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Snerf's slant: The 2004 Nicole Freedman Diary
Sprinter, 2000 Olympian and a founder of the Basis women's team, Nicole Freedman - known as Snerf to her friends - is one of the US circuit's great characters. Her goal for 2004 is to make the Olympic team for Israel and failing that "to see one of my developmental teammates win their first NRC race and subsequently take all their prize money."
Team Basis tackles the California racing series
(This race report is dedicated to all of the Basis sponsors and supporters, in particular the wonderful friends who have helped Team Basis this March: the Gagnons, Zambranos, Egglestons, McFarlanes, Larry Geis, Andy Stone and Paige. It would probably mean so much more if I would take the time to figure out how to spell your names correctly.)
Despite being halfway around the world myself during the 2004 March California racing series (Pomona, Redlands and Sea Otter), I feel confident that I can adequately capture the experiences, having competed in these events myself a combined 20 times.
Team Basis sent full squads to Pomona, Redlands and Sea Otter including: Kate Maher, Chrissy Ruiter, Kristin Johnson, Lauren Gaffney, Steff Hannos and Kele Hulser. To support the racers, we shamelessly took advantage of a gaggle of host families and volunteers up and down the California Coast, to whom we are very grateful.
For the Pomona Stage Race, Team Basis proudly overtook the home of amnesiac hosts from 2003, Joe and Jen Zambrano, who seemed to have completely forgotten the extent of the destruction that befell them just 365 days prior when they housed the team. The team posted solid performances, none of which I remember and which are now irrelevant anyway, the race finishing over a month ago.
At Redlands, enthusiastic Team Basis fan and neo-sponsor Rick Gagnon supported the squad. A few brief emails from the preceding year prompted this generosity.
"Dear Nicole. I enjoyed meeting your team at the Redlands Classic. (2003) Please let me know if you ever need any help."
"Dear Rick. You are too kind. Hmmm, if you are serious perhaps we might accept your offer."
This year, dear Rick found himself unable to attend work for a week, instead cooking, cleaning, housing, mechanicing and airport shuttling 24/7, for Team Basis Vultures. "Really Rick, no, no I can get up from the couch to brush my teeth. Okay, well, if you insist, mine is the green toothbrush on the left side."
Meanwhile, Andy Stone, of Shimano who provides neutral mechanic support for all competitors at many of the national races, found himself fully employed by the Basis team.
"Andy, I am hoping you can fix a little problem I am having. I was just riding along and now the shifting is making a little squeak. Do you think it has anything to do with the 18 wheeler that parked on my bike last night?", a Basis racer, who asked to remain anonymous, requested, while placing a garbage bag of crumpled parts in front of Andy. "Oh, and Andy, my race starts in 17 seconds."
The team raced solidly throughout the month. Kate was in a promising break on day 4 of Redlands; Chrissy competed with bronchitis. "Hey Chrissy, cough on her, she is one place ahead of me in the results." Kristin floated up the Oak Glen hill climb and Steff mastered the hills despite training in Wichita Falls - home of the world famous 20 foot ski highway overpass.
Despite the effort, Lyne Bessette of Team Quark, took the victory. Official Team Basis protests are underway - she must have cheated. As such, we snuck Kristin et al on to the podium for a corrected awards ceremony.
Many and similar thanks to The Egglestons, the McFarlanes and Paige for housing, housing and a repeat of the Rick Gagnon experience, only this time in Monterey.
For and on behalf of Team Basis (but admitting no liability whatsoever - insert
five-page disclaimer here),
Nicole
