Stumpjumpers depart; leave tired volunteers

This year’s Odessa Bike Week has come and gone, leaving some very tired volunteers in its wake, both Stumpjumper and Odessa Chamber members. As has been typical for the past couple of years, the weather for the Sunday Desert 100 race was cool and windy, resulting in a covering of dust over everything.

The action started Saturday with Poker Runs and the running of the Mini-Desert 100 for the younger crowd. Some Odessa and other Lincoln County residents also participated.

Mini-Desert 100

In the class consisting of eight-year-olds and under, the top three spots went to riders who completed seven laps: 1) Steele Starren (no hometown listed) in just over three hours, 2) Carstan Marsh of Arlington, Wash. in 3:13:55 and Logan Tonsgard of Granite Falls, Wash. in 3:17:41. Gavin Boggs of Davenport, placed fourth, completing six laps in a time of 2:58:36.

Odessa riders were Keith Strebeck, who completed four laps in 3:19:50, and Collin Martin, who did three laps in 3:20:07.

The 9-10-year-old class winners completed eight laps. First place was won by Dakota Saylor of Grand Coulee in 2:47:15. Domini Laplante (no hometown given) took second in 2:55:30, and Lucas Bird, also of Grand Coulee, took third in 2:57:44.

Odessa’s Jesse Berry completed six laps in 2:58:26 for 26th place, and Jayd Jennings also completed six laps in 3:04:42 for 29th place.

Henry Orkney of Stanwood took first place in the 11-12-year-old class in a time of 2:59:32 covering 10 laps. Second place went to Max Miller of Port Orchard in 3:07:29 and third went to Mike Latterell of Tacoma in 3:12:43.

Loran Boggs of Davenport completed nine laps in 2:53:55 for seventh place. Berlyn Hunt, granddaughter of Linda and Larry Gustafson of Odessa, came in 45th in 3:16:09, completing five laps. Aaron Gies of Odessa also competed, but did not finish the race.

Desert 100

In the Desert 100, riders gather first at the campground, filling every available space around the sign-up hut and food court. The group then rides en masse down Irby Road, turning off on a dirt track that takes them to the starting line.

The race started off with the usual chaos, noise, dust and excitement. In the first wave of riders, all were signed up for the 100-mile course of two laps. About a half-hour later, the second wave of riders, intending to do the 50-mile race or one lap, headed across the flats for the starting gate. Of the 967 riders who signed up for the race, 781 finished and collected their commemorative T-shirt.

In the 15 & under class, Joel Tonsgard of Everett won the first-place trophy, finishing one lap in 2:15:33. Wyatt Boggs of Davenport came in 18th in a time of 2:40:17, Nick Kuest of Ritzville was 49th in a time of 3:33:48 and Derrick Hills of Davenport finished 51st in 3:55:29.

The Team race was won by Erek Arnold and Jesse Barstow of Orting who completed two laps in a time of 3:40:47. Matthew Kagele and Tyler Smith of Odessa entered the race but did not finish.

The Women’s class saw the best finish by a local rider as Sally Kagele of Odessa finished in fifth place in a time of 2:32:50. The top finisher was Chantelle Bykerk of Salmon Arm, B.C. in 2:18:52. Renee Shaw of Moses Lake came in 33rd in 3:42:26.

The Legends class, intended for riders aged 70 and over, had only four participants and was won by Gordon White of Eagle, Idaho in 2:35:40 for one lap.

There were about 200 riders in the Open class, which was won by Bobby Prochnau of Savona, B.C. in a time of 2:59:04 over two laps, followed by Phil Stevens (second in 3:03:27) and Matthew Clarke (third in 3:08:19), both of Snohomish.

The 250cc class for riders on bikes with that size of engine was won by Lane Buchert of Eagle, Idaho in 3:09:32. The 200cc & Under class contained about 50 riders and was won by Justin McGovern of Stanwood in 3:41:22.

The Old Timers class, another of the bigger classes in the race with 174 entries, was for riders aged 40 to 49. Jeff Kerb of Woodinville took first place in 3:27:56 over two laps.

Super Seniors are riders aged 50 to 59 and complete just one lap.Keith Clyde of Sandpoint, Idaho won first place in 2:16:27. The Masters class for riders 60 and over was won by Damon Bee of Bothell in 2:22:42 over one lap.

White Knuckle/Frost Bite

The previous weekend’s races drew a couple hundred racers to property south of town. Saturday’s Frost Bite short course had a total of 101 riders, and the long course had 70.

Odessa fourth-grader Jesse Berry participated in the youth division, while his father Bruce Berry, competing in the Masters class, came in fifth.

We reported last week on the Valverde brothers, Patrick and Joshua, who came in seventh and fifth, respectively, in their separate classes.

The White Knuckle race had 72 riders competing on the short course and 37 on the long course. Odessa school student Nick Kuest, son of Mike and Linda Kuest of rural Odessa/Ritzville, came in 17th in the long course on his KTM bike.