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Archive for the 'Events' Category

Crankworx DS and Garbanzo DH

Published
by
BonesXMetal
on August 10, 2008
in Events, News and Info, Outside The USA, Race Results and Video
. 1 Comment

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So Whistler Blackcomb is at it again. They bring us the most diverse gravity bike event of the year - Kokanee Crankworx. Gee Atherton wins the Garbanzo DH. This race is one of the longest Downhill Races in the world. It rained to make an already grueling track that much more difficult:

“We practiced on dry trails well before the race, so when the rain came, it changed everything,” says first place winner Gee Atherton. “You had to pick new lines and just go for it.”

Gee Atherton (UK), grabbed first with a time of 14:20.4; second place was Sam Hill (Aus), with a time of 14:37.8; third place went to Marc Beaumont (UK), with a time of 14.44.6 and fourth place went to Dan Atherton (UK), with a time of 14:50.0.

“This was not an easy track to begin with and the weather made it even tougher,” say Sam Hill, second place in this year’s Monster Energy DH. “I had a crash in the middle of the course and one of my shoes came off, I had to stay strong and keep motivated to make up the time.”

The top rider in the women’s category was Rachel Atherton (UK), with a time of 16:48.9; Fionn Griffiths (UK), took second place with a time of 17:25.1; Denise Uyesuqi (CAN), took third place with a time of 18:32.7; and Whistler local Rebecca McQueen took fourth with a time of 18:41.9. On a note close to home, Seattle’s own Joy Mutoli placed 9th in the pro women. Way to go Joy!

Full Garbanzo DH Results

For the second year in a row, and by “popular demand” Kokanee Cranworx on Saturday held the Dual Slalom. The up and coming racer JD Swanguen beat out many more seasoned racers. The course was technical and damp and according to Stacy Kohut, “the weather really forced the athletes to be conservative to stay on track.” Nico Vink took second. Chris Herndon of Decline/Team America took third ahead of his teammate Cody Warren. In the Pro Women Anneke Beerten took first ahead of Rachel Atherton. Fionn Griffths finished third and Kathy Pruitt was fourth.

Closer to my home in Seattle, Luciano Worl took 2nd in the Junior X. Watch for him! Brad Tibbs and Clinton Fowler both took 4th in their categories. You can watch them featured in our video on the Fluidride Cup DS here.

DS Results

Bromont World Cup

Published
by
admin
on August 3, 2008
in Events, News and Info, Outside The USA and Race Results
. 0 Comments

Sam Hill comes back and beats Greg Minnaar to take the Bromont WC DH. In similar rain drenched conditions to Mont-Sainte-Anne the same world cup racers found themselves at the top on the stack. Luke Strobel coming back from a broken wrist had a tenth place finish. This made him the highest placed US rider.

The following photos of Bromont and Mont-Sainte-Anne are provided by Keith Valentine at Phunkt.com
Check it out for more photos.

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For Results and More Continue reading ‘Bromont World Cup’

Silveroxx

Published
by
admin
on July 29, 2008
in Events, News and Info and Race Results
. 1 Comment

silverroxx.jpg Last weekend’s Silveroxx Downhill Mountain Bike Festival at Silver Mountain, ID was a blast! On tap were two days filled with enough high-speed gravity action to satisfy any adrenaline junkie. On top of that, it was a great time to hang out with friends from the other side of the state who I only get to see once or twice a year — and to meet some new folks too. Continue reading ‘Silveroxx’

Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup

Published
by
mark brent
on July 25, 2008
in Events, Mark Brent, News and Info, Outside The USA, Race Results and Video
. 1 Comment

Saturday DH Update
Greg Minnaar takes the the Mont-Sainte-Anne Downhill for the men. This is his first win at MSA, even with a foot dab in the rock garden that knocked him sideways, threating to take him down. Minnaar was thrilled as he took the top box in the podium and the series lead in points. In second by 1.73 seconds was Sam Hill. Gee Atherton, Steve Peat and Fabian Barel complete the mens podium. The top USA finisher is the young upstart Aaron Gwin in ten place. He’s definitely a story to watch.

download fullres version

For more story and video Continue reading ‘Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup’

USA National Championships

Published
by
mark brent
on July 17, 2008
in Events, News and Info, Race Results and Video
. 8 Comments

Saturday and Sunday Racing
A small storm came into the area Saturday night and made the course more interesting for the expert racers. As the day went on, between pro and expert practice in the morning, the ruts began to show in the muddiest areas of the course. The flat, slightly up hill root section became even more impossible to navigate (see my comments below to learn how they messed me up in my race). But in the end, the racing was fabulous and the competition was stiff.

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When the pros raced on Sunday, the rain threatened again, but held off and everyone got an equal chance at winning. Well, almost everyone. I counted at least 10 flats. Geritt Beytagh won by two seconds over Cody Warren. They were the only riders to break 5 minute mark. Geritt had a great week, coming in second to Eric Carter in the Dual Slalom. Duncan Riffle was third, Curtis Keene fourth and Ryan Condrashoff came in fifth. Everyone agreed that the course was a brutal mix of gnar and peddling. Kathy Pruitt flatted so she was unable to revenge Melissa Buhl for her loss to Melissa in the dual slalom. Marla Streb got second by only 2.9 seconds. The rest of the pack was way back and included Dawn Bourque, Darian Harvey and Allegra Burch.

Full Results

I’ll follow this up in the next few days with more photos and a video. Off to Mt. Saint Anne for the World Cup.

Continue reading ‘USA National Championships’

Mt Hood Racing: Fluidride #3

Published
by
mark brent
on July 12, 2008
in Events, Mark Brent, Race Results and Video
. 7 Comments

529SM.jpgSunday’s Results:
Bryn Atkinson got 1st in the Pro Men Podium. Lars Sternberg was 2nd, Bart McDaniel was 3rd, and Luke Strobel was 4th. Sunday wasn’t as hot, but it was still quite toasty and the dust made it worse. But there was racing going on, and that meant everyone was having fun. Even if they were crashing. Download Results

WSECrashSM.jpg TreadSM.jpg PROPodiumSM.jpg LukeSSM.jpg
These Photos by Dawn Brent

Continue reading ‘Mt Hood Racing: Fluidride #3′

Upcoming Races In The PNW

Published
by
admin
on July 9, 2008
in Events, News and Info and Race Schedules
. 3 Comments

Silveroxx, Idaho - details
July 19th, and 20th - 2 day festival

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, BC. - details
Sunday, July 13th. They need volunteers, badly. Contact Steph Grassi

Fluidride Cup #3 - Mt Hood, Or. - details
July 12 and 13th.

Greetings from the East Coast: US Open Pix by Ignacio Soltero

Published
by
bikegrrl
on June 25, 2008
in Events, Karen Johanson, News and Info and Race Results
. 1 Comment

US OpenFortunately Ignacio Soltero from Brooklyn Bike Riders sent stellar shots of this year’s US Open of Mountain Biking that happened almost in his backyard, at Diablo, because I had the misfortune of missing that comp.

Many of the usual suspects dominated, with Steve Smith, Sam Hill and Bryn Atkinson taking spots one through three on the men’s pro DH podium, and Fionn Griffiths, Kathy Pruitt and Joanna Petterson taking those same spots on the women’s pro DH podium.

Beacon Blowout 08

Published
by
mark brent
on June 3, 2008
in Events, News and Info and Race Results
. 10 Comments

BBLOW2_93.jpgOnce a year the freeride course on Beacon Hill in Spokane, Washington lends its rock faces and dry eastern forest dirt to a downhill race. Unlike last years race, this race had near perfect conditions, zero scandals, and smiles for everyone. It wasn’t all perfect - let’s see, Saturday was hot and very dry. For those of us not used to sun stroke, dangerous even. But then it rained early Sunday morning and drizzled during the morning’s activities making the dirt perfect! Continue reading ‘Beacon Blowout 08′

Long Live Slalom

Published
by
mark brent
on May 16, 2008
in Events, Mark Brent, Race Results and Video
. 2 Comments

_mg_8709_0544.jpgThis video of the Fluidride Cup #2 Dual Slalom tells that story of grassroots dual slalom. Sure the pros are the stars, but in the local scene, even the fans yelling from the sideline get their 15 minutes. Some may claim that dual slalom is destined for “Friday nights under the lights.” Who really knows. The truth is, it’s fun and it’s making a comeback.

You can watch this low resolution version here, or you can (right click and save) and download an HD quality version here (Apple TV format playable with any updated quicktime player).

Also the podcast is always a better quality than the flash video here.

To See Video Continue reading ‘Long Live Slalom’