Europe Bound
The weekend was a blurr of mud, lost bikes, and suffering
The cross campaign is going pretty good all around. The races in Toronto were awesome and I placed well both days, ending up on the podium with two top 5’s. This was a good weekend for me considering that the form was weigning and the weekend was thrown together at the last minute. Luckily, the folks that help put on the race put me up, chauffeured me around to and from the races, fed me, and showed me a little of what Toronto has to offer. Thanks to Martin and Kevin for all of the help and Rod for organizing it (leaving out last names). You know who you are.
This past weekend was round two of the USGP’s in New Jersey. I was really stoked to hit these races as they are new to me. Also, whenever you have a break planned in your schedule, you get motivated to go out on a high note. Unfortunately, US Air (don’t fly US Air) lost my bikes. They sent them to Phoenix, i went to Jersey. Thanks to the SRAM guys, I was able to get in there still and mix it up. I had descent starts both days, but still the mud racing is not my best area. I love slopping around and racing in the mud, it is just so different and I am not a full on power rider. Plus being on bikes that were a bit different made it that much more difficult. That said, I cannot complain about my weekend and I ended up with a 12th and a 9th place.
After these New Jersey Grand Prix’s I am sitting pretty good in the series and I got the invite to go to the Euro Camp in Belgium. Stoked! I have received the invitation before but have not been able to attend because I have to be ready for road season. Without a Pro Contract on the road next year, the doors are totally open and I finally get to fulfill my last goal that I have set for myself which is to go get my ass kicked in Europe. The Euro Camp will be a good tester for me and is also used as a selection for the US WorldsCyclocross team. I am hoping to be selected and actually have the chance to race Worlds. This is what I have dreamed of since I started racing cross in 2003.
Here is the catch. It costs some serious coin, and the sponsors are very supportive but the budgets are totally depleted. I will have to do some major fund raising and that will be coming on the site shortly. Bringing back the old “MattShriver Racing fund”. I have to make it happen though.
I am wrapping things up here in Salt Lake for the week and off to Durango tomorrow. Let me know if you have any good ideas about how to raise some funds so I can get to Europe for this Euro Cross Campaign. We will have a House Blend of Coffee up for sale soon that will support my campaign. Thanks for all of the support. More to come soon, be on the lookout for a new website layout dedicatedsolely to Euro Cross. Get on your bikes and ride.
This entry was posted on Thursday, November 20th, 2008 at 10:11 am and is filed under Just Squawking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
jcraig November 21st, 2008 at 11:29 am
kegger