In the world of mountain bike racing, the names featured at Tara Jam 2008 could not be any bigger. The event on Saturday, Feb. 23, will bring the likes of Kyle Ebbett, Aaron Chase, Jamie Goldman, Jeff Lenosky, Cam McCaul, George Ryan, Dave Smutok and Seth Lolli to Rye Airfield for a day of mountain biking with the pros.

The event has attracted many acclaimed riders and garnered much warranted enthusiasm. Beau Lambert, general manager of Rye Airfield, put the evening into perspective for the less MTB (mountain bike) inclined: “This is literally a game of hoops with K.G., Shaq and Kobe,” he said.

Lambert indicated that events like Tara Jam are becoming more difficult to organize due to the burgeoning success of MTB racing and freestyle competitions. “It’s difficult to get everyone together, but every year we have a couple of opportunities to support a good cause,” he said. 

The upcoming opportunity will come in the form of a celebration to aid Tara Llanes. Llanes, a professional mountain biker, is recovering from damage to her spinal cord and fractures to her vertebra. The injury occurred last September in Beaver Creek, Colo., during the Jeep King of the Mountain finale. Llanes was battling for first place in her semifinal heat when she and Jill Kintner, the event’s ultimate winner, were neck and neck racing down a straightaway. Llanes entered a series of jumps awkwardly, sending her flailing over the bike’s handlebars. The speed of the crash left Llanes with little time to brace for the fall. Her head and back struck the ground violently, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down.

“I was floored,” said professional MTB racer Kyle Ebbett when asked to recall his reaction to the news of Llanes’ injury. Ebbett’s rise through the MTB circuit coincided with Llanes’. According to Ebbett, their relationship was forged during their sometimes trying professional maturation process. “I’ve been a pro since ’98. We traveled the world together,” he said. “When you are out there doing that, you bond as an athlete.”

The two shared many of the same ups and downs, but both persevered to reach the pinnacle of their profession. In a sport as dangerous as MTB racing, injuries are relatively common. “I’ve seen her (Llanes) get hurt on jumps that I’ve built,” Ebbett said, reminiscing about a jump he built years ago in Colorado. “I think she was the only woman to use the jump,” he said. “But that’s the type of person she is. She always goes for it.”

The two broken collarbones and collapsed lung she suffered as a result of Ebbett’s jump were testaments to Llane’s courage and competitive spirit. That remarkable spirit will fill Rye Airfield on Saturday night. “We are here to support a friend. She’s an amazing person,” said Ebbett, who will host of the event. Ebbett acknowledges his friend’s need for support, but he also recognizes that Llanes doesn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her. Therefore, the event, which begins at 9 p.m., will not have a forlorn feel.

Tara Jam will feature a number of contests that are meant to be enjoyable for everyone involved. “It’s all about good times,” Lambert said of the evening. The events include: riding with the pros (including receiving advice from some of the world’s best mountain bikers), a silent auction, amateur of the night, golf chip challenge and many other games. When talking about his expectations for the night, Ebbett noted his propensity for golf and said he looked forward to competing good-naturedly with his fans.

The most sought after title may be amateur of the night. All of the professional riders will provide input regarding the most impressive amateur rider, but Ebbett warned that there are more important attributes than talent alone. “It could be the kid who tries the hardest, who’s the nicest, who progresses the most through the night, who knows? Really, we are looking for a kid who is nice and personable,” he said.

Ebbett personally invited each professional rider who will attend the event, and they all expect to share a special experience with the younger riders, he said. 

A $15 minimum donation will get you in the door and make you eligible to participate in every event. The donations, which are expected to amass well over $5,000, will be handed over to Ebbett at the end of the evening. The money will then be sent to the Tara Llanes Road to Recovery foundation. If you can’t make it to the festivities on Saturday night but still want to contribute to Llanes’ rehabilitation process, visit www.tarallanesroadtorecovery.com. For more information regarding Tara Jam 2008, contact Rye Airfield, 170 Lafayette Road, Rye, 603-964-2800, or visit www.ryeairfield.com.

Llanes’ recovery process will be a long and strenuous journey, but she is already making tremendous strides due to her work ethic. “She’s the type of person willing to do anything and everything. She is going to work.” Ebbett said. “She’s got some nerves firing in her legs.” Not bad for someone who was told five months ago that she would never walk again.
But Llanes will not be satisfied just to walk again. By the time her recovery is complete, she expects to be back on her bike riding.