[dhr-racer]

Me and a few friends are thinking about coming down and giving it a shot. coming from canada we want to make sure we are covered well in advance of driving across the country since we are on the far side of the east coast.

Is a USAC license required (we arn't racing cat 1 as far as i know) or will the canadian UCI license cover us? is there anything else other then covering the license stuff we should know so we dont get a surprise when we get down there.

 

[Total Heckler]

If you aren't racing CAT-1, you can get the day racing license (covers CAT-3 and CAT-2) that is needed for registration online.

You should be good to go from there.

 

[MDJ]

not sure about the license issue, but be prepared for very cold, very muddy conditions and also very hot, very dry conditions. It's usually one or the other.

 

[dhr-racer]

not sure about the license issue, but be prepared for very cold, very muddy conditions and also very hot, very dry conditions. It's usually one or the other.

im coming from new brunswick (incase some dont know, the province right above maine) in a city right on the ocean in april, im sure in comparison april cali cold and muddy is our hot and very dry

 

[William42]

As somebody who lives in cali about 2-3 hours from the otter: I'm not bothering to go. The course sucks, the expo is fun once or twice and then its just annoying. The only thing fun and worth watching is the DS. Watching a bunch of dudes pedal their asses off on a DH bike on what is essentially a flat course with two "steep" sections that you can get up to 25-30mph and are as wide as a freeway (and as smooth) is pretty boring. Be prepared to be disappointed by the course, by having to wait 45 minutes in line to practice each run, and by crappy weather. Nobody likes 45 degree bucketing rain, or 100degree no cloud in the sky on hot asphalt.

 

[FlipFantasia]

I went last year for the first time, interesting to experience, but I certainly wouldn't drive across the continent for it....save your time and cash for something radder

 

[Scrub]

Seriously, just save $$ for Interbike next year and then ride Bootleg Canyon. Not unless its on your "bucket list" of places to go.

 

[rockofullr]

not sure about the license issue, but be prepared for very cold, very muddy conditions and also very hot, very dry conditions. It's usually one or the other.

Don't forget about the 50mph wind!

The only reason I go is to watch the big boys race, not something I can do easily in Cali. You should just save your money and go to one of the Canadian World Cup races.

 

[dhrace507]

Stay in Canada.

 

[altix]

Boring, I live 2 hours away and I am not going. Waste of time and money for the last 7 years. NO MORE! When they make sick jumps on the DH track I'll go back, but this year they will not...They will mow the grass and weeds down on Wednesday night and tell everyone that practice is over 30 minutes early because they need time to go for a smoke break...Maybe the Calamari is worth the drive though...

 

[Nagaredama]

If you've never been to WC race it is worth going.

Last year I gave a kid from New Zealand a ride to Sea Otter from LA (he was visting a friend and didn't fly over just for the race). He was stoked to race DH and dual, see all the WC pros, go to the movie premieresm check out the pits etc.

Is the DH track utter crap yes but don't forget the festival experience. It isn't very often you get to hang out for 4 days, watch the top racers in the world do their things and go see the latest movies when they open.

If you're driving across the country I assume you'll have time to ride in various places along the way. Take a couple days to ride in Santa Cruz, Moab, etc

Don't let the jaded locals keep you from coming and having a great time.

 

[Total Heckler]

Don't let the jaded locals keep you from coming and having a great time.

I could not agree more. I have been going to the Sea Otter the last 5 years. Always a good time regardless of the weather.

 

[dump]

If you are driving from new brunswick, you can plan a route that passes some amazing riding. If you have the time (and it seems you do since you're driving across the continent,) I suggest this. As others have said, the actual riding at sea otter is not really the highlight.

As i am sure you know, it's a really, really long drive. Driving 12hr days, it would take about 5 days. This is what I did.

 

[OGRipper]

Sea Otter is always fun, and it's been even more fun since I decided to stop racing there years ago.

As a mid-pack kinda guy the DH race is just not worth it to me. You miss out on all kinds of good stuff standing around for hours trying to get in a couple practice runs. Add in all the douches cutting the lines, the cost, and the course (which is fun, but pretty lame by real DH standards) and it's an easy decision for me.

 

[spornographer]

As i am sure you know, it's a really, really long drive. Driving 12hr days, it would take about 5 days. This is what I did.

WOW! that's a long 5 days.

 

[Scrub]

As i am sure you know, it's a really, really long drive. Driving 12hr days, it would take about 5 days. This is what I did.

If you had a co-pilot to share the drive you could cut the time in half.

 

[MDJ]

Don't let the jaded locals keep you from coming and having a great time.

2nd or 3th that.

I've been going since I moved out here 13 years ago and it's a good time. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we all know the DH course sucks, blah, blah, blah... I agree with Ripper. It can be more fun just skipping the DH and doing other things. Just go poach the course in the evenings to get your DH fill. The DS is much better anyhow and there are so many other things to do bike related. Camping at the venue is always a good time (at least when the weather is good).

Add in the movie premieres, all of the new goodies, fit roadie chicks in their lycra, quick trips to ride Santa Cruz, Monday Aptos jump jam (if it's still on this year), pump tracks, etc. and it's worth doing at least once.

 

[dump]

If you had a co-pilot to share the drive you could cut the time in half.

That's right. Then you are driving 24hrs a day. For 2.5 days. That is: start driving Monday 9am, stop driving Wednesday 9pm.

 

[dump]

Not trying to discourage you btw, just throwing it out there since I've done the drive.

Watch out for cops in Arizona, New Mexico and New York

 

[Pete..]

Don't let the jaded locals keep you from coming and having a great time.

Agreed. Every year I've gone it's gotten better. The whole camping experience is what makes Sea Otter Sea Otter for me. Our camp gets bigger and bigger every year and more and more epic.

 

[sethimus]

so do they have a proper timing system next year?

 

[Uncle Cliffy]

so do they have a proper timing system next year?

You mean a teeny girl in a folding chair with a iPod stopwatch isn't proper?

 

[bikerpunk98199]

Don't do it.

 

[Pete..]

Clay Porter's new movie is premiering Sea Otter 2011, isn't it? May be worth it... I went to the F1rst, Seasons and Follow Me premieres and they're always a good time.

 

[sgarstin]

seriously don't do it. There are other places to spend your money and time at. Trips like driving from the east coast of canada to the southwest coast of america may make you view racing bitterly (due to the complete waste of resources trying to get your ass to a ****ty ass race), end up quitting, and abusing alcohol.