Sea Otter Mud Fest 2006

First on the agenda at Sea Otter this year for the Rocky Mountain Business Objects Team was the team photo shoot. It seems that every year, in spite of planning to do photos in warm sunny climates, the team hits foul weather. This year was no different. This is one great reason to have legendary Canadian MTB photographer,Sterling Lorence do the photos. He’s the master of bad weather photography. There were sweeping rain storms throughout the first days, everyone got ready knowing they’d just have to deal. There were some small windows in the clouds and rain and some great shots were taken by Sterling the master shooter.

The Sea Otter is a huge festival of every cycling discipline. The venue and events sprawl from end to end of the Laguna Seca Raceway site in Monterey, California . The MTB and Road Race circuits use the surrounding lands for the longest courses. Road racing takes place on the Raceway circuit , while there’s Mountain Bike racing on one side of the venue, and Dirt Jumping in another. There are hundreds of exhibitors from the bike industry, and representatives of many other outdoor pursuits. The Expo was thriving in spite of muddy conditions underfoot. Eventually, the weather began to co-operate with blue skies to help dry the venue, but the race courses were a long way from drying out.

On Thursday, April 6, the first stage of the 4 stage race was the Super Moto XC. The race is named so, because it is a combination of racing on the Laguna Seca Raceway and on the MTB trails each lap. Because of the sodden track, it was the first of a few days of complete mud fest. All the riders did their best to navigate the switchback turns on the face of the descent . There was more time spent with bikes sideways or being carried for most of the field, than riding this part of the course. Rocky Mountain Business Objects Alison Sydor finished 2nd in an exciting 8 woman sprint to the finish after the hour long slog fest. Returning to the team after racing in Spain in 2005,young Max Plaxton of the Rocky Mountain Business Objects team was right with all the International stars in the early stages of the racing. He finished a strong 13th with team mate and Trans Alp Challenge star, Karl Platt just in front of him in 9th.

The second stage was a 10 minute individual time trial against the clock. Alison was 3rd in the individual Time Trial on Friday for her second podium of the stage race.


After rain had set in again on Friday afternoon, the Saturday Short Track XC took place on a completely mud soaked course. Featuring massive mud holes, it made the viewing full of thrills and spills for the spectators who hung out around the bigest of these pits. The day had started at the Rocky trailer, with a great catered lunch for 50 Business Objects employees who made the trip to Laguna Seca to support the team. Just before the bike race, there was a draw for a Rocky Mountain ETSX mountain bike. Dave, the bike winner, was super stoked. Shortly after, the group hiked over to see the start of the short track XC Pro racing.

Both the men’s and women’s races were exciting. In the women’s race Alison Sydor took charge in the early stages, only to be challenged later by the conditions. Many riders struggled to keep bikes and legs working on the energy sapping course. Alison would end up in 6th place at the end of the race that was won by the dominating World Champion, Gunn Rita of Norway.

The men’s race was amazing. Early on Rocky Mountain Business Objects Karl Platt took the lead. Shortly after he would endo spectacularly head first in the biggest mud bog of the course . Many other top contenders had similar challenges, Karl battled on and had a great ride finishing 6th. Max Plaxton was on fire and made an attack off the front about half way through the race. It looked decisive until some tape wrapped around his gears as he shimmied through the mud. He could not free the tape from his bike so fell back some placings in the race. There were multiple lead changes throughout the race, with the eventual winner, American Adam Craig, ultimately coming from behind with incredible style and mud riding skills.

The final XC showed fine form of both Karl Platt and Max Plaxton. Carsten Bresser had to withdraw from the race with knee trouble after the third stage. The field was stacked with International talent. Max Plaxton and Karl Platt stuck with the front elite group, with Karl only letting go slightly in the end to finish in 13th. Max stayed for the sprint to finish 10th, just behind 2005 Sea Otter winner Geoff Kabush. A great start for the 20 year old returning to the Rocky Mountain Business Objects team.

In the women’s race the team's new rider and 2005 European Marathon champion , Pia Sundstedt showed she will be a force in MTB. In only her 10th Mountain Bike race in her career, Pia stomped through the field in the late stages of the race to finish in 5th Place and visit the podium for the XC Race. Pia was a former World Cup Champion road racer . Alison Sydor maintained a solid finish to be 3rd Place for the Overall Stage Race after the results of the 4 stages were compiled. Karl Platt finished 6th Overall after the weekend and Max Plaxton in 11th.

Next on the calendar will be the Garda Fest Marathon in Italy for Pia Sundstedt on April 30. April 22 to 29 is the Cape Epic Challenge for Karl Platt and Carsten Bresser. Alison Sydor and Max Plaxton will race in the first US National Race in Los Angeles on May 6. Marie Hélène Prémont wil race in the Madrid World Cup May 13.