VALDEZ – “They say it was the gnarliest race ever, pouring down rain the whole day and holes and bombs that were over five feet,” said Israel Hale of the Mayors Cup Race held in Valdez Saturday. “I feel very lucky to have finished the gnarliest Mayors Cup ever”. Hale said he was tempted to scratch while he was riding the 24 mile lap as the course grew more difficult with every one of the six laps he rode. Hale did not win the race, but said he set a new record and had something else under his