ABOUT

The story behind the design…

The CCC is so much more than just spinning pedals on your bike. Each and everyday your senses are sent into overdrive from the sheer volume of beauty that is presented before you. And this is where the inspiration lay.

I wanted to create a medal that encapsulates as much of the tour as possible and as many of the sights that we see. Always with the aim for each rider to wear with pride, keep forever, holding close those memories created.

Starting with one of the 7 modern Wonders of the World - the Golden Gate Bridge is of course a main feature and with orange being in the AF colour palette made the perfect start to the design. Everything else that features can now be built around it.

As a beautiful backdrop to the tour we see mountain ranges all along the coastline.

Eagles in the sky.

Then the Pacific Ocean itself and all the life that holds. Crashing waves, Pelicans skimming the surface, Seals that feel like they follow us down the coastline and not forgetting those Surfers that are looking to catch that perfect wave.

As we head through Solvang we even spot Tarantula’s and I had to drop one in climbing up the side of the GGB.

To finish off the design I am aware that this year, California had thee most beautiful bloom of its state flower - the California Poppy. Until last years tour I had no idea that this was in fact the state flower.

On the reverse - I had always had it in my mind that the perfect way to finish off the design was to use an asset from the 2019 rider jersey. The tour locations motive that features on the sleeve made a great addition to the medal itself and nicely tied both elements together.

Lastly and most importantly - the ‘Thank you’. I discussed this idea with event organiser and asked for her help. She sent me across a scan and with a little graphic magic made the perfect finish to the 2019 California Coast Classic medal.

PS. Knowledge bomb - the Tarantula, Pelican, Surfer and Seal are taken from photographs of mine that I have captured over the years of my adventures whilst in California.