11 Dual Slalom Bikes - Sea Otter 2015

Apr 19, 2015
by Mike Levy  

11 Bikes of the Sea Otter Slalom


Sea Otter's iconic slalom race is the premier event here in Monterey, and fans were treated to a final that saw Martin Maes take the victory over Mitch Roplato on his Specialized. Some might call Martin's win an upset, but the young GT racer has proven himself pretty handy on a bike, with success at World Cup downhills, Enduro World Series events, and now at the world's most famous slalom race. Pinkbike photographer Margus Riga shot all of yesterday's action on the berms, as well as 11 riders and their bikes as they made their way back up to the top of the hill between rounds.



11 Dual Slalom Bikes - Sea Otter 2015
  Marin's Cody Kelly sporting the orange, black and camouflage hunting theme

11 Dual Slalom Bikes - Sea Otter 2015

11 Dual Slalom Bikes - Sea Otter 2015
  Anneke Beerten raced to a 2nd place finish aboard her Specialized.

11 Dual Slalom Bikes - Sea Otter 2015
  Martin Soderstrom brought some style to the slalom race.

11 Dual Slalom Bikes - Sea Otter 2015
  Kona's Connor Fearon came in 17th when it was all said it done.

11 Dual Slalom Bikes - Sea Otter 2015
  Lopes is probably older than you and definitely faster than you. A 10th place on his 27.5'' wheeled Intense.

11 Dual Slalom Bikes - Sea Otter 2015
  Kirt Voreis and his Specialized.

11 Dual Slalom Bikes - Sea Otter 2015
  Pivot's Bernard Kerr during a rare moment when he wasn't doing a 200ft long nose wheelie.

11 Dual Slalom Bikes - Sea Otter 2015
  With a 12th place finish, Kyle Strait didn't have the day he was hoping for.

11 Dual Slalom Bikes - Sea Otter 2015
  Bryn Atkinson with his Norco

11 Dual Slalom Bikes - Sea Otter 2015
  Cam Zink with his prototype YT short-travel bike - carbon frame front and rear triangles, single pivot.


Be sure to check out all of our Sea Otter Classic images in this gallery.

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Sea Otter


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78 Comments
  • 68 1
 Interesting to see the variety of bikes being used. It seems to be split between slopestyle bikes and 6" travel enduro bikes.
  • 15 0
 Also, I checked out the photos before this article went up and there was a photo of winner Jill Kintner with her bike, the old 26" Norco Sight. I can't find the photo anymore.
  • 61 12
 Sponsored riders not allowed to be seen on 26. Stick to the script, 27 better in every way...26 dead.
  • 5 0
 Yeah, I'd actually like see the wheel sizes of all the competitors on the results sheet
  • 8 1
 I don't believe it was the Old 26" sight, I think it was the old slopestyle / slalom prototype that a few lucky Norco riders had a few years ago, if anyone else remembers those?
  • 13 1
 I know it's not the case but just to ask: could one the riders decide to race with a bmx ? wouldnt it be faster ?
  • 6 0
 Jill's bike was designed for her with similiar geometry to the sight and was 26''
  • 4 3
 did you see how rough it was out there in the berms?? be tough on a bmx let alone a slope bike
  • 3 0
 I bought one of the proto 4x norcos a while back and im surprised none of the norco team is using them.
  • 2 1
 The 4x was sold for a couple years but was discontinued
  • 1 0
 no it is definitley not a 4x, this is what jill kitner and sam deuck rode at c worx 2 years ago www.pinkbike.com/photo/12117977
  • 8 0
 Found the photo: www.pinkbike.com/photo/12135471
  • 1 0
 I agree, I was surprised by the variety too. I got to ride a DS course for the first time a few months back on my Black Market Killswitch and I that bike was perfect for it! It made me want to enter a DS race if I ever get the chance.
  • 5 0
 Since some are asking/wondering, of the bikes posted in these photos....Soderstrom's P-slope, 26": Straight's Meta 4X, 26": Beerten's Enduro SX, 26".
  • 3 0
 Kyle Començal looks like 24inch wheels
  • 1 0
 If the berms have nature's speedbumps/potholes like at some bike parks, then a BMX would be tough, but I haven't seen or ridden the course.
  • 1 0
 Anyone know what bike Martin Maes was riding?
  • 1 0
 In the DS Maes was riding a Distortion. He (along with Dan) rode a Sanction in the DH.
  • 3 0
 one of the best 4X / Dual bikes ever made?

Banshee Rampant

ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb5899448/p5pb5899448.jpg

shame its a small company that can't afford to sponsor big name pro riders...
  • 3 0
 Funny to think that once upon a time bikes were actually made specifically for this type of riding Smile
  • 3 1
 @BeardlessMarinRider Still are sometimes: Specialized comes out with a new limited run SX every few years. The bike Shaun Palmer rode might make it to production too. I'd love to see DS become the MTB version of BMX racing, little tracks all across the country would be so sick.
  • 3 1
 It was more a tongue in cheek reference to 10 (?) years ago when 4x/ DS was the equivalent of the Enduro boom today and everyone "needed" a 4x bike
  • 2 0
 but they do need them. so that my dream of DS tracks all over the country comes to pass(& so that some of them develop some freaking bike handling skills.) Don't you step on my dreams @BeardlessMarinRider
  • 56 1
 Nice to see soderstrom rocking a 20" kids bike.
  • 6 22
flag AMGoran (Apr 19, 2015 at 11:33) (Below Threshold)
 Nah he is just huge I've seen him in real life trust me
  • 31 3
 Oh really AMGoran? I’d never have guessed he wasn’t riding a kids’ bike...
  • 1 0
 I saw that picture and instantly thought, "wow either he's a giant or that's a really small bike" his handle bars are practically at his knees.
  • 5 2
 Well I don't know people over on pb are sometimes crazy haha
  • 30 3
 Well that's the first time I've liked the look of a Marin... What's going on?
  • 3 0
 That bike rides like a beaut as well!
  • 1 2
 Which one is the Marin?
  • 4 0
 Never mind, I got it.
  • 3 1
 Ha ha Smile I was thinking the same.... "is it acceptable to like the look of a modern Marin???" Smile
  • 1 0
 Maybe it's one of those steps of approaching middle age? You know like having children, needing to wear glasses to use a computer, grey hair. Liking the look of a Marin is just something that takes time. Either that or they've just happened to have created a badass looking bike. Kyle Strait's Commencal looks shit hot too, but I've already got one of those Smile
  • 1 0
 Yeah I've gotta start looking at orbea and felt trail bikes since I'm over 35 now Frown sucks
  • 14 2
 Cody Kelly's bike has me rethinking Marin. Looks Great!
  • 9 0
 Pivot bikes are sweet at the minute, the stealthy matt black pheonix kerr uses for dh now this dual bik
  • 9 0
 Not one hardtail.....conspiracy?
  • 1 0
 thats what i was thinking
  • 6 1
 Lopes not running Kenda and please someone trun his bike around... Strait looks like a giant, and his bike tiny... and would someone please explain to me WHY Martin is only wearing ONE ELBOW PAD....always wondered this!!!
  • 12 0
 he always crash on the same side that's why
  • 3 0
 it's probably the side he lands on most of the time when he crashes. due to his favourite roation direction?!
  • 7 0
 Both of Lopes' sleeves say Maxxis on them, so the lack of Kenda seems pretty appropriate.
  • 4 0
 Lopes not being on the podium…does not compute.
  • 1 0
 due to the way he spins normally during 360s
  • 1 0
 I didn´t know he would be 360 ing during a dual slalom race... guess for slopstyle maybe, but not even, cause they do what they call oppo these days @anotherbikerguy what I meant was that he has been with kenda for a while now...and it seems weird
  • 2 0
 Protect a previous injury, wear a sponsor product so the kiddies go out and buy it especially as he is always in skinny jeans so you cannot see his knee pads, lots of potential reasons.
  • 1 0
 yepp...that makes more sense...thanks man. I think its mainly because of the sponsor probably.
  • 1 0
 Wow, Marin's built a nice clean solid lookin' rig there, I'd like straight chain stays on mine but dang. Nice ride. Love how the SS is lined up with the TT, ya know what I mean? Cool color scheme too, the whole thing's just mean lookin'.

Norco comes in a close second for the pimp crown in this field.

I know Soder's big, but his bike looks mighty small, no? Like a kids bike. O.o
  • 5 1
 I love all those bikes especially Soderstrom's and Beerten's
  • 11 1
 Soderstom's bike looks like a bmx bike next to him.
  • 5 1
 wooow Code Kelly's bike is so sick ! Damned...
  • 4 12
flag pinnityafairy (Apr 19, 2015 at 10:37) (Below Threshold)
 Glad to see the hardtails disappear from the seen. It is 2015!
  • 2 0
 **scene
  • 1 0
 Some are not running a chain guide relying on a clutch and narrow wide. I've only dropped a chain once in couple years on proper 1x11 so maybe chain guides are for those that think they need them?
  • 3 0
 Lopes faster than me, most definitely. Older than me, probably not. A whole bunch of badass looking bikes though.
  • 3 0
 Soderstrom's bike looks like a bmx with him standing behind it.
  • 3 0
 Wish GT would put that non-I-drive Distortion into production Frown
  • 1 0
 How do you get 10th or 12th in DS? Only the top 4 are actually determined, right? Then it's tied for 5th, 9th, 17th ... Or do the do it by seed?
  • 2 0
 2nd to last. Brin Atkinson
  • 2 0
 New full suspension bmx for Martin ?? hahaha
  • 1 0
 Looks like Martin could use a much larger frame. What is that a kids bike?
  • 1 0
 do they shortshock some enduro bikes?
  • 1 0
 Anyone know what rims those are on Kyle's ride?
  • 1 0
 novatecusa.net/factor
  • 1 0
 Why isnt Cody Kelly wearing pants?
  • 1 0
 So nice to see cam on proper bikes!
  • 1 0
 2013 Norco Sight 26" with a 150mm Fox 34 is da shit!!
  • 1 1
 martin's rear tire looks sick!!!!
  • 1 0
 CONNOR Fearon.
  • 1 1
 cam zink's front wheel, whaaaaaaa!
  • 1 0
 what kind of tire is he running up front? is that a honey badger? looks like tread is more aggresive than that though.
  • 1 0
 www.pinkbike.com/news/kenda-honey-badger-dh-pro-tire-review-2014.html
  • 1 1
 Where's alex marin's giant?
  • 1 1
 No photos of Palmers Intense?
  • 1 1
 Soderstrom is massive Smile
  • 1 4
 4x bike for sale.....http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1746706/
  • 1 0
 Nice frame







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