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This page features noteworthy news and updates
on our programs and athletes.
Nancy and Gary Fichter's
account on their epic Morocco desert mountain bike adventure. We are relaxing beachside in Essaouira. We start a three day trip back home tomorrow
with a night in Marrakech and a night in Paris. It's been a great trip. We were in very rural areas amongst poor,
but contented people. You really see how little is required to survive and be happy. The bike ride was not
like traditional USA mountain bike trails. Sometimes we were on gravel roads, but sometimes we were on goat paths, or
riding up a dried stream bed that was totally covered with 4-6 inch river rock., and a lot of conditions in between.
We did some carrying and pushing along with a lot of riding. They're not really set up for recreation. We stayed
in gites, which are pretty much a concrete floor with a pad to put your sleeping bag on. We camped out twice, once at
about 7500 feet and the other time in the desert. And, we stayed in nice riads, small 6-8 room inns built around an
exposed courtyard. I could go on and on,
but it was very rewarding and educational to keep it short. We now speak Berber, well, maybe six words. It will
be good to get home.  
 
Picking dates for lunch; the better part of the
trail; getting rocks out of the shoes; waiting for crossing traffic. Training buddies Jan Toohey
and Vickie O'Gara are here seen doing plyometric leg strength on a beautiful
September day in Sun Valley. The keen eye may also notice that these ladies are three quarters up Bald Mountain.
Jan has her sights on the 2010 Master World
Cup in Canada. We see her out several times a week and in better shape than ever. Way to Go!  
We congratulate Patty
Puz on winning another US National Time Championship! We also congratulate fellow Drance-Colnago
rider Richard Feldman on his National Title.    We see Patty working on Trunk Angle and Frontal Area, training by
the SNRA in the spring of 2010.
We have repeatedly seen Ketchum strongman Rick Knoebel skiwalking up Baldy in preparations for ski season and the 2010 Masters
World Cup in Canada. Way to go Rick!   
Ketchum & Seattle all-round athlete Don Lewis has had awesome progress in cycling the last two years, he is also dabbling in triathlon,
and we expect to see more and more of him on the ski trails. Here Don is scaling
the Warm Springs accent on Baldy in preparation for the 2010 Baldy Hillclimb. Way to Go!
Tom Campion is
back in the saddle for real. He has had a long period of rehab and recovery from his accident two years ago and
he is getting back into form; his rehab contained serious mileage on bikes and skis! Watch Tom in future
masters cycling events.
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| Tom on Galena Summit, Spring 2010 |
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We keep
following Bozeman buddy Tejay VanGarderen as he advances through the pro peloton.
We knew you had it in you! We also commend young Sun Valley cyclists Josh Berry and Max Durtschi on finding exciting
rides on the pro circuit. Congratulations! -j (Tejay images from Cyclingnews)  
Charley French is still at it at 84; World Champion triathlete and
cross-country skier. You are our hero!
 
The Ladies are training hard for the winter.
  
  
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Master Ski Champion Del Pletcher is
on target for another season!
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| Del training on Bald Mountain. |
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| Roger and riding buddy Serge with Francette in tow in the Cevenne Mountains, May 2007 |
Roger Miller reports cycling in the high country is getting
hampered by seasonal wet and cold weather. His end of September report summarized the most recent ride
up and down the Col de Galibier, which included rain, freezing temperatures and frost bite. The 61.7
miles covering 8439 feet of elevation gain and corresponding decent took 6 ½ hours as they were stopping every 2K in
order to maintain body heat on the way down. That is called character building. Roger
and Francette have covered an impressive amount of the French mountains; especially the Cevenne Mountains near their home
in Southern France, but we also have reports from the Col de Telegraph, Le Tourmalet, Mont Ventoux, Alpe d’Huez,
everything seen in the Tour de France and much more. There should be more riding, but also ski training and hitting
the early snow in Italy before the Millers return to Sun Valley around Christmas.
  
Francette
riding on a cool morning; Roger and Jon; and Daniel, Jon, Frederic and Roger taking a coffee break .
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