Sunday, September 02, 2007

Snowmass Finals



I know. I know. This posting is a bit late, but better late than never. Anyhow, a bunch of Schampa riders traveled to Snowmass, Colorado for the August 11th Norba National Finals. The course was undoubtedly a climber's course and the air was quite thin. The conditions on race day were awesome. The trails were tacky from some rain that fell a few days before the race and the course meandered through dense vegetation, sick aspen forest, wild-flower covered meadows and it crossed RUNNING WATER a few times each lap. The surrounding mountains really helped add to the alpine feel of the race and they gave it the world-class atmosphere that the Norba finals should possess. Anyhow, Grandpa ripped shit up in the pro field and was among the elite riders after the first leg-breaking, heart-emploding, oxygen-deprevating climb. Sanchez had some bad luck as his crank bolt broke and he was forced to abandon the race. No worries though, as Sanchez still maintained his overall National Points Series Champion title! Congrats! Tom smoked the sport field and won by over eight minutes in the cross-country race. Nice work! Jen threw down in the women's pro field and represented well for Schampa. I had a decent race and finished fourth in the race and fourth in the national points series. It was another fun weekend racing with the Schampa crew as the podium finishes continued all the way through the Norba National Points Series Final. Guess that's all for now. Go ride some dirt!

Friday, July 20, 2007

Goin' back to Cali

As I ponder what useless things I am going to post on the www I find myself compelled to quote the grate 80’s poet LL Cool J “I’m going back to Cali”. Having no mtb racing options in good ol’ AZ, John, Jen, and I decided to head west to sunny California to inflict some old fashion AZ OK-Coral-style pay back for Californicating AZ. Actually, we just wanted to race and there happened to be a California state series race at the Rim Nordic ski area near Big Bear.

MBAA Take Note. Upon arriving we found the promoters very friendly and excited that we drove all the way across the desert for their race. They were however, somewhat apologetic that they had not finished marking the course, but assured us that if we followed the arrows we should be fine. Even incomplete, the course was way better marked than any MBAA race day and it was mostly single track. Anyway, all three of us were scheduled to do three, 9 mile laps with about 1100 ft of climbing per lap. No kidding, 1100 ft and single track.


How it unfolded: Two more podiums for Schampa!
Jen fell off a four foot bridge crossing on her first lap but was still able to hold on to third place in the pro women’s category. I had no such drama in my race and placed third in the pro men’s category, and John, riding strong in the semi-pro category, had to abandon the race due to a flat tire.

One final note. The local riders were pretty upset after the race because, according to the times, there were many experts with faster times than the pro and semi-pro men. We think all the pro, semi-pro and experts were started together, but the timers thought the experts started 4 minutes back, giving a four minute advantage to their times. Or maybe California just has the fastest experts in the country. Whatever!

Friday, July 06, 2007

Ciao Dall' Italia

Feels like I've been riding on top of the world lately riding in the Pre-Alps with the true swiss/italian alps out in the distance...Been sportin the Ciclipozzi jersey lately over here in Italy, but finally wore the Schampa colors for everyone here in Italy. Check some more photos out over at my geocities site. Well, it's late and I'm goin to France with Renato tomorrow morning presto! So better get to bed, good night for now.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Bye Bye Tonsils!

As you might have concluded by the title of this posting my tonsils are FINALLY gone! Those pesky swollen and infected punks that have been putting a sleeper hold on my season are finally and undoubtedly gone! On Friday a crack (head) team of doctors descended upon my throat with a metal lasso and a hot knife and showed those bastards what for while I lay on the table unconscious, oblivious, and completely venerable to their kinky doctor/passed out patient advances; EEEW.

It's three days post surgery now and my jaw is still swollen shut and my head is still foggy from the pain killers but I'm on the slow road to recovery. I haven't shaved in a week, I've lost 5 or so pounds from not being able to eat anything besides pudding and broth and I'm pretty sure I stink like hell as it's been a few days since I've seen the inside of a shower curtain. I'm spending my time scratching my ass, sucking on ice chips, and stewing about the lost time while staring at my bikes hanging on the wall. They look so sad.

It's funny how last season I didn't really have the desire to train and race but this season I have all the desire and drive in the world but my body said 'No F-ing Way!' I guess that's the silver lining to this whole thing. Now I'm pissed off, and driven so I'm hoping to have a great late season and I'm really pumped for cyclocross.

More to come...

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Covergirl joins blog

Hey all! I'm recovering from Angelfire and the pollen flu that has descended upon Flagstaff. The trails are a bit dusty and keepin' covergirl clean out there is tough. Anyhow, I'll be out ridin' through the week so if anyone wants to beat up on me before Deer Valley, let me know. While I can't make it to Deer Valley myself, best of luck to those who'll be representing for Schampa.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Angelfire rocks!

This weekend at Angelfire Schampa scored two more podiums! Chris Hull ripped up the course and finished only 7 seconds off the winner of the race. I know for sure that if Chris was warming up before the race up instead of scarfing on all beef hotdogs he would have won. I placed 5th again. .. that is 3 in a row so far and wouldn't mind keeping the streak. The trip to Angelfire started with a long drive through the desert and ended with a rainstorm through Sante Fe. Luckily the sun was out the rest of the weekend. I tried my first short track and finished 15th. I think that is the most punishment I have put myself through....EVER! Butfor some reason I think I need some more??? The weekend was great and we were glad to hear that Schampa was well represented at home with 4 participants in the Summit Center Classic stage race.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

State Champion!



State Finals was amazing for the team today! Jen Sica took the win in the Pro Womens event, Scott K. was 2nd in the Pro mens by 14 seconds, and Grandpa (Eric Neat) was 4th in Pro Men's XC. We looked pretty snazzy in our new helmets thanks to Tribe!

We also had a State Champion in the Pro Men's Class....Congratulations to Scott Keller, myself, for the victory....I think I really deserved it!! Congrats to Jen Sica on her second overall in the Pro womens category, had she done her trail maintenece she would have been 1st!

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Fontana, CA. National on Cinco de Mayo






Fontana is one technical ride! I think almost the whole team went down today on the loose, dusty downhills. You had to pick a perfect line, or rut and hold on to get through the deep powder. The fields were huge at this race, they must have been double what there was at Santa Barbara.


Jen scored a 40th in the Pro Womens XC, which is pretty good cosidering all the competition out here. I got 52nd unoffically, and I'm pretty happy about that, I got my 45 minute warm-up in, rode strong from the start to finish and passed a few guys throughout the race. Jen thinks we had 100 at the start line, but we'll see when the results are posted. Grandpa is off of being sick, so he didn't feel to well during the race and was pulled on the 3rd lap. Steve Sanchez got 5th in the Expert Mens, so Schampa continues to make the podium at the Nationals! Great Job!

Monday, April 30, 2007

Sanata Barbara Norba #2


Santa Barbara was one hot race! Jen and I left phoenix about 8 PM on thursday night and arrived at 3 AM Friday morn.! Pretty crazy I know, but hey, thats what ya gotta do if you wanna have a chance to pre-ride on Friday. So Jen and I were campin' in this dusty field, my stupid therma rest had a hole in it, and we had no shade! Luckily some friendlies were nearby to offer us shade and a place to hang durin the day! Thanks a lot to Matt and Greg for that! Anyhow, about the races......After one of the best starts I've ever had in a short track, 25th I think, I blew it after the first lap...I think I need to warm up a little longer, cause I don't feel great in the first 10 minutes. But after finishing 45th there, I went and did the Super D in the afternoon where I finished 9th. I felt a little better in that, but it was mostly downhill! The XC was much like the STXC. After starting great, 23rd through the first start loop, I fell off the pace on the first lap. I wound up finishing pretty strong, passing a few guys in the end and wound up 43rd. At least my call ups at the next races will be better, that is what I'm looking for when the fitness comes around in the summer. Jen had a great weekend finishing 31st in the STXC and 28th in the cross country! Great JOb! We had a few podiums with COVER Girl and Sancho, so score 2 for Schampa! Great Job

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Another weekend of racing!

So it's time once again... Grandpa, Saskwatch and the Unicorn. These are the guys that will be the road team heading to La vuelta de Bisbee. All three riders are bred for this course and are ready to put the team on the top of the results board. Good luck guys.


Another crew will be heading to the Norba National in Santa Barbera. This roster includes. Keller, Sica, Hull, and myself. We too are ready to race and looking forward to the weekend. The weather looks like its gonna be good and the wine should be better....after the racing of course :)

Good luck everybody....and DIG DEEP! it's there.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Ride Dirt 'cause the rest don't





Welcome to the Team Schampa Blog. We will be updating shortly Racer Bios, Race Schedules and results of our endeavours.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

blog site

good job Scott! I have all of the bio's and would be happy to upload them...let me know where and how.

Steve

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Welcome to Deft Cycling Homepage

Welcome home to Deft Cycling