The Ikeda Poker Rally was a great event. Over 50 participants came out and we had a perfect blue sky day for it!!! I couldn't ride of course but I was able to hike one of the trails and take some pictures of the event. The top prize for the best poker hand was ¥60000!!!!!!!! Congratulations to the winning team and to Randall and Midori for their great event!!!

Here are the photos!!!

Mark and I were tearing it up at Fujimi last Sunday. Just got my new bike and wanted to break it in for next weeks season opener race in Hakodate Mtn. Unfortunately, I decided to do that "one last run" and crashed. I went down and hyper extended my thumb while landing. Bammmmm, I knew immediately that it was serious.... crap another hospital trip.

In the emergency, after x rays, it was discovered that at last year's final race in Sena when I crashed in September, I had ulitimately broken my thumb and severed my ligament. Stupid me, never went to check it out. I knew it was bad..... but ..... anyway, now I know and have reinjured the exact area and have to have surgery on May 8th. The doctor will go in and repair the ligament with a 3mm titanium anchor....never to walk through a customs area freely again lol!!!!

I will be out for 3 weeks after the surgery with an aluminum cast, then after that I start rehabilitation. So I think I am looking at 1.5 months before I get back on my bike again. Bummer, but at least I know I can ride again, it could be worse!!!!

In the meantime I have already started hiking to keep my butt in shape!!! This up coming weekend is Golden Week in Japan, so we have some holidays. Kouji and I will go to Hakuba to hang out and get things organized for the MTB Jamboree in August. Hope you all have a good week!!

Kyoko and I before the crash!!

My severed ligament x ray,,,,,, arrrgggg!


My surgery contract in Japanese.......

This is Will and he promised me if I put him up on my site, he would bring his mates to the MTB Jamboree in August, so here ya go Will!!!! And I am wearing his cool shades, ha ha!!

Day 4 Video - Expo and DH

Monday April 21st, 2008 at 1:44 PM
Posted by: adam
Theo whips up another great video for the final day of Sea Otter 2008. Sunday was warm in the morning with some wind in the expo area later in the day, but 150% better day than Saturday.


Sea Otter Day 3 Video

Sunday April 20th, 2008 at 12:44 AM
Posted by: adam
Coverage of the Dual Slalom event from day 3. The weather today was a bit colder than the previous days, and the wind and dust was a force to be reckoned with.

Sweet Riders founder, Karey Watanabe will produce a Black & White, Ladies Night in Tokyo!
A night out in Roppongi at Lounge Bar Sheesha!!! Ladies dress in all black, white or a combination and join us for a great night of dancing and drinking the night away. There a some birthdays and farewells to be celebrated so come on out and let's party the night away!!!!

We will be meeting at 9pm at the Almond Cafe, near exit 3 Roppongi Subway Station, near Roppongi Crossing.......

Guys are allowed after midnight!!!

A group of us will be meeting earlier in the morning to have a complete ladies day and night. We are thinking of hitting some museums doing some shopping then getting all dressed up together..... let us know if you want to join us!!!

Also, many of us will be staying at this hotel Arca Torre Roppongi, it is within 2 minutes walking distance to the bar and minutes away from a Starbuck's in the morning. Prices are reasonable, two can stay in a double room for ¥13600.......I have posted the url above......

This week the cherry trees were in full bloom, we had a lot of rain but some blue sky days crept in. I did some great solo rides and was able to spend the weekend chilling out afterwards at some cherry blossom parties. MORE PICTURES HERE! I also had my great cameraman and good friend Kyoko out to Matsumoto to do a photo shoot for this year's Sweet Riders MTB Jamboree Poster. We didn't have a blue sky day but made the most of it.... pictures here.

For some reason the allergy thing got me this year. It is my first time ever to suffer from allergies, but it is not fun. Now I know what Kouji and many others have been going through every spring. YUCK!!!!!

Been back at work at the university and have a great bunch of new students this term. It is looking all good.

Kouji and I are trying to purchase a building in Hakuba to turn into our very own MTB center. It is all up to the bank now. Please wish us luck!!!

I am off to Tokyo once again this Friday for more meetings to get some other exciting projects underway, including our August MTB Jamboree. Weeeee, should be a great summer!!!

Enjoy spring!!!

Happy Spring from Sae, Liza, me, Ya-chan and Shoko!!!!

Here is the beautiful sunset from Nobeoka Station in Kyushyu. I went down there to teach for INTEC Japan and had a blast. I met a great crew and had so much fun working with them. It was a three day intensive seminar given to 245 new employees of Asahi Kasei Company. My long time friend Andy, recruited me and I am so happy that he did. I have been teaching here in Japan for 15 years now and was so happy to find out that a lot of material that I have been teaching to my students appeared in the Intec course manual. I guess I have been on the right track after all, ha ha....

Here we are, the crew of Intec after a long day of hard work....chilling out

My first plate of Fugu (Japanese Blowfish), took me 15 years to try it, it was delicious....
I got to spend a night in Tokyo and went out to this restaurant, danced at a great club called Sheesha and met some more new friends!! Life is all good. More pictures here....

Now it is back to the grind with University starting for me tomorrow, busy busy........

My view from the top .....

My tired legs after the climb....

Spring is here.........

Peace to all!!!!

Here is Miss Sweet Rider hanging out with Sarah, Riku and Tess at the Trimodal Event put on by Evergreen Outdoors. The Trimodal is an event where there are teams of three or individual entries. The team of three or the individual must do three runs, one on snowboard, one on skis and one on telemark skis. The team with the closest times for each run, is the winner. Same with the individual category. The course was full of great things, like rolls, corners, jumps and the infamous water trap at the finish line. Great job Evergreen!!!

This year Sweet Riders was a sponsor and didn't enter a team. Miss Sweet Rider was out to cheer on the participants and deliver some prizes. It was a great event and we couldn't of had better weather. A killer blue sky warm day!! Check out the pictures here


The water trap at the end of the course. This year it claimed no victims.......everyone cleared it!!

Miss Sweet Rider is now changing back into her English Teacher role and heading to Tokyo tomorrow to catch a plane to Kyushu. She will take part in INTEC's company training seminars. She will be gone all week. Stay tuned for more updates next week!! Until then enjoy the first signs of spring and happy hanami!!!!

P.S. her detox has taken a new turn, she quit the diet after 21 days because she learned the diet was virtually impossible and found the answer called Threelak!! For anyone who might attempt a yeast detox, please check out this product!!! It is the way to go!!!!

My favorite is Atherton Racing Farmer Jack, check it out!!!!