Fontana City National Results

The first big US gravity event of the year is in the books. The Fontana City National took place March 26-28 in California. Melissa Buhl came out swinging, winning the downhill race by 17 seconds. For more information about the race, visit SouthridgeUSA.com.

Pro Women
1. Melissa Buhl
2. Joanna Petterson
3. Gabriela Williams
4. Jennifer Wolf
5. Joy Martin
6. Darian Harvey
7. Michelle Rivera

Open Women
1. Erica Phillips

Sport Women 34 & Under
1. Essence Barton
2. Stephanie Wolf
3. Valerie Vanderpool
4. Ashley Hernandez

Sport Women 35+
1. Nancy Harris
2. Kim Finch
3. Traci Adams

Beginner Women 34 & Under
1. Wendy Roller

Beginner Women 35+
1. Kim Krueger
2. Angela Mijares

March's Featured Rider: Kathy Pruitt

Kathy Pruitt has been a racer for almost her entire life. And she's been a pro racer for nearly half of it. She's been a staple on the US national and World Cup circuits for ten years, and consistently stands on the podium domestically. Internationally, she's solid a top-ten finisher and is chasing a downhill win at a World Cup. Kathy is unquestionably talented--whether she's descending, dirt jumping, or raging on the cross country bike--and incredibly hilarious. We're rooting for her to make it to the top of the of a World Cup podium (or two) this season!--FF

Name: Kathy Pruitt
Home: Santa Cruz, California
Age: 27
Favorite type of riding: Everything!
Why you ride: It's challenging, rewarding and allows me to be creative.
Sponsors: Jamis Bikes, Giro, e-thirteen, Smith, Sombrio, Geax

Way back in 1988 I was racing and riding pee-wee motorcycles. I was 5 years old. That's when the two-wheeled obsession began. I continued with motorcycles and even turned pro at the age of 12. A few years later, after I had sustained a few major injuries, my parents decided to pull me out of the moto game. It didn't take long for me to figure out that I was pretty fast at going down a hill. The mountain bike my dad bought me to commute to track practice became my new outlet to relive my moto days. Soon, I convinced my dad to take me to a local downhill event in Truckee, California. I had a blast! More than 10 years later, I am still riding bikes and am just as competitive.

A lot of things have stayed the same in the bike world since I started racing World Cups in 1999. But,the biggest change is the talent level, it has gotten very close and is so competitive that the top five riders' times can be on the same tenth of a second. The sport's level of riding has progressed in both men's and women's riding. The bikes have become much easier to ride, and it's easy to see that the level of riding went up right next to the equipment progressing.

One of the things that has been hardest to learn in this sport is to be mentally strong, all the time. It doesn't matter if you are on a perfect bike and have all the best equipment, if your head and mind are not "there," you are not going to get over that scary jump or speed down the rutted and rooted track as fast as you could have. Becoming mentally strong and staying in that space is very difficult. If your mind is in the game, the rest will follow.

To combat becoming stale after 10+ years of competing and racing, I have learned to seek out other sports and activities that keep my mind fresh and challenged. I live near the ocean and luckily near many really good surf breaks. I have been learning to love the paddle out, how to read the swell, and figuring out the right place to be to catch that ride in. Surfing has become my reset button, you could say. It reminds me a lot of snowboarding, and I grew up doing that in Lake Tahoe, CA.

I've worked hard in this sport and have achieved almost all of the honors that you can achieve, except the ever-eluding Senior World Championships. In 2000, I was the Junior World Champion--the year before, I placed silver. I have been the 3-time National series overall champion in downhill and have won the National Championship event in downhill and dual slalom. I have also stepped on every spot of the World Cup podium except the top spot during my racing career. I've qualified 1st a few times, but never won.

My goals this year are pretty simple, I want to win races. I'll be spending more time at home in Santa Cruz to prepare for races and less time traveling, which will hopefully help me focus on my goals.

CCCX 2010 Downhill #1

The first CCCX downhill race of the 2010 spring season was held at Toro Park, CA on March 20. Rosie Bernhard took her first pro win of her career, and was also the only girl to break four minutes on the course. The next CCCX race will be held April 11. For more information, visit CCCX.com.

Pro Women
1. Rosie Bernhard
2. Lia Lajoie

Expert Women
1. Cathy Chevron
2. Kelly Johnson
3. Mary Moncorge
4. Ayshe Tuncer
5. Jill Henrich
6. Ashley Hernandez

Sport Women
1. Jessica Spray
2. Shiloh Ballard
3. Courtney Rosiak

Beginner Women
1. Mary Pralinsky
2. Ruby Tidd
3. Katy Jossy

Jr. Girls
1. Faith Siebe

2010 Mob 'n Mojave Results

The 2010 Mob 'n Mojave downhill race was held Feb. 13-14 at Bootleg Canyon, NV. Melissa Buhl took the win in the best-of-two-run race format. The next race at Bootleg is March 19-20, which is the St. Patty's Day Feast. For more information, visit AllMountainCyclery.com.

Downhill
Pro Women
1. Melissa Buhl
2. Jacqueline Harmony
3. Christine Hirst
4. Tasa Herndon
5. Linden Lane
6. Joy Martin
7. Ana Rodriguez
8. Margaret Gregory

Open Women
1. Amy Forwand
2. Megan Applegate

Open Women 40+
1. Carmen Bastek
2. Nancy Harris
3. Kathleen Kingma

Dual Slalom
1. Jacqueline Harmony

Southridge USA Winter Series #5 Results

The 5th race of the Southridge Winter Series was held March 6 and 7. The talent ran deep in the pro women's downhill. Melissa Buhl emerged the decisive winner, finishing 9 seconds ahead of Anneke Beerten. The winter series is over, but racing resumes March 26-28 for the Fontana City National. For more info about racing at Fontana, visit SouthridgeUSA.com.

Downhill
Pro Women
1. Melissa Buhl
2. Anneke Beerten
3. Leigh Donovan
5. Gabriela Williams
6. Jennifer Wolf
7. Margaret Gregory
8. Sondra Williamson
9. Christine Hirst

Open Women
1. Rebecca Gardner
2. Mandy Oliekan
3. Nancy Harris

Sport Women 34 & Under
1. Stephanie Wolf
2. Julia Zavala
3. Ashley Hernandez

Sport Women 35+
1. Kim Finch
2. Traci Adams
3. Lisa Gianni

Beginner Women 35+
1. Lala Mijares

4X
Pro Women
1. Kayla Meadows

Open Women
1. Robin Vold
2. Laura Drexler
3. Breanna Fellows

CCCX Update

The final race of the CCCX winter downhill series took place January 31st. Kathy Pruitt took the win for the pro women at the race, and Karen Hanzi won the overall series. The spring series was supposed to start on March 7, but the race was postponed due to poor weather. The next race is scheduled for March 20, 2010 at Toro Park, CA. For more information about CCCX, visit CCCX.org.

CCCX #5
Pro Women
1. Kathy Pruitt
2. Karen Hanzi
3. Rosie Bernhard
4. Heather McFadden

Expert Women
1. Kelsey Anderson
2. Mollie Sitkin
3. Kelly Johnson
4. AnneMarie Hennes
5. Amy Forwand
6. Kelley Damschen
7. Ashley Hernandez

Sport Women
1. Mary Moncorge
2. Tina Wilson
3. Aysche Tuncer
4. Jill Henrich
5. Kirstie Douglass
6. Natalie Morris

Beginner Women
1. Jessica Spray
2. Melanie McGuire
3. Ruby Tidd
4. Andrea Locke

Series Winners
Pro Women: Karen Hanzi
Expert Women: Kelly Johnson
Sport Women: Jill Henrich
Beginner Women: Andrea Locke

2010 Ray's Women's Weekend a Huge Success!

The 3rd annual Ray's Women's Weekend was held February 19-21. Once again, the weekend was an incredible gathering of women riders of all ability levels from across the country. Darcy Turenne came from B.C., Kathy Pruitt and Cory Coffey flew from CA, and several clinic goers even traveled from Austin, TX. All-in-all, about 150 women took advantage of the free day at Ray's. There were two clinic sessions on Friday--one in the morning, and one in the afternoon--led by 14 pro women riders with BMX, cross country, downhill, and dirt jumping backgrounds. Plus, breakfast and lunch were provided event sponsors. And there was a huge prize raffle and free cocktail party after the day of riding. Yeah, it was the best day ever.


And the weekend didn't end there. Girls paid half-price to ride on Saturday and Sunday, with an Awesome Land: Women of Dirt showing on Saturday night. Riders from the film including Lisa Myklak, Stephanie Nychka, Tammy Donahugh, were in attendance too.


Ray's employee and BMX ripper Nina Buitrago and Mad March Racing instructor Tamara Peloquin organized the whole shindig, and there are plans in the works for the 4th-annual event in 2011! Check out the Ray's Angels Facebook page for more photos and info!

Tamara!


Nina in an ironic tee!












Learning!

February's Featured Rider: Joy Martin

Joy Martin is the first Freeride Foundation Featured Rider who juggles racing at a professional level with raising a family and working full time. Joy understands why bike wheels move the way they do because she's an engineer--she analyzes the rotating components in centrifugal gas compressors for a living. In addition to bringing up an adorable little dude with her supportive hubby, Kevin, Joy rides for the Vixen Racing Team and leads her own cylcing skills clinics in her "free" time. --FF

Name: Joy Martin
Home: Poway, CA
Age: 33
Favorite type of riding: Fast and flowy
Why you ride: To escape it all. When I am on my bike there is nothing else but me, the bike, and the trail. Any stress I had goes bye-bye!
Sponsors: Vixen Racing, which includes: Cove Bicycles, Kali Protectives, Troy Lee Designs, Scwalbe, Hayes, Atomlab, SGD, Smith Optics, Camelbak, Loeka, Sunline, ParkTool, HoneyStinger, Goo, and Sunline
Website: http://www.vixenracing.org/ and http://www.joyridemtb.com/

When I was 19, living in San Luis Obispo, California, I had a boyfriend with a really cool Specialized. He let me take it riding. The first downhill section of the dirt road I was on I flew down. The experience was so exhilarating I was hooked from then on. San Luis Obispo has some of the best terrain for mountain biking. The views are awe-inspiring and the riding is amazing. You could ride for two weeks straight everyday and still be on a different trails. The learning curve is really steep though--I was black and blue my first three years of mountain biking. There aren't any beginner trails in SLO, so I moved straight to intermediate and learned as I went. I love nature and getting outdoors, so riding satisfied that need. In high school I lived next to Yosemite, so I love getting away from it all, and my mountain bike took me there.

Since I live in Sunny SoCal year round I do most of my training all over San Diego County. East County is rugged with lots of climbing and long descents, so I can get the time on the bike. Near my house are some well-built trails that are good for skill building, the locals have built a really great jump area that puts me on cloud nine everytime I ride there. My all-time favorite place to ride after 2009 is Whistler Mountain Bike Park. The vibe in Whistler is amazing and the riding is better than anyone can tell you about. The place is just perfect. My gal friends and I decided Whistler is "crack" for mountain bikers.

My favorite thing to do when I'm not on the bike is to hang out with my little man Seamus, he is 3 1/2 now. When my husband and I left the hospital with him, Kevin said to me "when he is old enough, I promise you can race again." This comment was 100% spontaneous on his part, completely uncoaxed or influenced. Seamus loves coming to the races and seeing him grow and LOVE to ride his own bike is really exciting.

I think to have the most success, you have to mentally strong and be able to challenge yourself. You need to understand your weaknesses and strengths and work on both. I love talking with the ladies who have been in the sport for over 10 years. The experience they gained and the williness to share is amazing to me. All the women who I have had the pleasure of riding with and talking to have inspired me in so many ways. Racing downhill is more a mental than physical sport for me. One of the "joys" of the sport is conquering my mental challenges. Someone told me that racing downhill exposes your core as a person, and I have to agree. Racing downhill tests your mental, emotional and physical persona. As an individual with the one lifetime I am given I love being able to push through my own barriers, it is very satisfying.

Cornering is the most underrated skill, learn to corner well and it will take you far. (I'm still working on corners.) I think the cornering has been the hardest skill to put together. To do it right it takes the combination of so many things and since I am not the most coordinated person, I have to spend a lot of time working on it.

The Keyesville Classic Needs You!

Several years ago, Allie and I went to the Keyesville Classic in Keyesville, CA. The race, which is now in its 22nd year, combines a 2-course downhill race, a short track race, and a cross country race. You can enter one or all of the races. We tied for the win in the downhill, but I suffered through the cross country race as well, while Allie fled the scene. Not that I'm bitter at all...

This year, the race will be held March 19-21. There will be a women's cycling clothing fashion show, there's a pro payback for men and women, and there will be an Awesome Land: Women of Dirt movie screening too!

The catch is that last year, no pro women attended the race, meaning no girls claimed the pro payback! That's money on the table, girls!

Onsite camping is free, and there will be food at the venue as well. In addition, the clothes from the fashion show will be raffled off afterward.

You can register right now at KeyesvilleRacing.com.

Southridge USA Winter Series Results

There have been three Southridge USA Winter Series races in California so far this season. When it comes to points, in both downhill and 4X, the series title is still anyone's game! There are two more races left, and the final counts for double points. For more information about the series, the schedule, and results, visit SouthridgeUSA.com.

#3 Feb. 6-7
Downhill
Pro Women
1. Leigh Donovan
2. Joy Martin
3. Gabriela Williams
4. Margaret Gregory
5. Jennifer Wolf
6. Carol Gibbs

Open Women
1. Heather McFadden
2. Nancy Harris
3. Erica Phillips
4. Kelly Damschen
5. Mandy Oliekan

Sport Women 34 & Under
1. Stephanie Wolf
2. Koral Kina
3. Ashley Hernandez
4. Julia Zavala
5. Meaghan Vollebregt

Sport Women 35 +
1. Kim Finch
2. Traci Adams

Beginner Women Women 35 +
1. Wendy Villegas
2. Lala Mijares

4X
Open Women
1. Brittany Jackson
2. Robin Vold
3. Laura Drexler
4. Andrea Aracil

#2 Jan. 23/24
Downhill
Pro Women
1. Melissa Buhl
2. Leigh Donovan
3. Joy Martin
4. Jennifer Wolf
5. Christine Hirst
6. Margaret Gregory

Open Women
1. Mandy Oliekan
2. Nancy Harris
3. Kelley Damschen
4. Lisa Vanzuyen
5. Erica Phillips

Sport Women 34 & Under
1. Stephanie Wolf
2. Julia Zavala
3. Ashley Hernandez

Sport Women 35 +
1. Traci Adams

Beginner Women 34 & Under
1. Megan Applegate

Beginner Women 35 +
1. Wendy Villegas
2. Lala Mijares

4X
Open Women
1. Robin Vold
2. Laura Drexler
3. Andrea Aracil
4. Lala Mijares

#1 Jan. 9/10
Downhill
Pro Women
1. Jennifer Wolf
2. Christine Hirst
3. Gabriela Williams
4. Joy Martin
5. Margaret Gregory

Open Women
1. Nancy Harris

4X
Pro Women
1. Joy Martin

Open Women
1. Nancy Harris
2. Laura Drexler
3. Robin Vold
4. Lala Mijares

January's Featured Rider: Joanna Petterson

Joanna Petterson is a South African-born rider who splits her time between winters in Hawaii, training sessions in CA, and racing the US and World Cup 4X and downhill circuits. Last season, Joanna found herself atop two World Cup podiums in Canada, and is looking to build on that success in 2010. In fact, Jo is one of the few riders who consistently races both disciplines at the World Cup level. As if that's not enough to set her apart from the crowd, she's as passionate about getting others involved in cycling as she is focused on her own professional career.--FF

Name: Joanna Petterson
Home: Kauai, Hawaii (born in South Africa)
Age: 30
Favorite type of riding: Bikes, of course! Downhill, 4x, jumping, road, XC, singlespeed, around town
Why you ride: I ride because it is a freeing experience. I love the wind on my skin, the speed, adrenaline, and the challenge. I love a good hillclimb on the road bike. I love to push myself and accomplish goals, and do things that I think are (near) impossible.
Sponsors: Fulcrum Wheels, Maxxis, Clif Bar, Smith Optics, ODI, Leatt, crankskins.com, Harlot
Website: (Coming soon!) JoannaPetterson.com

Are you a dreamer? I am. Every day I take myself from reality and attempt to reach my dream of being as great as I can be on a bike and then get even better. It is challenge to make the cycling life a reality. It is a full time job apart from the training needed to be elite. Racing is a lifestyle, from hotel, to plane, to car, to venue. I live my life out of a bag during the season and even in the off-season, making my various stops my home.

I left South Africa when I was 4, moved around a bit with my parents, and ended up on the amazing island of Kauai, HI. I returned to SA when I was 8 and then returned to Kauai when I was 13. I was a world-traveled child, and I guess that stuck with me. I haven't done much riding on Kauai because I'm usually trying to take a break and let my body heal when I am here. So, I spend my free time surfing. It is such an amazing sport that I don't even want to call it a sport, more like an amazing adventure every time I get in the ocean.

Recently, I surfed Hanalei Bay. We had some flooding this past week, the ocean is brown from the rivers and there are logs and sticks and even dead things that float into the ocean. On one hand it was terrifying to think what lurked beneath because there are sharks in the bay, crazy ones when the water is so murky, but on the other, the waves were so amazing! It was my best day of surfing since I got home.

The riding on Kauai is mysterious, wet most of the winter and hard to find. One of my favorite trails takes you through eucalyptus forests, down a red dirt smooth trail with drops and smooth natural berms, and around the rim of a canyon with the views of Niihau. That's when you stop and check the surf. If it's up, then you finish your ride and head to the waves. Kauai is an amazing place, and I'm hoping it returns somewhat to the agricultural roots it has. Move away from tourism a bit and start to be self-sustaining. I'm working on that with my family when I am home, and when I retire from racing it will be a huge part of my life. Providing a resource for food is such a valuable asset in the long run.

A little more relative to cycling, though, I aim to start a BMX track on the island, to provide a place for kids that's free of drugs and negative influence, that is healthy, and could one day lead them to the Olympics. I can't wait to start this project! In 2010 I am also producing a movie with a few other people. It is a hugely exciting project for me, one that I have wanted to do for a few years. It is going to be a women's race/ride film and we are going to highlight the best of women's riding.

My biggest riding accomplishments would have to be unaccomplished, so far! Winning the 2006 NORBA 4X Series Championship was a good time. This season, my 3rd in 4x at the Mont Ste Anne and 4th in Bromont World Cup races where both great. But, I'm not super happy with the season. I placed 10th at the World Championships in Canberra, which was a good show but not my best. I'm aiming for much more in 2010 as far as my racing goes.

Racing and competition in general have always been a part of me. It's a huge part of my personality that I can't deny. I just want to be the best I can be, and truthfully, I want to be better than every other racer out there. But so do they. So we just keep pushing each other and it's great. I love racing. I dedicated my life to it after my first race and have been pursuing this dream ever since for the last ten years.

I enjoy meeting new people to ride (or surf) with wherever I am so if anyone wants to ride don't hesitate to get in touch and we can go enjoy this amazing sport. The more the merrier!

CCCX #4 Results

Karin Hanzi was the lone pro female competitor at the fourth CCCX downhill race of the series on January 3, 2010. She walked away with the fastest women's time as well. Despite the lack of pro women racers, there was a solid showing for girls in each of the Expert, Sport, and Beginner classes. Nice work, ladies! The next CCCX race will be held at Toro Park, CA on January 31. For more information, visit CCCX.org.

Pro Women
1. Karin Hanzi

Expert Women
1. Kelley Damschen
2. Rosie Bernhard
3. Amy Forwand
4. Kelly Johnson
5. Ashley Hernandez

Sport Women
1. Mollie Sitkin
2. Ayshe Tuncer
3. Mary Moncorge
4. Keri Albrecht
5. Jill Henrich

Beginner Women
1. Jessica Spray
2. Ruby Tidd
3. Sarah Skammel
4. Andrea Locke
5. Sue Roussel
6. Sofia Villafane

Ray's Women's Weekend 2010: Be There!

The annual Ray's Women's Weekend is just around the corner. The indoor mountain bike park in Cleveland, OH is hosting the Ray's Angels Women's Weekend on February 19-21, 2010.

The weekend kicks off with a day of free riding on Friday (yes, as in you pay nothing!), in addition to the ability to take skills clinics from any of the 14 pro women coaches. It doesn't matter if you've never ridden a bike before, are a skilled racer, ride cross country, prefer dirt jumps, or pedal a BMX bike--there's terrain and a coach for you!

Riding on Saturday and Sunday is 1/2 price for women, and all the pros will be sessioning all weekend too! Click here to sign up for the clinics, and if you do it by February 1, you'll get a free T-shirt.