Today we're launching a new podcast here at the TTC. We're calling it:

On the Pegs: Motorcycle Trials World Radio
A podcast featuring news from the world of motorcycle trials,
produced by the Trials Training Center

The podcast has its own domain name, OnThePegs.net and for now, that redirects to an On the Pegs webpage here on the TTC site. (Essentially, that's an About page for the show, where we'll also archive links to each episode.)

I'm the host and producer for the show, and Dan Brown is the managing editor. We were both selected after a long and rigorous interview process, marred somewhat by protracted contract negotiations with the TTC. heh.

Our first sponsors are: Gas Gas USA, Ryan Young Products, and Trials Competition Newspaper. We're dang grateful to Dale Malesek, Brad Baumert, and Shan Moore for their support.

You can subscribe to the show's RSS feed with your favorite podcatching tool. (We'll soon have a one-click iTunes link, too). You can also subscribe to the show's email alerts so you'll be notified via email as soon as we've published a new show/episode. You'll be able to download the MP3 of each show manually, or just listen by clicking the Flash audio player in the weblog post for each episode.

We want your feedback... and ideas for what you'd like to us cover in future shows. You can submit an audio comment for us to consider using on the show. (You need a computer equipped with a microphone for that.) You can email us via the TTC Contact Us page. Or you can attach a comment to the blog post for the show.

Click play to listen. 42 minutes. Or download the MP3. Or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Time segments (drag the slider): Intro: 0:00-3:45; News: 3:45-23:40; local club (UMTA): 23:40-34:00; Laia Sanz interview: 34:00-40:30; close: 40:30-42:00.

Shownotes for Episode #01, Dec. 29th, 2006

Our first episode of On the Pegs includes three main segments:

1. Trials news roundup with Dan and I chatting about the US Pros (men and women); the new NATC 125 youth expert class; and changes with World Pro riders
   
   
2. A feature on a local trials club, the Upper Midwest Trials Association (UMTA - my home club) including my interview with new club president Marc Redman
   
   
   
3. Dan's interview with Women's World Champion Laia Sanz. (The audio was taken from this video interview, which we used courtesy of Doug Farrar at RockStep Creative.

Now this is the way a trials rider's den should look! Thanks to Brad Baumert for the loan of the immaculately restored Bultaco Sherpa T on display in the TTC lodge. And thanks also to Les Mizell for his handiwork on the bike stand. This was fabricated from one of the logs cut off the property and sawed up using neighbor Steve Dapp's band mill.

dan

A big thanks to the STRA and all the U.S. Trials clubs who helped out with the Trial World Championship Wagner Cup this year. And a special thanks to Charlie, Catherine, Bruce, David, the Brown girls and all the TTC staff who worked so hard to help us host a very successful event, as well as our annual Youth Nationals and U.S. Women's Open every summer. Our efforts have been recognized at the recent AMA Awards Banquet in Las Vegas with the Organizer of the Year Award.

Thanks to all, this recognition is very rewarding!

dan

We had 18 women attend the FIM Women's Trials Camp over the Thanksgiving Weekend, with instruction by World Champ Laia Sanz and the U.S. Women's TDN Team Louise Forsley (U.S. Champ) and Sara Duke. The weather was fantastic, the riding was great, and we capped it all off with a big fiesta and dinner (Happy Birthday Catherine) at the local Mexican restaurant. I hope we can do it again next year!

p.s., Laia is keen to visit the U.S. next season and ride 1 or 2 rounds of the U.S. Nationals, so stay tuned!