'Cross and burn

I never tire of writing about cyclocross, one of the most dynamic and spectator-friendly disciplines not just in cycling, but in all of sports. This was done for the Boston Globe (th published version can be found here).

'Cross and burn
The manic sport of cyclocross on full display in by the sea

GLOUCESTER – Stage Fort Park, with its expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean and rolling hillside topography, is an undisputed gem, for residents and visitors alike. Children can romp, and parents relax. And this weekend, cyclists can race, as the park again hosts the two-day ode to cyclocross, the Great Brewers Gran Prix of Gloucester.

"There is something about that place. It's got a soul," said Chris Zigmont of Exeter, N.H., an avid amateur racer and longtime cycling industry representative. "I've been everywhere in the world that cyclocross races, and little comes close to the aesthetic drama of Gloucester. It's becoming one of the very special places for cycling."

Now in it's 12th year, the GP of Gloucester, put on by local cycling club Essex County Velo (ECV), is firmly established as the pre-eminent cyclocross event in the Northeast, and one of the most prestigious in the country. Despite New England being a hot pocket for this zany, off-season cycling discipline, the Gloucester races are the only ones in the six-state region affiliated with a national race series – the North American Cyclocross Trophy. Still, the race is known from coast to coast.

"My wife and I were in Mexico with some friends last year, standing in the surf break, and we ran into some folks from British Columbia and Seattle," said Scott Bumpus of Seaside Cycles in Manchester-by-the-Sea, one of the sponsoring shops for ECV. "When we told them we were from Cape Ann, they told us they had heard all about the race, and wanted to come out to do it."

It's proven a win-win for the city as well. "Any time you can bring in that many athletes and their families, it's great for the business community," said Bob Hastings, president of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce. "It's also good for the psyche of the community. This is one of a number of big-time events coming into our city, and that gives the Gloucester and Cape Ann brand a nice bump."

The Gran Prix has even raised eyebrows across the Atlantic. Cycling News, one of the sport's leading voices based in the United Kingdom, recently ranked Gloucester as one of the best events in North America. In this gritty seaport city often known for hard knocks, cyclocross seems to be a perfect fit. There are no shortcuts. The only way to win is to bury yourself in the pain, and push through it harder and faster than anybody else. Former national junior champ Jesse Anthony of Beverly, when asked if the Mount Washington Auto Road Hill Climb race was the toughest 60 minutes he'd ever spent on two wheels, just laughed. "It's not even close," he said. "Nothing compares to cyclocross."

Cyclocross has often been referred to as the "steeplechase" of cycling, featuring a cross-country format with a mix of natural and man-made obstacles requiring racers to dismount and run with their bikes. Racers must combine the quick-twitch speed of a 100-yard sprinter with the agility of a star halfback and the endurance of a 10K runner. It's that sublime mix, coupled with the spectacular venue, that will draw 700 racers each day to Gloucester this weekend, rain or shine. In the past 11 years, the Gloucester races have been held in pelting rain, snow squalls, and dazzling sunshine. Nothing short of lightning will prevent a cyclocross race.

"The weather is always a factor," said former national team member Josh Anthony of Beverly (Jesse's older brother). "There was the year it snowed one day, and was 60 degrees the next."

Visitors to Stage Fort Park this weekend can be forgiven if they suspect a two-wheeled cage match just broke out. Suffice to say, all is fair in love and 'cross. The races often feature full-body contact, and bruised egos, especially at the elite men's level. In fact, something of a border war has been brewing between Tim Johnson of Beverly, a three-time national elite champ, and New Hampshire's Jonathan Page, who has also claimed the national elite crown three times. The two rubbed elbows and more during the Gloucester races last year, and again this past weekend at the Planet Bike Cup races in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The clash led to a war of words between New England's finest after Johnson's victory, prompting Page to state that he was returning to his Belgium home for the European season.

However, fireworks are still on the Gloucester menu. Johnson and his Cannondale-CyclocrossWorld.com teammates Jeremy Powers of Easthampton, MA, and Jamey Driscoll of Vermont are expected to lock horns with the upstart Team Seaside Cycles-Antero Resources, lead by homegrown riders Shawn Milne (pictured above) and Phil Wong.

The bottom line, say competitors, is that despite all the hard work, and possible carnage, cyclocross is flat-out fun. "When you find yourself racing in something big, like Gloucester, the crowds are unreal," said Fries. "The courses are narrow – just 10 feet wide – and the crowd is leaning over the fences, and ringing bells so wildly you simply cannot quit."

"The thing that sticks out to me about the Gloucester cross races is the intensity, the atmosphere, the wild crowds," echoed Josh Anthony. "In my opinion, the only other race in the United States that comes close is Nationals. It's always the 'hometown' race as well. For me and the rest of us North Shore riders, it's even more intense because of everyone screaming at us."

Former masters national champ Paul Curley of Taunton agreed. "You always try harder when lots of people are watching," he said. "Misery loves company."

"Company," or camaraderie, is another aspect that makes the sport special. Unmistakably, there's a genuine sense of "we're all in this together" among 'cross competitors.

"The New England and even national cyclocross community is tight-knit and easy going," said Dan Tieger, a veteran amateur racer and ECV member from Manchester-by-the-Sea. "Race days are mini-parties. You can race in the morning, get something to eat, and then watch the best."

At Gloucester, that party atmosphere includes grabbing a carbonated beverage, as the title sponsor – Great Brewers – returns with the ever-popular beer tent. The Gran Prix, says promoter Paul Boudreau, is the culmination of North Shore Beer Week, and spectators and racers can sample craft brews from Ommegang, Victory, Brooklyn Ale, Stella Artois, Smuttynose, Jack's Pumpkin Spiced Ale, Wachusett and Cape Ann Brewing. For the youngsters, there's a free Kids Race, which will be held shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday.

Last, but not least, the event has a charitable component. A portion of the proceeds collected will be split between two local non-profits, the Gloucester Fisherman's Athletic Association and the Gloucester Writers Center.

For details on the Gran Prix of Gloucester, visit gpgloucester.com.

FINIS

These old guys are off the hook

Boston, bright

I'm not a skateboarder, but there's no doubt that these characters -- the Geezers of New England -- are kindred spirits. The published article that ran in the Aug. 19 edition of the Boston Globe can be found here. The following is an unabridged version ...

Even at their age, these guys are off the hook
For the Geezers group, the thrill of skateboarding never gets old

The video would probably look more stylish, and more accurate, if it was in grainy black & white, or maybe weathered sepia tones. The YouTube clip entitled "Noob Airy Port" shows a smiling crew of grizzled skateboarders dropping into the concrete bowls at the Newburyport Skate Park at the Nock Middle School.

But these aren't your stereotypical teen shredders (there are no pants, for example, falling halfway down anybody's backside). They're all older than 30, with several in their – gasp! – 40s. They are husbands, fathers. They have jobs, and mortgages. They wear helmets and pads. They are the self-proclaimed Geezers of New England (GONE), a group of past-their-prime characters who share a love of skateboarding. True, there's no denying the inexorable march of Father Time. But the sensation of riding? That, according to 44-year-old GONE founder Richard Falzone, never gets old.

"What I love about skating is the freedom. It's a form of expression," says Falzone, a psychiatrist from Melrose. "Physically, it just feels really good, that flowing motion of going back and forth. I'm kind of a speed addict. I like to go really fast, right on that verge of going out of control. And there's just something cool about doing something you're 'not supposed to be doing.'"

The boarding bug bit Falzone in late December of 2006, just before he turned 41. "My wife told me, 'That's just dumb. You're going to hurt yourself," said Falzone. "My daughter was actually begging me not to do it. She was mortified that I'd even consider doing something like that. It was just too embarrassing."

Unfazed, Falzone rolled back into the sport, and soon met Jesse "Chip" Jones, Steve Forcucci, and Eric Martens – three engineers who worked in nearby Wilmington – at the Ipswich River Park ramp in North Reading. A fast friendship was formed.

"There was definitely a long break in my riding," said Martens, a 39-year-old software engineer from New Hampshire. "Working with Chip and Steve rekindled the memories, and I bought a more modern board off of eBay. We used to go out to local parks on our lunch hour. I like the challenge and camaraderie. I like sports where you can compete against yourself. I don't have to be the best, just better than last time."

Inspired, Falzone created the Geezers group in the fall of 2007. He set up a rudimentary GONE web site (goneskating.org cq), employing the tag line "Old dogs, new trick," and posting a few homemade videos. Brian Callahan, a 38-year-old Geezer from Melrose who owns Helium Design, later took the reins of the web site, creating a true blog that enables members keep in touch, bragging about exploits and planning riding sessions. You can even find GONE merchandise, from T-shirts to coffee mugs. GONE now numbers almost 50 members, reaching western Massachusetts, Brattleboro, VT, and Stamford, CT. And while they love skating locally, the Geezers will also road trip to places like Northampton, Taunton, or the Rye Airfield on the New Hampshire coast (where over-30 'boarders pay only $10 for a 3-hour session on Wednesdays).

"Bros on boards – what could be better?" said Martens. "They are a great bunch of guys with different backgrounds, but a love of the sport. They are a real encouragement to new guys starting out. I remember them taking up a collection to get one of the newcomers a decent helmet."

Still, these Geezers don't suffer from Peter Pan Syndrome. They understand that they've grown up, and have responsibilities. They know they need to go to work in the morning. "I've been wanting to skateboard again for the longest time, but with two small kids, I wasn't sure it was the smartest thing," said 42-year-old Andrew Bjornson of West Newbury with a chuckle. "Almost every single Geezer wears pads and helmets all the time. We old guys have to be careful."

But they've also figured out that life's To Do list doesn't preclude a good skate session, or giving up a pastime they're passionate about. Falzone, who often works with troubled teenagers, will occasionally incorporate skateboarding into his counseling sessions. "It's all about progressive risk-taking," Falzone told me. "There are smart, healthy risks, and stupid risks. With skating, there's a real risk. It's a metaphor for life in a number of ways."

In a very real way, they're also inspiring the next generations of skateboarders to adopt their pastime as a lifetime sport. "That's something that's changing," said Falzone. "This current crop of kids will continue to keep skating, because they say, 'Why would I have to stop at 25, when I see this group of 40 or 50-year-olds out there?'"

At the park, the Geezers typically find that they're a welcomed addition, if a bit of a curiosity. Jones recalled a moment about three years when "I went to Coliseum, the now-defunct skateshop in Melrose, to buy some stuff. When I was paying, the guy behind the counter asked if the stuff was for my kid, to which I replied 'Well, that stuff is for my kids, and this stuff is for me,' And he said 'Aw, that's sick, dude!'"

"I never get any bad vibes or snide comments behind my back, maybe because we're so quick to make fun of ourselves we beat everyone else to the punch," said Jones. "Mostly I get treated as just another skater, and occasionally kids and younger guys will let me know that they think it's pretty cool that we're out there."

In fact, say the Geezers, occasionally immersing themselves in skateboarding actually benefits their home and work lives, because the sport can be a great stress-buster.

"My wife likes it because I come home in a great mood after a good session," said Forcucci, a 47-year-old engineer, and father of two, from Winchester.

Further, many have parlayed their positions as contributing members of society to give skateboarders – generally considered a politically ineffective group – a more mature voice. The Geezers, through advocacy and financial donations, have helped create, refurbish, and maintain several North area skateparks, notably Melrose, Newburyport, Malden, and Marlboro.

"The Geezers are older, wiser. Savvier," said Bjornson, referring to the group's efforts to help save the Newburyport Skate Park. "Younger kids might do it, but might not have the means or connections to make it happen."

Jean-Francois "JF" Fullum, a.k.a. "Monsieur Smooth," works with Bjornson at New Balance in Lawrence, and was instrumental in securing a $2,000 grant from the athletic shoe manufacturer for the Newburyport park. "It's part of our role to educate people and help reinforce that skating is here to stay and growing," said the 37-year-old Fullum. "Skateboarding is one of the fastest growing sport in the U.S., so we need a lot more facilities, especially on the East Coast. It frustrates me when I see empty baseball fields left and right; it's not the '50s anymore. Let's build more skateparks."

The group also brings a parental perspective to a sport that sometimes suffers from a "bad boy" image. While Falzone readily admits that skateboarding's "alternative" aura is part of its attraction, the Geezers also recognize that building and preserving skateparks is a great way to garner public approval.

"A lot of the street skaters are looked on negatively," said Forcucci. "But, I noticed this with skiers versus snowboarders, where snowboarders were looked at unfavorably back in the 90s. It's not the sport – it's the age. Young skiers were jerks on the mountain too. Young kids are going to get into trouble because they have the time and energy, period. Give them a place to skate and play or whatever, and it will take care of itself."

That's one of the reasons that Falzone and Callahan teamed up on the skatepark committee in Melrose. That facility, said Falzone, is "a very humble park, but it's the busiest quarter acre in Melrose by far. It gets so utilized, much more so than the soccer fields or basketball courts."

"Any park that gets built, I'm happy to have it," echoed Callahan. "We had nothing when I was a kid."

Looking to the future, the Geezers have set their sights on repairing the dilapidated ramp at Ipswich River Park, the Winchester skatepark, and the grand prize, the Charles River Skatepark by the Zakim Bridge in Boston. While the Charles River Conservancy has raised $2.5 million for this park (which officially launched in 2001), the project is moving at a snail's pace.

"Various Geezers are writing letters, trying to keep it alive, showing that people care," said Falzone. "All this money has been raised, but because a bunch of complex reasons, it's just not going anywhere yet.

According to the Charles River Conservancy web site, the delay is the result of "re-organization of state agencies and concern over long-term maintenance due to the recession." However, in July, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation announced it would issue a Request for Proposals for a company or organization to operate and maintain the skatepark, said the CRC. "It's a shame that a city like Boston doesn't have a world-class skatepark," said Falzone. "My hometown of Houston just put in a gorgeous world-class concrete park. There's no excuse that a city like Boston, where there's a very active skate scene, wouldn't have a great park."

But these Old Schoolers will continue skateboarding wherever there's a solid ramp, a smooth bowl, and a few like-minded free spirits. For as long as their bodies let them. "We are geeks at heart," said Brian Packham, a 47-year-old father of three from Melrose, about the Geezers of New England. "It's great to know others like yourself who have never lost the passion for skating."

To learn more about the Geezers of New England, visit goneskating.org.

Sidebar: Skateboard slang

If you're going to walk the walk, you'll want to talk the talk. Here's a quick-hit glossary to help you get started:

Air, noun. The space between your board and the ground during jumps and tricks.
Bail, verb. Falling off your board.
Bro, noun. A fellow skater or friend.
Gnarly, adj. A term meaning bad, horrible, or, occasionally, really good.
Locals, noun. The riders that frequently ride the area you're in.
Off the hook, phrase. Very cool, sweet, or unbelievable.
Old School, noun. Original skateboarding style, using fishtail boards and grab tricks.
Props, adj. Respect.
Rad, adj. Abbreviation of "radical," very impressive.
Session, noun. The time you're skating, like a musical session.
Sketchy, adj. A trick that needs work, or an unpredictable or damaged surface.
Stoked, verb. Really excited.
Street, adj. Skating that involves curbs, rails, and pyramids. Also done on streets.
Vert, adj. Skating that incorporates half-pipes.

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