Race Report: Surf City CX #2: Watsonville Fairgrounds

Submitted by Kim Natzel | November 1, 2006

Sorry, no costume to report on, maybe next year? Sunday's race was the 2nd in the Surf City series held at the Watsonville fairgrounds. I was actually looking forward to this race. I've been a bit apprehensive about the races I've done so far this year - lack of confidence for some reason.. So, Lorri picked me up and we headed over to Watsonville. We had plenty of time to ride the course before our race and see all the great costumes. (now I'm wishing I did have a costume)

Surf City CX #2

Lorri, Yvonne and I did a lap together to check out the course - It seemed really long. The 2nd half was relatively flat and dare I say easy? There was a loop of circles, they called the swirly, which was fun, round and round we went hoping not to get too dizzy. Then over a small sandy hill and down to the run up from hell! It was pretty long, steep and sandy. I got behind Yvonne on this part and she just cruzed up the hill. It seemed I was barely getting started and she was at the top. I'd definitely have to push myself hard on this during the race.

Finally the C women were off and racing I was in the front and had a good start till we got to the first set of barriers, where I watched everyone pass me. Really need to work on those mounts and dismounts! Made it through all the sandy sections and the run up went pretty good too. Although I missed my pedal and almost fell over getting back on at the top.

Lauren and I were playing cat and mouse on the 2nd and 3rd lap. She was mostly in front of me during all the technical stuff, then I would pass her out on the flat part. I heard the bell for the last lap and I was still feeling really good so I told myself to GO! I really pushed it and tried to get past as many people as I could. My confidence was back and I was riding really good.

I passed a couple more out in the flat section and just had one woman in front of me and on a mountain bike, (I forgot her name, sorry) I realized I'd have to sprint if I was going to beat her so I gave it all I had, but she beat my by a bike length. I didn't notice I was still in my smaller chain ring, if only I could have gotten it to the big ring I probably could have beat her. It was fun though, I'd never done a sprint before.

I got 5th and was really happy, my excitement for racing was back! Everyone had a good race, no crashes this time.

Next Sunday we're racing in San Francisco at McLaren Park for round three of the Bay Area Super Prestige Series (www.pilarcitos.com) so come out and join the fun!
Founded in 2002, Velo Girls fielded our first little "race team" for the Livermore Hills Road Race in 2002. In the fall of that year, we announced the formation of the Velo Girls Racing Team. The team, comprised of almost 40 brand-spanking new racers, was developed as a true grassroots program. We provided skills clinics and training all fall before making our racing debut in 2003.

That team has continued to develop, now completing four full seasons of racing action! And we've grown beyond the development phase, with women competing in national pro events and regional CAT 2 through CAT 4 races. We've also got a strong masters presence. In 2004 and 2005 Velo Girls was the winningest women's team in northern California and Nevada, with individual racers ranked at the top of the NCNCA BAR, the Bay Area Women's Cycling Association Points Series, and the USA Cycling national rankings. Since 2002, Velo Girls has developed close to 150 new women racers through the team and our highly successful racing development program.

In recognition of our commitment to developing cycling in the US, Velo Girls was selected by USA Cycling as the 2003 Women's Club of the Year and the 2004 Division II Club of the Year.

In 2006, Velo Girls was once again honored by USA Cycling as Women's Club of the Year, and further recognized as the top team in Northern California and Nevada for developing and retaining more new racers than any other club in the district, winning the NCNCA Club Challenge. It just doesn't get any better than that!