State Qualifier ** Round 1

CONGRATS !
Nolan took 2nd

Supporting his fellow riders

The gate keepers
scary right...

"Ready...Riders Up"

Working the booth

Nolan & Riley

The daddies

A favorite pic of my guy

A favorite of my little guy

Our animal princess with Angel

For those who care how this works (mainly the grandparents ;)...
This was the first State race and you have to race in at least three of the four.
We will have one in June, one the beginning of Aug. then the final State Championship race the end of August. Also, 'regular' races are every Saturday and once you win 10 first places
you automatically move up to the next level which for Nolan will be intermediate. Although we are super proud of him for winning 2 first places already this year, we wouldn't mind a few second places thrown in there. I would really like to see our guy stay a beginner for at least a year! Intermediate is SO much faster and big competition.
There are not many pictures of Nolan in the gate because I have usually put my camera down and am standing at one of the big turns he makes to cheer him on...so far I have tears in my eyes EVERY time I see him take that corner. I am not sure if I am so proud of how well he is doing; and that I am so certain he has found his passion (for now anyway), if I am just glad he is almost to the finish line, or if I am still full of anxiety because he is in on the track. They are going so much faster than it looks and one wrong turn of a wheel or head or a little rock can make those guys flip right over the handle bars. We have seen Nolan do that once; it jabbed him pretty good in the rib and knocked his breath out. Once he caught it he was back on his bike with little tears still running down his cheeks. I realize this is part of the game as in any sport but a mama would just rather not see.