The final race in the 2009 Fluidride Cup finals has come and gone. It’s raining in Seattle today, but this weekend there was sunshine, wind and a dusty blown out track. Due to chairs falling off the upper lift during practice we ran only from mid mountain. This didn’t make the race any easier. The duff was thick in the corners and the ruts were legendary. Especially, that one off-camber one in the woods above the bridge. Many of you know what I mean. Continue reading ‘Fluidride Cup 2009 Finals - Results’
Tag Archive for 'Race Results'
Can you say PEATY!!!
Steve Peat has done it! Finally after all these years and by 0.05 seconds over Greg Minaar and 0.69 over Mick Hannah. It came down to the wire but Steve has his World Champion stripes. The top four riders were all within 0.84 seconds of each other, it was that close.
In the Women’s Elite Finals Emmeline Ragot of France took the Stripes with Tracy Moseley in second and our own Kathy Pruitt taking third.
- Greg Norman
Today was one of the nicest days for weather that we have had. The crowds are starting to role in big. They are expecting thirty to forty thousand spectators this weekend. The XC events were in full swing today as well.
Injuries during the practices this week have plagued a few riders. Andrew Neethling broke his hand, Rennie has tore up his hand as well. Aaron Gwin took a nasty spill yesterday and is gimping around walking the course today. Looch has had a few crashes as well, he seems to be fine and was sporting Northwest Flannel during practice.
I believe that flat tires are going to be the undoing of many a rider during the Finals. I would say that every 20th rider down the hill has flattened during practice.
- Greg Norman
Australians take Womens and Mens 4x. Caroline Buchanan and Jared Graves are our new World Champions.
It was a great evening of racing under the lights on the hill at Stromlo park . What a heart breaking loss for Jill Kitner, who was runner up in the womens 4x to Caroline Buchanan with reigning World Champ Melissa Buhl taking third.
To see the tears of joy from Jared Graves after winning and battling for so many years to finally come away with his World Champion stripes was inspiring. Yeah, Jared! I have had a chance to hang with the Yeti guys this trip and I can’t wait to see Jared later. To see the entire Yeti Squad supporting Jared and sharing in this joyous moment was awesome - and to win in front of your own countrymen, what could be better.
I can hear the interviews in the other room with top participants. I will get some alone time with Jill and Jared later. I could tell Jill was disappointed and didn’t really want to talk to anyone, but I gave her a small hug and a pat on the back. She will be back hungrier than ever. She is such an awesome competitor.
Tomorrow we will be back to DH. I hope to have some good shots then.
- Greg Norman
Bart McDaniel did it again! He narrowly beat Lars Sternberg by 2 seconds in a combined time for two runs. That’s cutting it close. Nathan Riddle and Simon Lawton were back a small step in 3rd and 4th respectively. Another honorable mention is Jared Hobbes, a semi-pro rider, who took 4th overall. It was a great weekend of racing. With so many riders tightly together in the overall points, many duals are set for the last weekend. Bart McDaniel and Lars Sternberg are virtually tied a top the pro ranks. This scenario is replicated through out the classes. See you all on the 26th and 27th of September. For video and more story Continue reading ‘Fluidride Cup #5′
Nathan Riddle won the Open Men at Sunday’s Super D in the Capitol Forest outside Olympia, Washington. He also won the season overall for the Super Ds held there by the Friends Of Capitol Forest. This was my first Super D and it came with a ton of lessons. First of which is the respect I have for the XC riders who can climb hard and still rail the downhill portions of the track. I was humbled by how I need to be more fit. This brings me back to Nathan Riddle. This year he has placed in the top ten in Pro Downhill, top four in a Pro DS, third at Downieville, and now the overall at the FOCF. He’s truly All Mountain. For pictures and more story Continue reading ‘Capitol Forest Super D’
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.
For Results and More Continue reading ‘Bromont World Cup’
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.
For more story and video Continue reading ‘Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup’
Pro Men: 1) Lars Sternberg 2) Andrew Mitchell 3) Bart Mcdaniel
Pro/Expert Women: 1) Katie Holden 2) Leanna Gerrard 3) Dawn Lambert 4) Joy Mutoli
Full Results: DH 2 Results DS 2 Results
This weekend was supposed to rain in Port Angeles, WA for Fluidride Cup Race #2. We got rain. At night while we all slept and dreamed of fast lines. We woke each morning to sunshine and perfect dirt. A perfect weekend for speed. In fact, I heard many racers talking about dealing with the speed of the course. “I feel I’m a little behind my bike.” “I’ve never felt faster” It was fast and the final times showed this. It also is possible that this is why there were so many injuries. But, we won’t dwell on this. Healing Vibes All. Now, there are three things that I must share about this weekend with you all… Continue reading ‘Fluidride Cup #2 Recap’
The 7th annual Spring Thaw Downhill came to Ashland, Oregon last weekend on May 4, 2008. The Downhill ran 1.7 miles down Catwalk to Toothpick Trail. The trail first ran down through a rock garden into a double that led to a balls out speedy highway section. The trail then proceeded to wind its way through a bunch of switchbacks into a hell bent 60 yard uphill climb to the finish. Continue reading ‘Ashland Spring Thaw Results’
Greg Minnaar got the win by nearly a second. I’ll put his 2:11.21 in context. 50th place was only ten seconds out of 1st. The course at Sea Otter lived up to its reputation of being a course that requires pedaling between features in order to put down the good time. There was little advantage to line choice. The greatest gains came from precise cornering, body position and making sure that a single, required pedal stroke was not missed. Basically, perfect execution was rewarded over balls out risk. Continue reading ‘Sea Otter DH Results And Video’
The 08 Sea Otter Classic Dual Slalom went down to the last pedal stroke and lived up to expectations. There wasn’t a dry eye in the spectator gallery. That’s because the wind blew perpendicular to the course all day – through practice, qualifying and the finals. By the end of the event, my eyes were glued together with dust, okay, maybe not glued, but there was way more sand in my eyes than there needed to be. While, every non-goggled spectator and shooter suffered, the riders burned the course up. They seemed to not be affected by the wind. As if their own momentum was more tumultuous then the wind. Continue reading ‘Sea Otter Dual Slalom Results’
Boop, beep, beep, beep, beeep!
Racer brain takes over on that last high pitch beep and like a snapped rubber band the racer is pushed toward the finish line. The weekend began for some riders on Friday the early practice day. The rain was coming down when we arrived, and after the first practice run every hole and crevice of bike and rider was covered and packed in mud and water. But, then the rain stopped as practice ended. The blue sky portended of the great weekend to come. By the time the rain came again, Luke Strobel and Katrina Strand had taken the top spot in the podium for the pros. Continue reading ‘Fluidride Cup DH/DS #1 Results’
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