The drive up the canyon was really steep. The little van had a rough time and it was really slow going, but we got there by 3:10 p.m. and the boys got their bikes out, put them back together (haha) and rode to the pit zone to help set up. It was cold so the boys got out their Flying Monkey jackets (which are really nice).
This was our pit zone before setting up. I don't have a picture after but it is just a mess of tables, chairs, shade tents, trucks and bike gear. They have racks so all the bikes can be off the ground and ready to go. It's crazy all the gear they have but it is so fun to watch.
Ethan took time to pre-ride the course with friends so they would know what it would look like. After he was finished at the pit zone and on the pre-ride, we went to the hotel to check in and buy some gear he needed. I had found a deal on a room at the Ben Lomond in Ogden. It looked good online and was a cheap price so I booked it. It reminded me of the hotel in Ghostbusters (the part with Slimer in it) because it was old and creaky but it was a nice hotel. We had a sitting room, kitchenette, large bathroom, 2 TVs and 2 nice beds. They even put mints on the pillows so Ethan was very impressed.
We carbo-loaded Ethan at a pizza/pasta place and then watched the History Channel until it was time for bed. Excitement is our name!!
Saturday morning Ethan needed to be at the pit zone around 9 a.m. for breakfast. They would be feeding all the family members and team members before the race. We got up there in good time but Ethan was too nervous to eat. I dropped him off at the pit zone and drove 3 miles back to the parking lot.
I had a secret. My parents were flying out of SLC airport to go to Australia Saturday. They had offered to have Bryan and Courtney drive up with them, drop them at the airport and then use their car to get to the race. We would drop the car back to the long term parking at a hotel when we were finished so it would be waiting for my parents. Ethan didn't know they would be coming up. He thought it was just us.
So when I got on the shuttle bus to go back to the pit zone area, I had 3 chairs, a backpack, blankets and a bunch of water. I left the cooler in the van because it was just too much. Out of nowhere a wonderful woman asked if she could help me. I gladly accepted her help and she carried my chairs for me on the shuttle and to the pit zone. She was a team mom from Vernal (where the next race would be) and gave me all kinds of pointers for watching races, helping Ethan compete and calm down, and insights into the Vernal race. She ended with giving me her cell number and saying that if I had any questions to feel free to text or call her. Mountain biking people are so nice!!
I found a spot next to the starting line/loop of the first lap and set up. I put up 2 chairs and sat the other on the ground. Ethan found me and hung out with me for quite a while watching the other races. They have a great schedule to help the kids get warmed up, pepped up and ready to ride. So when it was time for Ethan to get ready, he left me to change and warm up. That's when Bryan and Courtney showed up. Ethan was excited to see them...and very surprised. He said "Now more people can watch me fail." He was kind of nervous about his first race.
Then it was Ethan's time to start. He had a green helmet which helped considerably when we were trying to find him in a crowd of riders!
But before Ethan's race started, Grandma and Grandpa Pack and Aunt Kerri showed up! It was so fun to see all the support Ethan had for his first race!!
Ethan's race start:
You can kind of see the green helmet a little left of the center:
There is a ride leader/coach for the Monkeys who is a photographer. She sets up in various spots around to take pictures of the riders and then posts them on our Facebook page so parents can download them. She gets amazing shots. Here are the ones she got of Ethan on the ride:
If you want to see the course Ethan rode, here is the youtube drone video: Drone view of the entire course from youtube
It took a while for the first lap so we sat around and cheered on the other riders who were on their second or third laps. There is a lot going on at once and it is amazing how they do it all!
Here is Ethan finishing his first lap and going up the incline to start the second lap:
We could see the green helmet coming at us and got really excited. He was almost finished and doing great.
Here is Ethan's finish!
There he goes towards the finish line:
This is his finish line picture taken by that coach:
He was so dirty afterward...and I'm not just talking sweaty! There was a lot of dust on the trail and he had been licking his lips so his face was all muddy. Crazy! He was thirsty and exhausted but he had finished in 1 hour 18 minutes! We aren't sure how long the course was but it was between 12-15 miles, depending on which site you trust.
We were going to wait around for the team podium to see the winners but Ethan was tired and wanted to go home. We all drove to Aunt Kerri's house where Ethan showered and changed. Grandma and Grandpa took us out for pizza, we dropped my parents car off at the hotel near the airport, and then slept at Andrew and Jessica's house before hurrying home for 1:00 church because Bryan and I were saying the prayers in Sacrament Meeting.
It was such a fun weekend and was great to see everyone support Ethan. Thank you!
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