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1. Is Sea Otter on Twitter? Other social media?You bet. And tell your friends! They'll likely appreciate your tip, especially if they win some of the cool swag we sometimes give away via Twitter, and Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter @seaotterclassic (http://www.Twitter.com/SeaOtterClassic). For Facebook, click here.
You can also catch us on YouTube.
2. Where do the race events take place?
Here’s an overview. If you are a registered athlete, please also refer to pages for individual race events for the most accurate, specific location information. If you are a spectator, please respect any guidelines provided on-site as to appropriate viewing points; safety first!
Mountain Bike Races
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Cross Country is on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property. Starts on the racetrack at Laguna Seca and finishes on the racetrack or on the Swale at Laguna Seca.
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Downhill is on Laguna Seca property and runs parallel to B Road. Finishes at the bottom of B Road below the Gun Range.
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Dual Slalom is on the Swale at Laguna Seca.
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Short Track is on the Swale at Laguna Seca.
Road Bike Races
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Circuit is on the racetrack at Laguna Seca.
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Criterium is on the racetrack at Laguna Seca.
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Road is mostly off Laguna Seca (i.e., on Bureau of Land Management/BLM property). Starts on the racetrack at Laguna Seca and finishes on Barloy Canyon Road.
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Pro Road Stage is off Laguna Seca (i.e., on Bureau of Land Management/BLM property). The stages are: Stage 1 - Criterium, on the racetrack at Laguna Seca; Stage 2 - Road, mostly off Laguna Seca (i.e., BLM property), starting on the racetrack at Laguna Seca and finishing on Barloy Canyon Road; Stage 3 - Time Trial, starts on track at Laguna Seca, ends on Barloy Canyon Road; and Stage 4 - Circuit, on the racetrack at Laguna Seca.
Cyclocross Races:
3. I heard there was a day camp at Sea Otter.What you've heard about is Little Bellas day camp at Sea Otter, a one- to three-day camp for girls ages 8-14. The camp is run by professional mountain bikers and sisters Lea and Sabra Davison. This is Little Bellas third year at Sea Otter, and we're excited to have them back.
And don't forget Sea Otter's many special Activities for Kids! These activities are for boys and girls ages 8-12 and under, and they are free.
4. Is there any bicycle valet parking?Yes! Please refer to "Bicycle Parking" on our Parking page for bike valet location, days, and hours.
5. What are the festival hours?Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Thursday, April 19 through Sunday, April 20, 2012.
These hours include the Expo with one exception: on Sunday, the Expo closes at 4 p.m.
6. Festival? I thought Sea Otter was about racing!The Sea Otter Classic is "A Celebration of Cycling"! It’s a festival for anybody who enjoys or appreciates the bicycle, for any reason.
That even includes a tot on a trike who’s only looking forward to a bike! This is a festival for tweens, teens, and twenty-somethings. It’s for Gen-Xers and Boomers and the Greatest Generation.
Whether a cyclist or a spectator, folks of all ages can share in the excitement and camaraderie of the Sea Otter Classic. If you love the idea of being part of a cool scene with active people who all share a passion for bicycles—people who are all a part of the cycling community—come!
Sea Otter is for road and mountain bikers. It’s for commuter bikers and recreational cyclists, and, you bet: the Sea Otter Classic definitely draws the very best racers—both amateurs and pros!
7. What's the cost of a Festival Pass? Any discounts?Please refer to the “Festival Pass Sales” page in the “Festival Guide” section of our website. There you'll also find info on free and discounted passes.
8. Any activities for kids? What's it gonna cost me?Yes, this is a family event, with lots of special activities for boys and girls ages twelve and under. Please refer to our “Activities for Kids” page in the “Festival Guide” section of our website. And better yet, those kids' activities are free.
You'll be happy to know that all children ages twelve and under also get a free Festival Pass.
An option for girls ages eight to twelve, the Little Bellas Day Camp, has a registration fee.
9. Where's the schedule for all four days?Click here for the detailed four-day event schedule, which is found in the "Schedules and Hours” section of our website.
10. Any special perks for carpoolers?Yes! Carpoolers get priority parking, and so do hybrids and electric vehicles. There's a special perk for bicyclists too: bike valet parking service.
For details on all four, please refer to the “Parking” page under the “General Information” section of our website.
11. Any transportation choices besides driving there?Yes! Please refer to our "Ditch the Car" webpage for specific tips on:
Biking: Some SOC attendees bike all or part-way to Laguna Seca. Our "Ditch the Car" page includes bike route suggestions, where to park your bike at SOC, links to local bike rentals, and links to other local biking resources.
Riding the local bus: Some SOC attendees make use of the Monterey-Salinas Transit Service ("The Bus"). Our "Ditch the Car" page includes bus schedule info for reaching Laguna Seca (limited days and times).
Bike-and-ride: As suggested on our "Ditch the Car" page, if you can't bike all the way, or take the bus all the way, consider doing the bike-and-ride. For example, make use of bike racks on personal vehicles or on MST buses to bike part-way and ride part-way.
Lots of tips on taking your bike on an MST bus, along with info on some additional bike-and-ride options, are found in the bike-and-ride section of the BicyclingMonterey.com website (an info resource for visiting and local cyclists).
We encourage you to consider these and other alternatives to the car whenever feasible.
12. What's traffic like going into Laguna Seca?Traffic tends to be a little slow, especially on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. To be sure you reach your specific Sea Otter destination by the desired time:
- If traveling by motor vehicle, allow yourself an extra thirty minutes to get through traffic, beyond your normal driving time.
- If traveling by bicycle, you can zip past most traffic jams! Check out the biking tips (as well as tips on using the local bus system) on our "Ditch the Car" page.
Whether arriving by motor vehicle or bicycle, refer to our “Directions” and “Parking” pages under the “General Information” section of our website.
13. How do I enter Laguna Seca Recreation Area?Please refer to our “Directions” page. Related tips are on the “Parking” page. Both are in the “General Information” section of our website.
14. How much does it cost to park?Parking is free all week. Please read the “Parking” details under the “General Information” section of our website.
15. Will there be ATMs on-site?Yes, there will be ATMs throughout the venue. Their locations are marked on the Festival Map.
16. Will there be official Sea Otter Classic merchandise for sale on-site?Yes, we will have event merchandise available at the official merch booth. Look for "Event Merchandise" on the "Festival Map."
17. I pre-ordered merchandise, where do I pick up my stuff?Please pick up your preordered merchandise in the Athlete Registration building, also known as the Trackview Pavilion/Red Bull Energy Center. Look for "Athlete Registration" on the Festival Map.
18. What type of food is offered at the event?There are plenty of yummy foods available for purchase at Sea Otter, along with refreshing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Food choices range from fresh salads made from Monterey County produce to other vegetarian options to chicken, traditional American hot dogs, and barbecued meats. Refer to the “Food Court” and “Sierra Nevada Beer and BBQ Garden” pages, found in the “Festival Guide” section of our website.
Outside of event hours, when you’re off-site, you’ll find food choices ranging from farmers markets to fine dining.
Are you bringing or renting a bicycle? On Sea Otter's Opening Day (as on Thursdays year-round), males and females who bike can get discounts from elegant and casual restaurants, coffeeshops, wine rooms, and more. (Discounts are also provided on lodging, educational attractions, entertainment, and related places.) How? Through the HER Helmet Thursdays project at BicyclingMonterey.com.
Additional food and beverage suggestions are available in the “Food & Wine” section of the SeeMonterey.com website, provided by the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
19. What are my options for lodging?Camping right at Laguna Seca is a fun way to experience the Sea Otter Classic! For information, see “Camping” page under the “Where to Stay” section of our website.
For hotels and other lodging, check out our list of preferred hotels. These provide special discounted rates to Sea Otter Classic visitors. Please refer to the “Lodging” page under the “Where to Stay” section of our website.
Camping outside of Laguna Seca? You may wish to refer to the “Campgrounds and RV Parks” section of the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau/See Monterey website: SeeMonterey.com. Camping info is also found at BicyclingMonterey.com.
More hotel/lodging options: If you’re bringing a bicycle, or renting one in Monterey County, you can get a discount on your Thursday night stay (Sea Otter's Opening Day--as on Thursdays year-round) from lodging providers in the HER Helmet Thursdays project. See "How to get a lodging discount" at BicyclingMonterey.com.
Still more lodging options are provided in the “Where to Stay” section of the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau website, SeeMonterey.com.
20. What are the hours of camping check-in?The camping check-in hours are posted in the “Schedules and Hours” section of our website
21. Are dogs allowed at the Sea Otter Classic?Please see "Dog Policy" in the "General Info" section of our website. The Dog Policy will be strictly enforced.
Dogs are only allowed in campsites, with restrictions. If you will be camping at Laguna Seca and want to bring your dog, please carefully review "Dogs at Campsites--Rules and Regulations" in the "Where to Stay"--"Camping" section.
22. What will the weather be like?April in Monterey is typically a lovely month. The mornings and evening are often brisk, and the afternoons tend to be sunny. Laguna Seca is far enough inland that fog is not usually a part of most Sea Otter events.
While Laguna Seca is less likely to experience fog, other parts of the county sometimes will. It’s most common to find the fog in Big Sur, Carmel, Marina, Pacific Grove, and Pebble Beach. Monterey and Seaside usually experience less fog.
Inland locations, such as Carmel Valley and Salinas, typically get the most sunshine.
Check the local weather by visiting the “Weather” page linked from the “General Information” section of our website.
23. What type of clothing should I bring?In Monterey County, at every time of year, it’s smart to dress in layers. Why? If you travel around the county, you’ll find many different microclimates. Beyond that, from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep, you may experience weather changes repeatedly throughout the day.
A Monterey County day may include chilly morning fog, warm temps after the fog burns off, then cool temps again when fog rolls back in. And that pattern isn’t necessarily predictable! It’s not even uncommon to have 90-degree days in December (our winter) or cold days in July.
Although April weather here is usually quite pleasant, although weather is unpredictable. Anticipate a great day that may include a variety of temps—dress in layers!
Packing a rain jacket is a good idea. While winter months usually bring the most rain, it is possible to experience April showers.
24. I lost something! Where's Lost and Found?Please refer to the “Lost and Found” page under the “General Information” section of our website.
25. How do I sign up as a volunteer?Thank you for asking! Please contact Donna Brown regarding volunteer opportunities. Donna may be reached via email at: donna@seaotterclassic.com.
You may also wish to refer to the “Volunteers” page under the “General Info” section of our website.
26. How can I contact a Sea Otter staff member?We’d be happy to hear from you! Contact us, by email or phone, with questions or comments.
Our Contact Us section lists staff members, along with outlining some of the many things they are available to help with.
