Race Across America Announces 2009 Start; in Oceanside, Calif.

05-30-2009

 

 

May 29, 2009 (Oceanside, Calif.)—Race Across America (RAAM), billed as the World's Toughest Endurance Bicycle Race, will kick-off on June 17 at the Oceanside Pier in Oceanside, Calif.  This year's event promises to be a banner year for this world-class event with an impressive line-up of athletes and teams comprised of everyone from governors to rock stars.  The individual participants that compete in RAAM will launch from the pier amphitheater on Wed., June 17.  The team participants will race on Sat., June 20 from the pier amphitheater.  

 

"People can say that this is a bicycle race. No. This is nothing you can compare to anything. It is not a bicycle race; it is not a sporting event. This is something completely out of this planet,” stated Fabio Biasiolo, a ten-time solo competitor in Race Across America. 

 

"In conjunction with the start of Race Across America on June 20th, the City of Oceanside will be closing the strand to motorized traffic.  This will be a great opportunity for families to bike the strand in a traffic free environment,” commented Howard LaGrange with the City of Oceanside's Bike Task Force.

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Below is a schedule of the RAAM starts and activities:

Tuesday, June 16, 12:00 pm - Start for the RAAM women and 60+ solo racers will have Amy Snyder, an author who is writing a book about RAAM, and Fred Boethling, President and CEO of RAAM as the Master of Ceremonies.

Wednesday, June 17 - Start for the RAAM men solo racers and the Race Across the West (RAW) racers.

•     11:30 am: US Navy SEALS the Leaping Frogs will be parachuting into the start line.

•     12:00 pm: Bob Babbitt, editor of Competitor Magazine will be sending off the world's toughest bicycle racers with a new style of a start.

Saturday, June 20 – Start for the RAAM teams. There will be a Family Day Bike Ride sponsored by City of Oceanside and the Oceanside Bike Task Force.  The Strand will be closed to traffic for families to ride their bikes on that day. 

•     9:00 am – 3:00 pm: RAAM Expo.  The expo will include local businesses, shops, and organizations.

•     12:00 pm: RAAM Information Seminar/Q&A: Pete Penseyres (RAAM Speed Record Holder) and other guests will be speaking and answering questions about RAAM.

•     1:00 pm: RAAM Teams Introduction and line-up.   Laird Hamilton has teamed up with Bally Total Fitness founder, Don Wildman; Rage Against The Machine bassist, Tim Commerford and Ironman participant, Jason Winn to form Team Surfing USA. This team is racing in an effort to raise awareness for Autism and Lou Gehrig's disease.

•     2:00 pm: RAAM Teams Start.  Chuck Bramwell, Executive Director of California Triple Crown will be leading out the teams.  Spectators are encouraged to bring their bikes and join in a "fun ride” to Bonsall Bridge, about 15 miles east of Oceanside on Highway 76. 

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While maintaining an extremely competitive perspective, many racers find the desire and ability to utilize RAAM as a forum to raise awareness and funds for the charities and causes that they support. According to RAAM's staff, in each of the last three years, RAAM contestants have used the race to raise over $1 million for various charitable causes in the United States, Canada and Europe. 

 

According to a RAAM spokesperson, For 28 years, RAAM has been producing champions from everyday people.  The trials and tribulations they endure never fails to intrigue, motivate and inspire all those that cross their path. Regardless of whether they witness firsthand a RAAM team and its' entourage of support vehicles racing through their town or by following the progress on the race's official website, www.raceacrossamerica.org, RAAM creates an energy of its own.

 

Oceanside is home to one of the State's official visitor centers, The California Welcome Center-Oceanside.  The Center provides local, regional and state tourist information and maps. Visitors may also purchase discount tickets to major attractions, make hotel reservations and/or shop for California memorabilia. The CWC is located at 928 North Coast Highway.  For more information, please call (800)350-7873 or visit www.visitoceanside.org.

 

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