YOUNGEST AND OLDEST GET MEDALS

This may seem like a story of bragging but I don't see it that way. It is more of a story of hard work, dedication and longevity. First of all an apology to William for the out of focus photo. The photo on the left is me receiving the OBRA State Championship Gold medal. It was a proud moment for me. I realize that I have had my share of success throughout the years but winning a gold is very special. I have a total of 9 OBRA medals: 3 Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze. That is out of 30 years of racing. The first medal (a gold) was in 1988 at the state mountain bike championship held in Corvallis that year. That was a good year for me as I went on to win two medals at the World Championships. The next gold came in 1998 when I won the State Cyclocross race in Bend, and 11 years later comes my last medal. I couldn't have won this medal if I didn't have some help. Most of this help comes in the form of other racers. When I won the first medal it was in the Veterans division. The age then was 35 +. There were no other age groups. Yesterdays race was in the 55+. That didn't even exist one year ago. We have a 55+ group because there are still some older dudes out there that think young and that mountain biking rocks. 

The other photo is of William Wodrich, he is the youngest member of our team. Though I have fun I think he has more fun. I asked him how he did and he said awesome (he was third), and then he told me he endoed five times. The endoing was part of the fun. Young and old that is really the key to what we do out there. It brings us all together. The last photo is just a reminder that even a State Champion has to wash his own bike. Take care,

Don