California Multisport - Big Bear Lake

 A beautiful mountain day greeted the athletes to Big Bear's Multisport Event.  Athletes gathered at the Big Bear Discovery Center to challenge the Run, Bike, Run Mulitsport course.  The clouds seemingly gathered to watch and provided some cooler temps as the runners took off for a big hill climb leading to the famous Pacific Crest Trail and finishing with a technical, rocky run down Big Bear's Cougar Crest trail.  Phillip Tinstman took the early lead in the Men's category and never looked back.  Jessi Stensland took the lead in the Women's and battled for the front of the Men's field as well.  

 Following the run, the competitors took their bikes up the same steep climb but continued climbing around Delamar Mountain.  Though some bikers were definitely working too hard to take in the view, the course passed some of the best lookouts in the valley providing a fantastic view of the entire lake and San Gorgonio in the background.  After nearly 20km on the bikes, Tinstman and Stensland were still in the lead.  Daniel Dolezal followed in 2nd place for the Men and Amber Naughton picked up several places with a fast bike time, but not enough to catch Stensland.  Theresa Uhrig and Heather DeVito were neck and neck, battling for the 3rd podium spot.

The final run was a 4km that everyone agreed felt much longer and harder that it looked.  Tinstman and Stensland held their leads and won the Men and Women's categories.  Tinstman won by 14 minutes over 2nd place and Stensland won by a whoping 19 minutes over the 2nd place female and placed 4th in the overall.

 Big Bear local Heather DeVito made a big push on the final run to move into 3rd place over Theresa Uhrig, but the surprise finish made it a race to the final second.  Race organizers surprised the racers with a rope climb that took racers OVER the finish line instead of just running through.  It was a tough climb up the hanging, knotted ropes and down the cargo net to reach the real finish of the race.  Heather was completely spent as she approached the line and though (or maybe hoped) it was a joke.  Theresa Uhrig, just passed by Heather, also saw the climb and didn't think she had enough energy to get over the top.  The two girls gave it their all to get up and over, Theresa edging out Heather by seconds.

 In the Junior category, 17 year old Ramon Escobar finished on top of the podium even after a nasty crash on his bike.  Local mountaineering hero, 13 year old Jordan Romero finished 2nd.

Complete results are posted under the results link.  BIG THANKS to all the volunteers who helped make it all happen.  See you in October.