First Annual Old Town Guerrilla Run

A small amount of planning and a large amount of smack talk led to the creation of Park City's first annual Old Town Guerrilla Run. An outlaw downhill race with an estimated 2,200 vertical feet of descent from Jupiter Peak to the Daly Canyon gate. Loose steeps, unmarked turns, and sporadic jumps spread throughout the sunless Black Forest made for a test of skill, endurance and wisdom. No official practice meant some riders were using all skill to manage a course where wisdom could easily shave a few ticks off the clock. However, alternate lines were more common for those who didn't know where they were going.

A little word of mouth helped boost the rider turnout to 22 and bets on contenders were changing every time a new truck rolled up the canyon road. Last minute entries from Dustin Schaad and Eric Porter heated up the competition, and some early mechanical issues almost saw a couple key contenders miss registration. Kris Gray showed up with a big head but no 12-pack entry fee, and Jameson Bonsey came prepared for a chainless DH, not to mention a lack of manergy from his encounter with a succubus the night prior. But, everyone knows it comes down to the finish and not the start.

A cheap affair to say the least.


Taylor Dennis showed up with a silo of Keith Stone so he wouldn't be short on his 12-pack entry fee. Smart man.




Bold moves to plate yourself the best...

Tyler Knoles finding some shade before the shuttles head to the top.


Chris Mertens, speaking for all.


When your whip gets stolen, a real bro will lend you some wheels. Dustin Schaad may owe half his winnings to Kelly Taylor for the loaner.


TO THE PEAK!


A lot of angry mothers to avoid on the way to the bottom. HEE-YAH!


Initially, TK's name was just a whisper during the build-up, but the 3rd man down was able to edge out Glen Lehigh by 5 seconds to take the last medal.



Look for Gary Galvan to be a podium contender next year. One of the newer guys to the downhill scene, he was crushing with some style on a $500 bike with a cracked frame.

Todd Romano used a service road shortcut to make a huge pass up top, only to get retaken after maching by the unmarked entrance to lower Empire and having to run back.


Babo Maynard having a little trouble getting down the mountain today, but he wasn't the only one. Nothing but smiles at the finish though.


Isaac Legare made the trek up from SLC to snag the 5th place spot.


Shawn Irvin might've finished the race in the back of the pack, but definitely podiumed for stoke. Amped all day.


Gray pinning it through the mid-mountain junction and into the lower freeride section. A big head provided some extra weight to carry his trash-talking mouth to the finish line with a blazing time to beat.


But Schaad didn't borrow a bike for nothing. Hot on Gravy's rubber, but not fast enough to separate the two at the finish line.


A flat tire might've taken him out early, but that didn't stop KC Gaudet from hitting most of the jumps and drops. He still managed to post a decent time too. True racer.


And the results are in... can anyone read this scribbled BS?

1 11.56 Dustin Schaad
1 11.56 Kris Gray
2 12.29 Beau Hennings
3 12.52 Tyler Knoles
4 12.57 Glen Lehigh
5 13.00 Isaac Legare
6 13.14 Taylor Dennis
7 13.53 Gary Galvan
8 14.00 Barrett Cox
9 14.43 Alex Kopko
10 14.54 KC Gaudet
11 15.01 Todd Romano
12 15.07 Tyler Falk
13 15.21 Jameson Bonsey
14 15.26 Chris Mertens
15 15.32 Eric Porter
16 15.43 Doug Dalton
17 15.56 Buffalo
18 15.58 Ezziel Sanchez
19 16.37 Shawn C. Irvin
20 17.54 Babo M
21 19.00 Andy Chavez


TIE FOR FIRST!!! Wait, WTF? Who was running the timing?

Oh, that's right, these clowns -







Acting like he's been 1st Loser before.



TK, stoked!


Cheers to next year!



Some great racing and good times. Can't wait to see who will show up next year to contend for the title of King of Empire. Huge thanks goes out to everyone who made this event possible. A lot of people stepped up last minute to help out. Thanks to Riley King and Jordan Einers for organizing the event, making the medals and bringing the Camo Canadian Hunter, Barrett Cox and Park City Engraving for the glassware, Ross Downard and his Mtn. Ranks posse for shuttling and taking photos, Scott Bridges for the HD footy, Lucid Cycles, and everyone who showed up to race, spectate and party. Wouldn't have been fun without all you guys!