US Cup Racing Starts this Weekend in Fontana

This weekend marks the first round of Pro XCT US national cross country mountain biking series. Racers will be competing over two days in Fontana, California in the cross country, short track, and super D racing. These weekend races are part of the Kenda Cup West qualifying series, the So Cal State Championships, and the Southridge USA series.

The racing at Fontana also marks the start of the race season for many of Canada’s mountain bike racers. The women’s start lists includes the following Canadians: Mical Dyck (Trek Canada), Emily Batty (Trek World Racing), Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro Team), and Amanda Sin (3 Rox Racing). On the men’s side, Canadian racers include: Peter Glassford, Evan Guthrie, Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain), Adam Morka (Trek Canada), Matthew Paziuk (Trek Store Toronto), Max Plaxton (Rocky Mountain Haywood), Kris Sneddon (Kona), and Derek Zandstra (3 Rox Racing).

In the middle of her busy travel schedule, Dyck took time to answer a few questions about this weekend and her racing plans for the year. Dyck, 28 years old, lives and trains in Victoria, BC.

How are you feeling going into the race this weekend?
Feeling a little shaky going into this, not too sure what to expect. I did the first two island cup races and felt really good, but this is a different race….and a lot hotter.

You spend a lot of time living up north working in the winter. How do you balance your training and racing?
Yup, unfortunately spent a lot of time up north working again this winter. Had a better mind frame this year compared to last year. Last year I wasn’t sure if I was going to race or not, but this year I was pretty motivated…stayed away from a lot of the camp baked goods too. Had a couple tough moments when I was feeling sorry for myself, hehe, but former teammate Jenny Smith (Trek/VW) sent me any e-mail telling me to use the angst as motivation…haha, hope it worked.

Any season goals you want to share with us?
Lots of little goals for the season, podium at nationals, top ten at world cups, top 15 at World Championships. Unfortunately to help attain these goals one of my goals is also to get on the CCA radar for support so I don’t have to spend the winter working full time and I can get some consistent training in.

Tell us a bit about how you got into mountain bike racing?
My brother and dad got me into mountain biking. I was kind of at the end of my volleyball and soccer careers, fed up with the politics of team sports. I took a year not doing anything, but I’m a really competitive person and love to train towards something. I did my first race as a citizen with a bunch of men and it snowed…I was scared and frozen, but fell in love with the sport and the culture.

What’s next for you after the US Cup?
After this US Cup in Fontana I’ve got a busy April lined up. Pan American Championships in Guatemala, Sea Otter, World Cup in England and World Cup in Houffalize, Belgium. I think I’m home for six days all month. Definitely going to spend some time after that recovering and doing some fun riding with Regan, my boyfriend, training partner, mechanic, cook…..everything in one 🙂