Wow! I`ve already spent more time on the podium this year than all of last year. Just back from a third place finish at the one-day California State Championship Downhill Race and already enjoying the cooler temps of El Cajon (only high 80`s here!). Despite the 100-degree temps, the weekend was great because my cousin Jeff and his wonderful wife Erin came to the event to cheer on Steph and I. Thanks to both of you, apparently it worked:) A couple of weeks back we traveled to Ensenada to race at the Ecological Park southeast of town. The course was very similar to the last race at this venue with some new boulder obstacles and steep, deep sand thrown in. After casing the 25` road gap 4 of six times in practice I got it right for the two race runs and ended up in 6th...2 hundredths of a second off the pro podium!! My Mongoose Tribe teammate Mike Miranda took a strong third while a timing mix-up kicked our teammate Bob off his well-deserved podium. That’s racing in Mexico, lots of great courses, donkey riding, unique timing, and sunset lobster dinners. The rest of what we do? You should come find out. Check with Manny Vargas at www.ffat.biz for more info. Continuing in reverse order by date we return to the NORBA National at Fontana. I had a great day on the Super-D course and landed a 5th place podium but missed a few good lines on the DH course and only managed a 10th. I am looking forward to my next NMBS race, which will be at Deer Valley, UT. Despite NORBA`s recent (mid-season) rule changes that automatically removed me from the national series jersey hunt, I will still race Super-D at Deer Valley, Sonoma, and Brianhead. See you at the start gate!