SCPS 15-16 Weekend Wrap Up

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Families play host this first week of December 2010

Posted Monday December 6 2010 by SOCALCROSS in Cyclocross

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Rounds 15 and 16 of the 2010 SoCalCross Prestige Series of Cyclocross presented by H2O Overdrive brought racers two fun-filled days of fast-flowing courses as the final double weekend of the season concluded. The hosts for both races were families and although over 100 miles apart from San Diego to Palmdale brought with them the same vibe of low key local-flavor Southern California cyclocross.

Starting off with Round 15, Saturday 12/4 with Campus Cross. This first-time race took place in north county San Diego in San Marcos and was hosted by the Hansen family. MTB and cross racer, Mike Hansen along with his 4 boys, wife, mother and friends got together partnering with the SoCalCross Crew to bring the sport of cyclocross to Cal State University at San Marcos. The course was set in the midst of a field of dreams as the schools works to become an NCAA athletic institution with a brand new baseball field and newly laid sod a teaser to the mostly dirt venue. The course tested riders skills in the hard packed dirt field, gravely descent, hairpin turns a steep run up, a whoop-mud-section and steep run up kept riders on edge on what was a seemingly flat layout. There was just enough to separate riders to bring the strongest and most skilled to the front as a cross course should.

Round 16 Sunday 12/5, brought SoCalCross the third rendition of High Desert Cyclocross to Pelona Vista Park just off the 15 freeway in Palmdale. The family oriented vibe continued as race director Paul Avila brought the Avila clan complete with: wife, kids and cycling club along to build the course and run the day. Teams came as far away as San Diego to be a part of this fun day. The beauty of this course was the layout on top of a soccer complex for half of the race then headed just outside the perimeter for a roller-coaster loop on double track then returning for a short climb and stairs section then descending back into the complex.

Highlights over the two days was Platinum Performance’s Gary Douville winning both days while elite women’s winners from The TEAM SoCalCross ranged from newly crowned master’s women champ Christina Probert-Turner to Junior and CX4 women’s champ (currently 14 years old) Hannah Rae Finchamp. San Diego also brought its flair with a special appearance from Sargent D-angle also on the podium in the men’s single speed race!

Complete results for both races are posted on the SoCalCross results page and look for detailed race reports coming soon at OutsideAllDay.com

Check out this cool video of High Desert CX video by Luke Duncan: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L-5WqZQais[/youtube]

Have a nice week off ya’ll and see you for the final round of 2010 and the Prestige Series finale Santa Cross on Sunday 12/19. Race flyer and info to be posted by Tuesday PM. Also look for new information on the January 2011 SoCalCross Fever Series including 1/9 Mt San Antonio College CX, 1/16 the NorCal SoCal Showdown in Bakersfield, Dam Cross Los Angeles on 1/23 and the end of the season par-tay 1/30 – hopefully at Langtown – with large screen viewing of the World CX Championships and the SoCalCross Brewmaster Awards!

Good luck to those of you/us heading to Bend, OREGON for the 2010 USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships! Look for daily SoCalCross race reports this week!

Also make sure to join our SoCalCross Facebook group and post your own photos and stories: Southern California Prestige Series of Cyclocross