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The Jimena Florit Diary
The 2002 NORBA series champion is one of the most widely-liked riders on the mountain bike circuit with a positive attitude as big as her racing talent.
As well as a repeat of her 2002 series victory, Jimena's 2003 goals include working toward qualification for the 2004 Athens Olympics where she hopes to ride as a US citizen.
Jimena's end of season wrap up
Argentina & USA, November 14, 2003
Well now my friends, I can finally say: "The season is over"
And what a season it was...
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It started in AZ, at the NOVA desert classic, where our team truck made it with an avalanche pushing it from behind, all the way from Denver. They literally closed the freeway behind them. RLX started with a top podium spot, with JHK [Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski] kicking butt with style, to big names like then World Champion Roland Green. Of course what JHK doesn't know yet, is that he IS one of the BIG names now. And I am not the only one that agrees.
Then came Sea Otter and the NORBA series. With no prize money awarded, the number of entrants didn't seem to change. That is, because the core of the sport, the amateurs, stood behind the sport of Mountain Biking and still believe it's the best sport in he world.
The NORBA series was interrupted by several World Cup stops. And I say interrupted, because although we participate and put 100% of ourselves in the World Cup series, I believe the NORBA series takes care of everyone from spectator to sponsors, to Pro's, to beginners, much better. Everyone has their place. During the NORBA events, I have SO much more fun, the interaction within riders and public is so much greater, it's a win-win situation.
OK, enough of that, we still need NORBA to make many changes and recover our prize money, so I don't think I love it the way it is...
During those World Cup races, we do get face to face with the highest level of the Universe. Our RLX Team scored 2 NORBA titles, 2 National titles, and every member of the team made it to the World's National Team. Willow, Carl, JHK and I were at the World's Start Line, always with the supreme help of Beth "Miss-Magic-Hands" Keyser and Dan "Magic-Wrench" Crean.
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RLX and its team sponsors were also doubly represented at the Pan-American Games, in Republica Dominicana. There we scored 1 GOLD MEDAL and some parasite, which decided to stay in our bodies (JHK and I) for longer than expected, made the season finale of the NORBA, World Cup and World's, very difficult. But we survived.
After accumulating those frequent flyer miles up to the Premier Executive level, our season was almost over. I had one more stop, an exclusive invitation to my own country, Argentina. The race was called: "Homenaje a Jimena Florit" and it was a way of celebrating my recent Gold Medal at Pan Am Games and my 2nd XC NORBA Title. It was for me, a great opportunity to be there with my people, where I started to race, and with my own family and friends.
The country of Argentina is the same as three years ago (my last visit there) but with more of everything:
More delinquency, more cops...
More poverty, more solidarity...
More cars, more and bigger roads...
The city of Buenos Aires was cleaner and beautiful as always.
There was a feeling of Nationalism in the air, provoked by all the common problems people have, identifying themselves with each other and deciding not to let governments to keep stealing what belong to them: Dignity and their life's savings. But the good old warmth you will always get from the people, is still there, intact for us to take. And I got lots of it. Even imported some to have and share.
I spent my days getting quality time with my family and friends, but I also had numerous phone calls to answer, with media requests, TV appearances, LIVE Radio, Newspapers, and magazine interviews. I was non-stop following a very unusual schedule. It was fun, but exhausting. I was also invited by my town's "Intendente", what would be called the Mayor here, who received me at his office with a beautiful flower bouquet and a very nice plaque with my name and the town's insignia.
The race consisted of a short circular circuit of about 1.3 km, inside a closed-in park, where the velodrome - I think the ONLY velodrome in B.A. - is also located. They hold these races here every month, and they are called "Mosquito", because at some times of the year it's full of them because of the short distance to the Rio de la Plata: just across the street.
The course was paved, so we used our own regular MTBikes, but with slick tires on. The race usually lasts 30', + 3 laps for the women, but this time, our category was the MAIN EVENT, so we raced double: 60'+ 3 laps. Great!
There were about 15 women, and for a "small" race, it's a big crowd in Argentina. Ladies from all over the country traveled hundreds of miles to be there. It really was an honor.
They asked many questions, which I was very happy to answer, all the typical:
- How long do you train?
- What do you eat?
- Do you do weights?
- Etc, etc
Anyway, with no all the questions answered, the race started the usual 30' late. That hasn't changed.
There were 2 primes during the event. One at 15' and another one at 45'. At the first prime, Graciela [Martinez, Mex] and I got away when we didn't stop after the 1st prime sprint. Graciela is a member of the Road and Track National Team and 14 + times National Champion in several events.
We then started our strong and steady pace, taking turns. We arranged for her to take the next prime, and then I would take the race. "OK" I said, and started working and taking longer pulls. It was VERY windy. We lapped riders a few times, and we got into the ZONE. We lost track of laps, time, etc. Meantime, we were giving a show not very common in women races, where usually nothing happens until last lap.
Then the final sprint came, and I took the race on the line.
After the race, I participated in the KIDS race (as I am a KID myself), took pictures and signed all the team posters I was able to squeeze into my bike case.
One day before returning to USA, my brother was walking on this avenue - a big street near my Mom's home, and a big RLX logo caught his eye. "No, must be a mistake", I thought when he told me they sell RLX in a store in Avenida Entre Rios.
I had to see it with my own eyes: there it was, a fake RLX t-shirt.
The logo, was EXACTLY the same, but the writing in the bottom, where usually would be "Ralph Lauren" name, it said "Rica Lewis Technology" or something like it. Of course, the initials were the same RL, so it was a match...
I bought the T-shirt for about $12 dollars. A little bit as a funny gesture, and a little bit worried. These people are using the RLX logo without permission, and that's not good for RLX. I then realized Argentina may be far from US, but distance is relative...
I was then ready to leave my country, thinking that although I was leaving them again, with no plans of returning soon, but knowing that distance is always relative...I now feel a little bit closer.
Smiles,
Jimena Florit