Mountain Bikers you have a chance to lay the foundation of a new trail for your enjoyment at the Turtle Ridge Trail.

About the Trail:  The Turtle Ridge Trail will be 2.1 miles of brand new natural surface, single track trail that will connect the City of Irvine’s Bommer Canyon trail  system to Summit Park in the Turtle Ridge neighborhood. The trail will be open seven days a week from 7 am to sunset and  will offer users incredible views of the San Joaquin Hills and the Santa Ana Mountains.  Click Here to see the Master Plan Trail Map.

Besides just getting an altruistic vibe for being a part of the community, you can show the support of our mountain bike user group as land managers slate future plans for the maintenance and creation of multi-user trails in Orange County.

When? Sunday October 30, 2011 at 9am-1pm

What? You may be doing rock work, working on switchbacks, or whatever it takes as we build a new trail.

No previous trail maintenance or construction experience necessary…..just the desire to work outdoors and get dirty!
The trails we build are to the highest standards of sustainability while offering users incredible flow and climb. All tools, water and snacks will be provided.

Just bring: gloves, sturdy work shoes or boots, long pants, sun protection, hat, and a willingness to sweat and get dirty.

Join the crew on October 30, at the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks site: Click here

There’s two Galleries you can check out. Click these links for your photos The main event and series awards.

There are so many stories to tell, and epic battles fought out on the course, I’m not sure how to start or which ones to leave off so they will actually fit on a page. For sure the pictures Frank Villalvazo took last night will give a better summary than limping words trying to describe it all.

With at least 900 spectators and 400 racers the finale was a stage set for some great competition. 40 exhibitors and sponsors encircled the exhibit area, all enjoying the energy and pomp and circumstance of a Grande Finale like we experienced at Irvine Lake. This year’s had even more energy than last year. Truly the best thing about Over the Hump, in John’s and my perspective, is that Over the Hump feels like family. Lots of competition, but lots of fun, hugs, and celebration every week. I’m sure if half of the podium boys and girls could have pulled their supporters up on the hay-bails doubling as a podium, the entire audience would have been up on the podium throughout the night.

The Sport Two Guys kicked off a 1,2,3 finish all wearing the Verizon Leader Jersey at the start tied with points, and in the end coming down to a tie breaker that ended up being settled by there most 1sts, then seconds, etc. Bill Pointer was 1st, Joel Albrecht 2nd, and Daniel Digiacomo 3rd. Bill gave kuddos to both his rivals and truly shared exactly 431 points with 2nd place Joel Albrecht.

In  the newly added Farmers & Merchant Single Speed class, it had been battled out all season long between Heath Masters and Eric Williams, but came down to the final race as well. Where Eric wore the Verizon Leader Jersey out, and ended up keeping it on his shoulders for the finale.

Sean Smith (center) says thanks to Linked Cycling Volunteers, after Mike Telega of Oakley (right) presented the OAKLEY Jupiter Award

Among other festivities we honored Sean Smith as the Oakley Jupiter Award Recipient, for his inspiration as the impetus behind Linked Cycling volunteering to lead our kids race every week, and his valor as a man bailing his bike mid-race on June 21, to help an injured rider to safety after a crash mid-race. Without Linked  and Smith’s efforts throughout the season we would not have had a functional kids race 12 races in the 2011 summer. Oakley was onsite in a big way to present the award.

And then we of course ended the night with a bang up sensational celebration of all of our winners for the summer. Series leaders through 3rd place collected the best of 9 races, and then took to the podium so in a huge tribute to the racers who raced and won we celebrate them all. Juniors through Pros:

GIRLS OPEN JUNIORS	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Danielle Emter	14
2nd Place	Ashlie Cooper	15	Simple Green/Cycles
3rd Place	Xlena Hoppen	12
BOYS OPEN JUNIORS	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	James Bustamante	15
2nd Place	Sean Bell	13	Oakley/Fox
3rd Place	Nico Neuville	13
WOMEN’S BEGINNER	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Dina Graham	44
2nd Place	Jan Ackerman	51	SHO-AIR/Rock n Road
3rd Place	Samantha Adams	31
WOMEN’S SPORT	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Amy Griffin	26
2nd Place	Meghan Guerero	17
3rd Place	Wendy Villegas	35	TPR
WOMEN’S EXPERT PRO	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Christine Gray	51	Trek San Diego
2nd Place	Amanda Schaper	27	Ritte
3rd Place	Liz Miller	24	Incycle
MEN’S BEGINNER 1	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Laurence Maftei	20	Trek San Diego
2nd Place	David Skeeters	27	ASG/TWOP
3rd Place	Kirt Smith	28
MEN’S BEGINNER 2	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Michael Russell	29
2nd Place	Corey Demanty	34
3rd Place	Karl Lowry	40
MEN’S BEGINNER 3	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Craig Mitchell	48
2nd Place	Scott Mellusi	39	Surf City Cyclery
3rd Place	David Holtman	45	Fullerton Bikes
MEN’S BEGINNER 4	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	James Scribner	50
2nd Place	John Ganahl	66
3rd Place	Martin Craty	51	Surf City Cyclery
MEN’S SPORT 1	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Aubrey Smentkowski	15
2nd Place	Ben Franchi	28
3rd Place	Pavel Prilutskikh	20	Troupe Racing Co
MEN’S SPORT 2	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Bill Pointer	37	ocrider.com/Fullerton
2nd Place	Joel Albrecht	38	OC Riders
3rd Place	Daniel Digiacomo	32	Allied/REVO
MEN’S SPORT 3	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Chad Palessiro	41	Rock n Road
2nd Place	Randy Houston	47	WIN-TEAM RACING
3rd Place	Greg Wolfe	41
MEN’S SPORT 4	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	George Logan	53	Team Duke
2nd Place	Mark Dooley	53	Cycles Veloce
3rd Place	Craig Erion	57	OC Riders
MEN’S SUPER SPORT	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Jeremiah Smith	32	Fullerton Bikes
2nd Place	Kevin Mehrens	31	Shoair/Rock n Road
3rd Place	Daniel Eitman	38
SINGLE SPEED BY F&M BANK	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Eric Williams	30	Team Thunderbolt
2nd Place	Heith Masters	35	WIN-TEAM RACING
3rd Place	Jon Arthur	45
MEN’S EXPERT	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Peter Smith	35
2nd Place	Griffith Vertican	33	JAX Bicycles
3rd Place	Matt Snow	25	Surf City Cyclery
MEN’S PRO	Racer	Age	Team
1st Place	Brandon Gritters	31	Rock n Road
2nd Place	Anton Petrov	26	SDG/Felt
3rd Place	Eric Bierman	36	Steven K Sports

As you’ve heard us say, and we truly believe, Over the Hump is a total blessing (particularly to us). To walk (ride) life with an amazing group of people, and get to play with bikes and friends on Tuesday Nights all summer long is truly John’s and my privilege. So thanks for honoring us, by joining our Family of Over the Hump.

In a quick tribute a special thanks belongs to: Verizon the 2011 Presenting Sponsor, and all of our sponsors.

Orange County Parks, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, our friend Adam Maywhort, and Irvine Lake. Without their efforts, permits, land use, support, manpower, and equipment we could not have pulled off a race that we think (along with Mountain Bike Action Magazine) makes the SoCal Riding Community a better place.

Here’s to a great summer and another season of Over the Hump that rocked the world (at least ours!).

He runs the team side of the Linked Cycling Team and continues to find ways to meet, help, and ride with riders of all abilities.

Sean Smith Plots out the Kids Race course June 28 (photo courtesy Steve Shambeck PLS Photography)

Sean Smith’s persistence & dedication in organizing the OTH Kid’s Race every week is a perfect example of his selfless attitude in serving his community.

Last year Sean came to us, and said,  “Our team would like to help volunteer with the kids’ race, it’s important, and we love seeing what the kids’ race is doing to get people excited about racing”.

Sean’s initiation turned into this year’s reality of the WEEKLY Kid’s Race. Because of Sean and Linked, the kid’s race is not just an Over the Hump novelty, it’s where most of our parents come out more jazzed about what their kid gets to do on the bike that night, than the main event where they are racing themselves. And at 5:30pm each week this summer the Kids Race has been the MAIN EVENT.

Sean would tell you this is not an award he deserves or wants. That it’s been a privilege to serve and be a part of the Over the Hump community, watching others thrive and succeed. That he loves the race, and the people there, and is proud to be a part.

And we might have let that slide, until Sean raised the bar for community, service and personal character.

Sean Smith, from Linked Cycling who was competing the first half of the season, June 21 in the Expert group sacrificed his race.  A rider had gone down in crucial corner, with tons of traffic and was lying in the middle of the course.  Sean abandoned his bike, and the race, to help support the downed rider who severely broke his ankle.  Sean helped Ryan get off the course, before a pack of riders came upon him.  He then left his bike behind and helped Ryan into our race support Kawasaki Mule and took the rider to a place where medics could assist him.  All the time comforting the injured rider, holding his ankle, and preventing further injury.

Thank you to Linked for running our kids race this season, Sean

OAKLEY and Over the Hump are recognizing a man that inspires. And in this case, the one who might “want it least” exemplifies the spirit of the OAKLEY Jupiter Award. A man who rode for himself, now riding for and with others.

We are proud to present Sean Smith the final 2011 OAKLEY Jupiter Award.