Psycho Cross and Winning Smiles

Editor’s Note: Tina Brubaker is an extremely talented racer from Salem, Oregon. I asked Tina if she would consider contributing to PacificPedalling.com and I’m pleased to introduce her first race report in today’s blog posting. Thanks Tina! (update: photos added to article, thanks to Chris for providing them.)

When I woke up this morning, looked out the window and saw SNOW, I immediately knew all my friends were going to bail on the Psycho Cross race in Eugene but, darn it, NOT me. I just can’t get enough! It’s cross season and if someone builds it, I will come…or go…or whatever…I’ll be there. I had already gotten Lana’s signature “BAH..tired..cold” text indicating her enthusiasm factor was not high and that she would probably NOT race today. As luck would have it (for her, not me) my front tubular was flat, so I had to stop by her house to borrow a wheel. She was snuggled cozily on the couch in a blanket when I stormed in, fired up and ready to race. The sun had just come out and most of the white stuff had melted off … I just looked at her and said “you aren’t gonna go ride in this – you may as well come race with me.” Needless to say, she was an easy sell and soon enough we were both on our way to Eugene. Read on…..

Tina and Lana before the gun.

Just let it be known that Sal knows how to put the F in F-U-N when it comes to making cross courses, and today did not disappoint. Improving on the awesomeness of previous courses, he added more – yes, more – twisty, root-filled single track, a sand pit (to add a little Euro flair), and a wide-open, windy field. Riding skinny tires in the mud is on my top three “Tina’s favorite things to do on a weekend in Oregon” list and, Yeow! I loved this one.  For anyone who hasn’t been down to race Psycho Cross in Eugene, you MUST try it, unless, of course, you don’t like slick corners, wet leaves, having fun or falling down. If that is the case, you should sit this one out, stay home and ride the trainer, you’ve only got four more months of that ahead of you…

Tina flying through the leaves.

But back to the race, I stacked hard at the beginning on a loose gravel corner, behind Kori and right in front of Lana (sorry, Lana, and thanks for not running over me!) We caught back up to Kori and I thought Lana was going to stay with me, but at some point I got away from both of them.  Maybe because I felt like a horse just let out to pasture after too many days in the stall and all the kick ass muddy single track made me want to go fast! Good times for Earthquaker. Lana ended up having a great day too and got her first win in the B’s!

Lana on the flyby.

Racing/playing done and drinking hot cocoa by the fire, me with a few bucks from race winnings for gas money home, and Lana with a cool new Redline sweatshirt and both of us with winning smiles on our muddy faces! Perfect. I love cross.

Tina making quick work of the barrier.

And just to sweeten the day even more, as we rolled back into Salem at dusk, the snow started to come down again. Did I already say perfect?

The last cross race in Oregon for ’08 and I wouldn’t have missed it. Thanks Sal and Emily and all the OBRA staff who sat in the cold and counted the few of us who rode by today.  And congrats to Tree Farm on his national title, and the Vanilla boys and all the other Oregonians who were out killing it in Kansas City today. We are lucky to be home to some pretty fast kids … it makes me proud to be part of such a great community of riders and racers.

Tina Brubaker – Vanilla Bicycles