Red Bull National Downhill Mountain Bike Competition - Oliver Springs, TN.

Everywhere I go is National Disrespect California Day—DanDays birth state. I've been coast to coast across the U.S three times, toured and experienced at least 40 of the 50 states and lived in seven of them. When someone in 2021 asks where I'm from I avoid heated arguments by saying "the other side of the country" or "I'm not from here" instead of Los Angeles or California. California's a bad word in America unless you're in California.

It's bad enough having to be defensive abroad for reasons we have no control over like being born such as, but not limited to, flesh, language, hair, fashion, origin, yata yata but in my own "Divided We Fall" country?! The fuck's that about? I catch more grief here in the United States of America about where I'm from than anywhere else we've traveled and I'm not sure how much longer I can contain myself.

I'm telling you this because I went to the Red Bull National Downhill mountain bike competition last weekend at Windrock Bike Park in Oliver Springs, Tennessee. As soon as I found a comfortable place to enjoy myself and snap photos of a sport I'm really passionate about, I was reminded of a deep hatred these Southerners have for California. On my left and right, both behind and in front of me, F-bombs from every direction—verbal assault on California.

_{Images - GoPro. Motion - iMovie}

It was a fluke I even learned of the event. Someone said something to Pura somewhere when they noticed the bike carrier on the Subaru. Pura's gorgeous—irresistible to engage conversation with, "goin to the downhill competition ma'am?" "My husband probably is," or however she tried to politely avoid the guy, "he's really into that." He asked her if I was aware of the downhill competition the following day which I wasn't. When she got back and told me about it, I looked it up, 'sold!' Loaded up the bike the following morning and drove west for an hour.

_src

Zoom in on this next riders back tire, he completed the downhill on a flat. This was the best viewing section. We'd watch the riders come into that 90 degree turn as fast as they could before hitting a 50 foot platform jump followed immediately by a six foot step-up jump to the finish line. One mile race against the clock they were completing in under three minutes—25'ish mph.

By the time I got there it was a packed event between over night campers and daily arrivals. I could hear all the action on top of the hill, cheering and clapping, but the main parking lot was already full. I didn't see any parking on the road.

Overflow parking was full too. I ended up parking about a mile down the road at the first available opening and peddled my way to the event. They had vendors, raffles, exhibits, all that event type stuff. I wasn't interested so I bypassed that section.

The rain was soon to come anyway. As much as I like a good downhill event, not so much in the rain. It was a pretty steep incline to get to the viewing spot. Just then a truck with about 20 bikes and riders in tow passed me on their way to the top of the mountain—next heat race.

_src

Can't see much from here. Need to get a little higher on the mountain and see if both jumps are visible from the same place. Somewhere around.. here.

Perfect! Kinda. Only problem with the view is the closer I got, the louder they got. I thought I heard it on my way up the mountain a few times, guess I was in denial. No denying these people, though! I got a nice location now, sitting on my bike minding my own business, waiting for the next group of riders to come down and all I heard:

Fuck fuckin California!!! I'm so sick of hearing "California, California" if they say that shit one mo'again Ima shoot someone mmmkay!

_{'How the hell do they know?!'}

I don't know how they knew. I got long sleeves on, gloves on, no tattoos are out. I haven't said a single word and these people are all talking about shooting someone from California. Then the event announcer echoed across the PA system:

In first place is..... from California.
The fastest rider in the country..... California.
Last years champion..... California.
Youngest to win back-to-back..... California.
California.
California.
California.

Ok, they're talking about shooting the announcer, not me. You kinda have to take those threats seriously around here, gun laws are a facade in Tennessee. Whether they shoot anyone is highly unlikely in this state but they all got concealed carry permits and they're all carrying.

I listened to the announcer say California about 20 more times while silently laughing to myself at the reaction from the crowd each time he said "California." They hated it! I watched a little bit of the next heat race but it started raining, something it doesn't do in California. I got outta there before the ground turned into that stuff pigs play in.

_{These first 3: 14 year old girl from California}

_{Next 3: 16 year old semi-pro young man from California}

_{Last 3: Elite male rider.. California}

I checked the results the following day to make sure everyone in attendance didn't want to shoot the announcer in error. They didn't. California's 22 hundred miles west of here, riders from all over the country competed last weekend, I don't see what the big deal is. Two riders from Tennessee are mentioned in the winners circle including Elite Women's first place, that's better than nothing. More than 50% of the entire winners circle in their back yard is better than nothing, too, but keep your head up. There's always next year.

:bang: :bang: