Media Guide

Event Years: 2008 2007

 Subscribe

MONTEREY, Calif. (April 30, 2008) Recognized as the unofficial North American cycling season opener, the Sea Otter Classic offers lots to people out shopping for experiences. For those participants from the northern climates, like Jessica Yeaton, 17, of Anchorage, Alaska, who rode outside for only the fifth time this year and won the junior women's road race, just being able to ride in only shorts and a jersey is a luxury. Shawn Lester, who requested a race number to signify the day his young daughter passed away five years ago, caused a few tears to be shed with a short email to express his gratitude, not only for being granted number 814, but also for a race leadout honoring his daughter, Alaina. SRAM, CLIF, Fox and Pedro's all had big news to share at Sea Otter. The weather cooperated too, for the most part, and despite Saturday's gusting winds, one-day festival passes sold out. The rain stayed away for the first time in a long time, which removed risks for some and eliminated the thrill of survival for others.

Buhl and Minnaar master Sea Otter DH
Michael "Bubba" Gonzales surfs a winning streak in BMX
Video highlights of Day 4 of the Sea Otter Classic

Wind is part of the training program for BMX
Dual Stunt qualifiers sets stage for Sunday stunt showdown
Short Track Crowns First Time Winners Davison and Schultz
Video highlights of Day 3 of the Sea Otter Classic

Colavita/Sutter Home and Plowman-Craven Clinch Wins in the Sea Otter Road Race
Day 2 Video Highlights

MONTEREY, Calif. (April 18, 2008) Surprise victories in the Thule Adventure Race and the Pro Men's and Women's Super D added to the excitement of each event while the wind posed a challenge to the road race. Adventure race novice Lynn Trimble won his second-ever adventure race while Carl Decker (Giant) and Lea Davison (Trek/VW) each won the Sea Otter Super D for their first time. In the road race, Dotsie Bausch (Colavita/Sutter Home) and Evan Oliphant (Ploman-Craven) scored victories in the second day of road race action.

The Adventure Continues in 2008: The Thule Adventure Challenge kicks off Friday at Sea Otter

MONTEREY, Calif. (April 17, 2008) Using winter as an excuse not to race at Sea Otter won't work after today since Jessica Yeaton came down from Anchorage, Alaska to win the junior women's 17-18 road race. Yeaton, who finished second last year, moved into first today in only her fifth ride outside in 2008.

MONTEREY, Calif. (April 3, 2008) If all goes well during his surgery on Friday, then Davis Phinney might actually get to go to Beijing in August to watch his son, Taylor, race in the Olympics. The mighty Phinney, one of the most victorious US bike racers in history, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease while still in his 30s and rather than lose out to the disease, Phinney established his namesake Davis Phinney Foundation with a mission to improve the lives of those living with Parkinson's disease. Together with Bicycling and Mountain Bike magazines, the Sea Otter Classic will host two separate recreational rides, which benefit the Davis Phinney Foundation and the International Mountain Bicycling Association California, and which strike at the passions of their inspired participants.

MONTEREY, Calif. (March 13, 2008) Now more than ever before, Sea Otter Classic participants are faced with having to choose from an event schedule aimed at pleasing everyone. Live bands, recreational rides, beer and BBQ, the Mountain Bike Ride Zone, moto stunt shows, movie premiers, events for kids, and festival shows where "loop outs, x ups, augering, can-cans, and dumptrucks" become part of the dialect, pack a full roster of things to do at the 18th Annual Sea Otter Classic. If you thought that Sea Otter was only about BMX, road and off-road racing, which you can read about here, here and here, we're just getting warmed up. Below is a guide to what else you have to choose from.

MONTEREY, Calif. (March 3, 2008) Competitive cycling will have a new name at this year's Sea Otter Classic. SRAM "Dual Stunt" adapts a Dual Slalom race format to a flat course featuring wood and dirt obstacles. How it works: two racers compete side-by-side on identical 400-foot long courses scattered with notorious North Shore-style elements like wooden bridges and dirt jumps. The timed event pits competitors against each other where the maximum time differential can only reach 1.5 seconds. The slower racer either makes up the time and advances or concedes defeat – same as in Dual Slalom. The semi-invitational event kicks off on Friday, April 18 with qualifying rounds.

MONTEREY, Calif. (February 26, 2008) While the Sea Otter Classic has long been known as a "see-and-be-seen" event for athletes, the same could be said for manufacturers and their new products. Multiple companies like SRAM, Thule, Specialized, Clif, and Kenda will be releasing new, never-before-seen products to the public and media inside the Sea Otter Expo. Sea Otter has also taken a few extra steps this year to allow more Expo goers to test products. The Product demo area, located inside the Expo, will include several jumps, a pump track, as well as other bike handling skills attractions inside the BikeSkills Ride Zone. The demo area will be located proximate to both the acclaimed Fort Ord mountain bike trails and surrounding paved roads for those looking for an alternative to riding in the Ride Zone.

MONTEREY, Calif. With only months to go before BMX racing makes its much-anticipated debut at the Olympics, fans can get a live look at BMX racing at the Sea Otter Classic over the weekend of April 19-20. It comes as no surprise that the majority of Olympic hopefuls hail from California, since influential grassroots organizations like Golden State BMX exist to heighten competition. Produced through a partnership with Golden State BMX, Sea Otter's BMX event will be a California State Series qualifier to help racers in their quest for a berth on the state team.

MONTEREY, Calif. (January 30, 2008) Soil composition, topography, weather and of course, the all-important "flow" are key to building the mountain bike courses at the Sea Otter Classic, A Celebration of Sport. "If you build it, they will come" has never been truer for Sea Otter's mountain bike events, which continue to attract swarms of racers from all points around the globe. The Sea Otter Classic takes place April 17-20, 2008 at Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, Calif. USA.

MONTEREY, Calif. (January 9, 2008) Thanks to its inclusion on a somewhat pared-down National Racing Calendar, road racing at this year's Sea Otter Classic, A Celebration of Sport, will attract racers desperately chasing after precious points in both the individual and team categories. While Sea Otter has enjoyed a spot on the NRC since creation, the trimmer 2008 calendar forecasts participation by teams from across the nation plus key Olympic hopefuls like Christine Thorburn, Kristin Armstrong and Tina Pic, who will be out to showcase their talents in this Olympic year.

MONTEREY, Calif. (December 3, 2007) The Sea Otter Classic, A Celebration of Sport, celebrates its 18th year April 17-20, 2008. Since 1991, the Sea Otter Classic has been the springboard from which companies launch innovative products and athletes boost pro racing careers, like those of world champion Tom Boonen and Olympic gold medalist Julien Absalon. Next year, the Sea Otter Classic will set an even greater stage for an audience determined to get the most out of what Sea Otter has to offer.