Sitting in the West Palm Beach airport now waiting for my flight back home, I have some time to recollect on the incredible weekend I had at the 2010 Daytona Beach Freeride. Right off the bat, I have to thank my sponsor Pacseal Hydraulics, without their financial aid this trip would not have been possible. Big thanks to my Sponsor and friends at Liquid Militia for helping me afford to pay Chris MacClugage to drive my ski across the country and back, and also for being my biggest on site supporters! Last but not least a big thanks to my good friend and rider DJ Grahm, and his Sweetheart for a wife Natalie. They welcomed me yet again to stay at their house the few days before and after the event, also getting me around town and to and from the event.
In Daytona, Friday was a little uneventful. Chris MacClugage didn’t show up with my ski until about 1pm, yet I wasn’t able to get it out of the trailer and install my new prototype AC Racing handle pole until about 3:45. I finished installing the new pole and was rushing my ski into the water at 4:30 with less than 30 minutes to ride before the beach closed at 5pm. unfortunately I was not able to ride and spent the next 3 hours pulling my carburetors apart to unstick my needle and seats that were stuck shut from the long transport. That night we all partied at the beach house about 10 min down from the event site where a huge pallet bonfire was lit, Pit bikes and mini ATC’s circled the party, and loud music kept everyone having a great time.
The next day I made sure to be the first one in the water, it was a stormy day with scattered rain and overcast conditions. I had a lot of fun riding but eventually came in after an hour very frustrated because I overlooked a component on the new handle pole that allows me to install a spring to reduce the weight I have to lift on the pole. I ended up taking an hour and a half to remove the new pole and install my old pole that I brought. This was the best thing I could do because I felt so much more comfortable and fluid riding with a handle pole spring.
A few hours later I signed up for the sickest trick contest Sponsored by Hydro-Turf. The ground rules were one person goes out and gets 5 waves to attempt to pull the sickest tricks you can. My first wave I pulled my first one handed re entry, the next wave I wanted to get a feel for how high I can launch myself and threw myself in a scary high barrel roll, the third wave I attempted a barrel roll Re entry which didn’t go so well. My fourth wave I went for the double barrel roll with only 15 ft to run at the wave when I wanted 30, I still made a hair over 1 ½ rolls. On my way in I attempted to barrel roll over a breaking wave but got sucked in and spit up the opposite side. Macc and Ant Burgess ended up splitting the title with Macc going for a huge double back flip attempt and Ant going huge on some back flip variables.Later on when I went to go ride, I ended up sharing some waves and riding with child hood hero, Rick Roy. That was an incredible experience I really appreciated. That night we partied at the local club Razzles. A lot of shenanigans took place that night but overall it was a fun night meeting a ton of cool people, and having a great time with my friends at Liquid Militia.The following morning I was again the first one in the water at 8:50 am to ride some really big and clean surf for Daytona. It was a beautiful morning and I rode my ski for about an hour and a half before my half tank of gas was empty. After I cleaned up the room I was in to check out, Natalie drove me to get more gas so I could ride for the rest of the day. Another 2 hour ride session left me extremely tired and ready to slow down for a few minutes until I was convinced to race in the amateur motosurf race. This ended up being the most fun thing I could of done next to the sickest trick all weekend.Having never raced before I took advice from a few friends and race legend Chris MacClugage which was really helpful. His wife Rachel ended up finding a pair of race goggle for me to borrow which really came in handy! The first moto I ended up right behind the leader by a buoy before I ate it big time coming around the inside buoy. After a swift swim I was back in the race and held 3rd place until the end! The race was a promotional race where the top 3 amateurs raced in the Pro class vs. Chris MacClugage, Dustin Farthing, and a handful of other experienced racers for a $1000 prize.Halfway through the race Macc and Farthing ended up breaking down and the amateurs took the same finishing position including myself beating the other racers on the track! I also ended up coming in front of a perfect launch wave on the final lap that I threw a barrel roll off which was really fun! The entire experience was super tiring after the entire weekend and the intensity of the race but I would not trade that experience for anything.
A 3 hour drive back to West Palm beach I spent a day at my main sponsor Wamiltons customs to relax, recoup, and help out around the shop before I ended up here at the West Palm airport writing this blog.Overall Daytona was a huge success and killer event. I had so much fun riding, and meeting a ton of really cool people. Now I have to get home, get my ski back from MacClugage in Havasu, and figure out how afford to get to the Australian Pro Invite Open February 20th!
Until the next event,-Mark Gomez
In Daytona, Friday was a little uneventful. Chris MacClugage didn’t show up with my ski until about 1pm, yet I wasn’t able to get it out of the trailer and install my new prototype AC Racing handle pole until about 3:45. I finished installing the new pole and was rushing my ski into the water at 4:30 with less than 30 minutes to ride before the beach closed at 5pm. unfortunately I was not able to ride and spent the next 3 hours pulling my carburetors apart to unstick my needle and seats that were stuck shut from the long transport. That night we all partied at the beach house about 10 min down from the event site where a huge pallet bonfire was lit, Pit bikes and mini ATC’s circled the party, and loud music kept everyone having a great time.
The next day I made sure to be the first one in the water, it was a stormy day with scattered rain and overcast conditions. I had a lot of fun riding but eventually came in after an hour very frustrated because I overlooked a component on the new handle pole that allows me to install a spring to reduce the weight I have to lift on the pole. I ended up taking an hour and a half to remove the new pole and install my old pole that I brought. This was the best thing I could do because I felt so much more comfortable and fluid riding with a handle pole spring.
A few hours later I signed up for the sickest trick contest Sponsored by Hydro-Turf. The ground rules were one person goes out and gets 5 waves to attempt to pull the sickest tricks you can. My first wave I pulled my first one handed re entry, the next wave I wanted to get a feel for how high I can launch myself and threw myself in a scary high barrel roll, the third wave I attempted a barrel roll Re entry which didn’t go so well. My fourth wave I went for the double barrel roll with only 15 ft to run at the wave when I wanted 30, I still made a hair over 1 ½ rolls. On my way in I attempted to barrel roll over a breaking wave but got sucked in and spit up the opposite side. Macc and Ant Burgess ended up splitting the title with Macc going for a huge double back flip attempt and Ant going huge on some back flip variables.Later on when I went to go ride, I ended up sharing some waves and riding with child hood hero, Rick Roy. That was an incredible experience I really appreciated. That night we partied at the local club Razzles. A lot of shenanigans took place that night but overall it was a fun night meeting a ton of cool people, and having a great time with my friends at Liquid Militia.The following morning I was again the first one in the water at 8:50 am to ride some really big and clean surf for Daytona. It was a beautiful morning and I rode my ski for about an hour and a half before my half tank of gas was empty. After I cleaned up the room I was in to check out, Natalie drove me to get more gas so I could ride for the rest of the day. Another 2 hour ride session left me extremely tired and ready to slow down for a few minutes until I was convinced to race in the amateur motosurf race. This ended up being the most fun thing I could of done next to the sickest trick all weekend.Having never raced before I took advice from a few friends and race legend Chris MacClugage which was really helpful. His wife Rachel ended up finding a pair of race goggle for me to borrow which really came in handy! The first moto I ended up right behind the leader by a buoy before I ate it big time coming around the inside buoy. After a swift swim I was back in the race and held 3rd place until the end! The race was a promotional race where the top 3 amateurs raced in the Pro class vs. Chris MacClugage, Dustin Farthing, and a handful of other experienced racers for a $1000 prize.Halfway through the race Macc and Farthing ended up breaking down and the amateurs took the same finishing position including myself beating the other racers on the track! I also ended up coming in front of a perfect launch wave on the final lap that I threw a barrel roll off which was really fun! The entire experience was super tiring after the entire weekend and the intensity of the race but I would not trade that experience for anything.
A 3 hour drive back to West Palm beach I spent a day at my main sponsor Wamiltons customs to relax, recoup, and help out around the shop before I ended up here at the West Palm airport writing this blog.Overall Daytona was a huge success and killer event. I had so much fun riding, and meeting a ton of really cool people. Now I have to get home, get my ski back from MacClugage in Havasu, and figure out how afford to get to the Australian Pro Invite Open February 20th!
Until the next event,-Mark Gomez
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