Giving respect where it's due

I think it is a good time to take a moment and list some athlete accomplishments from this season. You all have done some excellent hard work and it has really paid off. Check it out:

Aaron Elwell: Aaron capped an awesome season of consistency with the NMBS Expert 25-29 points series overall title! Now he is learning how to jump on and off his 'cross bike. Sweet!

Anthony King: Anthony made great strides this year as a multi-discipline rider. Consistent results on the track, road and mountain bike made for a solid season! Now it is 'cross time!

Chip Keyes: Chip had a great season, raising his LT by nearly 40Watts! In so doing, he set PRs in his local 10-mile TT series and won his age class at the Idaho State TT! Way to go, Chip! State TT Champ!

Don Arancibia: Don started his season with a month-long trip to Italy and Spain - with his bike!  Since then he has been training for cross and now it has paid of with a win at the super muddy Battle at Barlow Cross!

Jana Repulski: Jana had a solid season in her first as a Pro mountain bike racer. Her riding and results showed consistent improvement at the National level and while she was at it, she placed 2nd at the Idaho State Championships XC race. She did her first 'cross race last weekend and also got 2nd. Not a bad start!

Jane Adams: What a season! I can't even count how many Pro MTB races Jane has won this year. More recently, when there have been no Pro women present, Jane has taken to beating up on the Expert Men, placing 6th out of about 30 the last time out. Awesome!

Scott Bradway: Scott started has had a great season so far with a host of top-10 Expert Class MTB finishes, and 2nd in his class at the State Hillclimb Championships on the road. Most recently, he won his class at the Hood River Cyclocross Classic - his first target race of the 'cross season. Fantastic!

Steven Hunter: Steven has made great strides in his build up to 'cross season with a host of top-10 Elite finishes on the MTB and in cross, most recently at the Eugene Short Cross Series, where he finished 4th and 2nd, respectively. Nice!

Stuart Lynne: One of my newest athletes, Stuart showed up already in great shape and put in a solid ride to win Cobble Hill Classic and Mt Washington Hillclimb in BC, as well as place in his District TT, even after flatting!

Tom Woodcock: After a solid early season, Tom took 10 weeks and traveled first to Nepal, where he hiked to Everest Base Camp and back, and then to India where he spent nearly 2 months as a volunteer in an orphanage. Tom is now back and looking forward to lots of training in the Portland rain. Right, Tom? ;>

So, that's the rundown and you can all be proud of what you have accomplished and look forward to 2008 to bring you more success!