DEVO U-14er Elliott Saslow has taken yet another prisoner, this time it was his sister Avra’s old mtb. Last week at a routine DEVO polo practice, Elliott cornered hard to get his mallet on the ball, when his frame took to the splits. The game stopped and a quiet came over the group. “it looked so weird,” said DEVO teammate Haakon Sigerslid. Then seconds later Elliott yelped, “YES, Thats number four.” Thats right, young Elliott, at 14 years old has broken 4 mountain bike frames to date. Coach Chad was quoted a little over a year ago that, “go ahead and shred Elliott, you won’t start breaking frames until you are 17, 18…” Turns out coach was wrong.
Sorry, this is a little late, but here are 1990 World Champion, Greg Herbolds’ views on several things…
Q: Who is going to win the Olympic Cross Country race in Bejing?
A:I WOULD PUT MY MONEY ON JULLIAN ABSALON, OR ONE OF THE SWISS GUYS. THE COURSE IS ALL ABOUT FITNESS AND POWER. I THINK IT WILL BE WON ON THE LAST FEW KILOMETERS. FOR THE LADIES..GUNN RITA DALLHA-FLESCHA.
Q: Of all the world cup level xcers, what rider would have the best chance
at sticking a top twenty at a world cup dh?
A:ADAM CRAIG, TODD WELLS! AND ABSALON…MOST OF THE XC GUYS ARE ACTUALLY VERY GOOD BIKE HANDLERERS…ESPECIALLY ON WIMPY BIKES! LIKE TREK RIDER ROSS SCHNELL KICKING BUTT AT THE DOWNIVILLE CLASSIC. GIVE THEM SOME PADS AND A SWEET BIKE…AND IT WOULD NOT TAKE THAT LONG. HOWEVER IF THEY CRASH THEY MAY BRAKE IN TWO!
Q: What world cup dher could compete in a world cup cross country?
A: GREG MINNAR..BRIAN LOPES,
Q: How come DH has not been included in the Olympics?
A:IT IS A DIFFICULT EVENT TO FIND AN ACCEPTABLE COURSE AT THE VENUES, AND ALSO REQUIRES ALOT OF SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT. THERE ARE ENOUGH RIDERS FROM ENOUGH COUNTRIES..BUT LEGISTICALLY IT IS DIFFICULT. IT IS AWESOME TO SEE BMX SUPERCROSS IN THERE THIS YEAR. THAT COURSE IS SICK…
Q: What is the coolest country to race bikes in, besides the US?
A: FRANCE OR ITALY OR SCOTLAND LOTS OF PEOPLE GREAT COURSES, LOTS OF CYCLING CULTURE.
Yep. Durango, Colorado rode away from last weekends Singlespeed World Championships with the rights to host next years event. The unofficial race has been traveling the world since 1995 and is anything but official. Check out the full story here
Coaches Chad and Evan sticking it out, as Coach Kricket, in the background, heads into the rubble section
Coach Kricket Lewis takes a shower during last weeks amazing DEVO Short Track
The B women ripping through the start finish, while the A's rush the start to get a jump on the impending storm.
This weeks race will be out at Three Springs and is the final race on the schedule. However the Super triple times double grand final will be at FLC’s Factory Trails on wednesday Aug 27th.
U-19er's Kaila, Alicia Rose and Coach Kricket gift Todd a good luck glitter wand for his legs in China. yes, that black rose-lookin thing is a wand that you wap against the skin to glitter-a-cize yourself.
2008 U-23 national champion and DEVO alumni, Tad Elliott was interviewed by Coach Chad and here is what he had to say on his first two World Cups of his entire career.
Q: Which world cup superstar gave you the chills when you saw them in person? A: Seeing Christoph Sauser in his world champions kit sitting on a folding table waiting to ride his bike. Also Having Julien Absalon say good morning to me in perfect english, without and accent, as he blazed passed me up the climb on a training day.
Q: What is the techiest thing you saw on the start line? A: Probably Adam Craigs brand new Giant anthem that is a prototype for 2009. Set up as one chain ring in the front and nine gears in the back. Four inches of travel in the rear, and the lightest full suspension Giant has. Also seeing Absalons custom bike, clothes, shoes, helmet and socks. Major Teched out.
Sam Hill rode by me and he had cut an old mountian bike tire and screwed it into the middle, and on top of his seat running length wise. It gives him traction in the mud when he sits down and pedals.
Q: Who did you talk to while you waited to start the race? What did you talk about? A: I only remember talking to Troy Wells before the start of Bromont and having him ask what gear I was in. We also talked about who had to the goods for that day, and both hopping that Todd would come home with the win.
Q: Do you have a crush on any of the World Cup Women? If so Who? A: Absolutely, a mystery girl. In Bromont I crashed and bent my water bottle holder. When I went through the feed zone Jimmy Deaton handed me my water bottle and when I put it in my cage it immediately fell out. I yelled, “OH NO” I was looking for another bottle in the feed zone and at the last minute a drop dead gorgeous blond pro women, that raced earlier in the day, handed me a water bottle. She saved me for that last lap. I said I loved her and kept racing. I don’t know her name, but if you know who she is I need a name and number NOW.
Q: What was the coolest thing about racing a World Cup? A: There are a few cool things about racing a World Cup. You get to start in the same race as the Olympic and World Champions. The are within arms reach at the start line. Also getting my name called up to the start and getting to hear the announcers say instead of riding out of the United States, that I am riding out of DURANGO COLORADO for the United States. I also had spectators take down some course tape so that I could take a faster line in the woods.
Tad Elliott at his first World Championships in 2007......he lost big time
Todd Wells has been named to the US Olympic Mountain Bike Team for a second time! Todd will be one of only two riders representing the USA in Beijing, China this August. Join Todd Wells and his wife Meg to wish Todd luck and congratulate him on this major accomplishment. Todd will be signing free posters while you enjoy a beer and an appetizer from Steamworks Brewing.
Wow, its August. July jr DEVO went well. Coaches Deb Hall and Brian Peterson wrapped up another +20 strong 6&7 year old group which met every monday in July. It amazing how fast kids that age learn skills. Annie had about 10 jr DEVO 20 inch shredders and Chad shredded with the 24/26 inch jrs. The summer July Sesh will definitely happen next year as it was good for the kids.
Fall Junior DEVO will begin the week of September 15th. We will post all group schedules asap, so please stay tuned. Feel free to contact chad or annie @durangodevo.com with questions or comments.
