Gunnison Valley represents against top riders

“Pickles and cokes, that’s the secret to endurance racing”

Once again, the Gunnison Valley defended its backyard against a gang load of mountain bike racers from around the state and beyond at the Half Growler Saturday and the Original Growler on Sunday.

The two races start in downtown Gunnison before taking participants on a 32-mile tour of Hartman Rocks in the Half Growler and a 64-mile suffer fest in the Original Growler.
As is often the case, the race attracts several professional bikers from the Front Range that are well into their bike season while most Gunnison Valley riders have three or four weeks of riding under their belts and maybe one race.
Nevertheless, the locals manage, somehow, to represent with a handful posting podium finishes and numerous crossing the finish line in the top 10.
While Jay Henry proved somewhat untouchable in the 32-mile Half Growler among the men on Saturday winning with a time of 2:31:42, locally-raised-turned-Boulderite Travis Scheefer finished five minutes back in second place with young gun Keegan Swirbul a minute back in third.
The local women set the tone for the Gunnison Valley in their race with Team Griggs Orthopedics (Team GO) riders taking two of the top three spots. Team GO athlete Amy Beisel led the charge posting a time of 2:56:51 for the title. Gretchen Reeves out of Avon, Colorado took second and Team GO rider Sydney Dickinson placed third with a time of 3:19:43.
Team GO riders Janae Pritchett and Jari Kirkland dominated the women’s 64-mile race finishing in first and second place respectively.
Pritchett finished in third place last year but shaved 43 minutes off that time to take the title this year.
Her initial goal was the podium again and after the first lap, she and teammate/friend Jari Kirkland had moved into the front. Unfortunately, Pritchett made a grave mistake at the feed station after lap one.
“I just stuffed some food in and forgot to put more in my pockets for the rest of the race,” says Pritchett. “I was asking people along the course for food, salt was what I really needed and knew I just had to make it to the feed station at Skull Pass.”
Riding up to Skull Pass, Pritchett asked for salt and was presented with a huge plate of bacon. Unfortunately, that wasn’t quite what she had in mind.
“I said, ‘I’m a vegetarian’,” explains Pritchett.
But when she returned back to Skull Pass they had pickles and cokes waiting for her. With three cokes in her, half a pickle eaten and the remaining pickle stuffed into her shorts, she continued to ride with Kirkland for the title.
“We’re friends and we looked at each other and we’re like, okay it’s you and me, let’s battle it out,” says Pritchett.
Pritchett utilized her technical riding skills to gain an advantage and with two miles to go, she pulled in front for good.
“The pickle is what saved me,” says Pritchett. “Pickles and cokes, that’s the secret to endurance racing. I’m just so psyched to be able to jump back in, have fun and still push myself even though I’m a mom and have a job.”
Meanwhile, Team GO rider and new dad Brian Smith was steeped in a test of will for all 64 miles before finishing in third place with Cameron Chambers in second place and Kalan Beisel winning, both of whom hail from Colorado Springs.
Smith admits with a newborn and a head cold, he almost bailed on the race altogether.
“I was just trying to get myself back to normal,” says Smith.
Nevertheless, he lined up Sunday morning free of expectations only to find himself in the mix from the start. After taking off with a lead group of four riders, Smith remained conservative taking small leads through technical sections but nothing worth pushing harder for.
When the four riders turned onto the road to head out to Bambi’s, Chambers broke away, Kalan followed and Smith tried to hang on but soon faded.
“I sat on their wheels for a little bit but I couldn’t keep the pace,” explains Smith.
Smith estimates he was as much as two minutes back from the leaders at one point but when he got to the Gateway/Fenceline section on the second lap, he caught sight of Chambers and Kalan.
“They were in sight and I started getting motivated,” says Smith.
Despite massive cramping, Smith continued to reel the leaders in and was primed to take over as they were headed up Tailpipe but his body had other plans.
“Every time I stood up, everything would seize,” says Smith.
In the end Smith finished a mere four seconds off of Chambers and seven seconds behind Beisel.
“I was super happy to be that close to those guys,” says Smith. “It was exciting. Hopefully it’s a leapfrog into a successful season.”
In the end, none of this would have been possible without the tireless effort of Gunnison Trails and the incredible crew of volunteers. While the weekend is the primary source of revenue for the local non-profit, the benefits of the event extend far beyond the race itself with 700 riders signed up, most of whom come from out of town, bringing in a significant boost to the Gunnison Valley economy. It is estimated that the Growler generates as much as one million dollars for the local economy. And not just in beer and KOA Dave’s famous meat stick sales.