Tour Du Suds studs gettin' down before they head up.

Team Catholic School Girls were back this year (they were all women this time), there was a nice bunny rabbit, a pedaling keg (my nemisis), Evil Knevil and even a Pro Wrestler.  The race starts at the Park City City Park (<— the real name of it) and rides mostly singletrack all the way to the top of the resort, which is about 3,000′ of elevation gain.  Riding a unicycle is a lot like riding a one-wheeled single-speed bike, so suffice it to say, my legs were smoked.

200' into the race and I've already been passed by most of the pack.

I put in my usual middle of the pack performance and had a great time doing it.  The first crux is to avoid being run over at the start as the unicycle gets up to its top speed of 8mph right away and never falters.

Keg Man making his move on me. His tap head could actually produce beer!

A nice day for a ride. Polly (my wife) is at the head of this hard charging peloton.

Although it doesn’t seem feasible, unicycles aren’t that much slower than an average Mountain Bike rider on the uphills as the faster you go, the easier it is to balance, so there is a lot of incentive to Go Dog Go.  On the flats or downhills… forget it.  Bikes are way faster.

Making my big move - too bad it was within 100' of the finish line.

But still, even though unicycles are a semi-pointless mode of transportation, they are fun, challenging and put all those beginner bike trails in a new perspective.

Super Woman and Bat Girl blow off steam at the end of the race by flying the world's tiniest kites. These things were about the size of my palm and were flown on cotton sewing thread. Very cool and colorful.

This is about the fifth year in a row that I have ridden the TDS on a unicycle and every year I keep hoping that another MUni rider will show up and challenge my dominance in the unicycle category, but so far victory is all mine, and, all in my mind.

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Unfortunately, rogue snowmobiliers can’t be relied on to police themselves, so it is up to groups like BSA to help them be better people by bringing land use issues to the table.  This is a growing concern in the Wasatch Mountains and when I asked a Swiss friend what they did about it  in Switzerland, he said “Oh, they have been outlawed for recreational use for quite a while.”  

The BSA fund raiser bash is being held in Golden, Colorado on November 8^th and will feature a showing of the latest PowderWhores production, The Pact.  More details are below.

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For Immediate Release:

 September 16, 2008

 16^th Annual Backcountry Bash ushers in winter at American Mountaineering Center

The 16^th Annual Backcountry Bash, a benefit for winter backcountry preservation, will take place on Saturday November 8, 2008 at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, Colorado.  The Backcountry Bash, the largest annual fundraiser for the Backcountry Snowsports Alliance, will feature complimentary hor d’ourves and drinks, silent and live auctions, gear giveaways, and a special screening of Powderwhore Productions’ The Pact.

The 16^th Annual Backcountry Bash will feature more than $10,000 in auction items from leading outdoor industry manufacturers and retailers, as well as lodging and services from around Colorado.  Items for auction will include hut stays in numerous Colorado locations, avalanche safety equipment, and technical apparel.  As always, this year’s event will also feature giveaways for high quality outdoor gear.

Admission to the 16^th Annual Backcountry Bash is $30 and will be available for advance purchase at the REI Denver Flagship and Boulder stores, Bent Gate Mountaineering, and online at www.backcountryalliance.org. 

The Backcountry Snowsports Alliance (BSA) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization based in Fort Collins, Colorado.  Since 1992, the BSA has represented skiers, snowshoers, snowboarders, and all human-powered winter recreationists in preserving non-motorized areas across Colorado’s public lands.  The organization currently undertakes projects at Vail, Red Mountain, and Rabbit Ears Passes, as well as Peak 6 near Breckenridge Ski Area, Richmond Ridge near Aspen, and Hahn’s Peak in north Routt County.  The BSA has worked with a diverse range of user groups and land agencies to create quiet recreation opportunities at Wolf Creek, Buffalo, and Vail Passes and supports the services provided by Colorado’s backcountry hut operators.

More information will be found at www.backcountryalliance.org when available.

For more information, contact:

Brian Holcombe
Executive Director,
Backcountry Snowsports Alliance
303-494-5266
brian@backcountryalliance.org

What:              16^th Annual Backcountry Bash, a benefit for winter backcountry preservation

Who:               Presented by the Backcountry Snowsports Alliance and Powderwhore Productions

When:             November 8, 2008, 5:30 – 10:30pm

Where:         American Mountaineering Center
                       710 10^th Street
                       Golden, Colorado

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