The Groundswell Project

NORBA Mountain Bike Series

Gretchen Reeves and Pua on the podium

For results of last week's NORBA Mountain Bike Series check it out here.

24 Hours of Pisgah

This 24 hour bike race is based out of Brevard NC. It's taking place this weekend and you can read all about it here .

24 Hour Mtn Bike World Champs

Monique Puanani Sawicki (Pua), pulled a second place at the 24 Hour World Championships this weekend after more technical problems than we have ever seen happen to a rider in a single race before. Click here for results.On the day of the race it started to rain, and it rained until two hours after the finish on Sunday. All the riders seemed to have trouble with deurailers, chains, and other mud related issue. We had all that too, but, none of that seemed to slow Pua down until she found herself in the woods with no working lights twice! She had just taken the lead into the first night lap when half way through her lighting system failed. She lost her position and then lost the second place position also. We got her going again and she moved back into second on the next lap, then it happened again no lights! She had to hike out through the rough sections of the course and creep along on the others in the dark. Now the deficit was about 45 to 50 minutes to the lead. She kept on and caught back up to second place (Louise Kobin) after a few more laps. Then her chain broke setting her back 10 minutes more! This did not stop her though, she attacked and was able to pass Kobin and gap her by about 40 minutes in the final 3 laps of the race. This was not enough to catch the winner Marg Fedyna who had ridden very strong and held her lead. But, next year that one will be Pua's!

Now we are working way hard on recovery for the Norba National Marathon Championship at Mammoth a week from Thursday! She will be doing everything possible to be back in form by then. One more race, in the official plans and the this amazing first year as a pro is over! We are so excited about next year and the chance for us to do this full time and really see what Pua can do.

Ron Sawicki