Bootes Beats Lopes for a World Title in Mountain Biking
Two Orange County residents battled head-to-head for a mountain biking world title last week in Sierra Nevada, Spain.
Wade Bootes, an Australian who lives in Huntington Beach, defeated Brian Lopes of Laguna Beach in the dual final at the UCI World Mountain Bike Championships.
Bootes had the better starting position and held a narrow lead throughout the final in the slalom-style downhill event.
Mission Viejo’s Dave Cullinan finished 16th in the men’s downhill and Leigh Donovan of Laguna Beach was 17th in the women’s downhill.
IN THE SWIM
The Pacific Coast Triathlon, July 23 at Crystal Cove, is offering ocean swimming clinics. The first clinic is sold out but space is available June 24, July 8, July 9, July 15 and July 16.
Participants in the $35 sessions can try demo triathlon wetsuits and will be briefed in ocean swimming techniques by experienced swimmers and triathletes.
The public is invited at 9:30 a.m. on each day to join the group for a swim on the half-mile course. For more information: (714) 297-9119 or https://www.pacificcoasttriathlon.com
NEWPORT NEWS
Two boats from the Newport Aquatic Center made the finals of the U.S. Rowing Youth Invitational Championships last weekend in Cincinnati. The four-man boat of Nate Hoyt, Matt Elder, Scott Somers and Nick D’Antoni finished fifth of six boats in the final in 6 minutes 32.93 seconds. Lyme of Connecticut finished first in 6:19.09.
The two-man boat of D’Antoni and John Zeiser finished sixth in 7:14.34. Minnesota Boat Club won in 6:48.00.
Redondo Beach’s Cliff Meidl, who trains at the Newport Aquatic Center, qualified for the U.S. Olympic kayak team Sunday in Chula Vista.
TRAIN IN VAIN
Registration opened this month for the Amtrak Century, the Orange County Wheelmen’s annual 100-mile bike ride from Irvine to San Diego. The ride is Sept. 9 and for the first time the Wheelmen will offer an option to ride without the return train trip.
The fee is $58 ($35 without the return by train) and is limited to the first 950 riders who register. The chartered train holds about 800 people. Details: https://www.ocw.org or (714) 956-2453.