March 15, 2004 – The first installment of the Kabush Race Report sees a lot of changes for 2004. It is coming a couple of months early for the first NORBA; from a new location (Waco, Texas); I am sporting new colors (Maxxis Orange); and I am on a new bike; the first Turner hardtail called Woody, cause it's stiff. The first report of the year also comes with good news – a couple podiums, and a first NORBA win!

The off-season was a long roller coaster which saw a lot of changes for myself with extended contract talks that eventually saw me switch over to Team Maxxis; the change seems to be working out for the best. We have a diverse group with whom I am looking forward to hanging out with this year. Team manager Eric Wallace brings a ton of experience and organization; team mechanic Monkey brings us some SoCal DH Moto character and is dialing in XC bikes to perfection; Colombian road honch Cesar Grajales comes in under the radar and is going to surprise a lot of people this year; and me, well you got to have a token Canadian when you're racing XC in North America. I haven't even met the DH'ers John Kirkcaldie and Colin Bailey, who will join us later.

New NORBA series debuted with a new stage race format in the Star Wars, tight, twisty singletrack in downtown Cameron Park in Waco, Texas. First race of the year and everyone in kind of wondering how the winter training is going to pay off. No one was surprised when training buddies Seamus and Ryder smoked the field in the short TT. 13th for me and I was kind of questioning myself and my training just a little as I was hoping for better.

Race number two was a very road-like Short Track XC. Lot of road and wind and everyone thought it would stay together as the women did before us. Ryder and Seamus, however, didn't seem to want to stick around a bunch of sketchy mountain bikers and attacked on the second lap. I smiled as I saw Cesar go flying across the gap in his first STXC only to get some terrible luck and a flat tire just as he was making contact. At this point I saw the race going away and powered up to the break; hometown hero Jason Sager had a good ride to make the group but was sitting on. I let it slide for a few laps but then I got a little bit pissed because he wouldn't pull through at all; had a few words with him and then tailed him off the group, hit the brakes, and came back up to the boys. Worked well with Ryder and Seamus to the finish to gain some GC time, settled for third, and to my surprise moved up to third overall. U.S. U23 rider John Devine broke up the Canadian sweep by outsprinting Chris Sheppard for fifth just behind Andreas Hestler in fourth.

So my legs were coming right and day three was a late start, 3pm, XC race where the start was going to be crucial. A little moisture had made the singletrack trails extremely slick in some places. I could only manage tenth into the singletrack but soon found my legs and quickly realized I had the bike and the tires and moved towards the front. Skill in the singletrack was important, but the tire selection was also proving to have a huge effect. I was trying a new “super tacky” compound with a low pressure which let me relax and move into lead group as people periodically spazzed out and nervously negotiated corners. Soon I decided to go on the offensive and bridged up to Jeremiah Bishop who had slipped off the front and was riding well. We see-sawed back at forth but continued to stretch our lead and I soon realized I was setting up for the overall win. I fought my way back up to his rear wheel on the last climb but riding his dualie he pulled out 50m on the last descent and I just couldn't close it by the line. I waited and watched and was happy to see the seconds tick by as JHK, then Ryder with young Plankton (Max Plaxton) on his wheel came through and I knew I had the overall in the bag. Cesar had a good ride to fight through the train of people in teh singletrack to finish off in 22nd. Did a record fast pee in a cup for drug testing, sprayed the big ol' bottle on Jeremiah (Bishop), and then went out for some really good Cajun at Buzzard Billy's with the whole crowd.

I leave Waco with a very good feeling, some good crawfish and Shiner Bock in my belly, and a really cool ceramic champions plate. Next up in the Nova Desert Classic next weekend in Fountain Hills, AZ.