Waz Up Wit Ute?

[jse]

I just got back from Colorado about 2am Tuesday morning from the Ute Cup and spent two days in cold rain and hail, checking six sections in all, trying not to fall off the mountain trail on the way up and back from my sections, dodging pack horses on a loop that had a 6" wide track of mud to follow and straight down the mountain on the low side, bouncing over more uphill boulder trails than I thought possible, climbing up and down mud hills all day (well, mostly sliding on my butt) helping riders extracate themselves from the slop and dodging stuff that squirrels were throwing at me.

And ya know what?, I can't remember having so much fun at a Trial. The RMTA put on a great event and I can't wait till next year....

Jon

Geez, I re-read this post and was worried that some might think I was actually complaining, but the opposite is true. I REALLY had a great time. The RMTA is one of the most friendly clubs you can ride with and I can't remember having so many people thank me for checking. In the afternoon, I had a little time by myself at my section, waiting for the riders to start back on the loop to run the section backwards, and my section was in an Aspen groove next to a bubbling stream and I couldn't ask for a more beautiful place to spend some quiet time.

I also got to see Mark Manniko clean my section (the only one to clean afternoon section 4 Sunday) and it will be one of the most memorable rides I will never forget. The section snaked up and around trees and rocks and was probably the most slippery section I've ever experienced (I had a lot of trouble just trying to walk it and slid out of the boundry numerous times) and would have been a good World Round section. To see him dance that bike up, down and over all the obstacles in that zero-traction section was amazing!

Larry Lund told me that next year they should have a new venue in Southern Colorado, with some great trail riding on the loops. If you've never been to a Ute Cup, you are missing one of the top Trials in the U.S. Thanks again to all the riders that made me feel welcome and took good care of this old geezer.

Edited August 22, 2008 by JSE