Oakley Jupiter Award Presented to Sean Smith
This Jupiter Award Winner exemplifies change, as he once rode and raced for his own glory and pleasure. He put cycling and training before a lot of other things including, at times, his family. While he’s always been a great husband and dad, it wasn’t until just a few years ago that he changed his focus.
He runs the team side of the Linked Cycling Team and continues to find ways to meet, help, and ride with riders of all abilities.
Sean Smith’s persistence & dedication in organizing the OTH Kid’s Race every week is a perfect example of his selfless attitude in serving his community.
Last year Sean came to us, and said, “Our team would like to help volunteer with the kids’ race, it’s important, and we love seeing what the kids’ race is doing to get people excited about racing”.
Sean’s initiation turned into this year’s reality of the WEEKLY Kid’s Race. Because of Sean and Linked, the kid’s race is not just an Over the Hump novelty, it’s where most of our parents come out more jazzed about what their kid gets to do on the bike that night, than the main event where they are racing themselves. And at 5:30pm each week this summer the Kids Race has been the MAIN EVENT.
Sean would tell you this is not an award he deserves or wants. That it’s been a privilege to serve and be a part of the Over the Hump community, watching others thrive and succeed. That he loves the race, and the people there, and is proud to be a part.
And we might have let that slide, until Sean raised the bar for community, service and personal character.
Sean Smith, from Linked Cycling who was competing the first half of the season, June 21 in the Expert group sacrificed his race. A rider had gone down in crucial corner, with tons of traffic and was lying in the middle of the course. Sean abandoned his bike, and the race, to help support the downed rider who severely broke his ankle. Sean helped Ryan get off the course, before a pack of riders came upon him. He then left his bike behind and helped Ryan into our race support Kawasaki Mule and took the rider to a place where medics could assist him. All the time comforting the injured rider, holding his ankle, and preventing further injury.
Thank you to Linked for running our kids race this season, Sean
OAKLEY and Over the Hump are recognizing a man that inspires. And in this case, the one who might “want it least” exemplifies the spirit of the OAKLEY Jupiter Award. A man who rode for himself, now riding for and with others.
We are proud to present Sean Smith the final 2011 OAKLEY Jupiter Award.