Bumpy ride

HATCHER PASS — The Tour de France has got nothing on these guys.

Choosing wheels over more logical modes of transportation, a group of intrepid bicyclists (and one unicyclist) braved the slopes of Hatcher Pass Saturday for a downhill bicycle slalom race that required a bit of balance, a little luck and a big pair of … tires.

Hatcher Pass resident Taylor Buxton beat out eight other competitors to win the event, which put riders through a steep, winding slalom course that led to several chilly spills.

Buxton said he wasn’t looking for glory Saturday, just a nice day on the slopes.

“It’s the first time I’ve had my bike out in two years,” Buxton said after completing his best two runs in a time of one minute, 57.19 seconds, edging out Tony Berberich by less than two seconds.

Buxton said careening downhill, barely in control of a bicycle, takes a bit of getting used to.

“It’s a way different stance,” he said. “You’re way father back on the bike.”

He said riding on the powdery slopes is a bit like riding on sand dunes.

“It tries to wash out from under you,” he said.

Most of the riders Saturday had bikes equipped with special fat tires designed for riding in the snow.

Palmer’s Kevin Del Ducca said he’s an avid mountain bike rider who decided to race as a way to get out and enjoy the mid-winter sunshine with his biking pals.

“It’s just a beautiful day in Hatcher Pass, being in the mountains with your friends,” he said.

Del Ducca said the bumpy ride down the mountain can be made easier with a bike that’s set up to run in the conditions.

“It’s nice to have a shock with some suspension,” he said.

Beyond that, it’s pretty much just about trying to keep upright while on the brink of disaster.

“There’s some skill involved,” he said.

Considerable skill was on display late in the race, when participant Howie Powder took the degree of difficulty to the next level by attempting the course on a unicycle.

“It’s challenging, put it that way,” Powder said after reaching the bottom in one piece.

Powder was able to negotiate all but the trickiest part of the course, during which he opted to slide down alongside his cycle. He explained that a unicycle just isn’t the best when it comes to going extremely fast.

“No brakes,” he said.

For his efforts, Powder was awarded first place in unicycle category, created minutes after he reached the bottom of the run.

Following the conclusion of the race, Powder said the trip to the bottom of the run on just one wheel proved worth the considerable effort.

“It was definitely fun.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@

frontiersman.com

Valley Mountain Bike

and HIKERS

Downhill slalom race

Saturday, Hatcher Pass

1. Taylor Buxton 1:57.19; 2. Tony Berberich, 1:59.71; 3. Kevin Del Ducca, 2:13.56; 4. Mark Gronewald, 2:16.16; 6. Bill Merchant, 2:17.90; 7. Dallas Sutton, 2:20.51; 8. DaRrin Mason, 2:22.82; 9. Howie Powder, 2:23.74; 10. Chris Popham 2:24.18