After watching his dad on last weekend's course in Gloucester, 13 year-old Ryan Hoff reportedly said to himself, "I'd better hop into this sport and restore the reputation of the Hoff family name!"
Young Ryan did just that -- he debuted in front of a capacity crowd in Providence on Saturday. Aboard his new Redline Conquest, he managed to work his way past several Cat3 women in the field that started 2 minutes before him!
The kid was flying so fast, photographers had to speed up their apertures just to catch him on camera. The kid ended up racing for close to 30 minutes -- a gut buster for anyone -- and took home 12th place!
What we like even better is that he listed his team as "Weston Posse." Awesome. The kid oozes coolness.
The warm-up event for Ryan's junior race was the old guys race. The sun was out, the course was fast and some turns were downright slippery as Crisco. This is one beautiful park and one awesome course:
Fred, Bill and I lined up mid- to back of the back and the gun went off for yet another uphill start (I much prefer the downhill starts!). But, in my 5th race, I'm beginning to catch on. Big ring this week, sprint hard for the hole shot. Boom, I found myself passing guys.
Until we hit the first turn -- then the attempts to pass got ugly. I got elbowed, both sides, at the same time!
Don't elbow an Irishman.
It ticks us off.
So, I returned the favor on the next turn and then gunned it (Irishman know how to deal and then run). Two turns later, an off-camber 90-degree turn on crisco-mud sent half the field cart-wheeling over the fence. Elbow guy #2 went flying off right in front of me. Sorry kid, cheaters proof.
Meanwhile, Bill and Fred were duking it out on the course. Bill always seems to be smiling for the photos. Oddly enough, he's fasting on race day (Yom Kippor) and still smiling (and racing fast). Apparently 'cross counts as atonement (Steve, can we get a ruling on that?).
I found myself in a group of five guys who were pushing hard to move up. We did the final lap and a half all together and as we were flying down the backside of the course, I planned a passing move with about a half-KM to go. Cut to the inside of the steep uphill turn, I thought. Coming into the corner, everything was going to plan.
Cut to the inside, come by four guys....BAM. Hit tree. Head on. Large Oak. It didn't move. I did. Ouch.
Hopped back on and could hear a guy closing on me while I tried to get a rhythm going again. Decided to sprint with him for the line and because I had very little gas left, could sense I was going to be on the downside of this transaction. Turned out he had even less. Finished this race 36 spots better than last week. Now just a few dozen more to go for the podium!
Here's a great video of the course Bill, Fred and I raced. Not my video (sorry for the confusion last week), but this will give you a great sense of how well Ryan did in his first race. Not an easy course!
Providence Cross 2011 Day 1 from Bob T. on Vimeo.
Next up: Canton. Join us!
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