Jason Gilbert. Student athlete and student body President at PCS.

Even if the team stats (the way it is) were not kept by my birthday mate and former sports radio partner Geoff, Jason Gilbert would be Puma team leader in multiple categories. With his dad's genes but better hopps and skills, the A student who also serves as Student Body President at Pacific Collegiate, is surveying his college career options, after being denied admission to Stanford. Jason will end up at a prestigious University, studying medicine.

AMERICAN CYCLIST CHRIS HORNER WINS 2011 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA Matthew Goss Races to the Finish to Capture Stage 8 Win and Team Garmin-Cervelo Takes Overall Team Competition for Second Consecutive Year

AMERICAN CYCLIST CHRIS HORNER WINS 2011 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA
Matthew Goss Races to the Finish to Capture Stage 8 Win
and Team Garmin-Cervelo Takes Overall Team Competition for Second Consecutive Year

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (May 22, 2011) – Chris Horner (USA) of Team RadioShack crossed the finish line of the last stage of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California in Westlake Village with an overall time of 23 hours, 46 minutes and 41 seconds, capturing the Amgen Race Leader Jersey and solidifying his place at the top of the podium, while Matthew Goss (AUS) of HTC-Highroad won the final stage. Horner’s teammate Levi Leipheimer (USA), a three-time winner of America’s biggest race, finished second overall only 38 seconds back, while Thomas Danielson (USA) of Team Garmin-Cervelo, finished two minutes and 12 seconds behind to claim third place.
“It feels fantastic to be the winner of the Amgen Tour of California,” said Horner, who at 39 marks the oldest winner in the six year history of the event. “I have competed in this race since its inception and I have helped Levi (Leipheimer) win it many times. As soon as they added the summit finishes, I made it one of my personal goals to finish high in the race. Team RadioShack came in with a great squad this year. We had some great help, and the crowds throughout the race have just been amazing.”
The 2011 Amgen Tour of California officially kicked off in Nevada City, California, on Monday, May 16, after less-than-favorable weather conditions in Lake Tahoe forced the cancelation of Stage 1 and necessitated a change in start location of Stage 2, with rider safety in mind.
Considered the most difficult route in the race’s six-year history, the 18 professional cycling teams competing rode through the state of California, experiencing everything from beautiful rolling hills to snaking winding roads to brutally steep climbs. In the end, four riders were awarded top honors in special categories, including Peter Sagan (SVK) of Liquigas-Cannondale who won the Herbalife Sprint Points Jersey; Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) of Team Spidertech Powered by C10 who captured the California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains (KOM) Jersey every stage of the race; and Tejay Van Garderen (USA) of HTC-Highroad, who secured the Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey, awarded to the top rider age 24 or under.
“The Amgen Tour of California is unprecedented in its growth and popularity,” said Leipheimer. “More people were at the start today than attended the entire Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain, one of racing’s three Grand Tours). The race keeps getting bigger and better and I think yesterday’s stage proved that. It was as big and epic as the other Grand Tours, similar to what you would see at the Tour de France or Giros (d’Italia). Having stages like Sierra Road and Mt. Baldy will continue to improve the race, and I am proud to be able to say that I am the first winner of the Mt. Baldy climb.”
Added Bob Stapleton, general manager and owner of the American-based HTC-Highroad, “American cycling is on the rise. Look at both the young and old cyclists who have done well in this race. This is America’s biggest race, and Americans are doing well in races all over the world.” The top five finishers of the 2011 race were Americans, a first for the event.
Starting in the city of Santa Clarita, the neutral start quickly gave way to multiple attacks, none of which stuck. Riding along at a brisk pace of 32 mph, four riders went out on the attack, including Jan Barta (CZE) of Team NetApp, Bradley White (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling, Jose Fernando Antogna (ARG) of Jamis-Sutter Home and Michael Friedman (USA) of Kelly Benefit Strategies-OptumHealth. With 1 kilometer away from the first KOM of the day, and the last of the race, the breakaway had a three minute and 40 second lead over the group. Barta took the final KOM points, and Antogna took the first intermediate sprint points.
Along with Team RadioShack, who continued to set tempo for the peloton, HTC-Highroad, Liquigas-Cannondale and Saxo Bank Sungard all contributed riders to the front as the group rolled towards the suburban streets of Thousand Oaks. With five laps to go, the break crossed the finish line for the first time with a lead of two minutes and 35 seconds in front of the peloton. Leopard Trek and Rabobank Cycling Team sent riders on the attack, trailing the break by 39 seconds.
With Liquigas-Cannondale pacing the peloton, Martin Mortensen (DEN) of Leopard Trek and Maarten Tjallingii (NED) of Rabobank Cycling Team joined Barta in the breakaway, as White, Fernando and Friedman dropped. With 13.5 kilometers to go, the group held on to a 25-second lead, but was eventually caught with five kilometers to go. HTC-Highroad, Sky Procycling and Saxo Bank Sungard raced to the front and were soon joined by Liquigas-Cannondale and Rabobank. With the sprinters strung out across the front, it was Matthew Goss (AUS) of HTC-Highroad who accelerated to cross the finish line first. Barta earned the Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey for his passionate riding throughout the stage.
“We took another step forward this year,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “We have been working hard to create what we think is a great race; we have aspirations to make the Amgen Tour of California one of the greatest cycling races in the world. American cycling fans deserve it, riders deserve it and America deserves it. We want it to be known that not every great cycling race exists in Western Europe.”
And while everyone celebrated the race finale today, organizers announced they had already been looking ahead.
“The future starts 51 weeks from now in Santa Rosa,” continued Messick, “where we will start the 2012 race. Santa Rosa has been an exceptional home to the race and we look forward to bringing it back there next year.”
Additionally, today, Thousand Oaks cancer survivor Reine Wiley was honored and celebrated today at the final Breakaway Mile, a special one-mile walk that crosses the finish line to honor the millions of cancer survivors worldwide. Wiley’s diagnosis was revealed shortly before the 2010 Amgen Tour of California. She has demonstrated a strong will to fight and commitment to continue to cycle, even while she’s undergoing treatment.
During the Breakaway Mile, Wiley was joined by approximately 150 community members – cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, and advocates – and Joe Miletich, Amgen’s senior vice president of Research & Development, who plays a crucial role in developing innovative medicines to treat cancer and other serious illnesses.

Peter Sagan sprinted to today's stage 5 win in Paso Robles, but Chris Horner maintains the leaders yellow jersey

The longest stage of the Amgen Tour of California was a 140 mile Seaside to Paso Robles ride, though the course was altered after storms washed out parts of Highway near Big Sur. Organizers reworked the route with a circuit including Carmel Valley Road, over the Arroyo Seco bridge, into Greenfield, then back into the hills surrounding Lake Nacimiento before heading into Paso Robles. An 11 rider breakaway lasted for most of the stage, but was consumed about 10 miles from the finish. It turned into a sprint down Spring Street and Peter Sagan of Slovakia won at the wire. The 21 year old Sagan is 11th overall, trailing leader Chris Horner of Team Radio Shack whose attack to capture stage 4 in San Jose earned the 39 year old Horner a 1:15 lead over Levi Leipheimer. The Americans remain 1-2 overall. Watsonville's Ben Jacques-Maynes was involved in an 8 rider crash today. The mishap at about the 55 mile mark left Maynes with a broken left clavicle and remains in a local hospital. Aborting the Tour of California due to illness was current World Champion Thor Hushovd, and injury plagued Jens Voigt also was forced to abandon. Tomorrow is Stage 6, a 21.1 mile time trial in Solvang, before Saturday's finish at Mt. Baldy and Sunday's finale in Thousand Oaks.

Tamarindo Vista Villas. Pura Vida Hotel in Costa Rica

Paradise awaits on the Pacific side at Costa Rica's most exotic locale. Tamarindo features World Class surfing, fishing and beauty. It's also the home of Vista Villas, a small but full service hotel just steps from the beach. Enjoy a libation at the Monkey Bar, or swim up for service. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the rooms are cozy with ocean views. The rates are incredibly low. Visit www.tamarindovistavillas.com. Pura Vida is everywhere. The vibe and friendliness is extraordinary. Recreation options are endless in Tamarindo, and Vista Villas can make your vacation dreams a reality. Perfect for families, couples, surfers and tropical explorers...Tamarindo Vista Villas is a landmark above the beach with spectacular views and exceptional service.

Mar Vista. Paradise found in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica

20 years ago, Alejandro (Brett) Berkowitz of Santa Cruz sold his chiropractic clinic and built Tamarindo Vista Villas in Costa Rica. The hotel with 40 rooms and suites just steps from a world class surf spot offers spectacular views of the Pacific from it's Waterfall Pool, Monkey Bay and Restaurant. The success of the Tamarindo Vista Villas and his love for CR, put Berkowitz "all in" for MAR VISTA...Alejandro's exclusive ocean view ecological community at Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica is about 5 miles north of Vista Villas along the coast. The master plan calls for a secure, gated Eco-friendly community with homesite lots over an acre in the tropical setting. The amenities are endless with natural pools, hiking trails, and organic vegetable gardens and orchards, with golf, tennis and other recreational activities part of the plan. The spectacular property will have a distinct sustainability objective with strict erosion controls, recycling system, solar and wind power systems and organic vegetable gardens and orchards. Offering custom Turn-Key homes each with a view of the Pacific, each lot will be over an acre. The initial phase has 20 of the 40 lots sold, and the communities' first house will be completed within a month. Other Amenities include the La Paz bilingual school, a wellness center and spa, and unlimited recreational options...all with sustainability principals maintaining Mar Vista's natural elegance. Pura Vida. Paradise found.

Aptos Mariners win CCS playoff over Aragon in final at bat. 4 hit fielder's choice inning derails star pitcher of the Don's.

In a game for the ages Aptos summoned a bottom of the 7th rally against a pitcher who owned the Mariners until the game was on the line. 4 singles and a misplayed grounder defeated Fresno State bound Sam Tuvailala the ace of Aragon. The tall righty's ERA this season is was 0.67. The video tells the story, read Jim Siemas' story in Friday's Santa Cruz Sentinel.

David Zabriskie outsprints Mike Rogers and Levi Leipheimer to capture Tour of California stage 3 in Santa Cruz. Garmin rider leads Amgen TOC.

David Zabriskie edged Michael Rogers and Levi Leipheimer at the line to capture today's stage 3 at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Zabriskie is the new Amgen Tour of California leader, but viewers on the Versus Network were denied at look at the final few miles, as TV coverage switched to Stanley Cup Hockey action. 110 miles of 113.2 mile race from San Francisco to Santa Cruz was televised, but pathetically, not the conclusion. Yesterday, there was no action from stage 2 at all, as the stage into Santa Rosa was ridden in the rain, and no signal could be transmitted from the course. Today's 4 hour 26 minute race found the top 3 finishers breaking away on the Bonny Doon climb and holding their position on the podium.