other side of Independance Pass from Aspen Colorado and in the Shadow of Mt Elbert, Colorados highest peak at 14, 443 ft. The Main Industry was at one time the mining of Molybdenum but when the mine closed down they turned to tourism and holding races. Despite the focus on tourism the town is very un touristy and very much an old town feel.

I travelled to Leadville with Thomas and Tamara which was really nice and I had a lot of fun! On the Thursday when we arrived we went for a little ride up around 12,500 ft and did some intervals just to get used to the thinner air and we also hiked up to to 13,000 ft to look at the view and even spotted a nursery of sheep!

The race was a lot of fun. with my start position I had a lot of traffic to move through which was allright but it also meant that I was never really able to make it into the lead group because they seperated themselves right from the start. By the base of the first climb I had just bridged up to the back of the lead group and was slowly working my way through but was also aware of the fact that I still had 150km to go. I had actually never ridden 160km on a mtb and was not so sure about how I would handle it. The Altitude was not a huge worry for me, it was the distance that would give me a hard time. After the first climb I settled in with a group and started to eat and drink and since I was feeling great I pulled for the flat section going into the second climb and then keeping it steady on the climb I was able to move up even more. By the top of the second climb it was raining and around two degrees which caused almost everyone around me to start shivering and worry about hypothermia or start to put on their rain jackets and going through the feed station at the bottom of the descent many had their support there to hand them dry clothing. Since I had no support and was already wearing knee warmers, jersey with arm warmers and a vest I was pretty good and I had been much colder many times in my life. Reaching the base of the third and largest climb I stopped at the aid station and ate some food and talked to the volunteers a bit. Before getting back on my back and catching all the guys who had gone through with their support crews handing them bottles and food. By the top of the big climb at Columbine Mine it was hailing and windy so I stopped again and had some chicken soup while talking to a volunteer who was also a shop owner in Colorado and one of the larger Blue dealers, but didn't realize that Blue made a mountain bike. hmm interesting..... On the descent back down I once again caught everyone who just kept riding while I stopped at the aid station and put a pretty good gap on them along the flat going into the next aid station where I once again stopped to eat some watermelon and cookies and watch everyone I had just passed ride by again. I was able to once again catch them on the climb and then go to the front and pull for the next 20km to the next aid station slowly dropping riders as the distance and altitude started to take its toll on their bodies. I should say though that by the time I had 40km to go I was feeling the distance and my legs didn't have much punch on the climbs and I was struggling to keep the pedals turning on the steep stuff. I think i need to work on my climbing for next year because I don't think its where I need to be to be competitive and it showed and on Saturday. I was still able to ride the flat at 35-40km/hr but could barely turn the pedals on the climbs. The last 40-50km were excrutiatingly painful, I never bonked I just didn't have the milage in my legs to race for so long. But going through the finish line with a time of 8hr 23min was good and I was able to pick up the big buckle!!!

Thomas and Tamara both also had a good time and Thomas being a gentle man gave Tamara a wheel when she had a flat so she could keep riding while he fixed it and then continued on. both were right around their goal of 10hrs. Tamara a bit under and Thomas a bit over.

This is now the end of my race season for 2009 and I am going to spend some time getting going to running group and hiking and I also start school in September which will be a big change for me!

OK so I haven't been the best at updating this blog for the 2009 season.

Whats happened since the Edmonton Canada Cup you ask? Well....

The following weekend was another Canada Cup in Canmore Which went well for me and I started to feel like I was starting to get in shape this year feeling decent on the climbs. It was also a pretty tight race. I felt good though and following the race it was nice to go to Kelowna for a few days to visit my parents who were in the process of moving from Whitehorse Yukon to Regina Saskatchewen. Also in between Edmonton and Canmore I went to Lethbridge with Jenny to visit my brother and his family and ride horses which was a lot of fun and I think I need to make the trip there more often.

After Kelowna I was back in Victoria for just over a week which was enough time for me to organize the garage and build a work bench. From there I travelled back out east to Bromont Quebec for the Canada Cup finals in the muddiest race so far this year. I spent more time runnign then riding but I guess thats how it goes sometime and I actually like riding in the mud so it was good but the bike definitely takes a beating in those conditions. Here's a link to a video from bromont I'm not in it much but I am # 30

The following weekend was Nationals in St. Felician Quebec on a course which was a lot of fun to ride and I felt like I was riding the fastest I have ever ridden in my life.

I am now just sitting in my Hotel room after pre-riding the World Cup course in Mont Saint Anne. The course is different from past years with no start loop and us riding the fast, twisty and technical single track first before doing the first big climb followed by what many are saying is the most dangerous descent they have ever had to ride on a world cup course. I personally like it a lot. There is talk however of it being removed since there have been quite a few broken collarbones in training and a broken wrist. Basically we come out of the first big climb and go straight down a ski run for 50 m before hitting a burm and then do a drop down off camber corner on a slippery rock shooting us out onto a straight very rocky descent into another burmed corner with one last burm for the exit. we then get a bit of recovery before doing the biggest climb of the course which starts gradual then pitches up and we have some switchbacks more technical climbing and then the final descent to the finish which is pretty straight forward but can get slippery in the rain. (it's wet right now and supposed to rain a bunch tonight and tomorrow) Anyways I am looking forward to it and I am feeling good so I hope to have a good race tomorrow! A picture taken from the second last burm on the new rock section

I'll try to update tomorrow after the race. The elite men go at 2:30

Good luck to all the people doing Inter Montane this upcoming week! drink lots!

Edmonton

Edmonton Canada Cup was the most organized and best laid out course so far this year. I know thats saying a lot especially since it's the first time these guys have organized a Canada Cup but here's what made it so great. It was DOWNTOWN Edmonton thats right the race took place in Kinsman Park right next to the university so there were more spectators there and it brought racing to where the people are rather then trying to get people out to the race. The course was excellent. It had a good mixture of fast single track technical descents and steep climbs. The organization was great and they had everything ready to go and also one of the biggest expo areas I have seen at a Canada Cup, or Nationals for that matter. It was great to come to Edmonton to race. And I look forward to coming back next year!!!

here is a link for some photos taken by Ryan Hoppings.

Tremblant a little late

Last weekend I raced at Mount Tremblant for Canada Cup #2 and unlike so many other years there the course was dry and fast! The Elite men did 6 laps and by the 4th lap up the middle climb my legs were feeling the effects of goign hard and had that feelign when you know they could cramp but you still keep pushing hard because its only another 2.5 laps and the top of the climb is maybe 30 pedal strokes away. I had a decent race. It was an improvement from the week before and I am feeling faster al the time. I rode steady which was the plan and found I could be more aggressive on the climbs and just felt better all around. I was happy with my race and finished in 10th position. I would have liekd a better result but they will come.

This Sunday is Hardwood Hills for canada cup #3 and I'm looking forward to it!

the day before

It's the day before Canada Cup #2 2009 in Mont Tremblant Quebec. The course is pretty much the same as past years with some work done on the trails in a preventative measure in case its muddy.
One thing I have noticed with riding many of the same courses over the years is there is a huge difference in my own skill level and the speed I can ride. I was thinking this today as I descended a section of single track which used to give me trouble and I now pedal in my big ring. Or on the middle climb of this course I remember struggling up it the first year I raced and reaching the top and just being glad that I was at the top. It hasn't gotten any easier for me, I just am able to go faster.
We'll see what happens tomorrow, my legs are feeling good though.

Back In Tremblant

The Canada Cup circuit has started and round two is taking place this upcoming weekend in mont tremblant quebec. The first race was held in baie st paul on a bumpy, rooty, twisty course with quite a few climbs and not much recovery it wasn't my best race but also not my worst and I have a long season ahead of me so I'm moving on and focusing on doing well at tremblant now.
The course is the same as always with a big climb into some singletrack and a shorter steep power climb (which lasts about 1-1.5min) in the middle followed by a fast descent before starting it again.
I'm looking forward to the weekend!

'09 race rig

OK well here it is the picture of the bike I am racing in 2009.

Frame: Blue Carbon

Fork: Reba Team

Wheels: Industry Nine XC wheelset in Gold

Cranks: FSA Team Issue

Brakes: Avid Juicy Carbon

Shifters: XO twist

rear deraileaur: x-9

front deraileaur: XTR

flat bar

zero layback seat post

US cup #5

Sunday April 26 was US Cup #5 in the Santa Ynez Valley, the weekend following Sea Otter. Opposing the scorching heat in Monterey, Los Olivos was a much more comfortable racing climate with the high being around 20 degrees and lots of wind.
The course took riders on a rolling eight mile loop through ranch land with two longer climbs and no rocks or roots making the course extremely fast and quite different from anything in Canada.
Twenty –Five riders started the men’s race which would consist of three laps. On the first climb a small group consisting of Sid Taberlay, Aaron Olsen, Andy Schultz, Manny Prado, Craig Ritchey and Daniel Sessford left the rest of the field with Taberlay attacking the group getting away and Andy Schultz and Aaron Olsen Chasing. The next person to Launch an attack was Craig Ritchey who got clear and ended up soloing for the three laps finishing fourth almost catching Schultz at the line. Daniel Sessford rode for most of the race in fifth fading a little at the end and being caught by Dana Webber to finish sixth just off the podium.
The Next race for the Blue Boys (Craig Ritchey, Daniel Sessford) will be the Canada Cup #1 in Baie St Paul May 17th.

Sea Otter and camping

I raced Sea Otter Classic for the first time this year. It was great to be able to race against 170 other fast guys on a fast course. The only downside for me was the heat, not being used to riding let alone racing in 30 degree weather took a lot out of me. The start was great for me and I was able to ride comfortable in the lead group until about 40min in when my core temperature started rising and I could no longer get cool. After finishing all the water I was carrying (2 bottles) plus the water I could get out of the nuetral feed zones I had to realize that I needed to sit up and focus on getting through the lap and not dying since my legs and arms were starting to tingle and I was sufferign from heat stroke with feelign like throwing up and a bad headache. After the feed zone though I was able to recover a bit for the second lap and pass a few guys back to finish 36th. A little dissapointing considering I was doing quite well and I was wanting to finish in the top 20. The next race is going to be in Santa Ynez on Sunday and I think I will be more acclimatized to the heat!

After the race we went for a quick trip to downtown San Fransisco before heading to Point Reyes National seashore with Jenny and Emily for a couple of nights to camp and have a nice time at the ocean. To get there we had to bike in for 6.8miles with the first 4.5miles being a climb up to 1324 ft and then the last 2.3 being a decent back down to the ocean. The views were great and we had a nice time there playing on the beach and watching the waves. Although riding back out today with a pack and all the gear was a little bit of a grunt.

Oh the other thing I seem to have trouble with on a regular basis is customs. Everything went smoothly I went to the wicket, talked to the customs officer and he stamped my entry form and my passport and I said thanks and have a nice day and continued on my way out to pick up my bike and luggage. Just as I was about to leave security another officer stopped me and wanted to know why I had no previous stamps in my passport if I had actually been to the U.S. Well I don't know why they have never stamped it but he didn't like that answer and wanted to see my return ticket which I don't have because I am driving back to Victoria with Jenny and we are going to be doign some sightseeign on the way. But I never print out a ticket anymore, everything is done through internet. maybe in future I will have to print of my complete itinary. I guess telling them that the U.S. would not be my first choice for countries to sneak into wouldn't go over either. Well good thing the next border is going back into Canada!!!

Half way through march and the trees are starting to bud and the days are also getting warmer! Needless to say the riding is also great!
Yesterday I went to see an orthotics specialist and after he did the full assessment and watched me walked and did all that stuff he told me orthotics wouldn't help me since I had nothing wrong with my feet but stretching would help me to feel better in general. Something I guess I know but just find it hard to actually get around to stretching. I would probably have fewer aches and pains though, so I am starting to try and stretch regularly from now! But if you are ever needing orthotics and live in Victoria then I would recommend Dr Hamilton.

Sunshine and Leadville

The weather in Victoria has been amazing lately with clear blue skies and warm sunny days! Yesterday evening I had a rest day and I took advantage of another nice day and went down to the ocean to relax and enjoy being outside.

On the racing/training side of things I found out this week that I made the lottery to race Leadville 100 in August. I'm looking forward to it- who wouldn't want to race 100miles at 10,000 + ft? But it should be a good time and Tamara Goeppel and possibly Thomas Tetz have also made it in so it will be nice to see them down there and enjoy the mountain air together while eating our gels and sugary drinks...Plus every finisher under 9hrs receives a handcrafted belt buckle. The goal though is to be under 7 hrs which means averaging 23km/hr...we'll see what happens!

As for now I am off to go ride the mtb

The past few weeks have been busy for me, with work and training and then of course sleeping. At work we needed to finish up a project that had to be done for the end of January which meant a bunch of 10hr days, not my favourite thing to do but the plus side is that for the next couple of weeks I am able to be off work at 1:30 pm and work 6hrs a day! This is a huge benefit for my training since it means more nap time and more sleep at night.

Trainign is going well. I just finished up a 3 week block and a recovery week and monday I start again with the build cycle. Today I also had a test type workout where I was to do a climb 2 times at max effort. The climb being Willis Point rd which took me 10:04 for the first time and 10:14 for the second. I have no idea if this is fast though since I have never heard of a time for it. Regardless I was going hard and had a good ride!
I also bought some new road shoes and pedals yesterday. the Pedals are the Shimano Ultegra Sl, which are pretty sweet and the shoes the Specialized comp. Its been awhile since I bought new road shoes but compared to my mtb shoes they are pretty amazing! I would definitely recomend a set of specialized shoes to anyone looking for new ones...
Tomorrow I have another 3hr mtb ride on the schedule and its of course going to be a good time. don't know the full ride route yet but thats allright!
I'll try and update this thing more now as the season is starting up!

Daniel