By Sam Stevens

Plattekill New York, May 1-5 2008.

Place: Qualified 10th with crash, 17th in final.

Thursday the 30th we packed up and headed out. It snowed over night once again so we got an early start. We picked Bergen up in Vail and kept going on to the airport in Denver. We checked in with United and it was $135 one way per bike. We got on the plane only to be delayed for five hours. There was a mechanical. After switching planes we departed to Washington. We got there at midnight, missing our connecting flight by three hours. We stayed the night and left first thing the next morning. We got to Plattekill and met up with Kevil Aiello at the airport. We went and hiked the course and got our bikes built.

The course was far different from anything I have ridden. It was wet, rooty and rocky, but not the rocks we’re used to, they were flat shale slabs that were super loose. I was nervous, but confident. On Saturday we had an all day practice. It was fun practicing in the Yeti freight train with Bergen, Peter and I. We also rode with Kevin a little. We all had a couple of crashes in practice, but it was all good. First run I hit a tree and snapped my visor. We had some good food over there though. Kevin and I had a gigantic calzone; it was more of a four pound cheese log.

Sunday was race day. It was foggy as usual and had rained again that night. We got a couple practice runs in the morning, and then went into qualifying. I had a conservative run with a couple of mistakes and a crash, putting me in 10th. Kevin qualified 2nd behind 15 year old Neco. We had a little break, and then it was game time. We went to the top. I felt focused and ready. I was called into the gate. I knew what I had to do and I knew that I could do it. I got the 5 second warning and I was off. I nailed every line and pinned everything. My only sort of bobble put me into a line that I was trying to get into in practice, but never could and it was way faster than my original line. I hit all the hucker drops perfect and railed every corner. I pedaled hard everywhere I could. From the moment I got into the gate until I came through the finish everything was blank. I was entirely focused. I got tunnel vision and only saw my line and the overarching goal of a flawless run. I didn’t hear or see anyone cheering me on, though I know there were people there. I made it through the finish and knew I had just accomplished exactly what I needed and wanted to do. Then I heard the announcement over the loud speaker. Instead of telling me my time, I was told that they didn’t get my time along with four other riders and that we were to head to the top and do it again. Before I could get a drink of water or even catch my breath, I was back in the gate. I was now mentally and physically exhausted. I rolled out of the gate again and plunged myself into what quickly became the worst run of my life. I crashed three times, one time being really bad. I destroyed my helmet after endoing down a steep face onto a fire road. I couldn’t hang onto the bike any more. I wasn’t focused any more. I got to the bottom devastated, knowing that my shot at World Champs may have just been blown by a battery on a laser. I was frustrated, mad, and sad for about a half an hour, then I pulled myself together and refocused my self on Angel Fire. I couldn’t let the past get to me.

As for the rest of the Yeti crew, Peter got 7th, Joey got 5th and Kevin took the top spot and the spot on the World Champs team. Congrats Kevin! Bergen had a rough time as well, crashing on a gnarly drop in his qualifying run and possibly breaking his hand. The doctors couldn’t tell even by the x-ray though. He was unable to race. Better luck next time Bergen.

That night we had dinner with the Yeti crew minus Joey, as well as Naish Olmer and Graemme Pittz. (I don’t know that I spelled his name right). We left for home the next day. This time they tried to charge us $300 per bike to get bike and after some talking we got them down to $200 per bike. We made it to Chicago fine, and then we were delayed three hours in Chicago. Moral of the story, don’t fly United. We dropped Bergen off in Vail at 3:30 a.m. and we got home at 5:00 a.m. It was a rough weekend, but I learned a lot and ultimately left knowing I could throw down a stellar run under pressure and that I will go to Angel Fire with a vengeance, gunning for a win.