This was one of the coolest days on the bike. The one and only famous motocross star David Pingree invited me along with Kevan to join him at Castillo Ranch for an Asterisk Ride Day. Asterisk put together the day as a fund raiser for their Medic Rig at the AMA Outdoor Nationals. 125 people sprung the $250 donation to ride and an auction was held. Guys like Ping, Short, Jeff Emig, Zach Osborne, Ryan Morais donated jerseys to the cause. He took a group of guys for a tour around the ranch to some of the jumps you've seen in the Crusty or Nitro Circus flics. We rolled into an impressive spread of rolling hills with a supercross track, hidden jumps in the hills and a sweet mx track. I hit one little hip, but sat on the bike and watched Ping, Andrew Short and a few other pros hit the step up kicker. We rode the mx track and had the chance to see Shorty and Ping band off some hard charging laps. I got some helmet cam video at the end of the day when the track was pretty beat, but still fun to ride with tthe lay out of it. Kevan is the guy you can watch and Shorty came up on us and floated the downhill then was gone. Pretty weak on the picture side, but got a few for you to see.

Our sport of ski racing in the USA or specifically the governing body USST (US Ski Team Association) paid the CEO this year a $300,000 bonus on top of a salary of $700,000 and then demands it's young gun athletes to pay their own way. What??? Check out Freedog's Bolg here at this link for more.

http://www.yardbarker.com/skiing/articles/US_Ski_Team_Comes_Up_Short_again/267646#view_comments

http://daronrahlves.loopd.com/Members/daronrahlves/Videos.aspx?resourceId=7313d560-33a3-4453-b05c-4b7e13692d1c

The Red Bull Air Race this weekend was incredible. The San Diego venue was spectacular in its self just to hang out at. Mix that with fast planes and Red Bull, then you have a show. Super light 300hp race planes hitting speeds in the 220 mph range and negotiating a course of air inflated pylons 30 feet off the water is insane. Actually saw one pilot get his wing 5 feet or closer to the water on one turn. The guys were pushing the limits further than I've ever seen a plane go. The pilots are incredibly talented with their precision and skill laying their planes on verticle edge and cranking off some tight turns. Red Bull also had their sea plane and stunt heli out there. I've been in a heli plenty of times skiing, but not one that can do back flips, spirals and barrel rolls. Love to have that as my ride in AK next year. Added to the event was the US Coast Gaurd and Navy's machines and our contry's finest. They brought out a Hover Craft the size of a house, WWII planes, F-16, F-18, helis and a battle ship. My Red Bull Team Manager Pete Moran pulled together some of his athletes so we could all hang out and see the action. Travis Rice(snowboard), Jamie Sterling(big wave surf), Trent(kayak), Kai(surf, kite, windsurf), Landon(motocross) and Tanner Hall(ski). A little cross pollination of athletes to share some good times with and set up future plans. If you missed it check out this link. Red Bull Air Show.

I rallied out to Cahuilla today for the last two hours of practice. Little windy and dry. They put water on the track a few times but the H2O evaporated in minutes and the normal loamy track turned into a dusty silty desert track. Still had a good time. Maybe better that no one was there. Check out 2 laps with the rear facing pov head cam.

I had that little nervous twitch rolling into Perris. You know the half scared, excited, anxiety feeling. Maybe just me, but watching a few guys like Tommy Hahn, Bob Kiniry, Kyle Chisolm and David Pingree laying the coals to it, got my legs shaking even more. It's been since Nov 3rd at Stead MX track when I broke my left wrist and put the bike away. My fresh CRF450R 2008 sat all winter with a thick layer of mud on it. I couldn't show up to the track with a dirty bike so I buffed it out before I loaded it in the truck to Encinitas. Hey, looking good is part of the game. Once I got a few laps of rolling all the jumps I tried to ride smooth and stay mellow. Avoid all competitive urges and build into it. Turned out my day at Perris wasn't so bad. It's got great dirt and a really fun lay out. My bros Junior and Toshi came along for the ride to hang out and me and Kev got some riding in. I'd ride 3 laps then the arms pumped up. ha,ha,ha weak...It's brutal being away for this long. Hopefully I get some time on the bike this month so I can battle it out with the other boys in our cross over challenge at the Hangtown AMA National. Sucks to be pullin off the track with Popeye arms after a few laps. But after winter on skis I always have this gripped feeling on the bike and it takes me a few rides to relax. I'm stoked to roost now. Let summer begin! Check out some pics and videos in my gallery. I'll be back out there next Wednesday for more.

Gettin the Honda ready.

Thanks to all my sponsors for your support!

Junior is THE MAN!!!!!

Click here to see my vids from Perris...