LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – If we build it, they will come – and they did.

Building 5 miles of single track by hand is hard work and involves a heck of a lot of time.

When the coaches of the three local high school mountain bike teams asked the owners of Six Sigma Ranch and Winery in Lower Lake if they might be interested in hosting a NorCal League race, they didn’t hesitate in responding “yes.”

So, the work began in late summer/fall of this past year by the local coaches, parents, riders, community members, league officials and other NorCal teams.

They spent hundreds of hours designing and building the 5-mile, 500-foot elevation gain trail which contains punchy climbs, drops, v-outs, creek crossings and lots of switchbacks, including a snaking section that has 13 in a row.

The course was completed just in time for the races on April 29 and 30.

The local teams raced on Saturday, April 29; the NorCal Northern Conference raced that day and the South Conference raced the next.

The weather was perfect, most of the deep mud had dried out, but the dirt was still tacky making for optimum traction.

For most riders, this was not the fastest course, but definitely the most technical.

“The sense of pride in what we’ve accomplished is overwhelming,” stated Coach Tami Cramer. “All the hard work we put in building the trail was totally worth it to see all the kids racing on it. I know the Ahlmann family (owners of Six Sigma) are elated as well to be a part of getting a race back in Lake County after the destruction of the Boggs Forest from the Valley fire.”

As far as results, the local riders were at an advantage with it being the home course.

“Nearly all our riders had their highest placings of the season,” said Coach Jeff Cramer.

Two stepped up onto the podium; Kia Kohler (KHS/JV girl), third, and Rainey Vanoven (CLHS/Soph girl), fourth. Both of them had the same placings for the overall season series in the Northern Conference.

Other top Six Sigma results: Tanner Morton (CLHS Soph), 14th; Chris Fischer (MHS Frosh), eighth; Bron Falkenberg (CLHS Frosh), 11th; Joseph Bloomquist (MHS Frosh), 12th; Jacob Stahr (CLHS Frosh), 12th; Miranda Cramer (CLHS Frosh girl), 12.

As Tanner Morton said, “It felt amazing to have a top 15 finish at our home course. I gave it everything I had.”

And that’s just what they did all season to make this event happen. Gave it all they had.

State Championships were two short weeks after Six Sigma on Sunday, May 14, at 5 Springs Ranch in East Petaluma.

This is the only race in which all the best riders from the North/South Conferences of the NorCal League and the SoCal League come together to compete.

More than 750 student-athletes raced from as far north as Humboldt County to as far south as San Diego.

Mostly double-track, the trail wraps itself up the grassy, oak laden slopes up and around the ranch property in a 6-mile loop with 500 feet of climbing.

Definitely a “fast” descending trail, all the local qualified riders had two to three laps to race.

Categories were huge with most of the local riders finishing mid-pack. Top finisher of the day was Rainey Vanoven (CLHS Soph girl) who finished seventh of 44 racing.

Another notable finish of the day; Chris Fischer (MHS Frosh) with 33rd out of the huge field of 97. 

Overall, the three teams made great strides in the season.

Repeat riders made vast improvements over last season, the teams grew dramatically, with many being freshmen that will continue on next season) and they made their own trails.

The point that was made was that great success requires great effort.

Tami Cramer coaches the mountain biking teams for Clear Lake and Kelseyville high schools.