TRANSCRIÇÃO 🔗
WEBVTT
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:01.919
Welcome back to the Steep Stuff Podcast.
00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:05.759
I'm your host, James L'Oriello, coming to you today with breaking news.
00:00:05.919 --> 00:00:14.880
That's right, I am joined by CEO and founder of the Cirque Series Julian Carr, along with West Coast Race Director, our fan favorite, Mr.
00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:15.839
Steve White.
00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:20.320
They are on the show to announce uh the two new Cirque Series races.
00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:25.359
That's right, Cirque Series Baldy and Cirque Series JP have joined the lineup.
00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:37.840
Uh Cirque Series Now is a true 10 race series, being able to race uh your our favorite distance, the mountain classic slash up down, whichever you want to call it, uh, from East Coast all the way to West Coast.
00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:41.759
So New Hampshire slash Vermont all the way out to California.
00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:43.920
Uh great late season races, too.
00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:57.280
I think that this is something that's super exciting in the fact that now we've got something to do at the end of September after following UTMB races and the rut and Pikes Peak and all that and mammoth after uh September starts to fade out.
00:00:57.439 --> 00:00:58.560
We need something else to do.
00:00:58.719 --> 00:00:59.359
Well, guess what?
00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:00.079
We just found it.
00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:09.680
We can go race uh Cirque Series J Peak, which is not too far from Quebec, uh up there in northern Vermont, which is an iconic ski area, as well as Baldi.
00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:24.159
Um Baldi's gonna be taking place on October 3rd, so we finally have an early October race that's gonna be super competitive and a really gnarly course, just south of nine miles, almost 4,000 feet of elevation gain going over encresting Mount Baldy in Southern California.
00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:25.840
Uh, I can't wait for both of these.
00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:30.319
I know Julian and Steve are both super psyched to announce these and bring them out to the world.
00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:36.239
Um, yeah, so like I said, crazy excited about this and uh happy to bring this news to you guys.
00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:46.400
So without further ado, I hope you enjoy this one special presentation of the show for some breaking news on the Cirque series bringing Baldi and J Peak to life.
00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:52.960
All right.
00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:57.280
Julian Carr, Steve White, welcome back to the Steep Stuff Podcast.
00:02:57.360 --> 00:02:58.800
How's everybody doing?
00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:01.680
Yeah, James, doing great.
00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:02.560
Good, good.
00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:03.919
Excited to have you both on.
00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:05.919
Guys, we have breaking news here.
00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:14.800
Um, I'll let you guys take it away as far as the breaking news, but uh seems like the Cirque series is going back to the Northeast and heading west this year, which is exciting.
00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:17.280
Yeah, we're really excited.
00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:22.560
Um, you know, we started things off last year with Canon, New Hampshire and Killington, Vermont.
00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:28.479
They both went awesome, such a cool community, and you know, really tough courses.
00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:37.439
Um, you know, I don't have a ton of experience out east, so I was really um happy with all the vert that is going on out there.
00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:46.000
Um so we have a third race out east, and we are very excited to launch J Peak Vermont.
00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:51.919
Uh, another phenomenal course, just over 3,000 vert and just about seven miles.
00:03:52.159 --> 00:04:01.039
And um, you know, coming from a ski background for me, J Peak is quite uh iconic for steeps and vert.
00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:08.879
So, you know, looking at that summit, the J Peak Ridge up there is just kind of as cool as it gets.
00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:14.080
So we are very, very stoked on uh getting back out east, J Peak, Vermont.
00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:24.959
Um, and then going out west, uh we added Crystal, Washington last year, which also went amazing.
00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:28.399
And now we're just going Southern California.
00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:30.480
We got Mount Baldi, California.
00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:44.240
So going from the Pacific Ocean, you know, when you see the pictures of LA and you see those big mountains looming behind it, Mount San Antonio, which is a part of you know Mount Baldi, that's the summit for our race, and it's over 11,000 feet.
00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:50.399
So it is spectacular views out the Pacific Ocean and even out to the east.
00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:55.680
Uh grueling race, too, just over nine miles with just under 4,000 vert.
00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:05.600
Um, so we got the man with the plan, Tom Hooper race directing for J Peak, along with uh Killington and Cannon.
00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:13.040
And out West, of course, Steve will be uh race directing Mount Baldy and uh the rest of the West races.
00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:24.560
So um I've been obviously in the trenches with um all the you know appropriate approvals to produce the race and get the get it going.
00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:30.399
So I'm pretty psyched because Steve is just kind of learning about these two initials editions too.
00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:34.800
So I'm pretty excited to see his reaction and and how fired up he is.
00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:38.079
Steve, what are what are your what are your initial thoughts on this?
00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:38.959
This is a huge deal.
00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:41.199
I'm just so excited for these races.
00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:48.079
Yeah, I mean, uh I'm incredibly excited uh for both events.
00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:59.600
I I don't know that I'm gonna be able to make it out to JP this year schedule-wise, but um from what I've heard, it seems like an incredible course if
Load full transcript
it's anything like uh the other two events that we have out there.
00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:01.600
Um it'll be spectacular.
00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:12.319
Uh I also was uh not very familiar with the Northeast uh running community and just the scene in general, and being able to go out there this past season was incredible.
00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:24.720
Um I'm in awe with the types of or the type of terrain that's that's available uh to us as runners and especially on those courses, but also the people in those communities are incredible.
00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:27.199
So I mean I I was excited.
00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:39.600
I'm I continue to be excited about what we have going on the East Coast, and uh Tom just does a spectacular job bringing people together and putting something on that uh a lot of people can be really excited about.
00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:44.560
So as far as the West Coast goes, man, I'm I'm so stoked about Baldi.
00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:53.279
Uh I think it's uh a region that is you know not very known uh for trail.
00:06:53.759 --> 00:07:05.920
Um not a lot of people are based out of that area, uh, at least as far as I'm aware, but I'm freaking excited to uh get to know the community that is down there.
00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:14.959
Um I've had some conversations in the past week with some people that uh that do reside in that area, and uh it seems incredible.
00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:17.279
I've done a little bit of running in Santa Barbara.
00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:23.120
I actually haven't run this course yet, so I'm I'm stoked to get eyes on it uh later this fall.
00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:28.800
And uh, I mean from Google Earth and all the stuff I've been able to check out, it's it looks incredible.
00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:31.199
So really, really excited.
00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:35.680
Uh as far as stats go, it's exactly what we're looking for.
00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:43.360
Uh a very high quality distance to vert ratio, which gets me super stoked.
00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:44.879
So yeah, should be rad.
00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:46.639
Yeah, it's interesting to me.
00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:50.160
I had some questions about Baldi when when Julian had said something.
00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:55.519
Of course, I go to my Strava maps and I'm looking around, and I have a couple friends that live in the area.
00:07:55.600 --> 00:08:01.680
So I'm like, you know, kind of looking and trying to figure out like, all right, like, hmm, how easy is it to start from the base and get to the top?
00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:04.160
Like, would that be in line with like a Cirque series race?
00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:06.560
It's really cool news to hear that we're gonna go over Baldi.
00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:08.480
Like that is that's legit.
00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:12.160
And I can't imagine what the photo backdrop, and you have LA in the background.
00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:20.959
It just I don't know, it kind of creates like a uh just cool storytelling and just very just
a really neat backdrop for a uh for a mountain race, if you will.
00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:34.720
Yeah, so I started you know checking out Mount Baldi quite a long time ago just from uh interest in skiing there, because I was like skiing in like LA weird, and never happened.
00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:46.399
But I went there two summers ago to start checking out this race, meeting with the folks there, and you know, the guy that runs that place is the GM, uh he's he's amazing.
00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:56.159
His name's Robbie Ellinson, but ends up his younger brother is a pro skier that I did a bit with um kind of back in the day.
00:08:56.399 --> 00:08:57.840
So he's like, Oh, you know my brother.
00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:03.840
So we stayed up way too late in their little bar there, uh, talking about OG ski scene.
00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:08.240
And um, you know, I thought we'd get up at, you know, I don't know, 8 a.m.
00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:09.120
or something, get up there.
00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:11.759
And he's like, so pick you up, 5.45.
00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:15.759
And I'm looking at my watch, I'm like, I mean, it's like 1 a.m.
00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:16.240
right now.
00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:21.519
We've tossed a couple back, you know, and I'm like, absolutely, 5.45 sounds great.
00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:38.159
Sure enough, I go out there at 5 45 a.m., you know, pitch blackout, and picks me up, and we start huffing, and we get up to the top, and I mean, we I saw one of the I'll put in top 10 of sunrises I've ever seen.
00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:50.159
The whole Pacific Ocean was covered in this fog layer, and to the east it was just this insanely beautiful foothills rolling landscape, and then the fog started to deteriorate.
00:09:50.480 --> 00:10:09.679
And just for about an hour straight up there looking at you know how the course would flow, where the single track starts, um, and just everything that I was observing was perfect for the race flow as I'm getting treated to this most insane sunrise I've seen.
00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:12.960
And I could not believe it, uh, how cool it was.
00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:15.120
And and the course itself is just incredible.
00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:18.799
But yeah, the views are really, really, really cool.
00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:27.759
I I don't know how much inside baseball we can go into on the course itself for Baldy, but will it be like I know the devil's backbone trail is up there?
00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:32.320
There's like all kinds of like really neat uh like different like levels of trail up there.
00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:35.759
I like once you get past like the service road, I guess above kind of the huts.
00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:41.039
Um, can you like without having a map, maybe do you have an idea of what that would look like?
00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:46.799
I guess up the service road, connect onto some single track, hit the ridge kind of deal, or yeah.
00:10:46.879 --> 00:11:01.600
Well, you mentioned Devil's
uh backbone and you know, the service road, you get up to kind of mid-mountain, well, not even mid-mountain, but there's some more infrastructure from the resort, like kind of their lodge where everyone hangs out.
00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:06.480
Um, so there'll be a lot of spectating, 8 station one kind of a thing will be above that.
00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:19.519
But uh even the Jeep roads that go up above that infrastructure before Devil's Backbone starts, it's quite scenic, quite pretty, quite interesting looking because it's just different than what I'm used to seeing in the West.
00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:25.519
Um kind of how you go to Crystal and like how the Pacific Northwest has like its own vibe.
00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:28.240
I'd say that this has its own vibe too.
00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:33.120
Um once you do get on Devil's Backbone, it is pretty cool.
00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:41.600
It's kind of like double-edged ridge running, um, and you're in the direction of the ocean.
00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:50.159
So, you know, sometimes there's such cool views it races, but the course direction might be pointing your head away from it, perhaps.
00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:59.519
Um, so this is interesting because you are just looking at this view of the Pacific Ocean for this entire experience of you know grinding it out.
00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:05.840
You're going up another two 2500 vert from Devil's Backbone up, I believe.
00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:15.039
And you know, it's really interesting, gets technical in spots, and um that view is just again insane.
00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:17.519
Well, I can't wait.
00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:18.559
I'm I'm excited for that.
00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:21.919
Before we turn to JP, uh, is it okay to say the dates?
00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.600
Do we have the uh the dates out already?
00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:28.320
Yep, September 26th is uh J Peak.
00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:33.120
Okay, and then the next weekend, October 3rd, is Mount Baldi.
00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:34.080
Okay, perfect.
00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:36.879
So I think temps are gonna be amazing.
00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:39.600
Fall colors and full effect, JP.
00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:45.519
And you know, I think perfect running temps for October and Mount Baldi.
00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:51.519
Yeah, yeah, and I think that's the time of year for both of those is perfect because I mean it when is the last?
00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:54.320
So crystals, what, mid-September, somewhere in that range?
00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:55.519
Uh closer to September.
00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:56.559
September 19th.
00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:57.360
19th.
00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:57.679
Okay.
00:12:57.840 --> 00:12:58.879
So I mean it's kind of great.
00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:00.399
Yeah, you'll have great fall foliage.
00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:10.320
And I I love the addition of these late September to October races because it's a perfect spot in the calendar for athletes post-UTMB, post uh all of these big races.
00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:14.000
If you're looking for something competitive to get into, look no further.
00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:23.840
You know, it's uh for Mountain Classics, you know, it's really early June now to October that you can race in the United States and it just opens up the calendar even more, which is great.
00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:24.879
Totally.
00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:29.120
So, real quick, going back to Baldi, Steve.
00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:34.080
I know that you haven't been on the course yet, but obviously you've nerded out on our maps.
00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:36.879
How excited are you for the downhill at Baldi?
00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:38.879
Dude, it looks so mega.
00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:41.120
It it's it's really steep.
00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:48.639
Uh, I mean, just looking at Google Earth, the area where the descent is, it looks like it's potentially a little loose in a good way.
00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.679
Uh, in that like you can really let it rip.
00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:53.759
I'm not sure if that's true.
00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:57.519
Uh it looks really though.
00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:06.000
It's kind of like that daily uh I don't know, not in a dangerous way, but in a really fun way.
00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:08.639
So registration's open now.
00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:10.639
Um, yeah, perfect.
00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:20.399
I do want to talk and get into uh a little more of JP just because I feel like that one strategically where it's located on the map is a really cool spot.
00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:26.720
Uh, not just with the history of that area, which is really cool, but also a lot of Canadian runners can come down.
00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:30.480
This opens up the map for a lot of those athletes in Quebec.
00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:32.240
Um, it's something to do too.
00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:40.080
Like it's a great tune-up right before DeFi De Galore, which is gonna be um the Canadian mountain running champs, and we'll be sending a US team there too.
00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:42.480
And this is like in the weeks leading up to it.
00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:47.200
So pronounce is like it's a great opportunity for a double for athletes that are gonna be up there.
00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:50.320
So your Remy LaRuz of the world and athletes like that.
00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:52.720
That's like it's a great uh great opportunity.
00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.720
Can you can you talk a little bit about the course?
00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:59.600
Is it gonna be something like uh because I know Canon and Killington are very different like from one another?
00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:04.639
Uh will it be similar to like a Killington or more technical like a Canon, if you will?
00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:13.679
So JP's pretty cool in the sense that I think it actually is a good blend of canning of Canon and Killington.
00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:21.759
Um the majority of the route up uh is kind of Killington style.
00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:40.320
And uh once you start
approaching kind of the top third of the uphill, you it gets really steep, and then the actual ridge experience of J Peak um is you know really technical, really rugged and rocky and cool.
00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:46.639
Um and yeah, J Peak's pretty sick because it kind of has two peaks.
00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:55.360
The first peak is you know gonna be pretty gnar because you're going straight up, kind of like uh the side of this ski run.
00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:05.039
And then you kind of get a break, you cruise down, you're kind of cruising side hill, a little bit of downhill, and then you start to really punish yourself again going up.
00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:12.720
Um, and you kind of climb up this like couar that's that's skiable in the winter, but that's part of the uphill to get to the ridge up there.
00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:22.080
Um, I think they call it the Vermonter, and then you quickly connect to part of the Longs Trail, um, and that's that top ridge experience.
00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.519
So it's kind of cool.
00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:32.960
It's got really flowy, fun, like runner style aspects to it, and then the top is technical and kind of cirque style.
00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:44.559
Nice, nice, and then the descents are these similar where we're gonna hop on or is it gonna be smoking fast kind of service road with single track, or like how will that kind of uh come into play?
00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:56.799
Yeah, it's gonna be really fast kind of uh canon and killington style, or it's gonna be like double, I call it double single track, where it's like a Jeep Road that you know not many vehicles drive on.
00:16:57.039 --> 00:17:03.200
So um it it definitely feels cooler than a service road, you know.
00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:05.920
Uh that's one thing I was actually really impressed with.
00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:11.839
With the east, was on the map, I was like, okay, there's a bit of service road on the way down.
00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.519
Um, not my favorite.
00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:23.599
I'd rather have more single track, but then you actually get on it, and it's like this really moody, you know, double single track because nothing's driving on it.
00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:25.440
Uh they just need that space in the winter.
00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:33.359
So I was actually really impressed with how fun and how scenic uh a lot of the service quote unquote service roads were in the east.
00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:36.160
So um JPEG is quite similar.
00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:36.960
I love it.
00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.480
I love your guys' style too.
00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:41.680
Like it's not your races are not uh it mixes things up.
00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:46.559
You'll be on the service road for a little bit, next thing you know you're on single track, next thing you know you're on a ridge.
00:17:46.640 --> 00:18:03.599
And it you guys do a fantastic job when it comes to course design of making sure it's not just all one thing, it's a good diversity, uh, and you kind of use all the all the um really everything at your disposal uh to create some like really cool courses, if you will.
00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:05.119
Well, thanks.
00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:19.359
We you know love to utilize what's there, obviously, and the whole you know point of a search series is to go summit a peak and do it together and get that primal sense of accomplishment.
00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:26.880
Um so as long as it's a nice fun route that gets you to the summit in a somewhat intuitive manner.
00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:42.960
Um obviously certain elements are important to make sure there's no bottlenecking and all that good stuff, but to the peak and back down, you know, start, finish, same place, party waiting for you at the finish line, and you know, high five everybody because you all just hike the same peak together.
00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:43.759
Yeah, yeah.
00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:45.279
That's a good it's a party, man.
00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.160
It's it's unique.
00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:47.359
Yeah, yeah.
00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:52.559
And hey, real quick, you mentioned it earlier about the proximity to Canada.
00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:56.880
Yeah, that's actually one thing we're really excited about because it's so far north.
00:18:57.039 --> 00:19:01.599
Um, we're quite close, like you said, Quebec area and especially Montreal.
00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:14.720
So um we're really excited, same as Baldi, to see the mountain community, the uh, you know, that kind of whole new scene up there uh for both of them.
00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:25.920
So uh really excited to see what people come out of the woodwork and obviously um really pumped for our community that traveled with a lot of the races to see uh such a new interesting place.
00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.039
Yeah, yeah.
00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.240
No, I feel the same way.
00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:39.119
It's it's super exciting to see uh yeah, I I feel like the LA scene I'm very interested in because you've got your like your Chad Halls of the world that live in that area that that run around, your max jollofs.
00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:45.759
Um so I'm curious to see like if we'll get like a good turnout of uh like local solid elites on the Baldy side.
00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:53.759
And then for the Northeast always has, you're gonna, you know, we'll see a whole slew of really interesting, like uh cool uh athletes.
00:19:53.839 --> 00:20:00.319
But the LA is interesting to me too, because you know, they got races like the Baldy 5000, which Hoka puts on, and then there's the heck is it?
00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:10.079
There's like the Mount Baldy run to the top, and they have like cult-like followings, like people love to go run up Mount Baldi, so yeah, no doubt this will be a success nonetheless.
00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:11.759
Yeah, I'm pretty excited.
00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:19.680
The the GM I mentioned earlier, Robbie at Baldi, mentioned the other two races they
have there, which are obviously a little different than what we're doing.
00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:23.200
That's why he was so excited to have our race there too.
00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:33.119
And he's putting together like a you know, do all three, and you get some kind of you know TBD, um, what that distinction will be.
00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:37.599
But we'll obviously be the last race of those three um there.
00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:46.960
So he's gonna put a bunch of uh marketing and energy into people that come out for all three of the races on their mountain throughout the summer.
00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:56.160
Um, so yeah, we're we're pretty thrilled because the other two are very well attended, and um I think ours is obviously a little different.
00:20:56.240 --> 00:21:07.200
Um, might be a little harder, even though um, you know, you get that downhill, but I think we'll so you know, I'm just excited to get in the mix at Baldy.
00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.480
Yeah, no, for sure.
00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:14.160
Steve, on the topic of that bald or of the uh Baldy downhill, can you can you go in a little more like uh depth on this?
00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:21.279
Because like I think in my head of like the the coming off of Baldy and Alta, which is really fun, but also somewhat heinous.
00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.880
Um what do you think?
00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:25.680
What do you what do you what's the closest thing you think you can put this to?
00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:30.319
I know you haven't seen it in real life, but on the map, like what are you grade-wise and things like that?
00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:31.519
Like, what do you think?
00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:33.440
I don't know.
00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:35.920
I don't know that I'm qualified to speak to that.
00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:39.759
I'll let Julian answer that.
00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.759
I think Steve's more than qualified.
00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:53.759
I think uh it's one of those courses that I don't think it's as steep as an intense as intense as coming off Mount Baldi at Alta.
00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:56.240
Uh 'cause that's literally straight down.
00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:59.119
Uh yeah, it's really fun one.
00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:11.279
So Well it's more runnable, whereas you know the Alta one is so technical and so steep that you know obviously some guys are running down that, but I'm not.
00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:15.359
I'm uh I'm yeah, it's a little different.
00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:18.079
It's not quite as technical, so it's a little more runnable.
00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:25.039
But then on the way down, you kind of crest that whole Mount Baldi, like Mount Mount San Antonio bowl.
00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:36.559
So you get a view of kind of the whole devil's backbone you just ran, and you get to see that whole high alpine area um that you weren't getting views of while you're running the backbone.
00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:45.839
And then there's an old Forest Service hut that's down at the bottom
of that bowl that we're gonna run by, and it's pretty historic, it's been there a really long time.
00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:54.319
Um so we're really excited that we're had the allowance to run by this really cool, uh, really historic hut that's been there a long time.
00:22:54.480 --> 00:23:04.000
So I think it'll give you that sense of you know um heritage for people that have been up in the high alpine area in California for that long.
00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:09.839
Um so I think when you think of LA and people that have been there a long time, I think that place is special to them.
00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:13.599
It's obviously the highest peak in that entire LA area.
00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:27.839
Um so I think it's uh quite the privilege for us to be able to produce a race there and the entire downhill experience um is fast, it's runnable, um, and again, just a true high alpine experience.
00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:44.400
And then then you get to tree line and it feels a little more like uh I don't even know what the right word is because I don't want to say desert vibes because it's not, it's it's still high alpine, they're still pine trees, they're just they feel different to me.
00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:46.480
It all looks different to me.
00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:54.960
Um, so again, that's why so thrilled to treat everyone to such a cool race because it is such a unique high alpine environment there.
00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.240
Very cool.
00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:58.240
Yeah, I I uh listen, man.
00:23:58.319 --> 00:24:00.799
I'm already looking at what flight like where I'm gonna fly into.
00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.519
I can't wait.
00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:04.400
Yeah, well that that's one thing that's really cool.
00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:09.839
I can't remember the I should definitely note right now, but that there's an airport's not LAX, it's a different one.
00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.680
Ontario is what it is.
00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:13.200
Yeah, okay, there it is.
00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:28.799
So not LAX, but Ontario Airport, you land in I want to say like 20, 25 minutes, we were like pulling into Mount Baldi base area, like unbelievably close to the airport.
00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:30.240
I was really shocked.
00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:42.000
Um, and then once you pull into this really rootsy, this is another thing I really like about Baldi, it's very rootsy, and um, you know, mom and pop ran truly.
00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:45.440
It's not part of like a big parent arm.
00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:52.799
Um, it's you know, Robbie will be there, the GM and his staff, you can tell, have been there, they put a lot of care into what they do.
00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:59.359
But same with like the lodging and the base area facilities, um, just lots of character.
00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:05.599
Um, so you know, those are the elements too that really contribute to the vibe of a race, and Mount Baldi has it all.
00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:06.799
Very cool.
00:25:06.960 -->
00:25:07.839
Yeah, I can't wait.
00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:08.960
Very excited for both.
00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:16.160
And to say that, JP, their start-finish, base area, or like tram side.
00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:18.720
Um, beautiful grassy area.
00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:23.920
Uh you know, obviously a little more um I don't know what the right word is.
00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:32.720
It's just like uh, you know, world-class ski destination that has this room to have lots of summer operations.
00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:39.279
So we have our whole start-finish and vendor area in this really just beautiful scenic area right by their tram building.
00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:45.359
Um, whereas Baldi knows Rootsy and they've been carving out their own little scene there for a while.
00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:50.240
Um, and obviously they're kind of at the mercy of how much it snows in LA.
00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:54.640
So I'm always just so impressed that they're able to pull off a ski season there.
00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:58.799
Um because the train's incredible, so it's on the list to go there and ski.
00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:04.319
But man, both are so different, so unique in their own way, and um both just awesome.
00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:17.119
Now with the Northeast having three races, like is there a potential thought of maybe like an East Coast versus West Coast like cup with a final or something like that that we might be able to do in the future?
00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:27.200
Because I don't know, it's kind of cool that there's like now multiple races, there's infrastructure in place to really have like a ranking system of the athlete or the elites and people that are going to race this.
00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:31.039
Um, you know, the little East Coast versus West Coast thing we could do in the future.
00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:33.759
I know Steve and I have talked about that a bit.
00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:45.839
Um, race production gets interesting because you have to be able to have you know a viable overall prize winnings.
00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:57.680
And to have kind of two separate series really creates a lot of opportunity, but also you know, challenges to be able to have two separate series that are viable and healthy.
00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:06.240
So we think the best route forward is to have you know, we're gonna have ten races, three out east and seven in the west.
00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:13.119
So we'll define it ASAP, and definitely by 2027 will be really polished.
00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:21.680
But we just want to have a really healthy overall title and something like your best finish at four races or five races.
00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:23.359
It doesn't matter which ones you've done.
00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:30.160
So it doesn't matter if you're East Coast base or West Coast base, if you did really well at five of the races, that's the criteria.
00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:49.839
Um, so you know, we're we're thinking that through as much as we can because yeah, at a perfect world, we'd love to have an East Bay series and a and a West Bay series, but the reality of the logistics and rewarding two separate series becomes quite challenging when we're already producing a 10-race series, um, when we're truly unique in that way.
00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:54.960
So, you know, there's like I said, a lot of opportunity, but that comes with logistical challenges.
00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:57.279
So we're trying to figure out the best way to approach that.
00:27:57.440 --> 00:28:14.319
But we hope to just make a way that unifies the whole series that makes it really approachable for you know the right people to want to apply their time and effort to do uh because right now if you come out, you kind of get rewarded on points by any race that you do.
00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:18.000
So if you come out to eight of our races, you're probably gonna do quite well in the overall.
00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:29.200
But we realize that you know not everyone can um apply their availability to just Cirque series because we know there's so many great races out there, so we'll figure that out.
00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:39.599
But I think it'll still just be one cool series, one overall title, but uh we'll probably figure out a sweet spot for how many races are uh contributing to your points.
00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:40.640
No, I love that.
00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:55.759
Because, dude, I mean, like, yeah, I don't know, especially with the absence of Golden Trail this year and then sky running kind of in the space, like Cirque series, the the elite fields that you guys bring in, I think uh it's just I mean, some of the best competition on the planet.
00:28:55.920 --> 00:29:00.559
So then to win that thing like means something, you know, men and women, it it's pretty exciting.
00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:09.039
So now I love to hear that there's there's plans for that because it's uh I feel like for athletes that's a great it's a great thing to put on the resume by performing well.
00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.160
For sure.
00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:18.799
And um, yeah, well, we should probably do another show once we figure out what that polished version of that overall is.
00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:22.640
Um, because we do want to make sure everyone's aware of it.
00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:34.640
Um and you know, see what kind of gas we can put on that overall equation so that people know they'll be rewarded if they're gonna gun it out and fight for that overall title.
00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:40.480
Um and yeah, it's like having kids, you know, you can't say you have a favorite, they're all cool.
00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.799
I love it, I love it.
00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:45.440
Um guys, I think we covered most of it.
00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:50.400
I mean, we I wanted to make sure we conveyed to the audience we've got the dates, we have sign up open now.
00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:54.079
They have a good understanding of our uh of the courses.
00:29:54.240 -->
00:29:56.480
Um one more time for Baldy.
00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:59.759
You said that's around nine miles with almost 4,000 feet of gain.
00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:05.359
Yep, nine point one miles with three thousand nine hundred twenty-six feet of earth.
00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:07.839
And then what is JP gonna be one more time?
00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:12.480
JP's 7.1 miles with 3,044.
00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.759
Okay, wow.
00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:16.880
All right, so two amazing new additions to the series.
00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:18.240
Super excited about this.
00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:19.920
This is uh this is big news.
00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:22.640
Super excited that we're gonna have these going on this year.
00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:26.319
Um, yeah, do you guys have anything to add uh to the end on this?
00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:38.799
Yeah, I'd say, you know, again, we're just so thrilled to be out east and to say all three of our East-based races, each one of them has 3,000 vert.
00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.000
Pretty cool.
00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:51.039
You know, when you think of the East, uh, I can see why people are so proud of it and you know, have a lot of pride when uh we talk about the scene out there.
00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:53.039
Um, and yeah, it's healthy.
00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:56.319
And uh we're we're really excited about these three races.
00:30:56.480 --> 00:31:08.480
So um yeah, thanks so much for the opportunity to talk about them and uh excited that registration's open and you know, 10 race series this summer will be the the most for us.
00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:19.920
And again, thanks so much to Steve for leading the charge with uh race directing in the west, and obviously shout out to Tom Hooper for uh race directing our three East races.
00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:21.839
Yeah, yeah, you guys are amazing.
00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:25.519
Love what you do and uh super appreciate it, and I can't wait for the next one.
00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:27.279
Well, always more to talk about.
00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.559
So thank you guys.
00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:30.240
Thanks, James.
00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.920
Yeah, appreciate it.
00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.839
What'd you guys think?
00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:36.400
First of all, what are you guys gonna be racing this summer?
00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:37.440
I I'd love to hear it.
00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.799
Throw it in the show notes.
00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:44.720
Um there'll be accompanying posts with this, so throw them in the uh throw them in the reels comments.
00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:46.799
I would love to see what you guys have lined up.
00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:48.079
Super exciting.
00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:53.440
Um, I just love the opportunity for more athletes, more approachability, more things to get into the sport.
00:31:53.519 --> 00:32:11.839
And as the sport continues to grow, the Cirque Series is just such a world-class organization putting on, I mean, definitely some of the best mountain races on the planet, but it's the only game in town when it comes to uh you know the mountain classic slash up down distance, and they do just do such a good job of putting that on across the country.
00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:17.920
Um, pretty cool that now it's an East Coast, full-on East Coast to West Coast 10 race series.
00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:21.200
Um, it's just bringing you kind of everything, which is amazing.
00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:24.319
And yeah, excited for Baldi, excited for JPeak.
00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:30.160
Uh, cannot wait to see kind of how these play out this year um and uh where it goes from here.
00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:32.240
So, guys, I hope you enjoyed this one.
00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:39.599
Uh definitely leave some comments in uh definitely leave some comments um, you know, on your excitement level and what you're gonna be racing this summer.
00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.799
Like I said, I'd love to hear.
00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:46.720
If you have been enjoying the show uh and what we've been bringing, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.
00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:52.000
Uh, that's how we can continue with some of that discoverability and getting some of these great conversations out to the world.
00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:54.160
So genuinely appreciate your support and time.