By Chris Vargas/Warrior's Society
Photos by Bob McCarter, Jenny Hardison and John Early
Even 100 degree temperatures weren't enough to phase racers as they lined up for the Sho-Air/Rock 'N Road/Specialized 24 Hours of Orange County. Facing a furnace is one thing, racing a demanding 5.6 mile course with 1253 feet of total elevation gain in one for 24 hours straight is another
As experienced 24-hour solo racer and 24 Hours of Orange County class winner Randy Profeta expressed, "The course is not the deciding factor. Mother Nature is. The wild card in all of these endurance events is the weather."
The fastest lap time (31 minutes) was set by John "Fuzzy" Mylne of the Sho-Air 5 person team. Sho-Air won the 5 person team class with a total of 36 laps. (201.60 miles and 45,108 total feet of elevation gain.) The other members of the Sho-Air Team were Terry Best, George Munoz, Scott Tedro and Jason First. In second place was the Geoladders Team with 33 laps. (184.80 miles and 41,349 feet of total elevation gain.)
The winning two man team, John Hudspeth and Jose Alvarez, won their class with 15 laps (84 miles and 18,795 total feet of climbing). The winning corporate team of Switchback Cyclery (with 9 members) completed 23 laps (128.80 miles and 28,819 total feet of elevation gain). Two of the Switchback Team's youngest riders, club/race team member Camron Panttaja, age 12, and Ericka Huth, age 13, busted out consistent 58 to 62 minute laps!
In the solo class Manual Prado of Team Sho-Air was the top male rider with 20 laps (112 miles and 25,060 total feet of elevation gain). Manual, who was 4th in his class at the Cytomax Spring Mountain Bike Classic last April, is leading the Warrior's Society/Sho-Air Male Orange County Championship Series with total points of 185.
He has two more races in the series left: the Switchback 6-Hours of Orange County on October 21 and the Sho-Air Fall Mountain Bike Classic on November 18. It will be exciting to see if can hold his lead. Eighteen-year-old Ryan Ognibene was second to Manual in the Expert 17-30 class. He rode 16 laps (89.60 miles and 20,048 of total elevation gain). This is Ryan's last race with us this year as he's heading to Colorado for college in the fall.
Bernice Pierson was the top female solo rider (31 to 45) with 16 laps (89.60 miles and 20,048 of total elevation gain). Bernice also leads the Warrior's Society/Sho-Air Female Championship Series with 195 points with two events left.
Second at the 24 Hours of OC was Warrior's Society club/race team member Mary Huth. She completed 14 laps (78.40 miles and 78.40 miles). In third place was Shannon Simm with 7 laps (39.2 miles and 8,771 total feet of elevation gain).
In the Championship Series Mary Huth only trails Bernice Pierson by 10 points.
The other notable top male solo riders were Warrior's Society club/race team member Eron Boyer riding his first solo 24 hour event in the intermediate 31 to 45 class. Team member Matthew Nourmohamadian was also riding solo for the first time in the novice 17 to 30. And Douglas Kubler won the novice 31 to 45 class.
Eron had the second most laps for a solo rider with 18 laps (100.80 miles with 22,554 feet of total elevation gain) and he did it in style wearing a pink skirt. Eron is also one of the designers of the J.E.T Trail that was designed into the layout of the course.
One of our youngest Warrior's Society Club/race team members, 16 year old Matt "Soaring Falcon" Nourmohamadian, had to be moved up to the 17 to 30 age group because there was no one else his age. He came in first with 15 laps (84 miles and 18,795 total feet of climbing). Mario Correa, our endurance expert who supported Matt had this to say about him:
"We saw a talented young endurance racer in the making this weekend. It's impressive to see riding like that and to think that endurance racers don't even peak until they're in their early 30's. He's only going to get stronger and faster; there's a ton of potential there. Having seen him race once is all it took for me to offer him full support in the next 24 hour event."
Douglas Kubler 61, riding a rigid single speed, also had no one to race against. So he just entered into the younger novice 31 to 45 class. Douglas still won with 12 laps (67.20 miles and 15,036 feet of total elevation gain). Great job Douglas!
Other solo winners were Josh Smith in the solo expert 31 to 45 class with 11 laps (61.60 miles with 13,783 of total elevation gain), Randy Profeta in the solo expert 46 and up class with 12 laps (67.20 miles and 15,036 feet of total elevation gain) and Jeffrey Do in the solo intermediate 17 to 30 class with 12 laps (67.20 miles and 15,036 feet of total elevation gain).
See you at the Switchback 6 Hours of Orange County on Saturday, October 21.
TOP 10 SOLO RIDERS
1. Manuel Prado...Exp 17-30...20 laps
2. Eron Boyer...Int 31-45...18
3. Craig Spencer...Int 31-45...17
4. Bernice Pierson...Wmn Exp 31-45...16
Ryan Ognibene...Exp 17-30...16
6. Matthew Nourmohamadian...Nov 17-30...15
7. Mary Huth...Wmn Exp 31-45...14
8. David Reid...Int 31-45...13
9. Douglas Kubler...Nov 31-45...12
Randy Profeta...Exp 46+...12
Jeffrey Do...Int 17-30...12
Robert Walker...Int 31-45...12
13. Josh Smith...Exp 31-45...11
TOP TEAMS
1. Sho-Air...5 man...36 laps
2. Geoladders...5 man...33
3. Uphill Endos...5 man...30
4. Average Homeboys...5 man...24
5. Switchback Cyclery...Corp...23
6. Jenson Usa Jeriatrics...Corp...22
7. Purple Riding Shorts...5 man...21
8. John & Jose...2 man...15
9. J and J...2 man...8
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