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Sunday Update: Pro DH - Mick Hannah continues his come back at the Sea Otter Classic beating Greg Minnaar, Andrew Neethling, Justin Leov, and Brian Lopes to top the Pro Men’s Podium. The track had not received any real moisture in over a week. The weather was well into the 80s. After a weekend of practices by well over a thousand contestants, the course was blown out in so many spots. However, it remained very fast if not on the edge. While many mock the difficulty of the Sea Otter DH course, the speed and conditions of this years course made it tricky. Many riders blew off the course. Tracy Moseley won the Pro Women’s DH followed by Melissa Buhl, Kathy Pruit, and Claire Buchar.

Men’s Results Women’s Results

Sunday also saw the Pro Dual Stunt finals. Brandon Semenuk beat Kyle Strait in the final. Brandon seemed to be training hard to fit into his tight pants. This training really benefited Brandon, as with Dual Slalom, the better one does the longer they compete. Brandon was as strong in his final against Kyle Strait as he was in the first round. Check out Miles’ Dual Stunt video below.

Dual Stunt Video by Miles “Shovelpick” Sullivan

Saturday’s Pro Dual Slalom
Sam Hill broke the qualifying curse and beat Cody Warren, and Jarred Rando then Gee Atherton to take top spot in Pro Men’s DS. Melissa Buhl carried on her winning ways and beat Olympian Jill Kintner and Kathy Pruit to take the top spot in Pro Women’s DH. Many riders crashed do to the dusty dry conditions and the deteriorating course. Ducan Riffle, Eric Carter, Kathy Pruit, Jill Kintner, Mikey Haderer, Nathan Rennie, last year’s winner Greg Minnaar and many more.

Men’s Results Women’s Results

The competition was stiff. Jared Rando and Gee Atherton actually tied after posting two head-to-head runs. They gave the tie breaker to Jared due to his winning of the last run. The sun was hot, over 80 and no clouds. This added to the break down of the course as the mornings moisture was wicked away. It also added to the fatigue of the riders. Before his final’s match with Sam Hill, Cody Warren told me he was falling apart. Cody stayed close to Sam in the first run, but then crashed in the second losing any opportunity to make up the differential with Sam. Melissa Buhl was tough all day. Check out the photos from the competition. Our video on the Dual Slalom is going to be a full on documentary with over 30 interviews to work with. We expect to release that as a Feature Video with in a week to 2 weeks.

Note: For those of you from the PNW. Darrell Jameson and Clinton Fowler each took 2nd in their respective Cat 1 Dual Slalom competitions.

Friday’s DH Practice.

Friday Update: Wind is gone and the sun is out baby! Tomorrow is the Pro-Dual Slalom. It’s going to be sick. Tonight’s video work covers Pro DH practice.

In general Sea Otter is chaotic, frantic, windy, dusty, crowed, but it’s like the first day of high school. With everyone looking for their old friends, taking runs with people they only see while racing, hanging out at the pump track and looking at all the NEW GEAR.

This morning JD of SRAM set me up with a new cartridge for my Boxxer Team. I never let go of the bike. I rolled up, he pulled the old cartridge, adjusted the oil, put the new one in and test the fork. Then I was gone. Thanks SRAM.

Team Mechanics Talk Bike Setup for Sea Otter - riding examples

Thursday Update: When we arrived it was windy to the point of making riding difficult. Now the wind is gone, but it is cold. Seattle cold. Can’t complain though, because we all have the opportunity to be on our bikes. Or, with bikes.

Gravity Event Course Builder Interviews - Course Previews