Halloween fun at the Moab Ho-Down

(Oct 28-31, 2010) MOAB UTAH- Walking into the Chili Pepper Bike Shop in Moab Utah, you will be greeted  by one of the many shop dogs. The strong aroma of coffee quickly takes over your senses. The coffee bar of the shop is always popular, serving up fresh Moab grinds. Don’t forget to pick up some spare tubes though because the terrain of Moab is rough and unforgiving. The Chili Pepper Bike Shop has been a major part of bringing bike racing back to Moab, and puts on the best Halloween party west of the mighty Rocky Mountains.

Tracy Reed is the brains behind the great time known as the Moab Ho-Down. Every Halloween for the past five years, Tracy and the crew from the Chili Pepper has put on a great event that includes a downhill race, superd race and a pepper eating contest? Yes that is correct, several brave souls take a seat during the costume party to see how well they can devour a few small cups of chopped jalapeno peppers. This year’s event also brought on the Moab Film Fest, two nights of bike movies in the classic Star Theater.

“Unfortunately this year we had to cancel the dirt jump comp,” said Tracey. “We were super bummed because we know there were a lot of riders coming out for the part of the event specifically. We are working with the city and area riders to make sure we have a permanent location for the contest. Don’t worry folks, it will be back next year!”

Even without the dirt jump comp, this year brought riders from all over the county. Sean Shuman of Carbondale CO has been coming out to Moab for the Halloween fun for the past five years. “It is always a great time. There is usually snow back home by now, so it’s nice to get away and get to ride my bike.”

Saturday’s costume party is always a crowd pleaser. The Moab local Elk’s club transforms into a party filled with Vikings, bears, gypsies, and even a Sasquatch. Music and cheap libations make for an interesting time for certain. The main event of the night however is always the pepper eating contest. This year, six brave souls lined up to see if their stomachs could handle the fire. By the end of the allotted time, Chewi Aiken of Sedona AZ has consumed the most peppers.

“It didn’t really hurt at all until about ten minutes after we finished, then it all came back up.” said Chewi.

Sunday came with a pain filled head for many racers. The 1pm race time lent a hand for the slow moving competitors. As the we piled into an old, double long VW bus the excitement of the day began to rise. The bus slowly made it’s way up Sand Flats road to the entrance of the LPS, where the superd race would fire off.

There was no real question as to whom would be the fastest rider of the day. Anthony Diaz of Durango CO came with the hopes to break a course record and dethrone Moab’s Kyle Mears. Unfortunately Diaz experienced a flat tire near the end of the course, bringing him in a short 30 seconds shy of Mears.

“It is always hard to try and out race someone on their home trails,” said Diaz, “I just came with the goal to race well and hopefully beat Kyle. But man, that guy is fast and knows these trails!”

Once all 29 superD racers were finished, they piled once again into the vans and headed up for the downhill race. The downhill race brought out some more young guns as well as season pros. But it was Kyle Mears once again to bring in the hot time. Anthony Diaz again came is just shy of Mears, hold down second place. The pro women side only had two racers, but held the most excitement. Amber Price of Westminster CO came in nearly 10 seconds faster then her competitor Ashley Lilly. However, Ashley’s costume had to have been worth at least a few seconds.

After the excitement had settled and prizes were distributed to the racers, everyone parted their ways. Some making a short trip home just down the street, while others loaded up for a trek to Idaho. The one thing that always comes to mind at the end of another great bike event, is the fact of how something so simple as a bicycle can bring people together from all over for a weekend of fun and bicycle riding!

Even the course marshalls were getting into the Halloween sprit.	Locked and loaded.	A pleasent cruize up Sand Flats road.
'Capitan America' getting his pre race strech on.	Sam Fox of SLC UT bring his unicorn power for the racing.	Kyle Mears looking smooth and calm on his way to winning the superd.
Anothy Diaz is on the chase.	Craig Skinner gives it some extra pedal power through the flats.	Just another day in the life of Coyote Shuttles.
Collin Simmerman of Morrison CO gets after the opening of the downhill course.	An unknown rider keeps the pace high.	Kyle Mears known this trail like the back of his hand.
Amber Price came for fun and left winning.	Ashley Lilly's costume had to have been worth a few bonus seconds.	With fresh snow on the La Sals another great weekend came to an end in Moab.