This weekend was the kick off race to the collegiate cycling season in the SECCC.  Waking up at 5:45 AM saturday and sunday to drive a hour to ETSU was not my favorite thing.  It all actually turned out well though.  I managed to get in a half decent run for downhill and got 12th.  12th doesn't sound all that great, but there was 4 people in the same second finishing time as I had, and several more in the second ahead of mine(I was in the 1:34, and getting to a low 1:33 or 1:32 would have easily moved me up to the top 5 and a podium spot.  I raced Slalom afterwards and for once I was feeling pretty well on a slalom course, probably because it wasn't a real slalom course, but more of a 2X track or two man mountain cross.  I had bobbled in my qualifying run giving me a bad seeding, and paired up against the #3 qualifier.  It was a close match and pretty much decided at the gate.  I had to ride my downhill bike and he was on a legit slalom bike, and when it came to the finish line, it was a difference of less than half a bike length.  Oh well next time will be better,  my slalom fork should be back from being rebuilt in time for next weekend at Brevard College.