Angel Fire to Host Red Bull Burner 12-Hour Downhill Race

On September 20, 2008, Angel Fire Resort, NM will host the Red Bull Burner. It's a 12-hour endurance downhill race. The race runs from 9:00am to 9:00pm, meaning riders will be throwing down race laps in the dark, adding an even greater challenge. The race is open to everyone from Sport level through Pro, and there are Solo, Duo, and Team options. There is a cash purse for Expert and Pro riders, with the purses being the same for the men and women of each category. This even seems pretty rad! Check out all the details at AngelFireBurner.com.

Missy Giove Wins the Third Snowshoe Powerade Downhill Race

Missy Giove won her second downhill race of the Snowshoe, WV Powerade series held August 30-31. Missy crossed the line 22 seconds ahead of second place. Ellen Adams edged out Amanda Pilling for the series title, and those two were the only Elite Women to race all three downhill events in the series. To see the entire series points breakdown, visit RideSnowshoeMountain.com.

Downhill

Elite Women

1. Missy Giove

2. Rae Gandolf

3. Amanda Pilling

4. Ellen Adams

5. Toni Moss

Women's Weekend Warrior

1. Lauren Daney

2. Anne Vig

3. Tamara Peloquin

4. Dreama Davis

Women's Intro

1. Tracey Woods

2. Liz Scoville

3. Jessica Wheatley

4. Leslie Litton

5. Amy Coleman

6. Anna Cain

Sundance Showdown Downhill Results

We were finally able to race the downhill course at Sundance Resort, UT on Saturday. This was the final race in the Utah State Downhill Series. While the dirt wasn't quite as tacky, and the corners were a good deal looser than on Labor Day weekend, the course was still super fun--and pretty pedally. I hadn't raced a true downhill since Angel Fire, so I was stoked to get the win. Fewer girls were able to race this weekend than last, which was a bit of a bummer. Addie Stewart took the title of Utah State Downhill Champion, as she had the most points in the series. To see the entire points breakdown, visit Go-Ride.com.

Pro Women

1. Jackie Baker

2. Kimber Gabryszak

Sport Women 19+

1. Joy Sather

More from New York: Plattekill Race #3

The third dual slalom and downhill races in the Plattekill Mountain, NY series were held August 23 and 24. The only ladies to compete at the race were Junior Women, and Taylor Allison swept the event with wins in both dual slalom and downhill. The next weekend of racing at Plattekill will be September 20-21. You can find out more about the series at Plattekill.com.

Downhill
Junior Women
1. Taylor Allison
2. Olivia Allison

Dual Slalom
Junior Women
1. Taylor Allison
2. Maddie Crowley
3. Olivia Allison

Allie's Whiteface 5K Downhill Extravaganza

Since moving to New York and joining up with the East Coast race scene, I had heard the question asked anxiously, “Are you doing the Whiteface 5K Downhill?” The tone was nearly the same as those that ask about another epic event. Something like, “Are you racing the Downieville All-Mountain? On THAT?”

A 5K downhill? That’s like more than three miles of downhill course. There’s no way that can be right and if it was, it would have to be done someplace out West where there is elevation to support it. I thought to myself, OK, I’m game but it will probably be a gnarly Super D with tons of uphill at best. I’ll just suffer through it and besides, it’s months away.

Hours before I was supposed to leave for Whiteface, I looked at Downhill Mike’s “Everything you need to know about the Whiteface 5K” web page and realized I might be somewhat ill-prepared. This was a big-bike course, all downhill and no one from last year finished in less than 7 minutes. No one. Well, whatever. Suck it up, right? I picked up my friend Heather and off to New York’s Adirondack region we went.

I greeted Saturday morning as a cranky little camper. With very little sleep the week before and virtually none that night, I tried to untie myself from my pretzel-like car sleeping position, addressed my fellow campers with a pre-coffee snarl and stumbled around the campsite looking for something, although it was never determined exactly what.

Our group finally got going and arrived at the venue. I looked up and saw the looming steep walls of Whiteface Mountain. I knew the course was going to be long, I mean, it says so in the name, but c’mon. Just how hard can a 5K downhill course really be? After a 13-minute gondola ride to the top, I was about to find out.

The course started out on the only flat (and slightly uphill, if you ask me) section of the fire road, which twisted and swooped it’s way into a very steep fire road with nomadic, rolling, baby-head-rocks filling all of the turns. If a rider was unfortunate enough to blow a turn and veer from the beaten path, they were sucked into a mess of sharp, dislodged boulders, which made braking a nearly impossible feat.

The wooded sections of the course seemed harmless enough--for a normal-length course, that is. Add four more wooded sections and a few more quad-burning fire roads and you’ve got yourself the Whiteface 5K! By the end of practice on Saturday, berms had formed in the entrances and exits of the woods sections, making it feel like a bobsled track. But pedaling on the straightaway fire road sections was going to hurt on race day.

I took one more run than I should have. My quads and calves were in knots, my arms were Jell-O, my shoulders were tight and I was riding like an idiot. After smashing my pinky against a tree that threw me down in the middle of the trail, I knew that Whiteface was going to have it’s way with me. I retreated to the safety of the parking lot and the promise of a sweet swimming spot and cold beer.

The Flume swimming hole on the AuSable River is reason in itself to come up to Whiteface. Cool water gushes down cuts in the smooth granite walls to make this water-lover’s playground. Although far from crowded, the hidden little alcove was buzzing with people enjoying this natural wonder. There were five different levels of cliffs to jump, guys sliding down the flume and people just chilling in the water after a long, gritty day of playing in the surrounding mountains.

Sunday was the day. The course’s lines had burned in but there were still a few “ninja lines” that weren’t extremely obvious. Practice went well, however my race run was by far the worst race run I had put together all season. Every piece of me was tired and fatigued. After I forced myself to hammer across the finish line, all I wanted to do was throw up and lie down (preferably not at the same time, but the possibility was there). The course was fun, but I had not brought my “A game” or “B game” for that matter. In that box of Alphabits I had pulled out maybe a “Q”.

The fun didn’t end when I crossed the finish line. Oh no, there was still one more race to go. On a whim I had signed up for the Chainless Open race. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Riders line up at the start sans-chain and do one big long coaster race down the course. Upon further investigation, I was the only female who thought this might be a hoot--the Open class consisted of me and forty-or-so guys. This race really had no degree of seriousness. Many of the guys were wearing spandex, helmet visors were flipped upside down in Egyptian Pharaoh fashion, one guy was in a skin suit and a few stuffed socks down the front of their shorts. (Yes hot stuff, we know that was only a pair of socks)

The fellas and I mobbed the start, as there was no real start list and took turns in thirty-second increments showcasing our running cyclocross-style flying mount and best aero-tuck down the first straightaway. It’s a funny feeling not being able to pedal and knowing you have to somehow make the corners without scrubbing too much speed. The odd thing is that in the woods, I learned some lessons just coasting. I took better lines, stayed higher and was able to keep momentum in places I blew out during the race run. Hmmm…maybe this is a new practice tactic?

The chainless race burned my legs even more and when I crept across the finish line I was done for the day. Whiteface had done me in and I had learned a few things for next year. Mainly, to train for this event!

The final results came in and awards went smoothly at the end of the day. For the Pro Women, Dawn Bourque and Karen Eagen were on it and deserved every bit of their respective first and second places. Karen had won the year prior, but Dawn dethroned her by about eighteen seconds. With over $1,200 on the line for first, $500 for second, and $250 for third, who can blame her?

Karen confirmed herself as one of the East Coast’s riders to be reckoned with by claiming second place by a solid ten seconds. Eeking into third, but closely trailed by fourth by about two seconds, I rounded out the podium where we received checks and black T-shirts that were just perfect for creating the “T-Shirt Ninja!"

There were six Pro Women total, who made for a competitive field, but there really should be more presence for a fun well-paying event like this one.

The Whiteface 5K has all the makings of an epic event: fantastic terrain, nearly-unheard of equal Pro payouts for men and women, challenging race courses, non-race freeriding options, fabulous après riding swimming holes and cliff jumping, amazing scenery, and a promoter with a sense of humor.

Other incentives to visit Whiteface are the Whiteface Women's Days where on specified days, ladies ride for free, and riding camps and clinics. Beginners and intermediate riders can be eased into Whiteface’s terrain, while advanced riders can improve on their technical ledge-next-to-waterfall riding skills. Plus, there are some of the most picturesque mountaintop trails you can imagine. I didn’t believe it either, but these views rival Mammoth, Tahoe and Whistler. From the observatory it’s possible to see all the way across Vermont into New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The nearby lodging is inexpensive, but make sure to book early if you’re coming in on a holiday weekend.

Although it’s been three days since the race and my legs and arms still hurt, I cannot say enough good things about this race. I will definitely be back next year with and without a chain and better prepared for what this course can dole out. Hopefully I’ll see you there next year!

Photo Credit: www.golden-arrow.com

Thanks to Kathi Kraus for taking and providing event photographs.

Whiteface 5K Downhill Results

Allie's written a sweet summary of her race experience at this New York quad burner. I'll let her tell the story, but first, here are the results!

Pro Women
1. Dawn Bourque
2. Karen Eagan
3. Allie Burch
4. Marie-Eve Marcotte
5. Candace Ellicott
6. Alicia Hamilton

Expert Women
1. Susan Del Pino
2. Vicki Koch
3. Bonnie Chapman

Beginner/Sport Women
1. Kristine Koch
2. Meredity Mansfield
3. Alana Meserve
4. Amy Nappi

The Toilet Paper Problem

Dearest Toilet Paper Manufacturer Man,

I am a loyal and loving customer. I enjoy your fat rolls, fluffy feel, and incredible absorbency. The technological advances in toilet paper over the past five years have been as numerous and important as the improvements in mountain bikes, and I appreciate each one. In general, bikes and TP have each become squishier and more fun to use. Double-sized rolls turn weekly toilet-tissue-buying trips into bi-monthly excursions. The new, super soft TP is delightful to girls who spend lots of time in the saddle (you know what they say about chamois time!).

Recently, however, I've encountered a setback in my toilet paper purchasing. It seems that it's impossible to purchase a reasonably-sized, high-quality 4-roll package. These allotments were the norm several years ago, but now, it's nearly impossible to find a TP package smaller than a 24-pack of PBR that sports a fuzzy animal to illustrate just how soft and cuddly the enclosed paper really is. Huge 8- and 12-roll stacks of squeezably-soft toilet tissue hover precariously over tiny packages of thin, scratchy generic brands who still wrap four rolls to a pack.

As I stood pondering my choices with my shopping basket in my hands, my messenger bag on my back, and my dirt jumper locked in front of Albertson's, I realized that the only way to make it home with my TP, pasta sauce, soy milk, coconut-crusted shrimp, and grapefruit juice was to opt for a 4-roll package. Even the six-er wouldn't fit in my bag on its own (yes, I tried before I bought). In fact, the six-pack doesn't even fit into a grocery bag well enough to hang onto it while pedalling back to the house on a small dirt jump bike. I weighed my options, squeezed some packs, and picked the softest, fluffiest 4-pack I could find. It would not have been my first choice, but I had come to terms with the fact that it was my only choice.

Now I know that toilet paper runs will have to happen on days when I choose to ride the bus; when I can use one hand to grasp my 6- or 12-pack of wonderfully lofty toilet tissue in one hand and my grocery bag of waffles, electrical tape, chocolate milk, and refried beans in the other.

So, Mr. Toilet Paper Production Guy, I write to ask you: Could you please package your exquisitely plush paper into a reasonably small package so that single cycling girls can easily carry this precious commodity back to their commodes?

Thanks in advance!
JB

Registration Is Open for the 48 Straight Jeep King of the Mountain at The Canyons

Click here to sign up for the 48 Straight Jeep King of the Mountain dual slalom contest at The Canyons Resort, UT on September 18-20. The first event held at Diablo Freeride Park, NJ a few weeks ago got rave reviews, and we expect the same from the race at The Canyons. The event is open to pro and expert mountaincross and slalom racers. The top 8 women receive cash prizes ranging from $5000 for first to $500 for 8th. Registration closes on September 17th!

Rachel Bauer Wins Mountain States Cup Final

Rachel Bauer won the Sol Squared G3 event at Sol Vista, CO this weekend, which also secured her overall points win in the Mountain States Cup series. The G3 consisted of two downhill races and a Super D. The person with the lowest combined time for all three events is the winner. Rachel attended all but one of the MSC races, and she competed in all of the gravity disciplines--downhill, dual slalom, mountaincross, and G3--to take the series title. Neven Steinmetz took second in the series. To see the entire list of series rankings, visit RaceMSC.com.

G3 Pro Women
1. Rachel Bauer
2. Jacqueline Harmony
3. Sage Wilderman
4. Abigail Hippely
5. Neven Steinmetz
6. Jessica Vogt

G3 Expert Women
1. Christen Boyer

G3 Sport Women
1. Jennifer Johnson

Fluidride Cup #4 Results

The fourth Fluidride Cup race was held August 23-24 in Port Angeles, WA. Katie Holden took the Pro Women's downhill win. The next race in the series will take place September 13-14 at Mt. Hood, OR.

Pro Women
1. Katie Holden
2. Joy Mutoli

Expert Women
1. Chelsey Stevens
2. Dawn Lambert
3. Cassandra Stamm
4. Angi West
5. Brook Shore
6. Kat Sweet
7. Jaime Rees

Sport Women
1. Selby Reilly
2. Cherry Thomas
3. Lisa Ness
4. Jessica Serdowich
5. Ashely Smeltzer
6. Jennifer Tell
7. Summer Northern
8. Corrine Greve

Beginner Women
1. Asta Sestrap
2. Yuonne Gillette
3. Amanda Markey
4. Rachel Delateur

We found these results at Fluidride.com.

Melissa Buhl Wins Dual Slalom and Downhill Races at Brian Head

Melissa Buhl remained undefeated in the National Mountain Bike Series in dual slalom and downhill by taking wins in both events at the NMBS Finals in Brian Head, UT this weekend. She is the series champion in dual slalom, and Darian Harvey is the downhill series champion. Visit BlueWolfEvents.com to check out all of the series rankings.

Downhill
Pro Women
1. Melissa Buhl
2. Darian Harvey
3. Tasa Herndon
4. Christine Hirst
5. Michelle Rivera
6. Mariska Chuse

Expert Women 19+
1. Linden Kimmerer
2. Jennifer Wolf

Expert Women 30+
1. Joy Martin

Expert Women 40+
1. Nancy Harris

Junior Sport Women
1. Sebray Gossett

Sport Women 19+
1. Heidi Kanayan

Sport Women 30+
1. Kerry Howe

Beginner Women 30+
1. Kate Jones
2. Angela Mijares

Beginner Women 40+
1. Erica Phillips

Dual Slalom
Pro Women
1. Melissa Buhl
2. Leslie Slagle
3. Darian Harvey
4. Tasa Herndon

Open Women
1. Kayla Meadows
2. Joy Martin
3. Brittany Jackson
4. Nancy Harris

Sundance Showdown

Addie Stewart won the Pro Women's Super D at the Sundance Showdown at Sundance Resort, UT on Sunday. She also clinched the title of Utah State Super D Champion. Anna Rodriguez took the state title for the Expert Women, and also rode the fastest Super D time of the day. The downhill race slated for Labor Day was postponed until Saturday, September 6 due to stormy conditions.

Super D
Pro Women
1. Addie Stewart
2. Kimber Gabryszak

Expert Women
1. Anna Rodriguez