Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

June 5, 2004 - Issue 114

Tour de Acoma Spins Into Action

by Brenda Norrell / Southwest Staff Reporter / Indian Country Today

credits: The Third Annual Tour de Acoma drew more than 350 competitors for its 25- and 50-mile bike races through some of the most breathtaking and normally restricted tribal lands on the Acoma and Laguna Pueblo reservations. A steep incline on the 22nd mile of the race was challenging but overall the course was considered gentle and many beginners felt comfortable participating. (Photo courtesy Gregg Thomas Shutiva)

"It is wonderful. The scenery is beautiful and everyone is so friendly. We want to do it again," said Roland Curtis, who brought his 13-year-old nephew Spencer Garcia.

"For beginners, it is perfect. There’s one big hill, but you can walk that one."

Garcia, just finishing up his second year on the bike race, encouraged other Indian youths to come out next year. "It was fun going down the hills."

Valerie and Floyd Tortalita of Acoma Pueblo rested on the tailgate of their pickup truck after the race.

"This is my first time, she convinced me to come out with her," Floyd said of his wife Valerie, a police dispatcher for Acoma Pueblo.

"Living here all my life and just flying by in the car, I had never taken the time to just look at the rocks and trees," said Floyd, who works as a development specialist at the Pueblo of Acoma Housing Authority.

Earlier, Valerie competed as a runner in another competition, climbing 6,000 feet up Mount Taylor near Grants, running five miles up the mountain and five miles down.

At the Tour de Acoma, Valerie said, "It’s an easy ride. It’s really nice weather and we did it for fun." Floyd added, "I was just trying to finish."

Brian Vallo, manager of the Sky City Cultural Center and coordinator of the Tour de Acoma presented traditional Acoma pottery to winners after they crossed the finish line.

Vallo said the proceeds would go to the new Sky City Cultural Center, now under construction, and to the Acoma Pueblo Boys and Girls Club, which has been operating for six years.

Richard Gleason, Navajo from Window Rock, Ariz., said it was a good race. After finishing up his first year at the bike race, he joined other cyclists enjoying apples, bananas and bottled water.

Rock music played beneath an outdoor tent and runners received complimentary therapeutic massages.

"We need more Indians riding!" Gleason said.

The Third Annual Tour de Acoma attracted a record number of cyclists this year.

"More than 350 men and women of all ages sported spandex and helmets as they took to the pavement in true bicycling fashion," said Augusta Meyers, public relations officer for the Pueblo.

"This year’s tour took riders on the 25-mile and 50-mile races right through some of the most breathtaking and normally restricted tribal lands on the Acoma and Laguna Pueblo reservations.

"This competitive course featured opportunities for high speed racing as well as defying uphill endurance tests."

Meyers said it was a real tribal approach, very community oriented with support from the pueblo.

"On the race course, many of the younger children manned the water stops along the way. There were also other people from the village who helped out, young and old."

Vallo said, "We were really pleased with the way this year’s Tour de Acoma turned out. "We had expanded the race from 300 riders last year to 350 this year, and I think when it was all said and done, we ended up with 356 cyclists total. It was a tremendous success."

The winners of the 50-mile event in the women’s race were Diane Rimple, 38, Albuquerque in first place; Kathleen Colleran, 41, Albuquerque in second place and Wendy Wiggins, 35, Albuquerque in third place.

In the men’s 50-mile race the winners were Karl Babinski, 38, Albuquerque capturing first place; Frank Pabian, 55, Los Alamos in second place and Keith King, 35, Albuquerque in third place.

In the 25-mile event, the winners in the women’s event were Jennifer Collins, 39, Albuquerque; Robyn Clark, 35, Tijeras and Caterina Vidoli, 30, Albuquerque.

In the men’s 25-mile race, the winners were Nathan Romero, 15, Alamos; Graydon Yatabe, 42, Chinle and Andy Ahr, 46, Albuquerque.

First, second, and third place finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories received authentic Acoma water jars for their efforts. Meyers said all participants took home a tour T-shirt, race number, a Huwak’a Restaurant high-carb buffet coupon, and a tour pass to visit Acoma Pueblo, the oldest continuously inhabited city in North America.

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