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(09.12.01)

WADE BOOTES' JOURNAL ENTRY

SEPTEMBER 1 , 2001
Returning back to the states from Europe for the second time this year and finishing flying around the world, it was good to be back in the US. We landed late Monday night in Albany NY and stayed at a hotel close by the airport. Sean and I left for Mt Snow in the morning, and got settled in, the rest of the team arrived in on Wednesday. Thursday we had Mountain cross practice, the course was fun, but it still seemed to be to narrow for anyone to really make a pass. Friday was a long day as we had Practice and qualifying for Dual and then we had practice and qualifying for Mountain cross. I ended up qualifying 4th in Dual and 1st in mountain cross. Saturday afternoon was dual practice and finals, which I had a chance to win my first overall Norba title. I was feeling good and only really had trouble with one flat corner. I won my first 2 rounds and then I came up against Rando, from Australia. I knew this was the start of the harder rounds, so I had to go all out to make sure I could move on to the next round. It was a close race up the top of the course and I just started to open up, and then I hit a soft patch right before a set of doubles. This through me over the bars and it was 100 feet before I stopped rolling and crashing. This crash shook me up a bit and also gave Rando a 1.5 sec advantage going into the next run. All I was thinking is I blow it for a shot of the title, as beating Rando by 1.5 was going to very hard to do.

On the way up to the next round, Rando told me, "It will be OK", I really did not know what he meant by that, until the bottom of our next run. Rando was riding great and he had me bet in the next round but he sat up and put his brakes on so that I would bet him by 1.5 sec. It took me by surprise and he told me after the race, "You better go win the title". I could no believe it; he gave me a second chance. Thanks Rando. So I was still shook up from my crash and now I was in the Semi final against Brain. It was who bet who with Brain, Eric and Myself who would end up winning the overall. Brain and I pull up into the start and I had the faster course first. I had an ok run and bet Brain in the first run. The next run I got out good and so did Brain, it was going to be a close race all the way to the line. I just starting to get my pedal on and BAM, I slipped my pedal. I was trying to get my feet back on the pedals, as the doubles were right in front of me. I could not get them back on in time so I ended up going over the bars again and crashed. I now ran out of chances and I lost. My body was hurting and I gave the title away. I now was up against Cedric for 3rd and 4th. I ended up 4th and 3rd overall for Norba. It ended up being Brain and Eric in the finals. Brain ended up crashing in the first run on the slower course, so Eric had a 1.5 sec advantage. This was going to make it hard for Brain to gain 1.5 on Eric. Brain had a great run and beat Eric by 1.2 sec, but this was not enough to win on the day or the overall title. Eric Ended up winning the final 3 Norba races, which gave him the Norba title overall, Congrate's Eric on a great end of year run.

Saturday night and Sunday morning my body was aching, I hit the ground pretty hard and tumbled a long way. Come Sunday afternoon, it was time to race again for mountain cross. I had pretty good runs and made it to the final with Brain, Cedric and Nigel. I had lane choose as I qualified first. The starting gate was a BMX style gate but it was a random drop. I was anticipating a late drop but actually it was quicker than I thought. So Brain got out just in front and cut me off a little, so I tried to drop in behind him in the first corner. Brain ended slowing down a little and when I was falling in behind him my front tire rubbed his rear tire. I was already leaning one way so I ended up rubbing his tire and slowing him down which also put me off balance and causing me to fall to my side for a split sec in the first corner. Cedric went by and Nigel crashed on the first corner. I got back up and could not real them in so I ended finishing 3rd for the day.

Monday we headed up to Quebec City Canada for the finals of the world cup. Tuesday we had practice at the Biker cross race we did which was 40 minute from Mt Saint Anne. The course was great, all hard packed and pretty cool jumps. I did not ride that day, as I was still hurting all over from the crash in Mt Snow. Wednesday was the race; it was great as it was quick and all organized. Again I made it to the main event and this time it was Deldycke, Cedric and Maccarrol. I had lane choose as they went by UCI points. The start was a reverse dropping start and also was random. I was a little late out of the start but Deldycke had a great start and got a little squirly and ended up coming across in my lane, which made me hesitate for a split sec and this gave him the lead to the first corner. I tried to get close enough to make a clean pass but it was not going to happen, as passing was limited on this course, like most courses, unless the leader makes a mistake. So I ended up 2nd with Cedric in 3rd. All in all the race was great and there will be more of them next year.

Thursday I was getting ready for the world cup and played around on my Fifty. Friday was qualifying which I ended up 5th. I messed up on the second last jump, which cost me a little time. The course was fast and had a lot of jumps and it also slowed down towards the end. So racing was going to be good. Saturday was race time and I was feeling really good. I won my first 2 runs and met up with Eric who qualified 4th. Points from 2nd overall to 5th are tight, so I still need to do good today to keep my second overall. I had great start and bet Eric to the first and second corner, I was riding fast and had a comfortable lead. Coming into the slow section of the course I went to the inside to protect and when I was getting ready to come out of the corner I ended up loosing my front end and slid out. I fell into one of the jumps into the last corner and while I was getting back up Eric ended up jumping over me and went on to win and advancing to the next round. I was so bummed… I had it all wrapped up and I gave it away right at the end of the race. Eric ended up going to the final against Mike king. Eric Ended up winning which gave him enough points to just bet me overall. Deldycke ended up getting 3rd on the day and this also gave him just enough points to pass me overall as well. This was not my day. The worst situation happened for me to loose my second place overall in the world cup. Now I was really bummed as they only give out Globes for the top 3 and I ended up 4th by the slimmest of margins. So the last 2 weeks did not go to plan. So a very disappointing year for Norba and the world cup points chase. But that's racing and I will be back again next year trying my best.

I now have 2 weekends off before the World Championships. I am going to be resting and training and also preparing to get ready for BMX again as I will be racing the following in Oklahoma City. I am now in Boulder for a Pre - Worlds training camp with the team. Boulder has been great.

See you soon,
Wade Bootes

Copyright 2001. All rights reserved.