Sea Otter Classic Postpones Spring Event to October 2021

Jan 11, 2021
by Alicia Leggett  
Rope-a-dope slaying it in the quarter finals 2018.

The 2021 Sea Otter Classic dates have been moved October 7-10. The event was scheduled for May 20-23, a month later than usual, but the organization announced that after conversations with health and permitting officials, the festival could not go on as planned.

bigquotesAfter recent discussions with health and permitting officials,
we’ve determined we will not be able to conduct an event in May.

Sea Otter Classic will be held October 7-10, 2021

We’re excited to host the world’s
premiere cycling festival in Monterey in October.

Put us on your calendar to celebrate Sea Otter’s grand reopening
with your friends and family.—Sea Otter Classic


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Industry News Racing and Events Press Releases Sea Otter Classic


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119 Comments
  • 109 2
 Bets for October being cancelled too?
  • 18 1
 Noooo, I hear Mike Levy really wants to go to Sea Otter
  • 72 5
 Not if French Laundry brings a food truck to the event.
  • 5 2
 @jwdenver: comment win sir. Kudos
  • 4 1
 100%, 2022 perhaps, but this year probably wont be much different.
  • 9 8
 @noplacelikeloam: why? vaccines are being distributed and ramping up like crazy
  • 36 29
 It'd happen if it wasn't in California in the spring. Even with Vaccines in everyone's arms by spring I'm guessing people here will still be terrified. The one death is too many crowd will be screaming even louder by middle of summer.
  • 4 0
 The first Sea Otter Australia was scheduled for October 2020 and then postponed to October 2021. Odds on that now being bumped for this?
  • 8 0
 This mayyybe would have been ok in May in another state. No way in CA with the state it's in - it will take them a bit longer to recover.
  • 3 0
 @boozed: agreed, I think Stromlo will be bumled AGAIN to Oct 2022.
  • 13 26
flag taskmgr (Jan 11, 2021 at 16:54) (Below Threshold)
 @arrowheadrush: they aren't. And multiple mutations occuring. Vaccines aren't the cure all. Some are still getting covid after getting the vaccine. We are f*cked.
  • 3 1
 @jwdenver: I might go if that happens! Wink
  • 6 1
 @arrowheadrush: because it’s not that simple unfortunately. Even if the rollout sped up and we had mass population getting vaccine by September, many are refusing it and some are waiting for a specific type. Then, many cannot get it due to existing medication. Then assume a waiting period for immunity after first dose you are into October if everything goes perfectly. One thing we all know is that rarely happens and is not smart to plan against. So early 22 seems like a better bet. No one really knows what hat the future holds of course, but as much as I want to be positive I’m also trying to be realistic.
  • 14 6
 @noplacelikeloam: exactly there's those issues as well. The anti maskers are also probably the anti vaxxers.
  • 13 2
 @makripper: if vaccines don’t work and masks are insufficient, do we become isolationists or accept death and move on? Serious question. Just seeing where your head is at
  • 3 0
 @Waldon83: He will be taking pre orders for The Grim Donut!
  • 26 9
 @Mntneer: masks do work. There's been multiple studies from various cdc's that prove it. If everyone went into lockdown at the beginning I believe we would all be further ahead. Look New Zealand as a prime example. I believe and trust science. I would have been dead years ago if it hadn't been so far advanced. From broken body parts to the flu. Something easily fixed now would have done it
  • 15 6
 @Mntneer: in California you do what Gavin Newsom and Eric Garcetti thinks is best for you.
  • 3 1
 @rivercitycycles: You mean he’s not already?
I guess I can see the lawsuit headlines.

“Mike Levy, former Pinkbike journalist jailed for gross negligence while providing the worlds fastest mountain cycle”
  • 15 27
flag pistol2ne (Jan 11, 2021 at 19:28) (Below Threshold)
 @makripper: "i believe and trust the science" now means nothing more than I have political opinions that you should believe and me yammering such simplistic platitudes proves it. Lockdowns work he says as he points to an isolated sparsely populated small island.

I'm not going to argue about masks because I think they help slightly and even at that, you'll have me admit defeat. I will say it's ironic for a Canadian to talk about masks working without mentioning the Canadian nursing lawsuit and the 70+ studies cited during the trial.
  • 3 2
 @CaliCol: they are the supreme beings
  • 2 0
 @makripper: that venn diagram is a circle
  • 3 1
 @pistol2ne: you are all entitled to your own opinion. Seems everything we are doing isn't working.
  • 16 3
 @pistol2ne:Masks, social distancing and lockdowns are effective tools for limiting the spread of covid. If you wanna dispute it, be constructive and provide peer reviewed data. There are plenty of other places on the internet where you can go to split hairs over ideology. This however is a cycling website, let's keep things in focus.
  • 11 3
 @IamtheNIGHTRIDER: Peer reviewed data. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/eci.13484

"While small benefits cannot be excluded, we do not find significant benefits on case growth of more restrictive NPIs."

As a scientist, I don't like people using the phrase "I believe and trust the science" Also peer reviewed data can still have problems.

Social distancing of course works, it's also not free.
  • 3 8
flag taskmgr (Jan 11, 2021 at 20:38) (Below Threshold)
 @pistol2ne: thats your issue that some people trust science? That some people think science has progressed us? We are done here lmao. Good luck out there haha
  • 29 4
 @pistol2ne: If you're talking simplistic platitudes the "sparsely populated" is one used by apologists for poor policy and preparation.

You've got two countries: One led by someone who's spent a lot of their time playing golf, consuming conspiracy theories and mashing their hands into their phone screen on twitter. The other by someone who holds twice daily briefings with country's leading epidemiologists, economists and health officials and uses the information gathered each day to plot the way forward and inform the population about what's going on.

Do the math dude, it's not hard to work out who's coming out on top in this one.

It's pretty kickass being able to travel around the latter and ride as much as we like.
  • 2 1
 @pistol2ne: Wow I appreciate you actually following that up with a paper! I'm a synthetic chemist so unfortunately I can't rightfully call into questions the models the authors used to come to these conclusions, but I admit I am surprised by them. Anyway, respect where its due, but if you knew about this data why not just bring it up first time around instead of just taking a dig at the guy?
  • 11 19
flag pistol2ne (Jan 11, 2021 at 21:55) (Below Threshold)
 @dubiousdesigns:

Cool trump rant dude, I didn't vote for the guy and think he did a pretty bad job. But blaming him for not turning the US into a small island with a fraction of the population doesn't make your argument any stronger. How'd Europe or our neighbors to the south do?

I can travel as much as I like and didn't have to get tackled for leaving my house for 110 days. Civil liberties aren't easily given back, you'll see that in 6 months.
  • 17 8
 @IamtheNIGHTRIDER:

Because the trust the science crowd screamed in my face for 9 months about how lockdowns work while cases sky rocketed and small businesses collapsed. Because trust the science crowd closed outdoor dining, even after test and trace data came out that showed 9/10 cases were from indoor and interfamily. Because trust the science crowd has complete monomania and threw the baby with the bathwater out regarding schools and civil liberties being taken. IMO, riots this past summer, and insanity that happened last week in DC will eventually be written about through the lens of mental break down in this country. We've never taken it seriously, and our reaction to the virus has exasperated the problem.

Thank god for mountain bikes.
  • 2 0
 @pwhite2021, Nooooo! I've been practicing my technical downhill riding in preparation for their DH race.
  • 7 10
 @pistol2ne: one death too many crowd...Jezzus. I’ll get you started a bit early, piss off you dimwit. It’s a freaking pandemic and it’s been bungled badly, thus no Otter for you.
  • 4 7
 @Mntneer: Short version. We should continue to isolate for as long as it takes. Even if it takes 50 years to recover economically it's still the best option.

Long version. That is something of a nightmare scenario even compared to now. As far as the data goes Covid kills 1.0 to 1.5 percent of victims if proper care is available, if medical care isn't given it jumps over 5 percent. If allowed to spread unchecked in the US that would equate to over 3 million dead within a year or so, then several hundred thousand each year after that, assuming hospital care remained available. That kind of drop in population normally only happens in genocides and wars, in fact even with current measures Covid will soon overtake US combat losses from World War 2, in 12 months, it's nuts.
.
Masks and basic disease control measures (wash hands, disinfect everything regularly) do work, the problem is getting everyone to follow them without exception. Short of martial law I don't see how the US can achieve that. In America there's simply too much distrust of the government and not always unfairly.
.
Should vaccination fail, the only hope would be that coronaviruses and flu-like viruses trend towards decreasing lethality over time. Dead hosts spread disease poorly, all the same that's not a route I want to consider seriously.
  • 6 2
 @Fix-the-Spade: Were's your evidence for this statement.
  • 2 3
 @Stu0: Countries all around the world are publishing figures every day, there is mountains of data within easy reach so get a calculator out and do some maths for yourself.
  • 4 4
 @Fix-the-Spade: That's why in the US a total of 2.87M died in 2019, 2.91M in 2020, did we cure cancer or heart disease . . . NO ! By the math we should be 3.2M+
  • 5 6
 @pistol2ne: you are still trolling I see. One of the many issues is your government and issuing protocols. The other is the people need to follow them. You can't blame blm on covid. You can't blame rioting on covid. Thats quite the stretch. I've been following the protocols you don't see me storming the whitehouse and wanting to hang pence and killing cops who were also trump supporters? You have not thought this through. If you did wear masks and kept distance as a whole and weren't selfish then it would be alot better in the states than 4k deaths a day. So maybe you should trust science and follow the protocols instead of being a selfish twat.
  • 1 1
 @ATV25: www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-chart-us-death-figures-2020/fact-check-chart-does-not-present-accurate-us-deaths-figure-for-2020-idUSKBN2872MV
  • 2 2
 @makripper: The vaccine only makes it so you won't get a bad case of covid. You can still spread it to others. Thus if you don't like people who believe the mask is stupid. You can vaccinate yourself and know you'll be protected. Soon there will be more vaccines than anyone knows what to do with. So hopefully the mask debate ends with covid... because remember. you can still smell a fart if someone is wearing underwear, and since Covid starts in the gut, you should be very worried when people fart.
  • 1 0
 about the same chance that I take a dump today
  • 3 0
 @Stu0: There's a book called How To Lie With Statistics. Someone read it, and lied to this person and many others.
  • 1 2
 @mark4444: virus have nothing in common with gas lol
  • 2 0
 @noplacelikeloam: they're not going to keep shit closed down because of the people refusing to get the vaccine though. That's an individual choice. if, say, 20% of the population refuse or cannot get the vaccine, enough of the pop will have it that heard immunity will be reached. I can see that happening by the summer, if the J&J vaccine gets approved it will be a game changer as its a single dose.
  • 3 2
 @makripper: saying I'm trolling while you tout infuriating phrases to actual scientists is rich.

I can totally blame the mental breakdown that led to lack of perspective to this summers events. I can say the same thing for the bullshit that happened last week. Being on social media is unhealthy and exasperates your sub concious viewpoints. If i see a picture of a dude with a dead rhino next to a rifle he just shot, I inherently think that the reason rhino's are going extinct is because of hunters. I should obviously be outraged! People only read headlines and look at pictures to support their awful narrative. Maybe get a better perspective and read some peer reviewed or non partisan articles before yammering on about how I'm a selfish twat not following protocols.
  • 1 4
 @pistol2ne: "scientist" maybe? you don't represent all "scientists" if you did, your platform shouldnt be the pinkbike comment section lol

also you should know the difference between subconcious and unconcious.

what kind of "scientist" are you and what are your credentials? what is your line of research besides trolling pinkbike?
  • 1 0
 @Stu0: uh, math... The data is freely out there.
  • 5 1
 @makripper: Oh, now scientists can disagree? Glad we agree on that. Glad you have finally admitted to saying that "I trust the science" is a total partisan ploy to sound smarter than you actually are.

That's all I'm getting at. I much prefer to remain anonymous online.
  • 2 0
 @pistol2ne: lol are you a scientist though?
  • 2 0
 @makripper: guaranteed
  • 2 0
 @IamtheNIGHTRIDER: Ok there David....
  • 1 0
 @KK11: I don't understand the reference. Its wild to see people are still going through this thread.
  • 1 0
 @arrowheadrush: not here in California they aren't
  • 2 4
 I finally got an answer from them about virus protocols. There aren't any. The promoters are NOT good people. They are happy to take your money, event or not, but they won't raise a finger to keep you safe shuttling racing, at the venue or anywhere else. This was their response. Hi John thanks for reaching out. Sea Otter Australia was postponed due to the fact that the Australian vaccination roll out has been slow and the Delta variant is strong. It does not impact the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey. We will rely on the protocols from Monterey County and the State of California. I'd say, that's the definition of gross negligence.
  • 5 1
 @Killdozer: Then don't go, stay inside forever. Get the vaccine, or be dumb and don't (unless you've had covid).

Not everyone wants to live in a nanny state. Do you wear a full face during cross country rides? Lol
  • 3 1
 @Killdozer: so what is your beef?
  • 4 1
 @pistol2ne: Probably wears a mask inside his car, alone with the windows rolled up. Big Grin
  • 2 0
 @Killdozer: so, because they are going to use whatever the covid requirments are for whatever county/state/country whatever, you label them "not good people"? Rightio then.

Pretty certain when they say "We will rely on the protocols from Monterey County and the State of California." they actually HAVE a plan, which, as the norm, would include a register of ALL visitors/competitors, mandatory face masks when indoors (possibly outdoors too because hey, social distancing just doesnt happen at trade shows), mandatory check ins (as in track and trace apps) the list goes on.
  • 18 0
 deja vu
  • 8 1
 Why oh why must you show me the DS course? That's the best part of the event. I'm not paying registration fees til I get there next time - not getting burned again.
  • 7 0
 We should all race for slices of pizza on the slalom practice course at Stafford Lake Bike Park. All that registration $ would buy a lot of pizza.
  • 2 1
 @Snfoilhat: I'm down for that. Are there any old people who race up there?
  • 3 0
 We got the young, the old, we got toddlers on coaster-brake bikes, we got dudes on e-bikes looking like they really, really, want someone to notice that they're getting 'twice as many laps.' (Hey guy, I noticed!) The gate isn't as nice as a metal pneumatic BMX gate and the end of the course unfortunately doesn't have that classic set of flat grass corners like Sea Otter or Crankworks
  • 1 0
 @Snfoilhat: When do people generally ride at Stafford? Never been there even though it's less than 20 miles away.
  • 8 1
 No! not another sea beaver thing?
  • 2 1
 P-O-N-D the beaver
  • 3 0
 I’ve seen a lot of beavers in my day and none of them ever looked like that!
  • 1 2
 See Otter let me down by not providing a refund. At least I only paid $30 for 1 one day pass. But still why bother scheduling an event that is just going to canceled or postponed again. We all know COVID-19 not going away it’s just going to mutate into something that causes use to take stupid risk like Josh Bender. They might as well throw Sea Otter in Utah with Rampage so mutants can Bender it.
  • 3 0
 50 to 1
  • 2 0
 Dont care! everything his backorder for a year.
  • 4 3
 Oh no, it has begun... please be vaccinated and okay for summer!!!
  • 1 0
 aw man, Frown i just renewed my USA cycling membership looking at this event
  • 5 0
 Well, your membership is good for all of 2021, and it's still slated for 2021.....
  • 2 0
 @RR1: lol yeah good point, hope it is not cancelled completely
  • 2 0
 see otther day!
  • 2 0
 Otterly unacceptable....
  • 2 1
 Lame !!!
  • 2 1
 Move it to AZ
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