Afton MNSCS course

[Vert]

Is the course marked for Sunday's race? I understand there have been some changes to the trails out there. If it is not marked yet, does anyone know what the course will be?

Gracias!

[Tower]

The course is marked for the three classes...

For Expert/ Comp all trails are in minus Shady Lane/ Cliffs Edge, Manhandler loop (I'm lobbying for it to be in).

For Sport above subtractions plus no Deep Woods Express/ Afton Gully/ & Grand Canyon...

The Citzen race will be very tame, mostly connector trails/ grass and less climbing... Very good for the first timers...

I expect lap times to be somewhere around 30 minutes...

The trails are in excellent shape!!!

[Bjmoore1]

Larry,
How are we going up if there is no Shady Lane?

[woodchuck]

what is different on the sport and expert courses over last year?

[RedSquirrel]

I rode last night & this am, although I didn't talk to John, or find the mtn bike folder with notes, employees say it's marked.

The course is currently marked to go up southern switchbacks then direct to the clubhouse(shady lane bypass). All but citizen go to the clubhouse this way. Citizen hits deer path halfway up. The cliff's edge single track is out, but grand canyon to the top and down is in for comp/expert. The climb above the grand canyon to top is in too for comp/expert. Valley view single track off deer path going torward bottom chalet is in for all but citizen(nice trail work done). Bridge loop is in for both sport and comp/expert. Larry's revenge is in. Lower manhandler/whistler is out, I think.

Same trails as 24 hour but a little trail maintenance was quite noticable.

[Tower]

Patch together what Heath and I've quoted and you've got the race course...

The only point yet to surface is the start of the Sport & Expert/ Comp races--- If the start/ finish line is at the Alps Chalet (typical for series race) there may be a bottleneck off the start going into the Revenge singletrack... Maybe for the first lap they should route around and along the cruising meadow flat track... I'm sure Greg Blasko will assess...

Correction... For Mr. Moore the lap times will be about 20 minutes... It's all about the winter riding ain't it Mr. Moore... :cool:

[Tower]

Update---
I spoke with race director Greg Blasko, the plan is to redirect riders to avoid the funnel effect off the race start of the Sport & Expert/ Comp races... This will speed up the first lap considerably and take you all the way to the Bridge Loop prior to any funneling... That should be enough of a spread for even the largest of Sport classes...

Oh yeah that reminds me... Back by popular demand is the Bridge Loop for the Sport race...

[Wolfchimp]

The Bridge Loop Rocks!!!!

[Tower]

The Bridge Loop Rocks!!!!

You mean the Bridge Loop has plenty of rocks... Be honest with your tire pressure...

Don't let anyone cheat to the left on the armored little drop... Stay on the rocks and let it flow...

The trail could use some needed rain to keep the powder effect in check...

[djflom]

My wife Deborah and I just got back from pre-riding the course. As Heath said, it's clearly marked for those who want to test it out before Sunday. I agree with Greg that some rain would do wonders as the course is loose in spots and very dusty.

I ride Sport but was still surprised that I've never done the Bridge loop. Has this part been updated? A couple of sweet quick climbs, nice bridge crossing, another short climb, then down the rocky hill. Keep yourself in the middle of the trail on the way down and you'll be fine.

Although I wanted to do Shady Lane again to see how much I've improved over last year, Southern Switchbacks does have one climb that will get your heart pumping. Keep an eye out for the drop on Larry's Revenge... it took out Deborah, but she got up quickly with only a few cuts and bruises. It's marked with a yellow caution sign so you'll know when it's coming.

[Tower]

Joel... Great feedback... Actually the drop your referring to is part of the Slalom Section... The Revenge is all about more climbing... On the drop, just stay back and let it flow, then rail that left hand berm...

There has been some dispute over no Shady Lane... Bottom line, the MNSCS folks base trail decisions off lap times... I lobbied for including the whole 24 Hour course, but lap times would be excessive for MNSCS requirements...

So, those that are bummed there is no Shady and no Manhandler loop, You'll still suffer on the other climbs plus there is also the new climbs... I figure for this race there will be about 700' of climbing per lap...

The weather should be prime for some suffering... The stagnant heat of the Afton ravine is nice and painful... Enjoy!!!

[phaberman1]

The stagnant heat of the Afton ravine is nice and painful... Enjoy!!!


Very poetic, Larry. I never knew you had such literary talents!

[Magic]

It's Towers soft side that allows himself to write such poetry!:shocked:

[mnscs]

Race course maps have now been posted on the front page of the MNSCS web site (http://www.mnscs.com).

Registration will be available onsite starting at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:time w:st="on" Minute="00" Hour="8">8:00 am</st1:time> with the Kids Comp event kicking off the day at 9:00 am. Additional information on the event can be found here (http://www.mnscs.com/html/afton.asp).

Good luck to everyone racing on Sunday!

[ibismojo2001]

Sport map? Seems the kids/citizen and sport maps are linked together and go to kids/citizen map. Or the map is the same for sport just a longer race?

Or I could be just having a Friday afternoon brain fart.

Thanks.

Hairy Gary:crazy:

[RedSquirrel]

Sport map? Seems the kids/citizen and sport maps are linked together and go to kids/citizen map. Or the map is the same for sport just a longer race?

Or I could be just having a Friday afternoon brain fart.

Thanks.

Hairy Gary:crazy:

Your right, they put the citizen map in for sport. Sport will take Bridge Loop!! Sport will go up to clubhouse above Southern Switchbacks to top, with similair elevation to Shady Lane (don't knock it, good luck). Sport will take Entrance Trail down from top clubhouse to Deer Path (different than comp/expert, avoiding Afton Gully etc.). I beleive Sport takes Valley View single track down, near bottom chalet like comp/expert.

That's what I saw marked when I rode this week.