You Otter Be There
Today through Sunday, the 16th annual Sea Otter Classic (SOC), the self-proclaimed "world's largest cycling festival" is going down at the Laguna Seca raceway in Monterey. This is a big-time cycling throwdown featuring a full spectrum of competitive events, including road racing, circuit racing, dirt jumping and gravity contests, as well as MTB downhill, dual-slalom, mountain cross, short track, and cross-country races for all skill levels and age groups.
Event organizers estimate that more than 10,000 professional, amateur and recreational athletes will be competing over the weekend. More than 50,000 spectators usually attend, however, the rain forecast for this weekend will probably take a bite out of those numbers.
It's fitting that the Laguna Seca racetrack is home to the Otter, because it's a like a Dead show for bicyclists. The central village is a dizzying bazaar of more than 250 vendor tents, food trailers, and race banners. In addition to great racing, the Sea Otter also provides an opportunity for racers, families, spectators, and anybody else looking for a good time to enjoy the festival atmosphere of the races in a very casual and comfortable setting. SOC organizers have done a great job of scheduling -- there's something going on practically every minute from Thursday morning to Sunday afternoon. Noncompetitors can even bring their bikes on certain days and ride the race courses. For the gearheads or the aesthetics, there are literally thousands of the coolest bikes and hottest components to scope out; for the people watchers, ditto on the crowd scene.
Here's a tip for you. If you come, bring your bike so that you can ride around the expansive racing campus and see all the different events or stake out a spot along the MTB cross-country course.
The Otter is important to roadies and MTB'ers as the opening event of the cycling season, but it is also a huge event for Monterey, Salinas, and other local communities. In addition to being a source of community pride, the Otter is big-time revenue generator. Last year, the Otter pulled in $28.6 million for the surrounding communities.
Yes, it's going to be wet and muddy this weekend down in Mo' town, but if you have any interest in cycling at all, you can't miss the Sea Otter. It is literally the Super Bowl of bike festivals, and it's right in our backyard.