Kris Schamp
Hello, fellow OBRA racers,
We are just 4 days away from the sixth edition of the Six Hours of Mount Hood, so reposting some email updates I sent out earlier today...
1) Preliminary start list posted. Still time to pre-register and get a cool custom pint glass & finisher tag!
As of this morning, we have already 160 racers pre-registered (52 solo racers plus 108 relay racers). Check out the preliminary start list to find out who among your friends, team mates and competitors has already committed:
http://www.portlandracing.com/6hrs/start-list-2015.html
You still have until end-of-day tomorrow (Friday) to register online at Athletepath (https://www.athletepath.com/six-hours-of-mount-hood/2015-06-28) and get your name added to the list. The first 250 registered racers will receive a custom 6 hours pint glass, a sample packet of Nossa Familia Coffee, and a cool finisher tag when they pick up their race plate, so still time to get in on the goodness!
Note: On-site registration and racer packet/plate pick-up will be open Saturday from 4 to 6pm and Sunday from 7am to 9am at the Skibowl trailer office (on the main parking lot). And if you plan to register at the race, make sure to bring cash (or check) and proof of your current OBRA membership (unless you plan to buy an OBRA license at the race).
2) Course conditions, weather and pre-riding.
The race course - which will be exactly the same as last year - is in the best shape it has ever been! All snow is long gone, and no standing water or mud anywhere on the course. The latest NOAA weather forecast for Government Camp for Sunday calls for "mostly sunny weather, with a high near 86." Sure, it will get pretty warm by mid afternoon, though not as hot as the upper 90s that are in the forecast for Portland and Bend. In addition, we will ad an all-new "cool-down station" (along the finish loop) where racers will be able to enjoy a cold shower or ride through a set of refreshing misters every time they come through.
Regarding the race course, the Multorpor Loop has some great flow and is a blast to ride, with plenty of room to pass riders or let others pass. While the loop includes some decent climbing sections (though not much need for a small chain ring), the singletrack is so much fun that you won't get tired of it, even after 6 hours of racing. In addition, each lap will end with a fast, non-technical flat-to-downhill stretch back to the start/finish area at Skibowl West, giving you a chance to recover or catch up with others before starting your next lap. As for tire choice, dry-terrain tires with enough volume and medium-high pressure are probably in order, as the descent down the Powerline Trail is pretty bumpy (though Petr Kakes and his crew have been working hard at clearing loose rocks from that section).
If you plan to come out on Saturday, we'll have the course all marked for pre-riding from 10am on. Just make sure to drop by the Hurricane Racing bike/ski shop (behind the main lodge), to sign in and get a free ride permit.
3) Sunday morning schedule: registration, packet pick-up and racer briefing!
On Sunday, we will open registration at 7:00am and close at 9:00am. If you haven't registered yet, please make sure to be there by 8:30am the latest, in order to get through registration in time. From 7:30am on, we will serve free Bob's Red Mill hot oats in the cafeteria (inside the main lodge). At 9:30am we will host a pre-race racer briefing. Then, at 10am sharp, all races will get underway, staggered with short breaks between categories.
4) Race Support:
Throughout the race we'll have a fully stocked food station, featuring Hammer Heed and other varieties of energy drink, fresh fruit, and Dave Killer's Bread PB&J sandwiches. We will also have a dedicated aid station for solo riders, where they can stash coolers and any other gear they like to have handy along the course. Expert mechanics from Sellwood Cycles Repair will be on hand near the start/finish area, providing free mechanical support before and during the race.
5) Post-Race Chili, $1 HUB Beers, Awards & Raffle!
After the race, while our officials are tallying the final results, racers will get to enjoy free chili and $1 beers (at least for those over 21), courtesy of our beer sponsor Hopworks Urban Brewery (don't forget to bring $1 bills!). At 5:30pm, we will get the podiums underway. Like last year, the top-3 podium finishers in each category will go home with some very classy custom medals and in good tradition we'll wrap up the day with a short-and-sweet raffle, featuring more than $1,500 in prizes, courtesy of our sponsors Sellwood Cycle Repair, Chris King, Nossa Familia and Showers Pass.
6) Make it a day on the mountain for the whole family!
To make it a fun day for the whole family, Mt Hood Skibowl is offering all Six Hours racers and their families a 2-for-1 special on their Half-Day Adventure Pass. And for those who care, they will even be showing Sunday's world cup soccer games live on TV in the main lodge.
If you have any questions, check the web site (http://www.portlandracing.com/6hrs) or just shoot me an email. We are looking forward to seeing you and your friends on Sunday at Skibowl for another six hours of MTB fun!
Cheers,
~Kris
Portland Racing
PS: we are still looking for a non-racing volunteer to staff the food station throughout the race, in exchange for a free race entry for a friend. If you are interested, just shoot me an email.