a club , we are really focusing on teaching the youth basic techniques – while enabling them to have fun both on , and off , the bike .
THE MAIN EVENT :
10 sections were set with various still levels throughout . It was a beautiful , but brutally windy , mid-60 degree day . Everyone was excited to get back On the Pegs !
Sections one and two were a mix of logs weaving back forth on a hillside , and section three was a challenging mix of rocky and muddy creek terrain with slick tree roots finishing in a dramatic vertical uphill climb from the creek .
Sections four was along the ‘ Pipe Line ’ where excavators exposed large limestone rocks . Section four was fun as pilots picked their way through the rocks and trees with a cool up and out over a big triangle shape boulder .
Section five was challenging as riders were sent up and down an embankment with large square-ish rocks with a really tight right turn immediately after a ledge . Cheers rang out for new Intermediate Phil Peterson on his Vertigo for scoring the first of only two cleans !
Section six caused plenty of laughter and friendly “ arguing ” over scoring - slaloming between downhill trees in a gulley yielding interesting nonfoot dabs . So is that a shoulder dab for a point ? Two points ? What about a butt dab ? In the end we assessed no points for shoulder and butts , but cheered loudly for the smooth , precise cleans !
Sections seven and eight were on the same challenging rock garden that saw several casualties throughout the day . Off-cambers , lose rocks and steep climbs challenged riders in all classes on seven . Section eight had riders descending the hill with an unfortunate foot-peg-grabber rock that many didn ’ t see – until it was too late .
Section nine was by “ The Tubes ” where the creek goes under Ken ’ s driveway . We went into the rocky creek downstream , then out the left bank . Here riders entered a very tight “ S ” turn through the trees with a sign instructing : “ No hopping , add one point per hop !” I didn ’ t see all the score cards but perhaps someone turned in a four or six or "?." Next , riders went over two large logs , across the creek , left turn and up a steep climb to the exit .
Section 10 involved a wooded hillside with tight turns and LOTS of broken limestone rocks from boulder size to gravel . Many mumbled words under their breadth in section 10 .
The Mid-America Trials Team ( MATT ) club has been in continuous operation since the early 1970 ’ s in
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 168