News/Journal
Whistler Crankworx
Wow! this week has been action packed for me. Flew in from Vermont on Monday afternoon and then proceeded to shred the Whistler mountain bike park until 8pm, when the lift stops. Tuesday was The Womens Gala freeride event, I was surprised to see that 40 women signed up to participate in The Gala. I finished up 3rd and am looking fwd to competing again in a similar format. Wednesday was packed with training for the A-line race in the a.m and then the Big Air race in the p.m. I am pretty sure I overcleared all the jumps down the 5 minute jump course, oh well? What can I do....I was trying to pin it. Thursday was Slalom practice for abit in the p.m and then some dinners and parties to attend. Friday was the big slalom event and we had qualifiers in the a.m. and finals in the p.m. I qualied 5th out of 14 women. The finals only held 8 women, but there were many problems with computers and timers so the race was postponed until the following day (Sunday) I decided not to attend and instead rode my bike in the bike park for the first time all week without a schedule.
I spent 8 hours on Friday sitting on the side of a hill waiting to ride my bike in the finals, only to find out that it was postponed. I was dissapointed to say the least. I hope next year Crankworx can figure out what went wrong and get the crowd stoked and the riders out there shredding some more slalom.
It is Sunday afternoon in Whistler and I am beat from all the riding and shredding. The weather is beautiful and the crowds are unbelievable. I wish there were more events like this on the calendar. I would totally be in and it would be a huge boost to the sport. People=brand awarness. That formula can't fail and if more people can see how rad this sport is than I am sure will will see more spectators turning into riders.
Gotta run and get in a few more laps this afternoon before taking off for Vancouver Island tomorrow.
Till next time-
KP Posted by kathy on 2007.29.07 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2007 National Champion!
Mount Snow, Vermont-I won the 2007 US National Championship and placed 2nd in the slalom. I started off my Sunday witha super d race, where I placed 6th in a staked field. I felt really stoked to win the national title and am looking fwd to racing at the world championships in a month.
I'll be in Whistler, B.B. for the next week or so and yesterday I competing in the first ever Womens Gala Freeride event. I ended up 3rd overall after scoring really well in al 4 stations. There was 40 women competing and 3rd is great!
Can't wait to work on some more tricks and lines for the next womens freeride event.
See ya later,
KP Posted by kathy on 2007.25.07 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Riding on peanut butter and jelly
If you had an option would you rather, ride your mountain bike down a steep hill in a deluge of rain or after the rain had moved on and the sun came out?
If you have ever been to a muddy mountain bike race and witnessed, or better yet, have first hand experience or these conditions then you will understand what the correct answer is.
My answer is, I would way! rather ride down a course during a deluge of rain. Yesterday was fun, it was very wet out there on the mountain but that is why it was fun. Today the sun came out and it thickened the mud up and made the rocks sooo slipperey. It was hard to know where you where heading with your front wheel. I just leaned back and looked, way ahead and tried my hardest to miss the deep mud holes and sniper rocks down the course. I prefered yesterday's conditions, since I coulodn't even see the course and the dangers lying ahead, I didn't care and road more loose. Today I had a clear view of the messed up course and all it's holes and rocks. After replacing both, front and rear brake pads this morning I made my way down the infamous Mount Snow downhill course and started to get some lines dialed in, or as close to "dialed in" as possible. I got one flat, but I proabaly deserved it since I tried a new line and didn't slow down. I ramed myslef through some sharp rocks and then continued to ride my trusty Mavic Dee Max wheels down the course, the entire way, with a rear flat. I met up with another racer who was also in the same predicament and we continued down the course having a "rear flat race" of our own. When 4pm rolled around I was off my Dh bike and onto my slalom bike. I was amped for some practice and then qualifying for tomorrow's slalom US national championship. I think I qualified 2nd behind Mellisa Buhl. Times are tight and I am expecting more than a few upsets tomorrow, it can be anyone's win with a course so short and fast. My quali times were around 20.3 and 21.4 or something. Sorry, I don't have and official results.
Till next time-
KP Posted by kathy on 2007.20.07 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ New England or Waterworld?
Started off the day with some lovely Vermont maple syrup and pancakes for breakfast. The day went from wet to wetter, in Mount Snow. I practiced the dual slalom course for a total of 20 minutes and did probably close to 12 runs in that small span of time. There is this awesome magic carpet that transports the riders from the bottom of the slalom to the top, and all while just sitting on your bike while under dry cover. Overnight the terrential rains wahsed a load of the course away and so there was a lot course maintenance to be done. The slalom is non technical and is very short, only two berm turns and a few rollers and then your at the finish tabletop. I am amped though, can't wait for the slalom action on saturday night. I found myself riding in a river down the downhill course today. I was completly soaked even before I did my first run down the mountain from the chair lift. It rained 2 inches today in about 3 hours while I was out practicing the dh course. I had more fun than I can remember having in the mud and rain in many years, that seemed to be the feeling of most of the riders today. Big smiles and muddy bodies and bikes all gathered at the finish. I felt like I was riding my moto in an outdoor motorcross race in the winter and just pinning it! I splashed though 3 feet of water and squished my way down the grassy turns all while having a blast. I wore through my rear brake pads in only 3 runs, better throw the metal brake pads in there if I want to have brakes at the end of my runs tomorrow.
till my next slip and sliding report-
KP Posted by kathy on 2007.19.07 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In Vermont for the US Champs
Rolled into Mount Snow, Vermont last night after a long day of travel from Whistler B.C. It started off at 3am when I left in my rental car on route to the Vancouver airport for a 6am flight. I drove for about 20 minutes and then read a flashing road sign that read, "Road Constuction Mon-Fri Road closed from 3-5am".
Whistler is host to the 2010 Winter Olympics and the Sea to Sky highway that connects Vancouver to Whistler is undergoing major road construction because of this. I quickly realized, I wasn't going to make my flight this morning. In 9 years of traveling by air I have never missed a flight, until today.
The pits area at the base of Mount Snow was filling up as I walked around and said hi and caught up with friends and sponsors. I visited the Mavic set up and was surprised by a big spider trapped in a plastic box next to me, that spider was a big yellow one and I wanted nothing to do with it.
There was some DH practice today from 2-4pm but I walked the course instead, and dialed in the lines. Only a handfull of other shredders gave the wet and muddy hill a try. There is a lot more practice for the National Championships than the norm. We have practice for 5 days! I will hit the course tomorrow afternoon, ready for some fast and rocky action. There is no "yard sale" section this year but there is plenty of other nasty sections to satisfy the crowds and riders.
till next time-
KP Posted by kathy on 2007.18.07 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I felt like roadkill
I am reporting to you from the climate crazy country of South Africa. I can tell you first hand that everything you thought you knw about pain is not true until you have puched your body and mind to the limit of collapsing. I thought I knew what pain was and was able to recognize that I had a pretty good tolerance for it. Well, that is up until this past week while i was racing in the Cape Epic in South Africa.
www.cape-epic.com
I completed, what is arguably, the hardest three days ever in the events history and then called it "game over" the next day when I could tell I just didn't have enough "go juice" to keep it going for another 5 days to the finish line. The first day I rode 127km the second 138kms and the third 117kms and everyday I was battling in the harshest sun you have ever felt.
My team mate for the event is Anka Martin and she is my hero! At this very moment she is completing the event solo and without a team mate (me) She is haveing her fair share of problems along the way but she is taking it in stride and is doing great. Tomorrow is the last day of the Cape Epic and aftfer completing 600 miles of off-road epicness all the riders that completed this events are superheros in my eyes.
This is the hardest race in the world. If you don't believe me...Go and sign up for the event for 2008 and try it yourself.
On a side note, I made a national newspaper. They paper photographed me being carried by stretcher to a truck with medical staff. I looked pretty messed up and was glad to have the help and fluids via IV in the medical tent later on, Thanks guys!
Talk to you soon.
till next time,
KP Posted by kathy on 2007.30.03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 50 hours of travel
I know it's hard to think about traveling for that long but I will tell you first hand- It kinda sucked!
I left San Francisco on Monday afternoon and landed two days later in Cape Town, South Africa. I arrived on time and all my stuff was here with me and my Jamis bike is still lokking super sweet and is woring like a charm. I've been out riding on my new XCR the past few days in an area called Jonkershoek, near a town called Stellenbosch. The singletrack is to die for and the scenery is one a of a kind...Think* jagged rocks jutting out of green valleys with pine forests to shade the winding trail in front of you. the worst danger would be to come across a surprised Babboon, it could get ugly.
Since I'm out here in South Africa without the choice of bikes...Just my one bike, I decided to lower my seat today on a descent and "give er" the whole way down the trail. It felt so great to really push myself like a slalom race down the trail and over technical rocks and bridges. I'm hoping to come to the Sea Otter prepared for some sideways slalom action.
My sinus bug that I had before I left California is starting to get better and I am beggining to feel "right" again after all that travel time.
Hope the weather in the states is as nice as it is here for all you guys.
Till next time! Posted by kathy on 2007.16.03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Deepest darkest...Africa
As some of you out there may know, I am going over to South Africa to participate in The Absa Cape Epic. This is an event held around this time every year in South Africa. If you want to know more, check out the web site
www.Cape-Epic.com
A great friend and awesome mountain biker, Anka Martin, is joining me to form our mandatory two person team for this 600 mile off road 8 day stage race from Knysna to Cape Town. We chose the team name, African American, why? Simple-She is from Africa and I am from America. We kinda thought we would always change our team name to something else but this just stuck.
This event will be my first chance to feel out the all new Jamis Dakar frame design for 2007. My bike weighs in at about 25 lbs. Could have made the bike lighter but then again when you are far from any modern bike shops in the bush I think it is wiser for me to go with strong and reliable not lightest and hardest to find replacment parts.
So I gotta run and get on my flight from Chico, Ca to San Francisco, Ca and start my two day journey to Cape Town via Germany.
One day...I know that we will be able to just push a button and wammbamm!! I will be tellatransported to the desired destination. I'm not feeling the best, been a bit under the weather and I am crossing my fingers that the airplane germs don't make it even worse.
I'll be updating while I am in SA, and am returning back to Nor Cal April 4th.
Till next time!
Keep it pinned in 5th gear Posted by kathy on 2007.12.03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's offical!
I'm back on with Jamis Bikes and am looking fwd to riding the exciting new line of bikes for this years line up.
Read the press release here from Jamis,
Northvale, NJ February 20, 2007
Jamis Bicycles is proud to announce the re-signing of Pro downhiller Kathy Pruitt.
Kathy, the 2000 Junior World Downhill Champion and 2-time National Champ will be racing a Jamis Diablo in downhill events and a Jamis Komodo in Four Cross and slalom events. Kathy will be concentrating on the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National series (NMBS), the US Open of Mountain Biking as well as North American World Cups and many travel and adventure trips that she has planned where she will put the new Jamis XAM though its paces.
“I am happy to be returning to Jamis Bicycles in 2007, with something to prove.
This summer I aim to bring their line up of bikes to the top of the podium! Visit my website www.kathypruitt.com this year and read what I'm doing with my Jamis on the trails.”
Kathy is a great ambassador for the sport and for Jamis Bicycles, we are extremely proud to have her as part of the Jamis family.
About Jamis Bicycles:
Jamis Bicycles rolled out it's first Earth Cruiser bicycle in 1979 and has since built a reputation as a brand unmatched in its performance, value and style. Jamis bicycles are sold in the US from coast to coast and in over 40 countries worldwide. Posted by kathy on 2007.21.02 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jamaican me crazy, and, oh I'm the Jamaican National XC Champion
Just returned from the Carribean, yeah...I like how that just rolls off my tongue, like it\'s no biggie. I couldn\'t be a happier girl right now, Jamaica was off the hook.
Usually, It is easy for me to tell a little story and share some news with y\'all on my website. For once, though, I am speechless!
I\'d like to say that I would have been updating kp.com during the week in Jamaica but I was just having too much fun and no time to get down to the oh to familiar www business in paradise.
Since I just drove in this morning and arrived super late last night at the SFO airport I am hammered- mentally. Excuse me for not making sense in the following paragraphs. As is air travel, my original flight schedule was changed because of maintenance issues with my plane and I was rerouted through Miami last minute. All I have to say is- Thank goodness for public transportation in Nor Cal, a.k.a.-BART (Bay Area Rail Transportation) it saved me from getting standed at the airport in the middle of the night. And to my buddy, Katy, for picking me up -Thanks! I owe you one.
Your probably wondering what I was doing in Jamaica?
I was there, along with some other pro mtn bikers, Katrina Strand www.canadiandhgirls.com , Cameron McCaul and Kyle Ebbet, for the Jamaican Fat Tyre Festival and to go on some epic rides with the SMORBA (St.Mary Off-Road Bicycling Association) shredders. Ian Hylands www.ianhylands.com was recruited by Kyle Ebbet to document the good the bad and the ugly. There wasn\'t much \"ugly\" or bad to see though.
I\'ll post up some new pics for you to check out the mayhem in Jamaica.
Since I have so much to tell you about, I\'m going to fill you in a bit each day as it comes to me. For now, I need to unpack and keep focused on my goals ahead. But right now...Off to eat some din, din with my sister and catch up.
keep it sick and sideways.
Till next time,
KP Posted by kathy on 2007.17.02 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ music, music, and more music
I've been searching through and listening to my entire iTunes library for upbeat songs to keep me going during boring rides. If anyone has any suggestions for killer music with good beats, e-mail me with the info.
If you didn't already know, I signed up for an epic of an adventure. It's called, The Cape Epic, and in less than 60 days, I'll be riding my mtb over 600 miles in 8 days in South Africa from March 24th-31.
If your interested in entering the event for next year, the lottery is open at the moment. You can sign up at www.cape-epic.com for 2008. It's open to only 1,000 entires so spots fill up fast.
If your familiar with iTunes then you'll be happy to hear you can purchase music from your favorite athletes at www.charitymix.com
I've set up a travel mix, for now, but plan to add some more KP mixes. The benefit to buying music from charitymix.com is that your donating the proceeds to a worthy cause and can feel good about it while your bopping along to some new beats. Not sure if it's up and running yet but check often and see what it's about.
For anyone looking for racing news.....The Australian national champs are at Mt. Stromlo in Australia this weekend. I was suppose to be going but, ahhh, plans change sometimes. www.farkin.net has good updates. And my curly haired buddy, Jill, is usually the first to update her website with a complete run down of what happened. To my Ozzie friends....Have a good one, and, Cheers mate!
I discovered some dirt bumps in Chico yesterday but would love to know where the real dirt piles are hidden. If anyone is sympathetic, please let me know the 411 on jumps in the Chico and Paradise scene. Keep healthy y'all.
-KP Posted by kathy on 2007.24.01 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just moved, it's.... cold!
It's been a long time since I have unpacked my bags and settled in for a cold winter in the Northern Hemisphere. In fact, the last time was in 2000 when I was 18 and I was a senior in high school. The next year I went to Australia for the winter. Every winter I have either flown off to Aussie land or South Africa to escape the frost of the Northern Hemisphere and of Northern California's Sierra and Cascade mountains.
Now, seven years later I am finding it hard to transistion into a winter.
Arriving last week, just before New Years weekend, from Australia, my sister Jeannie picked me up at the Chico airport. It is only a short drive to my new hometown in Nor Cal, Magalia.
Here is a little factoid for you, Did you know Magalia is where the largest gold nugget was ever found in the state of California. Yep, during the goldrush years this was a hot sport for the stuff. Now, if only I could find some gold nuggets! Wouldn't that be nice.
Looking forward to discovering some local mountain bike and running trails soon. If anyone has information on the trails in the Chico/Paradise/Magalia area please contact me and fill me in on the details.
On other news I just joined up with a gym in the neighboring town called, Paradise. I always wanted to be in Pardise, now I can go there whenever I want.(Not many people can say that) Looking forward to going motorcross riding on a regular basis now that I am back.
It may be cold here but I am begining to think this may have been the best decision I have made in a long time, to move back to Nor Cal and focus on what my goals are.
So, if you see me on the ridge, www.ontheridge.com, and am looking a bit lost don't worry I'm just figuring it all out, but feel free to point me in the right direction.
Here's to a great 2007!
till next time,
KP Posted by kathy on 2007.7.01 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Uh, whats going on?
Time to start thinking about some Christmas pressies and have some holiday cheer. Geez! Christmas just seems like a big expense and a big underhanded plot to advertise to the people that they HAVE to spend that hard earned cash. Hey, just bake some cookies or make a clever card it can be alot more fun to receive something like that anyway.
Whenever Christmas rolls around I also have a birthday to look fwd to the following day. This year I am turning 24. I won't be in Cali for the holidays and my birthday but I will be in Nor Cal for New Years. Looking fwd to a snow thrashing over the New Year in the Truckee/Tahoe area with my sister and friends. THINK SNOW! PA-LEEZ
If your itching for some new pics of me and what I'm doing click on the pics link.
Australia has been good to me the past couple of weeks. I am spending my days keeping in touch with the bicycle industry and friends via the wonderfull gadget of Skype. Went for a Christmas shopping trip a few days ago, ouch! 3 hours in a mall....I was tired and visually over stimulated after it was over. In between the action and training I've been catching up with the DVD player and must have seen about 5 new MX vids. Good, good stuff. Makes you want to go out to the track and whip it.
Keep on having fun and catch you soon.
KP Posted by kathy on 2006.19.12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q and A with jillkintner.com
If you haven't checked out the website of mountain cross queen Jill Kintner then go and check out www.jillkintner.com to read a interview with me.
On other news..It's heating up here in Australia, summer is here! As for all my buddies in the Northern hemisphere, make the most of the snow and take up a winter sport that will keep your mind off not being able to get outside on your bike. If I were home in Nor Cal I would be itching for some fresh powder to go slide down a mountain in Lake Tahoe.
There is a Australia National Mountain Bike round in Thredbo this weekend in the state of Victoria here in Aus. Not sure what the plan is yet?
I'll keep ya posted if I end up going, otherwise go to www.farkin.net for racing news in Australia.
See ya later mate! Posted by kathy on 2006.11.12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's that time of year, again....
Quick update on the happenings of KP.
I have been in Australia for one month and am loving the great warm weather. Have been trying to get some relaxing done and at the same time keeping in mind I need to stay fit for the 2007 season of mountain bike action. So....not too much slackin off!
Last week I decided to move my headquarters from Queensland, Australia to the Blue Mountain nearby Sydney for the remainder of my stay in Australia. Gotta keep things neat and short in this update as I am short on time and will be leaving early a.m tomorrow for a mountain bike race at Mt. Stromlo near Canberra over the weekend. Looking fwd to some timed competition at a new location. This morning I warmed up my DH skills by doing three hours of training on a secret trail hidden deep in the Blue Mountains.
Till next time!
Hang it loose........ Posted by kathy on 2006.6.12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RIDE magazine
Ride magazine interview pics and outline of magazine article on photos page. I did this interview with Steve Shapiro, one of the contributing journalist to Ride. This is a South African publication. Posted by kathy on 2006.24.10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Photo page update!
Yep, that's right I have some pics to share with you. Sorry you can't see the full sized clear image. If anyone out there is interested in the 2007 racing schedules for World CUp and NMBS type in your address bar.
www.transcendmagazine.com &
www.norbanationals.com
for tentative schedules.
Over and out,
KP Posted by kathy on 2006.6.10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fox Shox video's
FOX was fortunate enough to have world renowned documentary / mountain bike movie maker Clay Porter create this years Interbike video. The movie is a perfect snap-shot of where mountain biking is right now and where it is headed.
www.whereveryouride.com/interbike.php
Also there is a fun mini video of Fox Factory riders getting cornered while walking around Interbike in Las Vegas thsi past week. If you watch the whole video you just might get to watch me doing a reinactment of the Fox Pinata party from the day before.
To watch the Interbike interview Video go to the same web site address above and scroll down the page. You will see it.
Hope you enjoy!
KP Posted by kathy on 2006.2.10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hit the ground running and don't forget to smile
Returned from Europe on Tuesday morning and found that I had heaps and heaps of catching up to do with life.
Bills, phone calls, sleep, and orgaizing some travel and schedules for next weeks Interbike in Las Vegas.
As much good intentions as I have to keep up with these things, sometimes it just falls to the way side until I return to California.
I will be full throttle until the middle of October with Interbike next week starting a training program with my team mate for the Cape Epic, Anka Martin up in Bend the following week and then a couple cross races in the Bay Area and Sacramento area to mix things up a bit. Look for me on a Jamis cross bike.
I am looking forward to helping Jamis bicycles with some rider development of the new, this year, Diablo freeride machine. I would keep on the look out for the Diablo in the future, it is only going good places in terms of devopment and ride feel. I promise.
If you are going to be at the Interbike show at the Sands expo next week don't forget to stop by Jamis Bicyles to collect a Dynamic Duo poster of me and my team mate Katrina Miller. As you may know Katrina is hanging up her full time gig as a mountain bike racer and has opened a bike shop in Queensland, Australia called, Bike and Bean.
I hope to make it down under to check out what's happening at the Bike and Bean this summer.
Here is the shops address:
Bike and Bean
89 West Burleigh Rd,
Burleigh Heads, Queensland.
Australia
She would be stoked to receive well wishes and anything else that makes a killer shop.
Gotta go, and have some fun!
KP Posted by kathy on 2006.22.09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Roadtrippin' with my friends
Hi all,
Wow! would I ever of thought I'd be on the Adriatic coast in Croatia riding my mountain bike with my friends and traveling around in a RV for a week?
Hmm, I guess I did kinda think I would be, a couple of months ago. But when you make a plan and then it becomes a reality as great as this, it's just amazing.
After the World Cup in Schladming, Austria last week we (Katrina Strand, Clair Buchar and the photographer Yorick Carroux) drove down to the Adriatic coast and on the way we drove through Slovenija, and Bosnia and now we are in Croatia just above a coty called Dubrovnik at the very bottom of the country just above Albania. On our first night in Croatia we arrived into a town called Starigard at about 1am and since no campgrounds were open at that hour we were forced to camp right on the beach two feet from the sea. (Oh, what a night it was listening to the sea swash back and forth) Anyway, all day Tuesday we shot photos in a National park called something like Paklencia. The area is known mostly for it's epic rock climbing but we decided that the terrain was perfect for rough looking terrain and great mountain biking photos of what Croatia has to offer. After a big day of hiking up and down and up and down we were rewarding with a rough and fast downhill back down to the RV at the entrance.
I was glad I had my Fox 40 forks and felt a bit bad for Yorick riding down the trail with a 40 pound back pack on and on my Jamis dakar XC Pro. He made it down in a surprisingly short time.
From Starigrad Clair drove us safely to another coastal town called Orebic. This town is on a small thin penninsula jutting out from the mainland of Croatia. We are hoping to spend some time in the sun today and just relax. You can find a beautiful shot really anywhere along the coast here, we don't have to look to hard for hiking and bike trails either. They seem to be prolific with terrain and without to many trees it is great views the whole way.
We have a few more days in Europe before the flight home on Monday night from Munich. Tomorrow we are going to be looking to drive to Serbia and through Bosnia and Sarejevo to get to a Red Bull event in Belgrade this Saturday. We are invited to the afterparty at the lake so can't miss that.
Gotta Run, we are going to buy some local fruit and hit up some riding and beach spots for the rest of the day.
Cheers! Posted by kathy on 2006.14.09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here's a interesting story of my life the past three weeks
Hey there,
I noticed I hadn't updated any news latley. Simple reason why I haven't, who wants to update a news page when all the news you have is sad/bad or just upsetting to yourself. I tend to have a bright side of any situation that presents itself to me so I will add in my "bright side" twist when I can whith the events that I've been through. And as I always say, "It could have been worse."
OK, so the Crankworx festival was a while back and since having my bike stolen I am still hoping and praying my parts for my new bike build will make it to Whistler in time for my departure for the World Championships this Friaday afteroon. I left my bike build in the trusty hands of a shop called Evolution in the Whistler village. I would have loved to stay in Whistler for another two weeks but as it turned out I was needed in New York for the Jamis 2007 product launch last weekend and I had no bike to ride as well and my collarbone was still on the mend. My plan got turned around and instead of taking my time to drive from Whistler to Lake Alamanor (900 mi) I had to do a "drive by and ride program" with my friends in two city's along the way home.
My first stop was in Seattle,Washington to visit Jill and Bryn and see how the area's trails rate. I spent the night in Seattle and then the following morning we went for a xc ride in a place called Maple Ridge. Pretty creapy place, soo many different trails to choose from and the possibility to get lost and then go in circles was high. A cool trail I wouldn't mind trying to ride more of is Black Bear, I think? We were riding along on that trail for 5 minutes when I was bitten badly by a angry wasp and another rider with us got a flat tire. (no, we didn't bring a tube) We made it back to the car and then I took of for Bend, Oregon as soon as I packed my little red truck up again. Thanks for the iced chai latte Jill!
About 6 or 7 hours later I was in Bend, a mekka for mountain biking in the summer. I couldn't wait to hit the trail's the following day (friday) Anka and Sven took me on an amazing trail, I think it was called 7 waterfalls or something like that?
Anyway the point is that It rocked and now I was good to go drive another 8 hours to get home. Thanks for the hospitallity you guys, and Sven thanks for taging along with us girls.
My flight was the next morning at 6am from Reno/Tahoe airport and so when I got home I repacked and then slept for two hours before having to wake up and drive the two hours to the airport and catch my early flight. Fun, huh?
I got to New York and found my way to the product launch that afternoon. The next two days were a schedule like, wake up at 8am then go downstairs and eat some breakfast stuff then sit and listen to the new bikes the go to lunch at 12 and eat some yummy food. Again at 6:30 we all met up in the lobby for dinner and then got home late and did it again. Monday and Tuesday were a llittle different because the dealers were here to visit the product launch, not the distibuters. The dealers actually sell the product in the stores and so have first hand knowledge as to what sells. It was nice to meet everyone invovled with Jamis Bikes and I have a deep knowledge of there bike models and of the company after my visit. The cruise along the Hudsin river was a great touch and what an experience to have. I saw the statue of liberty and Manhattan/NYC at night all lite up from the river. Thanks Carine and Jamis for the hospitality.
Thursday morning I set off for the Newark Liberty airport to go catch a flight to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a Jeep King Of The Mountain event that was held yesterday (saturday) in Elkhart Lake.
I am sure you heard about the liquid bombers from all the news coming in on tv and radio about England intelligence catching the bad guys before it happened. Well, all that went down on Thursday and I was trying to fly somewhere that day. Bad idea to begin with, but I tried anyway. I got to teh airport early and founf out that my 2:30pm flight had been canceled and now I was on 2 waitlist for flights that day to Chicago. I got to Newark at 11am and didn't leave until the next day when I finally decided to go home. What happened was a huge storm came and that delayed the flights two hours leaving Newark and the flight I eventually got on was due to depart at 8pm so we didn't leave until 11 pmish. Then the plane had problems and had to be turned around and the flight was cancelled. All teh hotel rooms were booked up and I had no were to go except the 24 hour coffee stand in my terminal for the rest of the night until the airline check-in started working at 4am. I tried to get on some other flight to take me to Milwaukee but I just got waitlisted again and again. I eventually asked the airline check in staff, "Can you get me on the next flight to Reno/Tahoe via Denver?"
The answer was "yes" I will waitlist you for the 6am flight and then you will be waitlisted again in Denver. Well, funny enough to me, when I made that decision to just go home and skip the Jeep event things started going more smoothly for me. I got on the first waitlist and then the seond one in Denver. I was in Reno at 1pm and byb the time I got home had been up for 32 hours straight and had slept I think 2 hours of that. You can only imagine how nice it flet to jump in a shower and get clean.
It is Sunday morning and I have no idea when my bags will get back to me?
Apparently the bike box and bag were sent to Elkhart Lake (the Jeep event location) and I never even spoke with anyone from United about that. I think that is just weird that United decided to bring my bags to a destination I never even made it to. Looks like they will have to send a United porter to Elkhart Lake to pick up my bags and tak em back to Milwaukee so they can get back to me.
The saga continues...
Keep your fingers crossed my bike gets completly build up this week and makes it over the pond to New Zealand next weekend.
Sorry for the long story, I had alot to get off my mind and geez! Aren't you jealous of my glamourous mountain bike star lifestyle?
If your traveling anytime soon in the not so friendly skies, don't bring through the security check and liguid items, even solid deoderant (i saw that get taken from someone) Just leave it in you check in bag. The security folks are very tight with stuff like that, although I have to admit I got through two security check points with a bottle of lotion, a bottle of insect repellant, two small bottle of face lotion,face wash and toothpaste.The only time I was searched was when I forgot to take my laptop out of the bag, then the guys just looked at my laptop and nothing else. the poor Swiss guy in front of me had his non-perscription scalp medicine taken from him and expensive lotions. Random I guess? Or maybe I just don't look like the terrorist type?
Have a fun Sunday, go ride your bike! Posted by kathy on 2006.13.08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Crankworx, A-Line race today
Although Crankworx is a bike festival there is still some racing to be had for the Pro's with some cash money bling, 2 or 3 grand, for the fastest girls and boys of the day.
A-line is a "air downhill" because of the 25 or so table top jumps and doubles on the course. It's a fun event to race but also a toughie since there is a lot of pedaling in between the jumps. It's also one of the most popular tracks on the Whistler mountain, so everybody can come and do it.
I will post the results later this evening after the Big Air mayhem is finished.
Since I will not be racing this event at the Crakworx festival I am going to go out on the mountain most of the day and getting my grove on. I broke my collarbone 4 weeks and 3 days ago so it's about time to go and test the strength of the bone. My soundtrack for the mountain today will start off with, The Sounds -a song for the mission.
Talk to you later,
KP Posted by kathy on 2006.26.07 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My bike was stolen today
Last night my downhill bike and Bike Pro case full of racing jerseys, Troy Lee gear, Giro helmets, and Adidas shoes was stolen from a secure sponsors trailer parked in the Whistler day parking lot #4. There's not much to say other than "this blows!!"
At the moment I am 3 and a half weeks into my collarbone healing and was expecting to hop on my bike this weekend to see the strength of it.
With my string of bad luck going this year with traveling, racing and general mishaps I am about ready for some good fortune.
On a good note, the trailer the equipment was in may be covered my their insurance, we will wait and see if I can get any of the guestimated $8,000 or more back to me.
On a further note*
If this were to happen in China (for example) the thief, if caught, would face punishment by the Death Penalty. Actually, this probably wouldn't happen in China, the punishment for stealing is having your hand chopped off in the rural food and craft markets. Stealing this much stuff would just be too risky to that society. Don't forget the Bad Karma you are asking for.
I will be in Whistler B.C. Canada for the remainder of the month. Cranxworks Freeride festival is just around the corner as well. It starts on Sunday with a Canada Cup xc and dh race.
During the week I will give er my best effort to take some racy photos of all the riding action and new equipment being displayed here during the festival.
Check back here on the New page for updates and on the Photos page for new photos.
Think good thoughts for me, I need all the good vibrations I can get to get me out of this slump.
Till next time......
KP Posted by kathy on 2006.21.07 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Psychosis
This weekend in Golden, B.C. Canada there is a 14km downhill race. Last years times were something like 15 minutes in the mens class to take the win. This is the 8th annual Psychosis race and it seems to be picking more attention this year. The word in town is that there are alot more girls and top guys here in attendence for this one of a kind event with a total prize payout of $10,000. The men $5,000 and the women may be $1,000 (not sure?)
I decided to come to Golden even though I can't compete because I figures the road trip would be worth it. I came in a Van from Whistler BC with Tyler Morlan a.k.a- Merlin the wizard, Claire Buchar, Chris Kovarik and Nathan Rennie. After 6 hours we arrived in Golden and had seen some pretty cool mountain and even passed by "the enchanted forest".
Tomorrow is the race and today is the 5km race or the half way race as they call it. I hiked up to the dh course yesterday and was within reach of summiting Mount 7 (the mountain the event is held on) It took me 2 1/2 hours to hike to the top.
I will try and take some photos today of the road gap near the bottom of the course for ya girl;s and guys to gander at.
Gotta go!
Till next time,
KP Posted by kathy on 2006.15.07 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ain't no sunshine for me these days
Bad news...........I have a broken Clavicle (collarbone) On Saturday morning, while preparing for my race day runs I was in a practice run through the course and all was going well, hitting my lines and going for a few drifts here and there to get the fast feeling in my body when Bam!! I was scrapping across the ground looking for gold, nose deep in the stuff. I remember a little before hand and it goes like this, I was riding into the last wooded section of the downhill course in Mount Sainte Anne, Canada and remember seeing a bridge and thinking, yep I need to pick up my front wheel and double up on that set of roots in a second. I was told from a Irish photographer on the side of the course that it looked like a huge fast impact and I may have slipped with my front wheel off the bridge.
The rest of my day was spent in the ER at the local hospital. $700 canadian dollars later and I was sitting on a bench outside the hospital with an X Ray in hand a figure 8 brace on my shoulders and a perscription for some pain killers waiting for a taxi. Thanks! Danika for giving me a lift to the hospital. Hope your big black bruise is feeling better.
Since the F1 race was in Montreal over the weekend getting and flights out of there was a tough task. After many hours on the phone with United Airlines and 40,000 miles later I had a first class ticket home to Nor Cal on Tuesday afternoon. I was very reluctant to cancel my flight and trip to Brazil for the World Cup there this weekend. Would have been nice to lounge on the beach and drink numerous coconuts while my fellow competitors had to watch me catching a tan and enjoying the nearby beach. It would have made them a little jelous I think.
It's Thursday and after visiting the doctor this morning and contacting the UC Davis Sports Medicine department I have been told that surgery is not an option for me because the screw for the plate could potentially come in to contact with my blood vessels directly behind my collarbone and this could in turn rupture the vessel. I must saw I was looking forward to getting my bones pinned together and getting on my bike quicker. Looks like I have to wiat this one out the full 6-8 weeks. I plan on starting some training in two weeks off the trainer and in six weeks back on the bike and racing in Brian Head, Utah at a NMBS National. (www.teambigbear.com)
Eight weeks until the UCI World Champs in Rotorua, New Zealand (www.uci.ch). Please keep your fingers crosses for me to make it there healthy. For me this has been a long and arduous 2 months on the road of racing. I am happy to see my family and pets but wish it were not under these circumstances. I would like to send out a Rest in Peace to my dearly loved dog Sprocket, he passed away while I was gone traveling. I will miss you!
For now I am in Lake Almanor, CA until the 5th when I head down to Redwood City for an appointment with an Applied Kinesiologist. Maybe the $120 an hour will be worth it?
If not, at least I know I tried something rather than sitting around knitting and starring out the window feeling bad for myself.
Talk to you later... Posted by kathy on 2006.29.06 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pruitt Report
Been having technical difficities uploading any info. and results for the past week. With travel and being located in remote parts of the world, getting connected to the world wide web is a challenge. Sorry....
For now I will fill you in on my latest achievments.
Yesterday June 11th I competed at my first US National of the year and came away with two podium appearances, a 1st in the dual slalom and a 3rd in the down hill event. Sugar Mountain, North Carolina was a new venue for the mountain bike series. I give it a thumbs up! Posted by kathy on 2006.12.06 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Da Vinci Code
Read the book by Dan Brown,
it may take more time than watching the two and a half hour movie but is more entertaining. Yesterday I went to the theatre and caught up on the latest movie, The Da Vinci Code. I was more than a little curious to see what all the hype was really all about. Now I know!
Till next time.... Posted by kathy on 2006.21.05 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Home sweet home
As I was leaving Portugal last weekend to fly home for a week in between racing, I almost made a decision to stay in Europe for the week rather than go home. I am glad I came home to catch up on many "things" I hadn't had time for prior to leaving for the two weeks in Europe. It's been five days since I returned and I am now just catching up on loose ends.
My time at home to recalculate and motivate myself for the coming months of travel and racing is priceless.
Big training day tomorrow so I'd better jump into bed and catch some winks. I'm also going to watch the new movie, "The Da Vinci Code." I read the book and am a fan of Tom Hanks so it should be a good time out with just my mom and me. I'll post my KP rating of the movie tomorrow night.
Next week I will be traveling to Scotland for round #2 of the UCI World Cup series. Keep your fingers crossed that my bikes and bags arrive with me this time around.
Enjoy the warmer weather!
KP Posted by kathy on 2006.19.05 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ World Cup mountain bike, golfing and lost bikes
The first UCI World Cup of the year for the gravity side of things just wrapped up this past weekend in north west Spain in a town called Vigo.
I have been looking fwd to reporting on this event. There is always alot of action at the first event of the year both on the course\'s and in the tech area\'s. There was many changes to team rosters over the winter and it was taking some time to recognise the new racing kits and faces on the circuit.
I started out my week on wednesday when I landed in Lisbon, Portugal and picked up my rental car, a Skoda wagon. 5 hours later and after driving for 70km on a red light Empty tank of gas I found my hotel in Vigo.
The following morning I eagerly awaited the arrival of my two Jamis bikes from Lisbon airport. Neither of them had shown up the day before when I flew in.
Fast fwd to 3 days later, my bikes Still hadn\'t arrived and now I had missed 4 cross practice and qualiying and the first day of dh pratice. I was begining to believe that I was just not going to get my bikes and was figuring out an alternative for racing on saturday for qualiying.
Friday evening I drive to the Vigo airport since I wasn\'t getting too far with the \"spanglish\" I was using on the phone to try and located my missing bikes. To my surprise when I got back to my hotel later that night, my bikes where there!
Now that I had my bikes I was all set to practice and qualify the next morning. I had a great practice day and was feeling all right for the circumstance. Sunday morning was race day for me and I didn\'t start out to well, smacked my leg and then got ran into by a fellow dh racer after I slamed into a tree. I was feeling great after that WWW smackdown with the tree by the way, just great.
Rain came on que as it seems to always come at the most opportune times and made the course nice and slick for the girls race. I had a uncomfortable run and was happy to be off the course after I clocked a time that put me in 11th position overall. I am now in 9th postition overall in the World Rankings and am on my way to bigger and better things in the months to come. This week I am on my way to Lisbon, Portugal for an extreme street race on Saturday in the old district of Alfama. I am looking fwd to the fun and riding terrain.
Today I played my first ever game of 18 hole golf. I had a great time driving the buggy around from hole to hole and getting a few holes in the Par. It may have taken three of us almost 6 hours to play 18 holes but was an experience I won't soon forget.
Good times!
Lastley, A Big THANK YOU to the people who have helped me this weekend in Vigo and also to the sponsors I have behind me to get me here. Check em out on the sponsors page link.
Till next time!
KP Posted by kathy on 2006.8.05 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ schlaahp Otter
I knew, eventuaully, I would have to report on this past weekends havoc at the Sea Otter Classic at Monetery, CA.
Before I begin I'd like to give some weather background on Monterey of the last 4 weeks, or so. Rain, Rain, Rain and then ohhh, it's...More RAIN. Out of the last 45 days, it has rained 40 of them. Pretty impresive, might I add and very consistent of the rain gods.
As a mountain biker I expet a certain amount of discomfort when heading out the door for a training ride, fun ride or a race. I spend a fair amount of time in the great outdoors and you'll encounter the odd bee sting, rash from poision oak, scrap, ding, or rain shower/hail. So, I would be fairly safe to say, "mountain bike folk are a hearty bunch."
I really feel like a "weenie" when I complain, especially, as a female in sport. People expect, "us", to winge or make an excuse for something going wrong. I would rather not add to that reputation.
There was nothing humanly possible to make the mud go away and have the water sucked out of the ground. Although, I was fabricating a plan to do so every night during the event.
I was told by the Sea Otter organisation that this years start list for the gravity events was the lagest it has ever been. I was shocked but happy to hear this news. I assumed that this year Sea Otter was going to be a total wash out (pun intended)
It's times like these when you see what it means to be a mountain biker and why we have so much fun doing it. We love a good bath!(Mud Bath) The more rain and mud flying up into our helmets and faces, the wider our smiles become and dirtier our teeth get. It's all about the experience when you throw in the mud, and it brings out the fun factor in this sport.
If you are reading this and have never experienced a mud ride then you are missing out. Go For It!
I do, however, recommend you have the proper cleanning tools and powerfull hose to aid in ridding your bike of that goop after you've had all that fun.
If you are anything like me when it comes to washing your bike, then you will not enjoy doing this part. First: hose down your bike and try and spray any large chunks off Second: Spray your bike from top to bottom with a pleasant smelling cleaner(preferably a PEDRO'S biodegradable cleaner)
Third: use a large soft bristled brush and rub back and forth on tires, rims, frame and seat. Fourth: (your almost finished) take your hose or power washer, start hosing at the top of the bike and work you way down. Fifth: bounce the bike around and rid it's joints of unwanted, damaging water. Use a product like WD 40 or similar and spray on the chain, pedals, headset, and anywhere else you think water might be stuck. Don't forget to lube your chain with PEDRO's chain lube before your next session.
That is my secrets to washing a muddy bike, good luck! Posted by kathy on 2006.13.04 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The countdown has begun
Yes, the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California is 2 days away. The trucks and trailers from Fox, GT, Specialzed, ect. are all set up and ready to go for the weekends cycling antics. The weather forcast is not looking so great but I hope it will not dampen (excuse the pun) the atmosphere. Just bring your rain jacket a change of warm clothes and a smile and you will be a happy camper here at Laguna Seca raceway.
On a personal update, I have two of my Jamis bikes put together, set up and ready for riding. I will post the pics. of my Jamis Diablo and Jamis Dakar in my photos link if your interested in checking them out. I want to give a big THANKS to Dave Blackburn, he is the one responsible for putting my bikes together.
Dave will also be at the Jamis trailer this weekend working as the temporary mechanic for me and Jamis ripper, Katrina Miller.
By the way, I think, this is Katrina's last year (hope I am not spilling the beans?) competing around the globe on her mtb. I wish her all the best in the future and hope she has a steller final season. She will be missed by the industry and by many competitors for her professional and fun "Aussie" attitude.
That's all I have for you for now on the latest from KP. Time to make some food, relax and enjoy the thuder and electric storm outside. Hmm, maybe I will go and look for puddles to ride through later?
Till next time,
Kathy Posted by kathy on 2006.4.04 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome to my website...
At loooooooong last, and way overdue, kathypruitt.com is up and running. In the next few months this website will be developing itself with new picture's, layout's and info. to have a look at.
I'd like to say, thanks! to Gary Perkin's, A.K.A. "Flipper" for the web design and work he did for the site. www.flipper.co.uk
As this is my first news update for the website I will give it my best shot and share some of my latest with you.
Left South Africa on Saturday morning from Cape Town and 48 hrs later landed in Reno/Tahoe airport. I flew in luxury on Singapore Airlines, with lay flat beds and gourmet food, in Business class to San Francisco. I scored the tickets in business with my frequent flyer miles I have been racking up over the past year of travel. Traveling in comfort definetly takes the edge off of flying for lond periods of time. I highly recommend Singapore airlines if you are flying in the friendly skies any time soon.
Now that I have had a good nights sleep in my own bed I am ready to tackle the year ahead. Bring it on!
I have 9 days until Sea Otter, my first race of the year, www.seaotterclassic.com, in Monterey, California. I look forward to this race every year, this will be my 10th Sea Otter. What!! boy does time fly by. I was 15 yrs. old then, now I'm 23yrs old and looking forward to this race with the same anxiuos anticipation that I had back then. For the first year, since I started racing I am representing a new bike company.
Jamis Bikes www.jamisbikes.com
I look forward to working with Jamis in developing there brand while piloting there range of mountain bikes to the top of the podium's this year. Look out for me in my new Jamis colours out on the trails.
There is many things to do today, since this is my first day home in 5 months. I will keep y'all updated on KP in the weeks to come. For now, wish me luck with the countdown to Sea Otter. Guess I better go unpack my bags, build some bikes and get into it.
Until next time,
KP Posted by kathy on 2006.27.03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
