Kris Schamp

Hey, everyone!

For those of you who didn't receive the email I sent out this morning, here are a couple updates ahead of Sunday's 10th edition of the Kruger's Crossing Cyclocross Classic, which is shaping up to be another fun and memorable one!

We have already more than 200 racers pre-registered (check out the current call-up list at http://www.portlandracing.com/cx/call-up-list-2015.html), the weather forecast for the next days looks great (dry and sunny skies!), and a ton of racers and spectators I talked to last weekend at PIR are looking forward to coming out with their friends and families (and dogs!) and celebrate the end of the 2015 Portland cyclocross season in style!

Some other updates

1) Two more days to pre-register, save $5, enjoy a call-up, and get a chance at winning in our pre-reg raffle!
If you haven't registered yet, you still have until 8pm on Friday to register online via Athletepath (at https://www.athletepath.com/krugers-crossing-cyclocross/2015-11-22), save $5 on Sunday, secure a start-line call-up, and get your name entered in our free pre-reg raffle for another Chris King bottom bracket or headset of choice (last week's winner was Devin Bailey), another set of super-stylish fenders made by Portland Fender Company (last week's winner was Paul Anderson), plus two Icebreaker merino long sleeve tops, and an "off-season hibernation goodie bag." The last item will be raffled off exclusively among all pre-registered women racers, because women who race Kruger's... just rock!

On Sunday, we will not only have prizes for the top-3 in each category (including for each junior age group!), but we will also raffle off a ton more prizes, courtesy of our title sponsor West End Bikes and our other generous raffle & podium sponsors Bob's Red Mill (we'll give away more than 200 one-pound bags of steel cut and rolled oats!), Dave's Killer Bread, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Nossa Familia Coffee, and Showers Pass. Podium finishers and raffle winners in each race heat will be posted on the results board (next to registration), starting at 11am.

Note: If you prefer to pay at the race, make sure to bring cash or a check. Also, make sure to bring your Cross Crusade bib number (and shoulder number!), which - as usual - will go on your left side. And if you need a new number, you can just pick one up at registration on Sunday.

Finally, a friendly reminder that both the Singlespeed Men and Men B will race earlier in the day and that, in order to avoid duplicate numbers, ALL Clydesdale riders will have to pick up a new set of bib/shoulder numbers at registration on Sunday.

2) The course...
As always at Kruger's Farm, Sunday's race course will be fun and challenging for Beginners and Cat A racers alike! It will be very similar to last year's course and feature some popular classics like the "West End Six Pack", the straw bale & pumpkin barrier, a greenhouse indoor loam track and - course conditions permitting - the return of the wild "spiral of death".

For those who like to pre-ride the course on Saturday, we plan to have the course set up by 2pm, but you are welcome to drop by earlier.

3) "Think of the Children!" ...

Nothing says family-friendly race venue like Kruger's Farm! In good tradition, we will organize two FREE on-course kids races, which will both start at 12:20pm. Expert Kids will race a 1 mile lap on the regular course, while the Novice Kids will do short loop in the area of the team tents and bonfire. Both categories will start and finish at the same location (on the corner of the course closest to the farm entrance), and all kids will have to conquer the "West End Six-Pack" before finishing their race and earn a yummy treat!

Like last year, we also will have a free "Kids Activity Area" close to the bonfire. From 10am to 2pm, volunteers from Girl Scouts troop 45690 will be on site providing crafts/activities for kids age 4 and over and from 11am to Noon, Brian Echerer - from Velo Gioielli bike themed jewelery - will lead a free session of bike jewelry crafting for the kids.

Note: parents can leave their kids at the "Kids Activity Area" while racing or spectating. Just make sure to sign a waiver and fill out the check-in sheet with emergency phone # and planned pick-up time.

4) ... and, of course, the DOGS!
For the 7th year in a row, racers and spectators will get a chance to race their dogs (on-leash and sans bikes) in the all-for-fun Doggie Dash CX Championship presented by Portland Design Works (and benefiting local animal adoption and rescue center The Pixie Project), which will be staged on a shortened section of the course in the area of the bonfire. To participate in the dog race, you must register your dog between 10:30am and 12:45pm at the Portland Design Works tent (near the entrance of the farm). Staging starts at 1pm and dogs and handlers go off at 1:15pm sharp. Besides some awesome Portland Design Works prizes for the top finishers in each category and the three most original dog race attires, we'll raffle off six very cool Rescue Project cycling caps (made by Castelli) among all dog race participants who make an on-site donation of $5 or more to the Pixie Project.

5) 9 more reasons to come out to Kruger's Farm this Sunday...
- FREE mechanical support provided by the pro mechanics of our title sponsor West End Bikes and one of our other local sponsors, Gevenalle (note: we won't provide neutral wheel support at this race);
- FREE sampling of Hopworks Urban Brewery's popular Abominable Winter Ale, starting at Noon;
- FREE Nossa Familia coffee in the morning (served inside the Kruger's Farm store);
- Hot gourmet food - including veggie chili, baked potatoes, hearty chicken soup, grilled sausages and brats - catered by Kruger's Farm Market;
- Full-on bike wash station (in the grassy area across from the farm store), featuring plenty of hoses;
- 20% OFF all goods (produce AND merchandise) at the Kruger's Farm Market store! This is their final store day of the year and they'll be stocking up on traditional Thanksgiving items (squash, yams, brussels sprouts, leeks, etc.) and baskets, so make sure to bring your shopping list and load up on fresh and local goodies and some great holiday gifts. It's a great way to support the farm and thank Don Kruger for continuing to host bike races at his farm!
- All-day race announcing by "the voice of Portland bike racing" Luciano.
- Giant, all-day BONFIRE! (feel free to supplement with your own personal heating, feeding and hydration stations);
- And, last but not least, a unique chance to watch (or, even better, race against) four-time Danish National Cyclocross Champion and Cielo rider Joachim Parbo, who has already signed up and ready to go all Euro on us!

That's it... I hope to see you on Sunday at the farm for some good times, on and off the course. Bring your family and friends. Bring your dogs. Let's throw a party!

~Kris

Portland Racing

PS 1: We are still in need of a couple of volunteers to help out on Sunday with teardown, the kids races, and the doggie dash. If you are available and interested in helping out (in exchange for a free race entry), just reply to this email.
PS 2: Like at all events at Kruger's Farm, there will be a $5/car "parking fee" to help support the farm (please bring exact change!). Since parking at Kruger's Farm is not unlimited, we encourage people to carpool or bike over to the farm. Also, please follow the parking marshals' instructions at all time and drive carefully when entering and exiting the parking lot and farm.