California Enduro Series Round 4: VP EnduroFest at China Peak - Practice

Jun 27, 2016
by California Enduro Series  
The California Enduro Series Round 1 of the Golden Tour and fourth stop for the overall series pitted at the VP EnduroFest at China Peak Mountain Resort in Lakeshore this weekend. Temps were warm and trail conditions were loose and technical in many areas. A couple of the stages did offer some relief in the form of fast flow tree-surrounded singletrack. Here are some of the highlights from Friday's day of practice.

Riders were amped on the lift service for practice Friday. Bikeco was well represented. Not only did they have their workers up for the weekend but owner Joe was also pitting for Brian Lopes.

Riders were amped on the lift service for practice Friday, lining up as early as an hour in advance. Bikeco was well represented.

Of course with the lift running lines to jump on the lift were pretty substantial but that still beat pedaling up to the peak.

With the lift running, lines to jump on were pretty substantial shortly after the opening, but that still beat pedaling up to the peak.

Rachel Throop was in attendance for the first event of the California Enduro Series Golden Tour and the fourth overall round in the series.

Rachel Throop, Factory GT, was in attendance for the first round of the Golden Tour.

Anker Fanoe from Rabobank Marin on Stage 1 during practice looking smooth.

Anker Fanoe from Rabobank Marin on Stage 1 during practice looking smooth.

Brian Durling 36 of Sacramento a pro rider for the Mike s Bikes Toyota Equator floats through the soft dirt on stage 2 during practice.

Brian Durling, 36, of Sacramento – a pro rider for the Mike's Bikes/Toyota/Equator team – floats through the soft dirt on stage 2 during practice.

Amy Morrison in the trees on stage 3 during practice Friday. She is currently leading the series. It will be exciting to see if she can continue the winning streak.

Amy Morrison in the trees on stage 3 during practice Friday. She is currently leading the series. It will be exciting to see if she can continue the winning streak.

Dillon Santos Factory Ibis Pro Rider on stage 1 rails the loose corners. He has two podium finishes this year so far in the series. He looked great here during practice. Hopefully that carries over for him on race day.

Dillon Santos, Factory Ibis Pro Rider, on stage 1, rails the loose corners. He has two podium finishes this year so far in the series. He looked great here during practice. Hopefully, that carries over for him on race day.

Ryan Gardner Kona Norcal Coop rider doing his best captain morgan while fellow pro Evan Geankoplis Rabobank Marin photo bombs the shot.

Ryan Gardner, Kona Norcal Cooperative rider, doing his best Captain Morgan while fellow pro, Evan Geankopolis, Rabobank Marin, photobombs the shot.

Steven Skittles Nadaskai managed to take time out of his busy schedule to come up to race Jr. Expert. Nadaskai who works part time at the Path Bike shop Part time at Called to Creation as a Graphic Designer and is going to attend college full time in the fall will race Saturday and then go back to Orange County in time to race the Vail Lake Enduro Sunday.

Steven "Skittles" Nadaskai managed to take time out of his busy schedule to come up to race junior expert. Nadaskai – who works part time at both the Path Bike shop and with Called to Creation as a graphic designer AND is attending college full time in the fall – will race Saturday and then go back to Orange County in time to race the Vail Lake Enduro Sunday.

Kona Norcal Cooperative rider Derek Teel sends it through a rocky section on Stage 3. There is no shortage of techy rock segments at the China Peak Enduro Fest.

Kona Norcal Cooperative rider, Derek Teel, sends it through a rocky section on stage 3. There is no shortage of techy rock segments at the VP EnduroFest at China Peak.

Zack Rustigeon Bikeco Expert rider in a more tame section of stage 3. You can certainly tell the trails were loose with that dust trailing behind him.

Zack Rustigeon, Bikeco expert rider in a more tame section of stage 3. You can certainly tell the trails were loose with that dust trailing behind him.

Rumor had it that Brian Lopes would be attending the first round of the Golden Tour and with good reason the pro purse totals 8k per event. Would Lopes still have what it takes to compete against riders several years younger in the Pro category His Carbine 29 was dialed during practice and his lines were choice.

Rumor had it that Brian Lopes would be attending the first round of the Golden Tour and with good reason: the pro purse totals $8k per event. Would Lopes still have what it takes to compete against riders several years younger in the pro category? His Carbine 29 was dialed during practice and his lines were choice.

The water hole is always a popular spot after a long day of practice. Temps on Friday were in the mid 80 s on the mountain making a dip in the river essential.

The swimming hole is always a popular spot after a long day of practice. Temps on Friday were in the mid 80's on the mountain, making a dip in the river essential.

Ashton Smith from the Trail Head Cyclery team waits in line for registration packet pick up Friday after a long day of practice. The event was another sell out with nearly 400 riders in attendance.

Ashton Smith, from the Trail Head Cyclery team, waits in line for registration/packet pick up Friday after a long day of practice. The event was another sellout with nearly 400 riders in attendance.

The practice day finished with riders, beaten up a bit with bikes in the same condition. Flats on the sharp rocks were plentiful. It seemed if you could keep the bike intact on race day and not have any get-offs you'd be in good shape for a solid finish no matter what category you ran. Stay tuned for a full recap from race day, coming soon. And be sure to join us on July 16 for CES 2016 Round 5 – the Ashland Mountain Challenge at Lithia Park in Ashland!

Words and photos by Called To Creation.

For more information on CES and its Golden Tour, visit californiaenduroseries.com.


MENTIONS: @calledtocreation / @vpcomponents


Author Info:
calienduro avatar

Member since Apr 28, 2014
129 articles

21 Comments
  • 22 0
 The person on the Kona is not Derek Teel, thats actually Ariana Altier and SHE shreds so hard that people think she's a dude. KILLA
  • 15 0
 Yep, not me. Killer shot of my teammate Ariana though!
  • 4 1
 @DTeel: my bad, hard to tell without number plates -
  • 6 0
 Amen to that! @projectchick killin it as always
  • 8 3
 It's a great series but am I the only one who finds it kind of weird that the California Enduro Series chose to have a race in Oregon??
  • 8 0
 They have one in Nevada too.
  • 1 0
 @topherdagopher: At least part of the mountain they use for the Reno race is in CA.....Smile
  • 2 0
 Glad to see my two favorite lift operators are all smiles and ready for another great season.
  • 2 0
 I'm the supposed to be the franchise player and we in here talkin' bout practice, listen, we in here talkin' bout practice
  • 1 0
 tehe
  • 1 0
 He's the question and the answer
  • 4 1
 Cool picture of lopes !
  • 2 0
 Go Rachel!!!
  • 1 2
 Brian Lopes - if you read these comments, can you confirm what size hoops you raced with? They look like 29ers, but I can't tell for sure from the pic.
  • 4 0
 "His Carbine 29 was dialed during practice and his lines were choice"
  • 2 0
 @nzobust: I should have read the caption closer. I retract my question. I'll buy doughnuts for everyone tomorrow morning.
  • 1 0
 @Aengis: make mine a jelly eh.
  • 1 0
 Practice?...
  • 10 0
 We talkin' 'bout practice?
  • 1 0
 Not a game.







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.054197
Mobile Version of Website