The Amgen Tour of California returns to Big Bear

Big Bear Lake,  CA. May 9, 2012 - The Amgen Tour of California returns to Big Bear after a one year hiatus on Friday May 18th, 2012.  The race will feature 16 of the world’s best teams battling it out over more than 750 miles of picturesque California highways, roadways and coastline.  In addition, the Amgen Tour of California will be the last race on U.S. soil before the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.  This year’s climb to Big Bear will be no less monumental and, in fact, it will be even greater because the following day will be another extreme climb from Ontario to Mount Baldy.  What makes the Big Bear climb on May 18th the hardest or “Queens Stage” of the race is that it will cover 115 miles and will rise and fall 12,000 feet in the mountains in the thin air. The entire tour may be won or lost during Stage 6 on the climb to Big Bear.   The teams will need to strategize how to best use the long and steep day in the saddle.  If a rider fails to be smart they may not survive Stage 7’s shorter but, perhaps, more intense climb on the steep narrow roads to Mount Baldy, a destination with only one way in.  The best place to view Stage 6, the Big Bear Climb, is from the finish area at Snow Summit.  The race will get worldwide TV coverage on NBC Sports and it can be seen from start to finish on the jumbotron TV’s at Snow Summit’s finish area.  The Amgen Tour of California is the biggest professional cycling race in North America and because many of the American teams are headquartered in California this race is very important to every tour rider as well as their sponsors.  The Amgen Tour of California Stage 6, the Big Bear Climb, leaves Palmdale at 10:50 am on May 18th and arrives in Big Bear about 4 and a half hours later.  Rolling closures may affect certain locations around Big Bear Lake as the race finishes at Snow Summit.  Volunteers are needed to help for many aspects of the race.  If you have interest in journalism and public relations and would like to work in the Press Room call Dan McKernan at the Big Bear Lake Resort Association at 909 866 6190 extension 235 or email him at DMCKERNAN@bigbear.com

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Truth in 24 II – Must See Speed TV

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Los Angeles, CA May 4, 2012 - The classic movie Le Mans starring Steve McQueen captures the drama and excitement of one of the world’s greatest motor sports events.  Le Mans is a fictional race and semi love story that is wrapped around real Le Mans footage and real race cars.  Dare I suggest that there is a new movie that may be its equal in drama and yet is a documentary.  This is the story of the Audi Team at La Mans in 2011.  They pulled together after some unimaginable race events and came out victorious.  The movie is Truth in 24 II “every second counts” and it will air on Speed TV this Saturday PST 1:00 pm.  Make the time or make your DVR capture it for you but try not to miss it.  The story includes the background and preparation needed for the Audi Team to ready for the worlds most challenging car race.  The winning drivers will travel the furthest distance in 24 hours by driving fast, taking chances and having a strong team to back them up.  Audi takes the fight to Peugeot where Audi’s young driving guns are relentless for 24 hours.  Non race fans and even my teenage daughter can enjoy this story.  Truth in 24 II “every second counts” airs for the first time on Speed TV, Saturday May 5th at 1:00 pm.  I certainly enjoyed it and I think you will as well.  This is Rick Herrick for Big Bear News.

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Ryan Hall The Olympic Race Of His Life And The 41st Day

Big Bear Lake, CA April 26, 2012, 8:00am - The 41st day is a documentary about Olympic marathon runner Ryan Hall and his incredible journey.  It is currently being filmed and will continue through the London Summer Olympics beginning the last week of July. With less than 100 days to go the excitement for these games is beginning to grow along with the momentum to complete this documentary.  But additional support is needed to fund this effort and that is where his friends, family and running fans are lending a hand by pledging money to the effort.  The 41str day and it’s maker Tim Jeffreys from Halls training location of Flagstaff has a self described passion for running.  Both Tim and Ryan believe this film will not only entertain runners but will also draw in non-runners to the power struggle and triumph.

In the words of Jefferys; “Ryan Hall is the fastest marathon runner in American history. His consistency is only matched by legends of the sport. In order to go down as the best, however, Ryan needs to do something that has eluded him his whole career – win an international marathon. This August, Ryan will try to do that in the biggest race of his life, the 2012 Olympic Marathon. He will take on the dominant east Africans and the rest of the world in a race that is being billed as the toughest and fastest in Olympic history. Ryan isn’t the ordinary runner, though. While competitors prepare in training groups under the systematic care of coaches and advisors, Ryan runs alone.  Practicing what he calls faith-based coaching, he relies exclusively on the direction of his faith to dictate his training, an unprecedented and often scrutinized approach in the world of distance running”. “For me, running is an art more than a science,” says Ryan. “One can’t argue with his results up to this point, but will his faith be enough to take him to the top?” says Jefferys.

The funding method is no less remarkable as it’s being done through a website called kick-starter and is linkable through Big Bear News where a short movie tease can be seen.  To date nearly 700 people have pledged nearly $50,000.00 but according to the movie maker, Tim Jefferys, $75,000.00 is needed in order to secure the actual Olympic film rights to this summer’s marathon.  As part of the websites fund raising efforts Ryan thanks everyone who has contributed and welcomes other pledges.

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Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 2012 Great California Motor Sports

Long Beach, CA, April 15, 2012 – Every spring in Long Beach is what I consider the best street circuit race of the season and this year was no exception.  The Indy series drivers always have great things to say about the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  The ocean views are world class, the race fans come from all over and number well into the hundreds of thousands and the city vibrates with excitement.  The new Dallara DW12 Indy race car for this year looks much better in person than on paper and although this year’s times seem slower no one was complaining.  In lap 22 when Marco Andretti popped over the rear tire of Graham Rahal and momentarily sent Marco airborne followed by a hard hit to the tire barrier it was apparent that this new chassis could take a beating, hold together and protect the driver.  Also new for this year is the use of several engine manufacturers which I feel adds a new dimension to the race.  Chevrolet Honda and Lotus are the players and so far Chevrolet seems to be more consistent finishing Long Beach with 7 of the top 10 positions.  Surprisingly Dario Franchitti had a poor showing after taking the poll.  On the first turn, of the first lap, Dario in my opinion, tapped the number 2 pole sitter Josef Newgarden ending his day before it got started.  Maybe it was karma from that moment on Franchitti could not put the wheels back on his wagon finishing 15th.

Simon Pagenaud with a three stop strategy held the lead for a number of laps but in the end it was British driver Will Power who started 12th finishing on top with less than a second margin over second place Pagenaud.  James Hinchcliffe finished third taking the last podium spot that Takuma Sato in the number 15 car seemed most destined to take.  But as racing goes it’s not over till you get the checkered flag Sato was taken out by Ryan Hunter Reay, Hunter was penalized 30 seconds and so dropped his position but that can’t replace the loss that Sato experienced being denied his first and only IRL podium spot.  You could feel see and almost hear the emotions overflowing from the Sato pit crew.  Former F1 driver Rubens Barrichello and Helio Castroneves made the last moments of the race even more chaotic as their crash in the hairpin blocked the track and forced Powers to climb from his car there and celebrate his victory alongside the wrecks.

Later Powers went on to say that starting 12th and finishing on top seemed to be impossible goal but that seems to be what has recently worked for him.  The next stop is San Paulo Brazil.

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Michael Radford and Rachael DesRochers win Victor Alvarez Ski Championship

Big Bear Lake, CA, March 25, 2012 – The 2012 Victor Alvarez Memorial Ski Race was held on Saturday March 24^th and as promised it was simply one of the best winter sporting contests of the year. Over 50 competitors showed up to see who would capture the title “fastest ski racers in Southern California”.  First the men’s field was narrowed to the top 32 qualifiers and the women’s was limited to the top 12.   Head to head dual giant slalom courses were set with horse gates in order to start competitors precisely together.  To get to the final four each skier had to complete and win a combination of 10 races during the day, in other words, speed and stamina were key to victory.  The top spot for men went to former Snow Summit Race Team member Michael Radford now skiing for Montana State University.  Second place was Kelly-Kai Tokunaga J1 Snow Summit Team racer and third went to Kyle Wormsbecker,  head coach for the Snow Summit Ski Team.  Fourth place went to John Michael Fabrizi local J2 Snow Summit ski team member. The women’s top racer was Rachael DesRochers former Snow Summit race team member taking first place.  Second was Karen Lundgren, race team coach and world famous mountain climber. Third was Sara Schacht race team coach and former race team member. Fourth place was Elle Williams and worthy of a special mention as she is a preteen and showed great race composure.   This is the 16^th annual race which is held in the name of Victor Alvarez a Snow Summit Ski Patroller who died in a ski accident and helps raise funds for the Snow Summit Junior Race team.

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Man About Town 2012 Event Schedule

Redlands Bicycle Classic 2012

Redlands – Big Bear Lake, CA March 22, 2012 3:00 pm – The Redlands Bicycle Classic will be held over 4 days beginning Thursday March 22^nd. These bike races are held primarily through out the streets of Redlands and out to Beaumont.  This race began just after the Summer Olympics Games held in Los Angeles in 1984 and has been going strong for 28 years making it the oldest and longest running stage race in the United States.  This particular race is where many top cycling racers have cut their teeth including Chris Horner, Cadel Evans and David Zabriskie among other notable racers. Professional cycling teams look for new talent at races such as this in preparation for the long race season ahead. In addition, this year, Loma Linda University will field a team of hopefuls for the U.S. Paralympics team named the PossAbilities who will be racing on the same circuits over the next few days.  The Redlands Classic is a very popular spectator event that effects many areas of the downtown Redlands area.  To get more information be sure to check the Redlands Classic web link on KBHR933.com.  In other cycling news Big Bear was chosen for the second time in three years to host a finishing stage of the Amgen Tour of California.  Stage Six of this professional race will begin in Palmdale and finish at Snow Summit covering over 115 miles and climbing over 12,000 feet so titled “The Big Bear Climb”.  The Big Bear stage will be held on May18th during the slower tourist shoulder season.  In 2010 it was estimated by the race promoters that 12,000 spectators viewed the Big Bear finish.  This year the race will have 16 professional teams competing including such notable names as BMC, Rabobank, Garmin- Barracuda, RadioShack-Nissan-Trek, Liquigas-Cannondale and QuickStep.  The Big Bear Climb is sponsored in part by Matich Corporation, Big Bear Vacations, San Manuel Indian Bingo Casino and Arrowhead Medical Center.

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