We all have that place in our life where you first put tires to the dirt, hit your first jump, raced your first race, took your first crash; and for me took your first mountain bike photograph. I’ve been racing and photographing at Beacon Hill in Spokane, WA since 2003. My career started here, along with a few other folks. Downhill racing has gone on here long before my time starting in the late 90’s. The hill has changed through the years and currently the best it’s been. I was saddened to hear this would be the final race at my home mountain.
Due to development of the upper portion on the hill, it would cut out nearly 1/3 of the already pretty short racecourse. Pro times hitting around just under 2:00, housing developments would make the course too short to make races worth running. Beacon Hill is the only official mountain bike area in Eastern Washington. Nearly 15 minutes away from downtown, the hill provides legal mountain bike trails for all levels of the community. There are two parts to the mountain, and will continue to be a mountain bike park. There’s no word for sure, but hopefully there will be another course worked out in the future.
Moving on from the sad stuff, the Double Down Hoe Down finished off with a bang. Unlike most races, the DDHD has races both Saturday and Sunday with two different courses. Transition Bikes' Lars Sternberg took double wins on both days, gaining victory against his previous year here where Lars took a nasty tumble in the rocks.
The Beacon race is always great due to it generally being early on in the year. One of the first races of the season in most of the NW, the race attracts racers from Canada, and as far as Montana.
New to this year, Gravity Components put on a jump jam show on Saturday afternoon. MC’d by Diamondback's Charlie Sponsel, the local boys put on quite the show. Steven Bafus took the cake for his massive style and 3’ing all the jumps in a row.
ResultsSaturdayPro Men:
1. Lars Sternberg
2. Craig Hill
3. Lucas Chalcraft
Pro Women:
1. Jaime Rees
2. Michelle Benson
3.Karen O'Connell
SundayPro Men:
1. Lars Sternberg
2. Matt Patterson
3. Jake Grob
Pro Women:
1. Jaime Rees
2. Michelle Benson
3. Adrian Hopkins
Jump Jam1. Steven Bafus
2. Joe Perrizo
3. Skye Schillhammer
I would like to personally thank everyone at Wheel Sport East, Chris at the Bike Hub, med crew, Jon Henry for driving me to the top in the ATV countless times and everyone who has made this race possible in the last few years. You guys have a big heart for racing and it shows. All Gravity Series has a bunch of more races in the future in the Inland NW throughout Eastern Washington, Idaho and Montana. Check out the
all gravity series website for more information on the upcoming races near you! Shout out to Skye Schillhammer for building the slope style course for Saturdays jump jam.
All Gravity Series would like to also thank Shimano, Transition Bikes, and Deity Components for their support in making these races possible.
Definitely going to miss the upper course, and I hope that John and the crew w/ evergreen east's chapter can find a way to keep the trails going and something special for a long, long time to come. Those little kids on the 20" bikes and riding w/o the full face cuz they couldn't afford one....that was us ten years ago, Paris. Great shots, as always buddy. Gonna miss the old beacon.
RIP Dave Moffit, anyone else remember him? He organized the first DH race I ever went to.
Beacon still has a lot more to grow in to one of Washington's best bike parks.
Don't write this place off yet.