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GT News: GT Bicycles 2009 Sea Otter Report

4/21/2009

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The Sea Otter Classic cycling festival is famous for drawing large crowds, industry members showing off their new wares, great racing and usually inclement weather. Well this year all were true except for the bad weather. Sea Otter attendees were treated by record high temperatures and beautiful sunshine. So everyone packed away their rain gear and put on their shorts and sun block and the Sea Otter was ON!
 
 The GT Bicycles MTB racing team members Mick Hannah, Marc Beaumont and Kevin Aiello had just returned from the UCI World Cup in South Africa so they were trying to shake off a little jet lag. They met up with teammates Eric Carter, Tyler McCaul and Andrew Cho to catch up on their travel stories and settle in for a great weekend of racing.
 
One of the favorite events for spectators is the Pro Dual Slalom with its fast paced side-by-side action and great view of the whole course. All of the racers staged up for qualifying and with over 100 entrants only the fastest 32 move on to the finals. GT aces Mick Hannah and Eric Carter gave a tutorial on how to get down the course fast by qualifying 1st and 3rd respectively. They were both running strong in the finals and made it all the way down to the round of eight. In some of the best racing of the day both put in valiant efforts but ironically both were edged out by only .10 of a second. In a tremendous show of respect after his elimination, the crowd gave the 39 year-old Eric “EC” Carter a huge round of applause. It was a great moment for EC knowing that he is still one of the most honored racers in the sport.
 
The unseasonably warm weather made for pleasant spectating on the DH course on Sunday but added to the test or fitness and preparation for the racers. There was no qualifying for the finals, just a straight up “one lap no crap” race to see who could put together the best run. Much of the international field was fit and ready making it anyone’s race as there were a few favorites coming in but no clear idea of who the odds on favorite was.
 
The GT crew headed for the top of the course backed by John Canepa to make sure the race rigs were in tip-top condition. The huge field of competitors began dropping down the Monterey hillside course all wanting to be the Sea Otter DH champion and acquire all of notoriety and prestige associated with the title. GT’s British gravity racer Marc Beaumont came down early in the start order and was in the > spot for quite some time but as a few other top racers started chopping additional time off the clock Beaumont would find himself in 12th for the day.
 
Eric Carter came to Monterey in great race condition and was looking to add to his list of early season accomplishments. After a spill during the dual slalom finals EC was feeling a little tight and sore and was concerned about his ability to perform at his best. The consummate pro that he is, Eric took to his run trying to push the pain aside. The veteran put down a solid run that would have him finish just off the podium in 6th place. It was a remarkable placing for the injured GT icon making many think “when is EC ever going to slow down!?”

 
Mick Hannah came down next racing against the clock. Mick has had a tremendous start to the season with a 2nd in South Africa and is looking to add to it with a good result at the Otter. Mick charged the course with his trademark power and line-savvy crossing the line over 1.5 seconds ahead the next fastest time but there were still some of the fastest racers in the world to go. One by one they made charged after Mick’s time but Mick’s time would hold strong and he would earn the spot at the top of the podium with his trusty race steed, the GT Fury, sitting front and center. It was a great day for Mick and GT Bicycles.
 
 
The team now takes a short break before they fly off to LaBresse France for the next UCI World Cup on May 9th and 10th. 
 
GT Bicycles and its team are proud to be supported by some of the best sponsors and products to ever be found on a bicycle:  SRAM, Kenda, Champion System, Mavic, UFO, SDG, Funn and e.thirteen

 

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