Updates from Tom JudyUpdates from Tom Judyhttp://www.loopd.com/members/TJShread/blog.aspx2008 NMBS #3 1st place PODIUM/RFS/72/eaaa9bb3-d32f-4fad-9fca-b0546f960675i.jpg/RFS/72/eaaa9bb3-d32f-4fad-9fca-b0546f960675.jpgSpecialized Flight # Enduro Pro, depating from Runway, NMBS #35050Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:13:49 GMTTue, 13 Oct 2009 10:13:49 GMThttp://backend.userland.com/rssInfluenceNetwork RSS Generator302009 RACE Season Ends <br/> <br/>WOW, just another...2009 RACE Season Ends <br/> <br/>WOW, just another BLUR on the BRAIN, it went too fast. Weather outside is raging, 20 mph winds here, up to 100 mph at Donnor summit ! <br/> <br/>The 09 season was a mixed bag. I raced DH Cat 2, and was at the top end of my age bracket 49 in the 40-49 divisoin, raced against guys 10 years younger than me ! <br/> <br/>Had a blast as I have for every year I have done this thing ! Made new friends, saw old friends ! <br/>Raced in 8 DH races including the USA Cycling Nationals at Sol Vista, crashed on race run in 4 of those, including the USA Cycling Nationals :(( <br/> <br/>Eight races, 4 crashes, 2 Podiums (both at Northstar) and luckily, no injuries. Bottom line, more crashes than metals, more metals than injuries. <br/> <br/>Highlights this year were racing at the Nationals, (always a treat, and the Sol Vista Mtn BIke Park is RAD) Attending the Gene Hamilton Better Ride DH Camp at Northstar, right along with Gregg Minnaar and a real cool finale, attehttp://www.loopd.com/members/TJShread/blog.aspx?euid=e418c0e7-fab9-45a4-9792-35e4d470cf82Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:13:49 GMT10 DAYS TO SOL VISTA !!!<p>I am JONES IN HEAVY, can't sleep can't eat, got DH Racing on the BRAIN !!&nbsp; Just had my first 1st place finnish of the season, Northstar Race #1, Karpiel !!&nbsp; Won this one in my debut as the newest DH Reno team member by 0.10 seconds !!!<br /><br />Go sheck out those new photos.&nbsp; Special thanks to those sponsors, I will have some great new gear, just in time for the Nationals, and thanks to the folks at DH Reno for making me feel right in DH Hog Heavin.<br /><br />Catch &nbsp;you on the trails, or catch me if you can !</p>http://www.loopd.com/members/TJShread/blog.aspx?resourceId=07b18dc5-4b7f-46e3-a7fb-b332db6f4761Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:55:58 GMTGetting Ready for my 3rd trip to the USAC National...Granby, Colorado, Sol Vista, here we come !!!&nbsp; I qualified by finishing 8th with a Crash at the Santa Ynez Valley Classic, that 20+ mph cross wind off that 10 foot step down really played havoc with everyone.&nbsp; Rreally stange that a race with roughly 130 DH racers (all catagories) would be a USAC National Qualifyer, and the Sea Otter Classic, with several hundred of the best DH riders in the country did not count as a qualifyer. Oh, well, I will take em as they come.&nbsp; I am really looking forward to Sol Vista, going to make it&nbsp;a 10 day camping trip with my wife.&nbsp; I want that Red Stars Jersey this year, missed it by 16 seconds at Mt Snow last year.&nbsp; <br /><br />I don't get this sport.&nbsp; Over the 3 years I have been racing I see a lot of turn over, racers come and racers go.&nbsp; All my NorCal EVOMO Team buddies have disappeared, either moved, or changed jobs and don't ride, injured, out for the season.&nbsp; I am just starting to get into my prime of exeprience, every time I race at a location I had been at the year before, my times are signifigantly faster.&nbsp; The guy that started my in this sport seems to have fallen off the map this year, lost all his MOJO becuase of induries last year.&nbsp; I am sure the economy has slowed some folks down.&nbsp; I just don't care, this sport and the people&nbsp;I meet along the way are too great to give up on.<br /><br />I hope to see some of you at teh Podium at Sol Vista in July.&nbsp; 9 weeks to go, time to turn up the volume on the training !<br /><br />http://www.loopd.com/members/TJShread/blog.aspx?resourceId=bff0a842-8ebc-46fb-a2f9-5f6b9f5821c9Tue, 12 May 2009 20:56:45 GMT2008 Season ENDSThanks to all those AWESOME SPONSORS.&nbsp; 2008 was a lot of fun, ran at Sport DH this year in 5 races, Podium in 4 of those. The only downer on the year was Sea Otter, see other Blog.&nbsp; finising at 24th of 39 there was also a surprise.&nbsp; <br /><br />The big UPPER for the year, Mt Snow Nationals ! PODIUM AGAIN, that is 2 years in a row, this time took 3rd.&nbsp; The only downside of that is now I have to step it up to Expert, don't know if I am really ready for that.&nbsp; For now, just cruzin into fall, epic riding conditions here in NorCal that time of year.&nbsp; Next years race schedule just came out, we will see what happens.&nbsp; This economy and some personal financial issues, may keep me closer to home.&nbsp; That would make the wife a lot easier to deal with.<br /><br />See ya, next year<br /><br />TJhttp://www.loopd.com/members/TJShread/blog.aspx?resourceId=882855b3-77ab-4de6-bb06-ae9b7eae43f5Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:47:50 GMTGetting STOKED on this Website, or even more stoke...Getting STOKED on this Website, or even more stoked by Riding, when I am not ON THE LINEhttp://www.loopd.com/members/TJShread/blog.aspx?euid=e99fc506-0af7-4330-a9fd-d9df0b226e4dSat, 18 Oct 2008 10:29:14 GMT2008 Sea Otter ClassicMy condolenses to the family of Mark Reynolds.&nbsp; This really hit home, he was in my race class, racing against me.&nbsp; Pray for his familyhttp://www.loopd.com/members/TJShread/blog.aspx?resourceId=e8bd8d72-7f73-45c9-865a-176ab6c491afThu, 24 Apr 2008 10:11:09 GMT