Kicking Sand In Your Face

Sandbagging.

From Wikipedia:

Deceiving someone by pretending to be weak.

Sandbagging (racing), a driver deliberately drag races or qualifies slower than what the car can actually perform

Sandbagging (budgeting), a manager deliberately overstates financial requirements with the intent of coming in under-budget, thus being praised.

Sandbagging (golfing), a player deliberately plays poorly until establishing a handicap and then raises his money bets, using the established handicap to unfairly win

Sandbagging (climbing), a climber describes a route as being easier than it actually is

Sandbagging (chess, Go, billiards or other such games), a player who deliberately lowers his competitive rating, in order to play in a future event with a lower rating and consequently have a better chance to win.

Slow play (poker), deceptive play in poker

Sandbagging (fantasy sports), a manager intentionally talks down certain players to trade at a discounted "price".



Basically sandbagging is bullshitting about and downplaying one's ability. In biking it is generally applied to downplaying one's ability prior to a race. Classic sandstorm material might include:

"I've got a cold/flu/std/one lung and I shouldn't really even be here. No result from me today"

"I haven't been doing any riding. I'm too busy with work"

"I've put on heaps of weight and my brakes are dragging. I'll just bring up the rear"


"Save me some view from the top. It'll probably all be gone by the time I get there"

And perennial favourite:

"I'll just be happy with a top 10"

There are many masters of the art of sandbagging practicing around Wellington. And many of them have a camp pink BLR jersey in their wardrobe. Probably the worst offender is Tony Keith.

Its no secret that Tony trains. Hard. Has a coach (albeit a lanky camp roadie one), shaves his legs and can beat a lot of the fellas racing Elite. Tones has, in his youth, actually attended a school for gifted elite athletes.

Tones to Clive earlier today:

"Angry you are now the Top Dawg, Elite is where it is at for you. I'll stick to losing Master 1 this year"

We nearly chocked on the sand and couldn't see for the swirling storm of graininess.

Bennett isn't much of a sandbagger. He posts his (record) time on the Makara Road Hill Climb Board, does sub 4hrs round Taupo and knocked out 230km on Sunday, casually racing at Kapiti in the middle of it.

Yet races M2.

He is getting away with it as he is older than Tigs. Maybe there is an unwritten rule saying that once you are over 40 you can't be peer pressured into racing Elite. Still we can try. Although it will be hard for his kids to see him come away from a race without the customary winner's medal.

So, what will August bring. More epic monthly sandstorms as the boys talk about how badly they will suffer in age grade, only to demolish everyone, then feign disbelief at the result? Or will we see some genuine, hearty, competitiveness. Fighting for position in the top grade? We'll see!