CCCX DH #3 Fall ‘09

Words and Photos by Nate Phillips

Continuing the CCCX Fall Series, the 3rd race went down on a hot Sunday with a good group of riders. Much of it was just the same old, a familiar course and familiar faces on the podium, but it was still a fun time all around. The course started far up in the hills of Toro, with average times coming in at around six minutes. It was mostly pedalling with weaving singletrack. Geared heavily to the spandex/clip pedal crowd, those on traditional downhill squish machines were suffering by the bottom.

Allen came for an appearance

Max beasting it on the pixie bike

Max pumping his way to victory

Eli cornering through the course

Max railing the corners hard

Max on the podium

Mark Weir, the mountain man from Santa Cruz (who happens to be a new father; congrats Mark!) shattered that average coming in at around 4:20 to the top Pro Mens spot. Prime’s own Max Rausch took first place in Junior Expert with a sub-six minute time. He also took second in Pixie class, missing the top spot by a mere 3 seconds. All in all it was a good time as always. Stay tuned to Prime for the next race!

CCCX DH #1 Fall ‘09

By Nate Phillips

Photos by Nate Phillips

It’s that time of year again! The Fall CCCX DH race series is upon us again here on the Central Coast. The trails have been rebossed and  the riders were out in force. The course consisted of tight switchbacks and slightly moist dirt from the recent rainfall. Building crews built a small dirt lip over a rock section and berms were put in on some of the corners making them faster and much more railable. Although there was much of the same old same old, riders were stoked on the new features.

The long hike to the start

Kiran MacKinnon on his way to 1st place

Kelly and Brian hanging out

Max Rausch entering towards the final section to the finish

After getting the first place overall title in the summer series, Prime Designs sponsored rider Max Rausch was ready for the Fall season. He pinned it down the course and came in second in Junior Expert to Kiran MacKinnon by a mere second. As is always the case at CCCX, most of the fun was to be had off the course rather than on it. Unicycles made their appearance and Max tried his hand at it; painfully.

Good job to Eli Reidl, Max Rausch, Clayton Grissom, and Vince Lucido

Eli seems to be confused why he has food on his shirt but not in his stomach

Max looks like he’s having a good time

Overall it was the CCCX experience we have come to expect, the same courses week after week and lots of fun times with friends off the race course. See you next race.

Back into the Groove

By Tony Tarumoto

Most of you have read or heard that I’ve moved to Riverside, Ca to study photography at UC Riverside. I haven’t been able to shoot photos lately but I’ve gotten back into the swing of things this week. I’ve gotten to know some talented skaters who also ride fixed gear bikes. With common interests in both skating and cycling we meshed immediately.

Thursday I finally brought out my camera to begin shooting for my first photography project. It was a breezy warm day at the bell tower located at the center of campus. We are dubbed “The Bell Tower People” because we hang around skating, talking, or biking. Twenty or so skaters were scattered around the up ramp and the stairs like ants on food that was left behind. More people came to watch and the session was on. I could feel the heat from the sun bake my back and rise through my shoes as I crept around for the right angle. Almost 10 minutes after I had arrived a cop came rolling by and told us to leave or we’d face the consequences. Most of us left and the session ended as quickly as it began. I managed to capture this one photo before it ended.

Tomorrow, fellow photographer Jason Peters and I will be visiting the famous Blue Bench Trails in my town, Riverside, Ca. Check in later tomorrow for the Blue Bench Trails article.