Perfect weather, bikes, barriers and beer reminded everyone of why they love cyclocross racing as the first of 12 SOCAL Cross Prestige Series events kicked-off the 2007-2008 SOCAL Cyclocross season. The event was held on the picturesque grounds of the Muckenthaler Cultural Center (Muck) in Fullerton, CA and was full of excitement.

The Prestige Series season opener event started Saturday afternoon with temperatures in the 80s, that lasted through the weekend. Prior to the racing, seasoned cross racer, Chance Nobel, provided an instructional clinic covering the basics of cyclocross racing. Comments from a few of the clinic attendees included, “I had no idea…” and “Fun!” Soon after the clinics the season started in earnest as the Women’s Elite, Team relay race and Men’s Elite groups competed for cash and beer.

This is cross racing and a series supported by Fat Tire Ale so all the teams in the relay race pushed hard to acquire the beer. It was fun to watch the teams compete because they know what’s at stake: a case of beer for first place, twelve-pack for second, and six-pack for third. Each team is allowed four racers and although everyone sprinted hard, it was Team Bear Claw (now better known as Team Beer Claw) who took the case.

The Women’s Elite was largely filled with the ambitious racers of the C.I.C.L.E team and their excitement showed. The race started with a quick sprint into the first sweeping left turn leaving the women still packed in a hard charging group. It was not until the first hill climb and dismount in which the women began to separate. Early on the close group was lead by Coryn Rivera until a hard crash only just missing a tree put her about mid-pack and allowed Carolyn Popovich of the C.I.C.L.E team to start her charge toward victory. By the third lap Popovich had gained about a minute on the field and she kept her lead propelling her into a first place finish.

In the Men’s Elite group, thirty participants were called to the line along with the Master’s Elite composing a ginormous cluster of cross-hungry racers. It started quick and remained fast for the full 60 minutes keeping both the pace and the evening temperature hot at the Muck. The men took-off strong with riders elbow-to-elbow through the first set of turns but the difference between the lead group comprised of about twelve racers, and the remainder of the field soon became evident. The lead group with racers from Team Bear Claw, the Time and Alan Factory Teams pulled away after one-lap and continued their domination throughout the race. Brent Prenzlow of the Alan Factory Team ended the race in first place followed closely by Chance Noble of California Giant Cycling in second and Michael Easter of the Time Factory Team in third.

The events continued into the evening well after the race awards. For those who stayed they were invited to enjoy dinner, drinks and movies in the Muck’s outdoor amphitheater. The Fat Tire flowed, visitors were offered a variety of options for dinner, and the movies played as everyone sat and enjoyed Light it Up and Transition 2: Cross the Pond or just each other’s conversation.

Day Two proved to be just as grand as the participants and crowds more than doubled. Parking was scarce as the neighborhoods around the Muck were filled with men and women in their snug race kits darting through the streets to warm up on their cycles. The races started early with the beginners groups and continued through the day with the masters, women, juniors, and single-speeders. The day brought a lot of fantastic racing, cowbells ringing like a sonic wave around the course, crashes and awards. All in all it was another hot day, with the 80-degree weather, racing, beer and cheerful people enjoying the Muckenthaler playground.

Thanks to everyone who came out for the first weekend of cross at the Annual Muckenthaler Festival. The second SOCAL Cross Race will be next weekend Sunday, October 7, 2007 at Veterans’ Memorial Park in Sylmar, CA. For more information go to www.socalcross.org , tell your friends and get out to the races.