2009 brings some big changes to the domestic MTB schedule with the creation of the new USproXCT, East Coast, and West Coast series'. When did you first hear about the new schedule and what were your first impressions?

 I heard there were going to be some changes late last season but it was all just rumors, until they posted the new schedule earlier this year.  At first I did not know what to think.  I really thought about just racing the West series of more appropriately the California series but that just seemed silly.  Once the USproXTC was announced it looked so similar to national series that we have been racing for years that it was just going to be business as usual.


Do you view this series as a step in the right direction for National Level MTB racing, or "same product, new packaging"?

 I think it is a step in the right direction but the new series may need a couple years to really figure out what it needs to be.  I think that we need to reward the best races in the country by having them be the races the circus travels to.  I see that as races like Sea Otter and Bump’n Grind that have not been part of the national series and thrive on their own.  But I just did not understand why we went to places like Brian Head that had so few spectators, i.e. friends and family, and the racer numbers really seemed to be going down.

I keep hearing that mountain bike racing is thriving in niches all over the country.  There seems to be something good here in Oregon, the upper Midwest has some huge races, I think Texas is going off as well.  It seems like the only places that are really hurting is where we have been racing.

With that the east /west thing is a super idea.  Each race having its own promoter that has been successful at hosting its own race is the best way.  Then having the best from the east and west as the pro cup is great.

But it's a bit confusing with the US Cup East/West, ProXTC, National Calendar, AMBC, and whatever else is going on to figure out where to go race.


What are your thoughts on the loss of the Semi Pro class and larger fields in the Pro Men?

I think it is kind of silly.  I know that a bunch of the Semi Pro guys should be racing pro and a bunch shouldn’t.  The ones that should will probably land in the top 20 or 30 right away and lots of us should be worried about them.

There does need to be somewhere to nurture the U23 riders, semi pro could have been a great sport for that.  Semi pro used to be a big deal.  They raced the same courses as the pros just the day before and they were used to find lap times for the pro races, I remember they even did more laps then the pros did a couple times.  But something changed and it became more of a super expert type of class.

I remember 100 plus person pro fields and I want to see it again, if this is the way than so be it.  But the disparity of the level of support from the front row to the third row is so huge right now makes it tough to want to be 10th row.

Those semi pros that opt out of the upgrade and race cat one, I see them making lots of friends in their new class.

As somewhat of a Short Track specialist, what are your thoughts about the loss of STXC on the National series? Do you see Super D taking it's place as "the second race of the weekend"?

I am bummed to see the STXC gone.  I think there are only 2 next year, Sea Otter and Nats.  And if it is not an event we do all year why have it at nats at all, why should there be a national champion of an event that doesn’t exist.

I think short tracks were a good way to start selling mtb endurance racing to the public.  Short courses that can be seen from just a couple of spots, good race drama, they remove the rides out of contention so it is not confusing.  All we lacked was beer sales and cheerleaders to get it going.

Lots of guys are starting to do Super Ds but it is mainly the guys that go downhill fast.

I will not be racing the super d anytime soon.

But I would love to see a second race each weekend that involved some climbing, maybe bring the marathon back, I would race those, and they are really popular outside of the national series.

 

As you enter your 10th season in the Pro ranks, what has been your biggest motivator to stay at it. Do you still feel your best is yet to come?

It sure doesn’t feel like I have been doing this for a decade.  I must be getting old, which is funny to come from someone who feels so young.

The dream keeps me going, every day.  I want to make it.  The thought that there is a possibility that I can ride my bike full time and get paid without having another  job to pay for the habit.  That thought gets me out of bed and on my bike every day and keeps me from the donut aisle at the grocery.

I know my best is yet to come; I have always been a late bloomer.  I have been getting better each year at everything on the bike.  I did have a set back last August when I tore my ACL doing a kids camp and missed the end of the season.  It gave me time to reflect, time to think I was done racing, and finally time to dream about coming back stronger than ever.  I feel like I am getting a second chance and need to make the most out of it, I feel like a rookie again because of it.


Colorado, Idaho, Oregon... Which has been best for a professional cyclist?

When you are “pro” cyclist just living is sweet.  Durango was really good to ride, winters were not too tough and summers were sweet, and being at FLC there were always guys to train with.  Idaho had tough winters, I had many 3 hour days where it never warmed up to 10 degrees, and I rode alone all the time, but the mountain biking was sweet.  Oregon seems plush.  Bend has a bunch of super fast guys; I don’t even get to be the fastest guy in the neighborhood with Ryan living 10 houses away.  The winter is pretty easy as well, there are a few days when it just sucks and riding is just not going to happen, but it is only a few days.  The mountain biking here is really fun too.  I am really hoping Bend will be the best spot.


How's you training been leading in to the race season?

 We will see.  I have ridden fewer hours than in years past.  But I have ridden allot harder.  I even have ridden my mtb a few times; typically the first national was my first outing in the dirt.

 

Personal Goals for 2009?

I want to get a top 10 finishes at some cup races.  I am really hoping for a good day at nats, now that it is at altitude.

Thanks so much

 

 

[You can check out more from Cody at www.codypetersonracing.com]