Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/772140
ing to the contours of the trail while having to chose their line through a stand of scrub oak. Coming back onto the paved path they headed back towards the barbecue pits negotiating large puddles. At the west end of the field they veered to right back on to the dirt, slogging up a slight incline that some racer where able to ride while others had to dismount and push. Com- ing down the hill was no easy task. The course turned back on itself a few times making the off cam- ber corners on the wet day even more demanding. The course then took rid- ers right past the finish line area. Race promoter Jar- ret Yount said if the course hadn't been so wet and slip- pery he would have put out two or three barrier boards to force all but the most skilled riders to dismount. Racers rode up the pave- ment towards the park- ing lot at the front of the park and went back onto the dirt where Brewery Creek crosses under the road. They dismounted to get over a log then pushed or rode the hills toward the field near Main Street, where they turned around and headed back the way they came towards the bar- becue pit area. There was no kids lap for the 12 and younger group because the only children to ride had already moved up to C class. "The Ramirez boys, Di- ego and R.J., have been coming to the races with their father, Rafael, for four or five years and it has been fun watching their riding abilities improve dramati- cally," Yount said. The Ramirez brothers from Redding were the youngest riders while the Warfield brothers from Dairyville and Tim Roberts from Red Bluff filled out the teen age group. Tehama County had five riders racing in the 20-29 and they were joined by five riders from Butte County and one from Shasta. The 30-39 group had two riders from Butte County and three from Shasta with Inez Ramirez of Corning and Chris Hur- ton from Red Bluff. Jack and Bill Wein- gart represented Tehama County in the 40-49 group with three others each from Butte and Shasta counties. Three riders in the 50-59 group made the journey from Chico, joining Chip Thompson of Red Bluff. The 60-69 group had only one rider from Cotton- wood, he and all the other age group winners from their respective races won a bottle of olive oil from Pa- cific Sun of Gerber. Door prizes included glazed walnuts from Bi- anchi Orchards and the top three winners in each class received jars of gra- nola from Moore's Flour Mill of Redding. Each rider that finished the race was entered into an end of the series drawing to win a cus- tom brake set from Paul Components of Chico. The six-race series con- tinues at noon Saturday, Jan. 21 at Forward Park. Subsequent races include Jan. 28 Trainor Park, Feb. 4 Boomtown BMX Shasta Lake City, Feb. 11 Kids King- dom Redding and Feb. 18 Caldwell Park Redding. All types of bicycles are welcome to compete and the motto of organizers is "We're here to have fun, run wha'cha brung." There is a $20 entry fee and helmets are required. More info can be found on Facebook by searching for Ride On Race Series. Cyclocross FROMPAGE1 stuff and just play and com- pete and enjoy what you have." It took time for the War- riors to click just as every- body involved expected, and Pachulia has been at the center of the develop- ment. Early on, Pachulia opted to do more observ- ing to learn, and he also notes he had to get in bet- ter shape. He is far more comfortable now, and the 32-year-old center is emerg- ing at the perfect time. The Warriors are headed toward the second half with Pachulia having found his place complementing Ste- phen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. Last month, Pachulia had season bests of 15 points and 14 rebounds in a win at Brooklyn, and he believes that helped him turn a cor- ner. He had four straight games in double figures en- tering Tuesday night's home matchup with Miami after doing so just twice in his first 32 games. In a victory at Sacra- mento on Sunday, Pachulia made a jaw-dropping, no- look backward heave that was right on target to Curry and led to an easy basket by the MVP. "He's tried some crazy stuff before, but he made a good, timely read as the best way to get me the ball," Curry said. "One bounce into my lap and I was able to finish it. I'm sure coach will make sure he's not ex- perimenting too much more with that." Pachulia has enjoyed be- ing part of the "fancy stuff" these pass-happy Warriors have become known as they rack up 30-assist per- formances at an astonish- ing rate. "Zaza's got a little flair to him," Kerr said. "He likes making plays like that." Never before had the big man from the Republic of Georgia — where he is gen- erating daily All-Star sup- port — been part of a team with so many great play- ers, and finding his way with this group made for a daunting adjustment. That core of talent is also the very reason he chose to join Golden State for his 14th season and chase a cham- pionship. "No disrespect to Dallas, Milwaukee, but we weren't this type of team. No one was expecting a champi- onship from us," Pachulia said. "This team is different, right? Let's be honest. So ev- ery time you make a mis- take on the court, and that's very normal, especially in the beginning, it looks like 10 times, 100 times worse. Fans are spoiled here be- cause of the types of sea- sons they had." For Pachulia, the im- provements have come from focusing on the small things — such as minor footwork adjustments and working to better defend the perimeter. That has come with a willingness to learn. "The thing that I'm most proud of in watching him this year is his growth. I'm talking about a guy who's played a lot of basketball," Warriors assistant coach and defensive guru Ron Ad- ams said. "The ability to be coached at his age has re- ally been fun. ... He is one of those lifelong learners." Still, Pachulia knows the compliments from those around him must be earned. From the basketball- crazed Bay Area fans, too. "My skin got thicker," he said. "I don't listen to stuff from outside or even if I hear or if I read something, I just let it go very easily. It's not bothering me, because the truth is that Steph or Klay or KD or Draymond or Andre (Iguodala), all these guys, they either like play- ing with me or they don't. That's what matters. The coaching staff is happy with my presence or not. "Maybe the first day, you're not expecting any of your teammates to give you some good words. We've played enough games that my teammates have a lot of compliments to say about me. My coaching staff has a lot of compliments to say about me. Those compli- ments don't come just like that. They are professionals and you get a compliment because you deserve it. That means a lot." Pachulia FROM PAGE 1 While they search for their fourth coach in four years, the 49ers are simul- taneously surveying gen- eral manager candidates. Other candidates ex- pected to interview with the 49ers are Vance Jo- seph (Miami Dolphins de- fensive coordinator), Tom Cable (Seattle Seahawks offensive line) and the Se- ahawks' co-directors of players personnel, Trent Kirchner and Scott Fit- terer. Joseph's will be on Thursday if the Broncos don't hire him after his interview there Tuesday, ESPN reported. Previously interviewed GM candidates were El- iot Wolf, Brian Gutekunst, George Paton and Jimmy Raye III. 49ers FROM PAGE 1 COLLEGEMEN'SBASKETBALL George Wash. at VCU:3p.m.,ESPN2. Seton Hall at Marquette: 4p.m., FS1. Georgia at Mississippi: 4p.m., ESPNU. North Carolina at Wake Forest: 5p.m., ESPN2. COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL St. Bonaventure vs. St. Louis: 9a.m., NBCSN. Butler vs. Creighton: 6p.m., FS1. Iowa State at Oklahoma State: 6p.m., ESPNU. NBA BASKETBALL Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics: 5p.m., ESPN. Cleveland Cavaliers at Portland Trail Blazers: 7:30p.m., ESPN. GOLF Web.com Tour, Bahamas Great Exuma Classic, Final Round: 11:30a.m., GOLF. EPGA Tour, South African Open, Round 1: mid- night, GOLF. NHL HOCKEY Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals: 5p.m., NBCSN. San Jose Sharks at Calgary Flames: 6:30p.m., CSN. TENNIS ATP, ASB Classic First and Second Round: 3p.m., TENNIS. On the air CHIP THOMPSON — DAILY NEWS One of the more treacherous sections of the course was a climb near the parking lot at Dog Island Park Saturday. | SPORTS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017 2 B