The Quarterfinals

The Scott and BR Cycling Team started in May with 30 riders selected to compete for 1 prize; a sponsored ride in the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge ride from San Francisco to San Diego from October 18 through 24. Over the course of the summer we've become friends and grown close; we've cycled hundreds of miles and climbed thousands of feet in training. One week the mysterious selection process has whittled our numbers to 15, then 1 more rider was cut from the team each successive week. As of this week only 4 remained; Nina, Carl, Mike and I.

This week our charge was to choose one person to speak Live on the Radio, at 6:40 am on XX1090 AM, on the Scott and BR Show on our behalf, as to why we should be selected to advance to the final 2. The kicker - they would only get 1 minute!

Nina chose her mom Jennifer. I chose my wife/best friend Diana Curtis. Mike chose his fundraising co-host and recent radio contestant Todd Northup. Carl chose our friend and fundraising co-host Brent Reman. Each spoke eloquently, persuasively, convincingly about why their rider should make the selection and continue to ride for the team.
But in the end, there could be only two.

I was cut from the Scott and BR Cycling team, as was Carl.
Our friends Nina Vosburgh and Mike Henderson advanced to next week's final selection.

With their advancement they earned an invitation to ride the 2009 Tour of California San Diego/Palomar Mountain race course tomorrow October 2, with our fearless radio host Scott Kaplan and Jeff Jacobs from Qualcomm, title sponsor and champion of the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge benefiting the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

As I've mentioned a few times, I was already a winner when I was selected to join the team. I've had an opportunity to talk live on a 50,000 watt radio station, to become fitter and more skilled as a rider, to participate in the planning and execution of a fundraising charity event which was attended by inspirational athletes Ryan Levinson and Patrick Ivison, to meet many new friends and riding partners, and to raise awareness for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Many, many thanks to all of the staff, ride leaders, coaches and volunteers of CAF and QMDC, and to Scott Kaplan, Billy Ray Smith and Jack, John, and Mike from BCA Radio/XX1090 AM Sportsradio for a great, great ride.

Check out the links on my blog for information about the other riders, Challenged Athletes, the QMDC ride route, the Scott and BR Show.

If you'd like to donate to CAF on my behalf, follow the link at the upper right of the page.
Thank you!
Scott