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A Year to Be Remembered
I arrived in Moab early this year and spent some time on the trail last weekend. I thought a lot about this year's 24 Hours of Moab. I have this strong sense that this year's race is going to be special. But then every year is special in it's own right. How can several thousand mountain bikers gathering together for weekend of fun and racing NOT be an amazing experience?! Still, I have this sense that this year is going to be extra-special. Or, maybe it's just my own excitement.
The venue and the course are in the best shape I've ever seen. There's lots of moisture in the ground from recent rains and for some reason the prickly tumble weeds never got much of a foot-hold this summer.
This year marks Moab as the first-ever 24-Hour National Point Series Championship. Soloists and team from all over the country have been bagging points around the country and for many of the classes it's all coming down to Moab. And you couldn't find better proving ground for the Series finale.
After 11 years, the 24 Hours of Moab has taken on ledgendary status. Folks from throughout the region and from all over the world make the annual pilgrimage to this Mecca-of-a-race. For those of you who have already signed-up, whether newbies of verterans, you are in for a treat. If you haven't sign-up, get going! You don't want to miss the fun and the memories. There's one more week to get signed up on-line after that it's walk-in registration
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On-line Registration is Open till Noon Oct. 11th (Wednesday)
Last call for on-line registration. After that, late registering teams must come to walk-in registration on Thursday (3 pm to 7 pm) or Friday (2 pm to 10 pm). On-line registration is a breeze and it will make race packet pick-up easier for you and your teammates. There are $10 late fees at late (walk-in) registration. Get 'em signed-up today! >>>On-line Registration
Next Wednesday at Noon is also the last day for adding teammates and on-line, electronic signature of accident waivers. Check you team's webpage to see if you've go your roster filled and if all your teammates have signed their waivers >>>Team List
Race Packet Pick-up and Late Registration at the Moab Arts & Recreation Center
All teams must pick-up their race packets on Thursday (3 pm to 7 pm) or Friday (2 pm to 10 pm) at the MARC. There is no race packet pick-up or late registration on Saturday, race day.
Teams that are registered and have all their accident waivers submitted need only to send one representative to pick-up thier race packet (race numbers, RFID's, T-shirts and Frisbees). Otherwise, late registering teams and teams who do not have all their accident waivers submitted must bring all their paper work and pay late fees ($10 per late waiver). Here's are links for paper forms for >>>Late Registration and >>>Late Waivers.
Directions to Moab Arts and Recreation Center (the MARC)
From 191 (the main drag through Moab), go east on 100 North for one block. The MARC is a large building on your left.
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Teams in-search-of Racers and Racers in-search-of Teams:
If you need help filling-out your team or you are looking to pick-up on a team, use the message boards! Put a posting up and browse the postings that are already posted. There's lot's of folks who still need to fill-out or get onto teams. >>>Moab Racer Message Board.
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How's about the weather? What if it Rains?
Moab is in the high-desert so it rairely rains but the weather get cold and windy if a storm front moves in. The long-range forecast is excellent but it's always a good ideas to keep an eye out for any changes. Here's a link so you can follow the weather more closely >>>Accuweather for Moab .
At the 24 Hours of Landahl, for the first time in our history, we closed down the race and restarted it four hours later in order to dodge a violent squal-line that was bearing down on us. We put the event on-hold and re-started everyone with the same split times, down to the second, so it was fair for everyone. We've never had to do this before but we certainly will implement this again if there's ever any dangerous weather.
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Epic Solo Battles: It All Comes Down to Moab
All year long, the big guns of the solo world have been chasing points in the National Point Series. It looked like it was all going to be decided at The 24 Hours of Landahl, between points leaders Ernesto Marenchin and Steve Schwarz, but Nat Ross (this year's Temecula champion) took note, showed up at Landahl and won, pushing the points chase to the finale at Moab. But just as Nat was the spoiler at Landahl, Tinker Juarez will be a spoiler at Moab. Now the battle will be between Steve Schwarz, Nat Ross. Ernesto Marenchin has told me he won't be able to defend his lead. With Ernesto not coming, it opens up possibilities for other points winners like Levi Borst and Chris Gagnon.
There's 45 other solos who will be looking to do some spoiling of their own. It will be a great race to watch! >>>Points Series Results
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Steve Schwarz at Big Bear
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Chile Pepper is stepping-up to make your race easier and more fun. They're offering a turn-key ship & build program. Also, they'll be hosting their usual pre-race shindig on Friday. Tinker Juarez and Nat Ross will be on-hand for autograph signings. Plus, Chile Pepper will be setting up shop out at the race to offering equipment and mechanical work. >>>Read More Here
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Bike Shipping,
Pre-race Shindig w/Tinker Juarez and Nat Ross, Plus, On-site Race Support at the Venue
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Volunteers Make it Happen and We Make it Fun for 'em
We're always looking for great volunteers. We couldn't run the race without the amazing volunteers that come to the races. If you have some folks who are coming to the race and you want to make sure they have a great time, get them to volunteer! They'll have a blast and we'll take good care of them with a commemorative T-shirt, a meal during their shift and plenty of hot coffee and cocoa during the wee hours.
>>>On-line Volunteer Sign-up |
Maverick/IMBA Raffle & Auction
Don't miss the opportunity to buy a raffle ticket and place a bid in the silent auction or an amazing Maverick's ML-7 XC full-suspension mountain bike. |
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There will be prizes from Princeton Tec, CamelBak and Maverick. There's also a silent auction for the Maverick ML7. Proceeds from the raffle and auction will go to support IMBA and local IMBA clubs. Raffle winners must be present to win. Silent auction bidders do not have to be present to win. |
PrinctonTec to debuts it's New Switchback High-Power Lighting System
They've been in the mountaineering lighting business for 30 years and now they are bringing their technology to the mountain biking world with the debut of the Switchback, a high-power LED light that rivals HID in brightness and is substantially longer lasting. A limited number of rentals will be available. Contact >>>PrincetonTec |
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RealTime™ Scoring Rocks!
If you have never raced with Granny Gear before, you are in for a treat. Knowing your team's placement at any point during the race adds a whole new dimension to your experience, especially toward the end when strategy plays a bigger role. RealTime™ Scoring uses RFID cards for each racer and records and broadcasts the results for every racer on every team in every class onto the internet, in real-time so even friends and family at home can follow your results on grannygear.com. |
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On Your Mark, Get Set... GO!!!
Don't mis this amazing event! Even if you can't get a team together or pick-up on a team, come on down and hang out with us, maybe you can help on a log table shift. At the very least, check out the race on grannygear.com. The first laps should start posting around 1 pm Saturday. |
Happy trails!
We really enjoy putting these races together but what we enjoy the most is the amazing people that we get to serve. You guys (and gals) never cease to amaze and inspire us with your good humor, your sportsmanship, your loyalty and appreciation and your incredible athletic achievements. It's an honor to produce so much fun for such great people. That's what keeps us coming back, year after year.
Best wishes to you and your teammates for a great race!
See you soon!
-Laird Knight
Race Director
& all the fine folks at:
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