The longest-running cyclocross series in the U.S. is returning to Crest Tree Ranch for another legendary Halloween weekend, filled with free camping, food, after-dark festivities, a bonfire, the world-famous costume race, and two new offerings that should please both the two-legged and four-legged racers and racing-curious. Yes, there’s doggie cross this year, but perhaps of interest to all thinking of avoiding the rugged “jungle cross” run-up filled courses of Surf City (and 2023 SSCXWC) lore, a course change that will bring one day of faster “Euro” racing.
What exactly does that mean? Read on to learn more from promoter Brendan Lehman and show up to find out.
We’re Not Happy Until You’re Not Happy
Surf City returns to Crest Ranch…At Least One More Time
What a costume race without a shark, a scientist and Dorothy and Toto? 2019 Surf City CX. © Jeff Vander Stucken
Team Rock Lobster lives by the motto “We’re not happy until you’re not happy.”
The problem is that you can’t make everyone not happy. I’ve been telling myself that for a decade of promoting the Rock Lobster Cup and Surf City Cyclocross Series. That motto lived up to its full expression last year when we hosted the Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championships where a devoted and ravenous pack of 500 or so racers were eagerly rubbing Tiger Balm on their chamois in exchange for tokens that might grant them the honor of racing our hallowed marquis course at Crest Ranch here in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
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A course that included no less than five runups, rock gardens, poison oak, an ice bath, and more smoke than a 1950s Las Vegas Casino. It was horrible. It was beautiful.
That said, there is always a push and pull between difficult, technical courses, and grass criterium-style races. The races I like to design (and race) are inspired by the early days of ’cross racing on the West Coast. Before there were big official events in California, there was junglecross. It would be typical for racers to cross a waist-deep river or run up a 100ft pile of logs. Sounds glorious to me. Perhaps not so much to other people.
2024 Surf City CX will bring double fun with two different approaches to cyclocross course design and racing speeds. photo: Jeff Vander Stucken
I try not to give people what they don’t want. The problem is that we all want something different. Or at least we think we do. At the end of the day, if you’re reading this article you can probably relate to the statement “I want there to be cyclocross in Northern California.” Well, I do too and am trying my gosh dang hardest to keep it going (and growing!). We give out free entries to newcomers to lure them into the sport. Some of them stick around. Others run away with their tails between their legs.
Surf City promises challenges, regardless of the venue, but this year, the promoter promises one day of faster racing. 2017 Surf City Cyclocross, Calfire Training Facility. © J. Vander Stucken
This year, we’re going to try something new at our Crest Ranch race weekend. We’re going to have a junglecross day and a Euro course day. Will there be a perfectly manicured track optimized for delicate silk tubulars? No. But nobody is going to have to do any river crossings either. At least this way, everybody gets a chance to be happy. Or unhappy.
Will costume cross come to the Euro course or Jungle Cross course at the 2024 Surf City CX weekend? Come this weekend to find out. photo: Jeff Vander Stucken
Which day is which? We don’t know yet, but hope you’ll come join us for the whole weekend to experience everything that true Northern California cyclocross is (and isn’t!). We like to brag that Rock Lobster events are the best deal in bike racing. Where else do you get two days of camping and racing, with nighttime entertainment for $45? That’s something we can all be happy about.
“This year, we’re going to try something new at our Crest Ranch race weekend. We’re going to have a junglecross day and a Euro course day.”
Just as with Surf City CX at UCSC, we have free racing for those who have never raced cyclocross. Contact us to take advantage of the first-timer promo with CXM.
But whether you’re new or not, do us all a favor and sign up in advance! Pre-reg ends on Thursday at noon, but do it now and help us sleep at night.
More info: cyclo-x.com
-Brendan Lehman
Surf City CX (mis)director and Team Rock Lobster (dis)organizer
Promoter Brendan Lehman turns up the heat with two varied days of cyclocross racing at Crest Tree Ranch. Let’s hope it’s not the last. photo: Josh Becker
