Kris Schamp
Greetings, fellow OBRA racers!
We are just 4 days away from the 7th edition of the Six Hours of Mount Hood and it looks like everything - including the weather - is coming together for another fun and epic bike race you don't want to miss out on!
Here are some updates I thought you might be interested in:
1) Preliminary start list posted. Still time to pre-register, get a cool custom pint glass & finisher tag and make a chance to win in our pre-reg raffle!
As of this morning, we have already over 150 racers pre-registered (73 solo racers plus another 82 relay racers). The preliminary start list is posted at http://www.portlandracing.com/6hrs/start-list-2016.html
You still have until end-of-day Friday to register online (http://www.portlandracing.com/6hrs/registration.html) and get your name added to the list. The first 250 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. To top it off, we will raffle of a Showers Pass Veleau Hydration System among all pre-registered racers!
Note: On-site registration and racer plate pick-up will be open Saturday from 4 to 6pm and Sunday from 7am to 9am at the Skibowl trailer office (located on the main parking lot). If you plan to register at the race, make sure to budget enough time and to bring proof of your current OBRA membership (unless you plan to buy an OBRA license at the race). We now accept credit cards at all our events, but you're welcome to pay with cash or check as well!
2) Course conditions, weather and pre-riding.
The race course - which will be almost 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: "mostly sunny, with a high near 64." In other words: the perfect weather for a long day on the bike!
Some notes about 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 (using the South Trail), 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 a bit bumpy (though the XC race from a couple weeks ago has helped to smoothen out the lines).
If you plan to come out on Saturday, we'll have the course all marked for pre-riding from 2pm 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 and coffee 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 a variety 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 Coffee, Bob's Red Mill, and Showers Pass.
That's about it... If you have any questions, just shoot me an email. I am looking forward to seeing you on Sunday at Skibowl for another six hours of MTB race fun!
Cheers,
~Kris
Portland Racing