Sea Otter

Classic to Draw

Large Crowds

Elaine Schumacher, Staff Reporter

Elaine_Schumacher@csumb.edu

April 17, 2008

The Sea Otter Classic, considered

the season opener for bike races, will

be held at the Laguna Seca Raceway

on Highway 68 From April 17 to 22.

The race is part of the California Golden

State Championship series and it is the

largest bicycle event in the world.

“9000 athletes will be participating

and another 50,000 spectators are

expected throughout the four day

event,” said Frank Yohannan, president

and CEO of the Sea Otter Classic.

“There will be professional race teams

from around the world competing,”

added Yohannan.

“My event is the mountain bike cross

country race,” said Nick Kintz, a 19 year

old from Marina, who works at Joselyn

Bike Shop in Monterey. Kintz, who has

been riding competitively since he was a

freshman in high school, has competed

in the race for the past three years.

“I am not sure how I will do this

year since I haven’t been able to get out

there to train like I did in other years,”

said Kintz. “One of the advantages of

having this event in our backyard is

that local athletes can train on the actual

course,” added Kintz.

“What makes the Sea Otter Classic

special is that it is synonymous

with rain and that always makes it

interesting,” said Robin Dodd, a 20

year-old student from Hartnell College

who plans to transfer to CSU Monterey

Bay next year.

The festival atmosphere along with

the variety of events, courses and levels

of competition make this event popular

for the professional and amateur athlete.

Parking is free, a day pass is $10, and

it is $30 for a four-day pass.