Posts Tagged ‘Avia’
A sneak peak at the new Avia trail racing shoe. From the Avia stand at Interbike
TaDAA!
This is the Avia trail racing shoe I helped design. Yes, trail RACING shoe. Avia Product Manager Ike Alvear extended the offer and said I could basically build my dream shoe for XTERRA racing. What an honour!
Interbike- Last Vegas. Dirt Demo
The Dirt Demo takes place in the desert outside Vegas- Bootleg Canyon. The trail system is amazing. Lots of everything- singletrack from mild to quite hairy, jumps, ladders and big drops, a small BMX track and even a huge shuttle for the boinga boinga guys.
I spent the day at the Specialized “village”. Hundreds of 2009 bikes were in stock- ready for potential customers to ride and hopefully order for their stores.
I went on a ride with Ned Overend, Rebecca Rusch and a few Specialized Riders Club guys. Its always great being in Ned’s company. He rode a Specialized aluminium 29er hard tail and I had to have my wits about me to keep up. Not sure if he got faster or if it was the 29er… Ned is such a legend.
Most people recognize Ned from far away (and many calls me “Christophe” (Sauser)) because of the rainbow jersey, but “Hey! Christophe put on 40 pounds!”. Speaking of Christophe, he test rode a new (still nameless) Specialized tire that weighs 330g with hardly any knobs at all. Susi is in weight weenie heaven.
Chasing Ned Overend (on a 29er?!) down fun single track. Lake Mead in the bacground. (Yes, I did take this pic while riding…)
XTERRA Snow Valley
Just a quick post. Its 1am and time for bed.
I raced the Avia XTERRA Snow Valley today. On top of a 30 hr training week it was not a cake walk, but the race went well. Felt strong all around. Also, I got to spend the weekend with the folks from my shoe sponsor Avia: Ed, Ike, Kenny Souza and fellow pro Shonny Vanlandingham. Shonny continues to improve at XTERRA and won the womens race and got 3rd overall. She almost “chicked” James Walsh from Mud, Sweat and Beers fame. But then he spent all day moving yesterday, and all I can say is “dude, I know your pain.” (See next blog.)
I am absolutely honored to be helping in the design of an Avia trail racing shoe. Today I tested a new sole pattern and the loose, sandy conditions here was a perfect test. We are hell bent on building a race winning shoe, so expect something light, fast and flashy. The shoe may even bear my name. W O W.
Ed in the “Victory or death*” shirt. Me with the silly grin. Ed’s wheels- the green ones. My wheels- the silver 29er. Specialized Stumpjumper.
Avia ad in Triathlete magazine
