Sunny skies welcome racers to another great day of competition in Bellingham.

For the fourth year in a row BellyCROSS presented one of the finest courses in the state with the weather to match. After a week of incessant rain, blue skies and bright sun opened up the evening before the race and stayed for the entire event. Race numbers were the highest for the event since it's inception. Great weather certainly helped but rumor has it, the reputation for the finest course and the silliest LeMond start already has people marking their calendar for next year. BellyCROSS is synonymous with greatracing and tons o' FUN!

What pleased race organizers Galen Rockenbach and Mark Peterson the most was the volunteer turnout. The great thing about cross racing and this race in general is so many people are willing to give a hand to help out. The course was put up and torn down in record time and even left enough time for course designer Galen "Rocky Von" Rockenbach to pull off an 11th place finish in the B's category....on his full suspended, 5" travel Out of Bounds style,Kona Stinky Dee Lux!

While we are certainly not intending to leave anyone out a few volunteers deserve special mention. Folks like Yumi who we had not met before but was an old hand at lots of laps and results and stepped in with "Viking" Mahoney to provide accurrate and legible results. Juniors like Will Freeman who has become one of our most trusted race volunteers. WHIMPs like Chris Mellick,Jeff Cummings, Dave Neubeck, Scott Alderson and Brian Smart who always seem to be there. RADs like Pat Bentson who does what I did this week-end almost every week and still found time to help out the Bellingham guys. And best buddies like Erik Anderson that run registration and hold the money with a velvet fist. Without volunteers like these this race and many others would not continue to exist. Our many thanks to them.

We also would like to thank all the racers that made the drive from wherever they all came from. While there were a fair amount of locals the bulk of the racers were still from out of area. We appreciate them supporting racing in Whatcom County and our businesses such as Banditos Burritos that have been great supporters of the WHIMPs and cycling in our area. In turn Banditos and other local favorite eats are supported by lots of smelly post race appetities bringing more dollars into our community.

We would also like to thank the Bellingham City Parks Department. Without a visionary and supportive parks department none of the events in Bellingham like BellyCROSS and The Padden MTN Pedal would be a reality. It is so wonderful to have a parks department and city that encourages cycling in our community instead of looking at it as some sort of detriment. If any of you feel the need a quick e-mail stating your thanks to the parks and the city council/mayor go a long way in assuring the continuance of cycling events here in Bellingham.

Mayor Asmundson
210 Lottie St
98225
Masmundson@cob.org

Parks & Rec - Recreation
Richard Henrie
3424 Meridian
98225
phenrie@cob.org

Parks & Rec - Administration
Paul Leuthold (New director)
3424 Meridian
98225
pleuthold@cob.org

City Council Office
210 Lottie St
98225
noliver@cob.org

Whatcom County Visitor and Convention Beureau-John
Cooper-john@bellingham.org