I've Roamed The Sea Otter Classic
Apr 6, 2011 at 16:56
The Sea Otter Classic arrives at a perfect time in the year. Winter is finally passing, and we're all tired of looking outside and seeing another soaker rainy day happen, especially up here in the pacific northwest. Time to get some sun, time to get to ever beautiful Monterey for some racing, and some photoshootings. I have shot at Sea Otter for nearing ten years and thought it was time to dig into the vaults and share some action. Most of the jobs I have ever had at Sea Otter revolved around specific athletes and the assignment of capturing the pure race action. Being a photographer at Sea Otter is not easy. Events overlap, long distances exist between car, race locations, and food....and at any moment it can rain harder than it does in Vancouver. Epic.
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 Paul Basagoitia a few years back, and on one of those days when the winds weren't gail force. Providing a dirt home to the slopestyle crew at Sea Otter is not easy, given the unpredictable weather that rolls through. Going artificial surface was a good idea |
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| Mornings are when the downhillers get their race times and it tends to be nicer weather...but didn't I just see most of you at the Crown & Anchor just a few hours ago? Nathan Rennie in the Downhill. |
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| Guaranteed that there will be days where it is glorious sunshine minutes before start time, all the photo strobes are in place, and then a mighty sea-squall decides to keep the Norcal grass green. The veteran that knows Sea Otter will then bust out the 4 umbrellas, zip locks and rain wear and nail photos on lap one with clean atheletes, otherwise, everyone looks like Max Plaxton does here... |
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| Eric Carter employing new tactics to stay out front, keep the rain off the face, and keeping the right vibe alive at the Otter. |
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| Ahhhhhhh, yessss, this is why we like to be back in Norcal. The Sun will return, and if you ever get a chance to roll out on an XC bike and sample the Laguna Seca property, do. The singletrack loops are epic, and so are the views. |
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| Yep, the vibe is always better when the sun is out, and the crowd will certainly be thick as the dual slalom action heats up in the afternoons. |
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| Yes, good things happen when it's mild and sunny in Monterey. Willow Koerber stomping away on the competition, year after year. |
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| Cedric has certainly put in his time at the Otter, and is always battling for the win. |
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| Same goes for Brian Lopes. If you missed your shot in that round....don't worry he's always in the next round. |
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| The Otter brings out many of our sports legends. Don't be surprised to be standing right beside someone in our sport that has left their mark. Snowboard and Mountain Bike legend Shaun Palmer often can be found shredding out the deep Otter berms in classic Palmer style. |
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| Let the race season begin....everything will be primed and ready. |
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| The Girls are as good as the Boys. Gatto and Jonnier holding their own to Smith and Rennie. |
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| Some racers hate the fact that the downhill course has an uphill section that makes you feel like your racing in the short track cross country... |
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| ...but then you get this fully pinned decent. Long time Crown & Anchor patron, Steve Peat. |
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| As a photographer, you better have done some off-season training so that you're ready to do the overlapping-race-sprints... Quickly nail this 'air' by Geoff Kabush in the men's XC, and "I think I have about 36 minutes between XC laps" to run over to the 'not-delayed' air events to capture Cam McCaul from his early days, maybe back over to Kabush for lap two, he's still in the lead I hear, ....and then race over to the four cross track... |
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| Ok, if you ever wondered why the top athletes get paid so well, and how they stay at the top? Being pro isn't just about getting results. Being pro also means knowing that Sea Otter gets press, and that being out front at Sea Otter will get you good press and a longer career. The top pros don't just come to the Otter to be in the Crown & Anchor. |
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| Being the one that can record that press content can pay well too. The media scrum at the Otter is littered deep with icons of action sports photography. And, just as you are rushing back and forth like a mad chicken to your shooting locations...you will arrive to find one of these guys already there, standing in the spot you thought was yours... |
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| See you in the corner soon. |
