Pua Sawicki and the 24 Hours of Moab

Ron Niebrugge Moab, Photos, Travel, Utah 21 Comments

Pua Sawicki at the 2009 24 Hours of Moab.

Pua Sawicki at the 2009 24 Hours of Moab.

When we left Pua Sawicki well after dark on Saturday night, she was well on her way to another National Championship, and more importantly, a world record for distance traveled by a women on a mountain bike in 24 hours.  She once rode 281 miles in a race, but it wasn’t sanctioned by the Guinness Book of World Records – this race would be.

We got up early Sunday morning and immediately checked the on-line results, and were shocked to see her current lap taking much longer then normal.  We kept an eye on the computer and finally saw she rolled in about an hour later then normal.  We hoped she just had a mechanical problem, and would start knocking off fast laps again, so we jumped in the truck and hurried over to the race so we could be on site before sunrise.  Our worst concerns were realized when we arrived only to see her support tent empty of workers and gear, we knew then her race must be over.  Her husband Ron later confirmed that she had gotten very sick during the night, and finally had to drop out.  Bummer!  Pua and her husband are super nice people – we hope they have lots of future success, I’m sure they will.

Since we were already at the race, we went ahead and photographed other riders.  The steep hillside pictured below was the scene of many dramatic wrecks.  I felt a bit guilty standing there and photographing such mayhem, at least at first.  But it became easier, when,  every rider had the same response – they would turn to me and ask if I got it!  Thanks to the soft sand, we didn’t see anyone get hurt.

A rider goes head over wheels during the 24 Hours of Moab, in Moab, Utah.

Kakkan Creager of team Quadruple Gnar goes head over wheels during the 24 Hours of Moab, in Moab, Utah. Team Quadruple Gnar won the men's 18 and under championship.

24 Hours of Moab Photos

Ron Niebrugge Moab, Photos, Travel, Utah 11 Comments

2009 24 Hours of Moab Mountain Bike Race, Moab, Utah.

Richard Moquin of team Bazi at the 2009 24 Hours of Moab Mountain Bike Race, Moab, Utah.

I thought I would share a couple of photos from the 24 Hours of Moab Mountain Bike Race.  I’m here to photograph Pua Sawicki, who we met in our campground – we have camped near them the last two years here in Moab.  Her husband and crew have been running me around on all terrain vehicles so that I can photograph her on the course – I’ll post photos of her tomorrow.  Right now, she is over a half hour ahead of the nearest women, and looking strong.  She is hoping to set the world record for distance traveled on a mountain bike trail in 24 hours.

A rider at sunset, 2009 24 Hours of Moab Mountain Bike Race, Moab, Utah.

Nick Nisbet of team Phoenix Multisport 2 leaves at sunset, 2009 24 Hours of Moab Mountain Bike Race, Moab, Utah.

Canyonlands View

Ron Niebrugge Moab, Photos, Travel, Utah 17 Comments

Green River overlook, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.

Self portrait, Green River overlook, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.

This is the last light of day at one of my favorite Canyonlands viewpoints.  The warm light was really making the red rock glow – I actually used Photoshop to desaturate this image as it didn’t look realistic.

There was no way Janine was going to get out on this point, so I set everything up, changed jackets with her, and had her hit the shutter as I stood on the viewpoint.

Take a look at more of our Canyonlands National Park photos.

Three Gossips, Arches National Park, Utah

Ron Niebrugge Moab, Photos, Travel, Utah 16 Comments

Three Gossips, Arches National Park, Utah

Three Gossips, Arches National Park, near Moab, Utah.

I wasn’t in the right position, but as I hiked around Arches National Park Monday morning, I noticed the possibility of capturing the Three Gossips, and the nearly full moon, right at first light.   So I went back Tuesday with this image specifically in mind.  I love the warm light on red rock!

See more Arches National Park photos.

Hartman Rocks Mountain Biking Trails, Gunnison, Colorado.

Ron Niebrugge Colorado, Photos, Travel 11 Comments

Hartman Rocks Mountain Biking Trails, Gunnision, Colorado.

Hartman Rocks Mountain Biking Trails, Gunnison, Colorado.

Typically on the blog I’m posting photos captured the day before, but I must admit, with all the Fall color photos I have been posting lately, I have fallen a bit behind.  Most of the autumn photos were captured over just two days, but it has taken a few more to share them.  We have actually been in Moab, Utah since this past weekend, and beginning tomorrow, I will begin posting photos from this area.

A week ago, I alluded to the mountain biking at Hartman Rocks Recreation Area, but never had a chance to follow up.  We have been fortunate enough to ride some great trails, like the Slickrock trail here in Moab, or our favorite, the McDowell Mountain Regional Park trails near Phoenix, but we now have a new favorite – these trails, well, rock!  They were so much fun!  Especially Rocky Ridge and Becks – they were really smooth single track trails, with lots of rises, dips and banked turns that allow you to go as fast as you can peddle.  I felt like I was 12 again – well, that isn’t all that unusual.  If you find yourself in the Gunnison area, check them out.

Here are more Crested Butte and Gunnison Colorado pictures.

Dallas Divide, Colorado

Ron Niebrugge Colorado, Photos, Travel 26 Comments

Dallas Divide, Colorado.

Dallas Divide, Colorado.

Here is a little tip that I often forget;  digital cameras capture some amazingly rich colors in dark light.  This photo for example was taken at least 15 minutes before sunrise – it was a 20 second exposure at f/11.  The images I captured of this scene with the first warm light of day hitting the hillside are nice and colorful, but look very different, and not nearly as rich as this image captured in very dark conditions.  By the way, I didn’t add any saturation with Photoshop.

The Fall images I have been posting this week were all captured by driving down relatively quite little dirt roads, some after a bit of walking around.  This is where I prefer spending time and photographing.  This photo on the other hand was actually captured from a large, popular pullout along a busy highway.  I said all along I wasn’t going to stop here, but it is just to nice to pass up, so yesterday morning I joined the crowds at this spot.

The other photographers gathered around here waited another 15 minutes before firing up their cameras, and probably thought I was a bit off shooting away in the dark like I was.  Well, I am a bit off, but this time it might have paid off.

Take a look at more of our Colorado pictures.