Tuesday afternoon we decided to try our hands at Disc Golf. There was a course set up on the ski run area and there is a thriving local league. A stop at the Sports Authority secured us a set of discs (you have to have a driver, mid range and putting disc!) and we headed for the course. Having floundered through the first couple of holes, almost loosing a disc and not being able to find hole 4 in the woods we were saved by a local, Derek, who was out for an afternoon game with his dog. The course was very challenging, both skill wise and climbing and hiking more than two miles across the course at 8,000 feet. Matt got a birdie at one hole with a 75 foot ”putt” (we measured it), our local guide said it was the best shot he’d seen all season. Other than that we one or two shots over par on every hole but had a great time, we plan to play when we get home.
Wednesday morning Matt rode early while Bill cleared out the condo and we were on the road to SolVista, the site of the US National Mountain Biking Championships by 10:30. We got to Sol Vista by noon and secured a great spot in the camping area, right next to a part of the cross country course. Matt went out on a pre-ride of the course and Bill set up camp complete with kitchen area, portable shower and a banner for Alpha 1, the cause that Matt is riding for. It wasn’t exactly Alex Leman’s kitchen but it’s very comfortable.

Matt joined up with Ernie Houk, a fellow NorCal rider, whose dad, Tick, is riding in a men’s category. Matt and Ernie rode off together.

The course is very technical with several very tricky sections. There are steep rocky uphills and it will be very interesting to see how they play out in the race.

Thursday morning it was time to get back out on the course for more practice.

Bill got the Team Alpha materials set up at the lodge. The organizers were good enough to allow us to set up part of a table in the main registration area where all the riders were passing through.

Matt is riding Cross Country, two laps of a 9 mile course, but a lot of the kids here ride Downhill or Mountain Cross where they ride up the mountain in the chair lift and fly down an intricate course of jumps and bends. The bottom of the downhill course is clearly visible from the lodge.

Some of the kids get some serious air!

Matt got a chance to relax and watch the other riders.