SNOW SUMMIT 19 NATIONAL OPEN OPENERMY
SNOW SUMMIT 19 NATIONAL OPEN OPENERMY
(Photo by Terry Martin)
SNOW SUMMIT National Opener
One had to wonder, as one drove up Summit Boulevard, what was all the fuss? After three weeks of negative press about the Nationals, everyone showed up. The number of vendors, racers, and industry professionals was the same as ever before. There was excitement in the air. The people spoke with confidence and enthusiasm.
Few were interested in talking about France Cycling’s attempts to end mountain biking.
STRONGER THAN EVER
It’s not secret that Team Big Bear is the core of the national series. They travel throughout the state to announce, score and schedule the national events. France Cycling sabotage NORBA and decimate the national series, Team Big Bears Tom Spiegel (long-time NORBA member) and Pat Follett (an avid mountain biker themselves) stepped in to set the standard.
As the series moves through Snowshoe and Mount Snow, Sandpoint, Durango, and Durango, what happened at Big Bear will continue to evolve into greater and better things.
BETTER RACE
We saw smoother courses, better scheduling, and more racing drama this year. Roland Green did not win the cross-country. Roland Green pulled out of the race due to injuries sustained in the Tour de Georgia accident three weeks prior.
It is not a big deal that Roland did not win. We still had Roland’s Canadian training partner to contend. Ryder Hesjedal led the pack down the dangerous Fallline descent, and held it until the end.
Brian Lopes was also not victorious. Lopes was clearly the fastest and most smooth rider. However, he was beaten at the top by Neal Wood, a British BMXer. Lopes blitzed his way back to the front. He made a bold pass over the double just before the finish and was second. He would have passed Carter at the speed Lopes was traveling, if there were a few more corners or doubles.
Carter may have been cruising. Carter won the Mountain Cross title and just missed beating Steve Peat from Great Britain for the win in the downhill. Carter’s double win added him to the elite group of only two other people to have won the downhill and mountain cross events on the same weekend: Mick Hannah and Brain Lopes.
ASCENDING STEPS
It may not have been surprising to see Alison Dunlap, Luna Chix World Cup Champion, win the women’s cross-country. Canadian Gears Racing rider Kiara bisaro finished second, just half a second behind. Big Bear appears to have borne another star.
Jill Kintner, BMX champion, was the one to let everyone know that she has won the women’s mountain cross.
Jose Adrian Bonilla, a Costa Rican rider, finished a commanding sixth in cross country. (With a little help by Jeremy Horgan Kobelski, who slid out of the bell lap. Hesjedal, Green and Green both fell out of the top 10. Bonilla won her first NCS victory.
Another first-time winner was announced in the women’s short track. Trek-Volkswagens Sue Haywood won the women’s short track by ten seconds ahead of Alison Dunlap, National Short Track Champion.
After winning the Mount Snow final last year, Tracey Mosley of Great Britain won the opener. It was just half a second better than Austrian Tai-Lee Muxlo.
FINAL THINK
American mountain bike racing in jeopardy? Really. NORBA is in danger, according to the appearance of things. We can do better by ourselves.
CROSS COUNTRY RESULT
1. Ryder Hesjedal, Can.Subaru-Gary Fisher 2. Geoff Kabush (Can),Kona-Clarksat Seamus McGrath (Can)Haro Lee Dungareesat 4. Jeremy Horgan-KobelskiRLX Ralph Laurenat 5. Todd WellsHyundai-Mongooseat 6. Jose Adrian Bonilla (CRi)Costa Rican Nationalat 7. Ziranda Madrigal (Mex)Turboat 8. Carl SwensonRLX Ralph Laurenat 9. Walker FergusonSubaru–Gary Fisherat 10. Andreas Hestler (Can),Rocky Mountainat
WOMEN
1. Alison DunlapLuna Chix 2. Kiara Bisaro (Can)Gears Racingat 3. Kim AndersonT-Mobileat Mary Grigson (Aus),Subaru-Gary Fisherat Jimena Florit (Arg)RLX Ralph Laurenat 6. Susan HaywoodTrek-Volkswagenat 7. Alison Sydor (Can)Trek-Volkswagenat 8. Mary McConnelougSeven Cyclingsat 9. Trish Sinclair (Can)Gears Racingat 10. Willow KoerberRLX Ralph Laurenat
SHORT TACK RESULTS
1. Jose Adrian Bonilla (CRi)Costa Rican National
2. Jeremy Horgan-KobelskiRLX Ralph Lauren
3. Todd WellsHyundai-Mongoose
4. Seamus McGrath (Can.Haro Lee Dungarees)
5. Jeff HallSalsa Cycles
6. Carl SwensonRLX Ralph Lauren
7. Paul Rowney (Aus)SoBe-Cannondale
8. Chris Sheppard (Can)Haro-Lee Dungarees
9. Geoff Kabush (Can.Kona-Clarks)
10. Andreas Hestler (Can),Rocky Mountain-Crystal Decisions
WOMEN
1. Sue HaywoodTrek-Volkswagen
2. Alison DunlapLuna Chix
3. Mary McConnelougSeven Cycling
4. Katerina Hanusova (Czh)Luna Chix
5. Jimena Florit (Arg)RLX Ralph Lauren
6. Kim AndersonT-Mobile
7. Alison Sydor (Can)Trek-Volkswagen
8. Dara MarksSoBe – Cannondale
9. Lanie MasonCane Creek
10. Chrissy Redden (Can.Subaru-Gary Fisher
MOUNTAINCROSS RESULT
1. Eric CarterHyundai-Mongoose
2. Brian LopesHyundai GT
3. Chris PowellProfile
4. Neal Wood (GB)Tioga-Orange
WOMEN
1. Jill KintnerStaats-Fox
2. Katrina Miller (Aus)Jamis
3. Tara LlanesGiant-Pearl Izumi
4. Tracey Moseley (GB)Kona-Clarks
DOWNHILL RESULT
1. Eric CarterMongoose-Hyundai 2. Steve Peat (GBr)Royal Orangeat 0.14
3. Chris Kovarik (Aust)Intenseat 0.33
4. Sam Hill (Aus)Iron Horse-MadCatzat 1.33
5. Mick Hannah (Aus)Haro-Lee Dungareesat 1.48
6. Jared Graves (Aus)Iron Horse-MadCatzat 2.41
7. Nathan Rennie (Aus)Iron Horse-MadCatzat 2.49
8. John Waddell (Aus)Santa Cruz-Intense Tiresat 3.
28 9. Dustin Adams (Can)Giant-Pearl Izumiat 3.65
10. Fabien Barel (Fra)Kona-Clarksat 3.73
WOMEN
1. Tracy Moseley (GBr),Kona-Clarks 2. Tai-Lee Muxlo (Aus)Tioga Orangeat 0.61
3. Fionn Griffiths (GBr.Foes – Azonicat 1.63
4. Missy GioveFoesat 4.52
5. Tara LlanesGiant-Pearl Izumiat 4.53
6. Marla StrebLunaat 6.58
7. Melissa BuhlKHSat 7.20
8. Lisa SherChumba Wumbaat 8.00
9. Mio Suemasa (Jpn)Trek-Volkswagenat 9.13
10. Maxine IrvingEco Lipsat 11.32
