Here is theBonebell.com’s breakdown of the course.

It is, as they say, the same as last year. Grassy start past the parking lots to the Blue Trail. Things get dark, and the feeling starts to settle into the legs, the first minor climb of the race. A precursor to the rest. This minor climb leads to the first descent of the course. A medium steep smooth hardpack warp speed double track dive into a sweeping loose gravel right hander with a horrible surprise right in the middle of what used to be the fastest line through the turn.

Climb 1 the Blue Trail – Cat. HC

The right lines are needed on the descent immediately prior to the beginning of the climb. It starts out in a gruesome manner, just short of straight up and littered with rocks and roots all attempting to steal your forward momentum. Into the next pitch, much less steep and the majority of this climb, you are still climbing gently, the previous effort looming large in your legs. Steady rhythm needed here as the climb gradually gets steeper and then punches you in the face as it kicks up to a level that forces you out of your seat for a final kick to the top.

Into the next feature on the course of note, is the broken pavement descent down to Turf 1. Again, this is a warp speed descent that will shred an eighth of an inch off your knobs if you aren’t careful. There are two ways to enter the trail at the bottom, and it remains to be seen which of the two or both will be used for the trail entrance. Set it up right and you bring a lot of speed into one of the tightest sections of the course that requires  a choice line through to carry all your speed. Don’t forget the new small jump shortly after the creek crossing.

Climb 2, The Psycho Path – Cat. 1

Another climb that has a tricky run in. A healthy pitch upward greets you as you dip in and out of a probably wet creek bed and try desperately to not shred your cassette with your chain. The initial pitch is a good medium steep grinder that allows you to get into a good rhythm and crank it to the next stair step. This step is a steep quick push to a micro rest and then you’re climbing a medium pitch again. The remainder, and majority of the climb, is a false flat drag big-ring-high-power-drag race through some of the best cornering on the course.

We are then on our way to the 3 Ravines area. Some good work has been done in this section lately. Watch the exit of the sweeping right hand berm, the small whoop on the exit can send you into a tree if you let it. Two of the three ravines have been smoothed out and flow fast and smooth. The only item of note now is the first ravine. Immediately after the bermed corner you have to set up for the ravine. There are three choices, right for the easiest smoothest run down, middle for a quick, yet hair-raising launch almost all the way to the bottom, and left if you want to get off and walk. If you walk the course here, you are putting yourself in more danger than riding, anyone else riding will have a tough time avoiding you and the next thing we know there is a ravine full of people and it becomes a natural bridge of sorts, walk only if you MUST and be very careful of everyone else. They won’t know your there until the last worst moment.

With the ravines finished we descend down to the One Day Trail. The corners can zap momentum here and then there are the whoops that need a lot of body english to roll through fast and not blowing through all the travel on your suspension. There are a few berms on the corners, be careful with them. If you approach at full speed ready to commit to the berm you will find that it disappears before it should. The next few corners are off camber and will require all the knobs you have to offer the trail to get through clean.

Climb 3, Gravity Cavity – Cat. 1

This is a climb that may live up to it’s name in a way the builders never intended. After climbing this technical treat, all the gels, and bars, and energy drinks will surely do as much damage to your teeth’s enamel as the constant jarring of the never ending roots and rocks. A familiar trend with all the major climbs at Palos is a near complete loss of momentum at the base of the climb. This climb never really goes beyond a medium steep at any point, but the terrain features are relentless. Constant attention is required to keep you speed up. And that constant attention requires the release of large amounts of power in so many short bursts, that you feel as if you sprinted up a hill that was not that much faster than a jog. After the dried creek bed you have to commit to a line on either the left of the right, the middle is going to kill the rest of the climb. After this decision the technical aspects subside and you are finally clear of what deceptively feels like the longest climb on the course.

The Pipeline is a good section to get a slight breather and lots of speed at the same time. This section will end with the top section of the Ho Chi Minh trail and into the Orange Trail, to a long dragging false flat to finish out the loop. The end where there will hopefully be plenty of cold beverages and screaming fans there to cheer you home.

It’s going to be a great day, on a great course. We can’t wait.