The 2014 Ashland Mountain Challenge took place last weekend in beautiful Ashland, Oregon near the Northern California Border. Attendance at the race was down from years past, but with enduro racing going on in British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, Colorado and with some riders in Europe that was to be expected. Even local dominator, Nathan Riddle, was out due to a hand injury. The Winter of 13/14 was so warm here that the Mt. Ashland Ski Area was unable to open for business so the fear was that the trails would be too dry, dusty and blown out. Just days before the event, however, the rains soaked the area and left the trails on optimal condition and ready for battle. The race consisted of 4 stages played out on two separate ridges leading from Mt. Ashland right into the town of Ashland. WIth perfect dirt, weather and the help of Bill and Sue's 'Highway 68 Hillbillies' volunteer crew it was sure to be a great day.
The sun sets on the some blooming lavender in the Ashland Valley while the clouds clear out just in time for Saturday's race.
Scott Chapin was a man on a mission Saturday. This was just a few corners into stage #1 but it was obvious that Scott meant business. 1st Place Elite Men.
One of the original Ashland Mountain Adventures shuttle vans is still rolling loads of bikes and people up the hill at 65mph.
Jeremiah Newman, OEM coordinator at WTB came up from California to play in the Oregon woods and went back with 6th in Elite Men.
Kenny Burt on stage #4
Cory Sullivan with 2nd place overall Elite Men.
The top of stage one on the Horn Gap trail
Jordan Lopez enjoying some great trail conditions
Cody Phillips bombs straight down BTI (Stage #4) and is about to hit a nasty left-right chicane.
JRA - Demo bike equipped with XC-sidewalled tires + photographer with loaded pack wanting to stay smooth with constant contact with the ground (more or less) = Double flat on a recon mission. Luckily Bill and Sue from Ashland Mountain Adventures saved the day, sending supplies to me on the trail!
John Hauer had some drivetrain issues and still came away with 3rd, not bad!
Rich Maile with a nice tuck near the bottom of the BTI trail.
Stage #3 (Bull Gap) is near the top of Mt Ashland. It includes some uphill sections that aren't bad at ride pace, but at race pace they are burners.
Ashland native, Joshua Cleveland in a motion blur: 1/60 at f/20, ISO 320, 95mm focal length.
Casey Coffman (Felt Bicycles) just before a nasty switchback corner on stage #4 (BTI)
Jeremy Tufts, man of mystery
Getting to the top of stage #1 for the Pro/1 start was a good hour climb. Jordan Lopez (10) and Cory Sullivan (7)
Colby Pastore with a little nose tap on BTI.
Life's Short, Ride Hard. A memorial cross with chainwheel and Hemingway quote was spotted along the road between stages #1 and #2. Brian T White, a highly decorated U.S. Navy SeaBee and member of local cycling club SOFA/RVMBA, passed from a heart attack here on March 26th...R.I.P. Brian, and thanks for your service.
Bobby Zidek, 2nd place Expert Men 19-39 making the most of flat section near the end of stage #1
The trails of Ashland are great to ride but there are not a lot of scenic vistas and viewpoints for taking photos so you have to take advantage of them any chance you get. Scott Chapin rides one of the switchback corners on the BTI trail on his way to victory.
Kona's Ryan Gardner rides past a huge old-growth stump on stage #1.
Scott Fellers came up from Chico, CA to grab 13th in Elite Men.
Jack Hill boosts a jump coming out of the last switchback on BTI.
Anthony Medaglia, 4th place Elite Men.
That feeling when you're almost done racing 4 stages...just a few more turns to go with just a sketchy left-hand onto a gravel road...then the finish straight....Jason Ryland feeling it.
Cody Phillips putting the hammer down.
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Jake Dore on stage #1
This is the final obstacle on stage #4. It is a downed tree with dirt piled in front of it for a takeoff-to-flat landing. The trail leading to this point is straight and fast so you can be hitting this at 30+ mph. Last year's junior champ (since moved to the expert class), Winter Nason showing the tuck-to-flat method.
just rode there this past May over memorial weekend through Ashland Mountain Adventures! What a super cool bunch of trails and the crew at AMA are way cool. Best $15 I ever spent. I was told to hit BTI on the way down, but i think i missed a turn….. looks like i missed out on a pretty badass trail. I would love to race this event!
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HYF. We're the officials!