Kootenai County Fair Arenacross, Coeurd'alene, Id, 25, 26 Aug 10

This week I traveled to Coeurd’alene for the annual Kootenai County Fair, Arenacross. Danielle and I got to represent Project Filter in our first ever Arenacross Race.

What an amazing event! We set up the Project Filter booth in the fair grounds and got to talk with hundreds of people about our Tobacco Free campaign. We got to meet the staff from Coeurd’alene and work with the TATU’s (Teens Against Tobacco Use). What a great group of people! I thought about how cool it was that we all came together from different parts of the state as a group with the shared goal of fighting for a Tobacco Free Idaho.

This was by far the coolest event that I have ever raced. The energy at Arenacross is amazing! There were about one hundred fifty riders and three thousand fans. They had music playing, to get everyone pumped up and we were riding under the lights. Wow!

I had a great ride! In the main event I got a good start but slipped back to fifth through the tight right hander, headed into a fifty yard long whoop section. By the end of the whoops I was in forth and was on a mission to move to the front. Two laps later I was in second place and not too far from the leader. Arenacross is run on a very tight track and the main event is only five laps. You have to be aggressive and willing to take some chances in order to be a contender. I ended up finishing second overall, which I was completely stoked about! Not too shabby for my first ever Arenacross.

The entire event was a great experience. The promoters of the event were happy to have Project Filter on scene and invited us out on the arena floor during the half time break to throw some PF Footballs into the crowd as they talked about our program. The announcer made the comment that there is no way Dani and I would be as competitive as we are if we were under the negative effects of tobacco. He’s right!

I was impressed by the professionalism of the entire event. Thank You MRP for your hospitality and Thank You Project Filter for this unforgettable experience!

The last round of the Idaho State Championship Motocross Series is coming in two weeks at Mountain Home. See Ya There!!!!

Idaho State Motocross Series Rnd 7, Kimberly, Idaho 14, 15 August, 2010

This weekend the SmokeFree83/Project Filter Motocross Team met in Kimberly, Idaho for round seven of the Idaho State Motocross Championship Series. It was great to get the Project Filter Team back together again after a long four week break.

The Kimberly track is located out in the middle of what seems to be hundreds of acres of farmland. The facility is nice and the track is challenging with several jump sections, soil changes and a small whoop section just to keep you on your toes. One tough challenge in Kimberly is the wind; it is amazing how the wind can push your motorcycle when you are in the air. There are a couple table top jumps that you have to be careful on because the wind will sweep your front end out from under you. Some riders will approach these jumps to the far side of the takeoff and expect to land on the other side at the landing after being pushed four to five feet to the side, it can be a little scary.

I had a pretty solid weekend with a moto win and second and third place finishes in my two classes. As usual my Project Filter backed Yamaha was running great as I battled back and forth with the competition that I have been fighting with all season.

Like I said, “The Kimberly track is challenging”, it takes a lot out of you physically and mentally. I can’t imagine trying to withstand the pressures of this grueling sport if I was also battling the negative effects from Tobacco use. As an athlete I train for motocross to try and build my endurance and overall body strength. Tobacco use helps to deteriorate your endurance and body strength and causes you to use more energy just to breathe properly. Carbon Monoxide from cigarettes also damages your lungs and has detrimental effects on your performance. Also, another problem with smoking is that it slows down your body’s ability to heal itself by hindering the employment of cells to the injury site. I don’t know about you but it sure doesn’t seem worth it to me!

All I know is that I am glad to be Tobacco Free and I am glad that many of you are joining me I the fight for a healthier lifestyle.

We are headed into the last round of the Championship Series. I am in a points battle with #955 Bob Harris, he has me by three going into the last round. I have to win this one in order to take the title. Let there be no doubt, I’ll give it everything I’ve got.

See You in Mountain Home; it should be a good one….