Course Check: 2014 Pajarito Punishment DH Central States Cup 1

June 6-7th at Los Alamos, New Mexico - Pajarito Mountain Ski Area is proud to host this year's Central States Cup 2014 "Pajarito Punishment Downhill Race and New Mexico Downhill State Championships!" This spectator-friendly race is sure to challenge riders to push their limits with this fast, steep, and technical course. The altitude, combined with amazing views around the trails of Pajarito and the National Forest will most certainly take your breath away!

Let's follow Women's Jr National Champ Michelle Pederson down the New Mexico State Championship course. (rider: Neal Pederson):



The entire mountain will be open for riding from 9am-3pm on Saturday (race day) and Friday from 2pm-5pm for racers (practice only). Lift tickets can be purchased in the business office. Ticket prices for non-racers are $25 per day and only racers will be allowed to ride Friday. Lift tickets for racers are included in the entry price but a full or one-day USAC licenses are required for days that racers are using the course.

The race this year will be held on the same day as SummerFest (bands and beer Saturday afternoon!).

Schedule
Friday, June 6th, Practice Day: On site Registration & packet pickup: 1pm-6pm. Note that you can pre-register online anytime up until 10pm on Friday which costs $10 less than registering on site. We will try to provide a computer or two if you want to do the discounted online registration that way on Friday.
Race Course practice for all categories: 2pm-5pm. You must be registered to race in order to ride the lifts on Friday.
Walk down the course and rake the loose rocks: 5pm-6pm.

Saturday, June 7th, Race Day:
Packet Pickup: 8am-10am. We decided to not do race-day registration so we can get the starting list worked out by Saturday morning. Note that you can register online up until 10pm Friday night on June 6th.
Practice 9am-12pm.
Race: 1pm-2pm.
Awards: ~ 3pm.

Categories
There are four different categories that are sub-divided by age, and the entry fees differ accordingly. Registration, USAC points and National Qualifiers, will be kept separate for all age groups including NM State Championship medals. Age groups within each category may be combined for prizes depending on how many racers we end up having (i.e. Cat 1, Cat 2, Cat 3, Women, and Pro will be the minimum number of prized groups). We'll have prizes for at least the top three in each of these groups.

The entry fee includes a T-shirt, practice and race day lift tickets and entrance into the race. T-shirts are only guaranteed to the first 100 pre-registered racers and size preference will be allocated in order of first to register. Cat 1 and Pro riders must have a current USA Cycling license. Cat 2 and Cat 3 riders may purchase a $10 one-day race license for Saturday and a $5 one-day practice license if practicing Friday afternoon.

Course
The downhill race course will be on a brand new upper course recently built between Bone Crusher and Muy Loco called Fast and Loose. The lower 2/3 of the course will use the original Muy Loco race course starting at the Muy Loco rock garden. The finish will go through two brand new table top jumps in the location of the old Jumps Park and will finish in front of the ski lodge deck. See "Muy Loco" on Pajarito Bike Map.

The race format will not be a "best of two" run format like previous years. It will simply be one timed lap like most other downhill races.

Camping & Lodging Information
See http://visit.losalamos.com/lodging.htm for lodging in Los Alamos.
Car camping is available next to Pajarito Ski Area at Camp May for $10/night.
See www.losalamosnm.us for details.
Free camping is also available in the parking lot of Pajarito Ski Area.

Volunteers Needed!
We need all the help we can get! If you are interested in helping out as a volunteer, please contact Neal Pederson.