2009 High Lifter Mud Nationals - Digging Deep In Texas

Ever since I kicked off this journey of working for ATV Rider Magazine, I've had the opportunity to travel the country and experience some of the greatest ATV events and adventures offered. From the Big Buck GNCC and various WORCS races to numerous local events that happen right in my backyard. Each one of these events have been an incredible experience, but there is one that I specifically look forward to more than any other each year, and that's the High Lifter Mud Nationals.

My first exploit to this event and the mud bog scene in general was in 2008, and I must admit, I had the time of my life! Imagine 15,000 people joining together in one location with the same interest in mind: riding quads and having a great time. I met some really wonderful people and had the opportunity to try a bit of muddin' of my own. Each day was a blast, but there had been downsides. One aggravating one was our hotel was almost an hour's drive away, so that meant getting up at the crack of dawn and heading back a little earlier than I liked each night. Granted, it was still a blast, but I knew there had to be a better way to experience it. I was determined to convince the powers that be that this year I needed to stay on site to describe the after-racing festivities.

Back in February at the Indianapolis Dealer Expo, Editor Thad Josey and I spent some time hanging out with the guys from Gorilla Axle strengthening a good friendship. When talk of the Mud Nationals came up, I shared my idea with them and it was very well received. Team Gorilla rider Dewayne Crowder offered to put us up for the duration of the nationals, so we could see what the event is really like after everyone was finished racing. Without hesitation Thad and I accepted his offer and began planning. I had been excited about going before, but experiencing the event like this pushed me over the top.

The trip for me would definitely be an exhausting one as I was on the road for a WORCS race in Arizona to central California for some shock testing with Fox Shox and then home only long enough to pack for the early flight the next morning. Once at the respective airports, both Thad and I endured flight delays that didn't allow us to arrive at Mud Creek Off Road Park in Jacksonville, Texas, until late Thursday night. Our friends were waiting for us with a cold beverage in hand so we could all relax and catch up because the next day was going to be a busy one for the two of us since the big events were kicking off.

When I stepped out of the trailer first thing on Friday morning Team Gorilla had already been up and prepping their machines for the upcoming EPI Endurance Challenge, aka Buddy Run, being held early in the afternoon. The crowds were equally preparing for this contest as spectators began packing in on "High Line" which ran right alongside the course. Imagine the murkiest water and mud filling deep holes with plenty of ruts and then throw in the occasional broken-down competitor that is now an obstacle in this timed point-to-point race. The fans cheered for their competing friends to claim the fastest time, but in all reality you were considered lucky if you just finished, as there were more machines broken down in the bog than there were finishers at the end of the Challenge. Top honors went to the team of Jordan Berza and Ryan King while second place was claimed by Clint Adams and Hoyt McCormick (of Team Gorilla!) with only a few seconds separating the teams.