Downhill Finals From Colin Meagher - Sea Otter 2013
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 Greg Minnaar settin' the tone on the second jump during his first run of the morning. |
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| Ian Massey offering a bit of proof that you don't have to be a World Champ to be cracking tables or throwing whips. Seems like most racers were keeping things light hearted during practice - whips, bar humps, and tables were the flavor. But as practice edged more towards racing, there was a lot more staying low and going fast. |
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| Gwin keeping an eye on line choices. |
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| Patrick Thome moved on from Lapierre to Scott 11 after a solid season on the World Cup last year. |
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| Racing, racing, racing. Caroline Buchanan took the 4X World Championships a few years back, but then focused on BMX for a bit. She's back now, and is taking a page from Jill Kintner's book with DH racing as a focus for her new sponsor Airborne Bikes. Look for her at Fort Bill in a couple months - not sure how that Scottish monster will treat the 4X racer... we'll have to see. |
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| Untouchable. No mistakes. Like Graves', Kintner's gate racing history and DH saddle time made this race hers to lose. |
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| Holly Feniak getting the first taste of the season. |
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| Say what you will about the Sea Otter DH being short, but it is fan friendly. Fans weren't exactly lining the course wall to wall, but plenty were on hand to cheer on some of the World's best. |
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| Focus. Steve Smith was only a half second off of Gwin's time. |
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| It's a UCI sanctioned race; does that mean a DQ for the lycra? |
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| Chain Reaction action. Sam Hill putting his Nukeproof through its paces. |
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| No fat bike today: Adam Craig gunning for a DH result. |
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| Another NW rider, Lars Sternberg, keeping it low and tucked in on the straight away section in the middle of the track. |
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| Luke Strobel pinning it on a foreign substance: sand and dust. |
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| Troy Brosnan pinning it up one of the two uphills on the Sea Otter track. |
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| Marc Beaumont aboard his new GT Fury; it will be interesting to see that bike at work on a proper monster of a track like Fort William. |
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| CG doing business time. |
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| Rookie Trek World Racing rider Greg Williamson keeping it low on the only rock feature on the track. |
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| Freshly minted Red Bull athlete Curtis Keene sending it. A few mistakes, though, had him 5 seconds out. |
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| Scrub a dub Bulldog... |
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| Nice Slippers, Eliot. Perfect for cozying up to a nice campfire. |
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| The Sea Otter course is perfect for a guy like Jared Graves: it's just DH enough to cater to having skills, but it's so short that it's almost a double length 4X track. Graves may not have that 4X physique anymore, but what he lacks in bulk has translated directly to excelling at tracks like this. |
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| Logan Bingeli was looking wicked up top. All business. But a short track like this is so unforgiving that your run has to be perfect to make the podium. |
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| Neko Mulally given 'er. |
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| Sik Mik. .01 of a second differential. That is CLOSE racing. |
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| Low and just fast enough to edge out the competition, Aaron Gwin setting the table for the season here at Sea Otter...it's only the Sea Otter DH, but the term "Gwining it" may be the norm for the World Cup, too. |
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35 Comments
- 23 0
bermkiller
(Apr 22, 2013 at 0:07)
I wish there was more general coverage of Elliot Jackson! Dude kills it and its just fun to watch! Nothing like his aero tuck picture from windham where he is grabbing his stanchions! What a ripper with the slippers!!!
- 9 0
derrie
(Apr 22, 2013 at 0:37)
Seriously though, what's the story behind the slippers?
- 6 1
Motoracer31
FL (Apr 22, 2013 at 1:06)
retired people wear slippers. dont you follow gwin on instagram??
- 2 0
Jimmy0
FL (Apr 22, 2013 at 1:36)
he ate shit really bad right after where his picture was taken. so yes he did rip the slippers
- 5 2
hollyfeniak
(Apr 22, 2013 at 7:47)
I was wearing sponsor socks, Vega is a personal sponsor. They just look small compared to the high top 510s.
- 1 0
dynamatt
(Apr 22, 2013 at 22:34)
I hate to be THAT guy, but its Eliot, with 1 L
- 1 1
airsoftesneeto
(Apr 23, 2013 at 1:39)
so wait Elliot Jackson is retiring? I still dont get it
- 2 0
Motoracer31
FL (Apr 23, 2013 at 19:25)
yea, he has super bad asthma and couldnt handle doing race weeks at world cups. He said it was just to much for him. But i dunno the full extent
- 4 0
hemlock88
(Apr 22, 2013 at 1:11)
I wish I had known there was a pyjama convention going on near Monteray. Probably why Eliot Jackson is wearing his slippers to go with his purple troy lee PJ's. I should have gone I have some sweet new Hulk PJ's
- 15 9
scottsecco
FL (Apr 21, 2013 at 23:43)
Losing is frustrating but sometimes you just have to Gwin and bear it.
- 4 0
airsoftesneeto
(Apr 21, 2013 at 23:58)
that dude in the skin suit was such a hit. we were all cheering him on. sadly he crashed in the corner and then we started cheering hahaha it was rad
- 4 0
davetrumpore
(Apr 22, 2013 at 7:04)
Nice to see a gallery from the otter that doesn't contain a ton of over processed shots that look like they came from Instagram.
Nice work Colin.
- 1 0
Mcgong
(Apr 22, 2013 at 16:49)
I viewed Paris's photos first and was "awesome shot!" then I viewed Colin's shots and was " WOW! amazing". Not that Paris's shots are not excellent by any means, I just got the Wow factor from Colin's shots.
- 1 0
scandal667
(Apr 22, 2013 at 17:27)
I agree. Colin has this picture taking thing Down!
- 3 0
kikopkau
(Apr 22, 2013 at 20:15)
Thanks for not over processing your photos.
- 3 0
monstertiki
(Apr 22, 2013 at 0:09)
When it come to DH just say no to lycra...
- 5 3
Maverickdh00
(Apr 22, 2013 at 0:53)
So glad Lycra was banned, great for some retro vibe, but def no bring back Lyca looks so GHEY!
- 2 0
briancahal
(Apr 21, 2013 at 23:55)
Ian killing it with that table.
- 1 0
Rider656
(Apr 22, 2013 at 0:30)
How do I turn off mobile mode and default to view full site??? Can't pinch photos on iPhone and I don't like that!
- 2 0
derrie
(Apr 22, 2013 at 0:35)
Go to the very bottom.
- 1 0
Rider656
(Apr 22, 2013 at 1:03)
...Default
- 3 0
snooky
(Apr 22, 2013 at 0:39)
Mick got robbed
- 4 0
evobda2
(Apr 22, 2013 at 0:56)
Would have made a perfect start to his pre World Cup prep.. Aussi champs then Sea Otter.. Even so a great result.
So hope he does well this year!
- 2 1
a-donch
(Apr 22, 2013 at 4:28)
Nope...he got beat by .01 seconds. I'd call that a tie, but someone has to come in 2nd.
- 1 0
VicSandrin
(Apr 23, 2013 at 19:53)
actually the timing was hand stopped, not laser timed so he may have actually won. There was a protest launched but not much you can do. Perhaps Sea Otter needs to get laser timing for the DH especially on a race this size with WC athletes.
- 1 1
jaycubzz
(Apr 22, 2013 at 0:49)
I came on early so i could be one of the first guys to comment something witty and get lots of props.
But i cant think of anything
Nice pics
Good night
- 2 0
Harry-hislop
(Apr 22, 2013 at 1:22)
Soo many screen saver to chose from
- 7 8
hypermoto
(Apr 22, 2013 at 0:20)
Love Holly Feniak but for gods sake get her some proper black crew socks with a sponsor logo. Ankle socks are amateur hour for dh racing.
- 8 3
WAKIdesigns
(Apr 22, 2013 at 1:46)
How much is the commercial space on your Willie? I'd like to market a nee lubricant
- 2 0
srjacobs
(Apr 22, 2013 at 5:40)
Trying to avoid bad tan lines...
- 1 0
VicSandrin
(Apr 23, 2013 at 19:51)
amateur hour because she is wearing ankle socks? I sure hope you're kidding. but you are probably jealous because she is faster than you! 
- 1 1
fingerbangextreme
(Apr 22, 2013 at 0:54)
love brosnan's out of the saddle climb picture. you should've got one of Minaar doing that on his V10! Just wrong
- 1 0
scary1
(Apr 23, 2013 at 21:07)
Seriously?Hand timed?That can't be right.
- 1 0
RatHunter83
(Apr 22, 2013 at 9:07)
Yeah Neko! Top ten!
- 1 0
zeeman
FL (Apr 22, 2013 at 12:36)
Yea Ian!!!
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