KMC Winter Series Round 4, Southridge Park, Fontana CA
Category five storm Lucifer struck Southern California with a Vengeance over the weekend, and while the numbers may have dipped a bit, the water left the dirt in hero conditions for the fourth round of the KMC Winter Series Presented by Southridge USA. Friday much of the southland was seemingly under water with posts on social media questioning what the conditions in Fontana would look like? Six inches of mud? Hero Dirt?? No one really knew for sure. The storm was due to track right over Fontana and the rest of Southern California from the Central coast down, so when we arrived Saturday with occasional lingering rain and more due back at the start of the Super D at 1pm, we understood why Fontana seemed deserted. Nevertheless, we hit the pits to see what the buzz was. It didn't take long to find something pretty rad.
![KMC Winter Series Round 4 Southridge Park Fontana CA 2017]()
![It was great to see Shimano out supporting in the pits at the 4th round of the series.]()
Also in attendance, Shimano. It was great having them return to providing neutral support for the fourth round of the series. Gritty conditions caused by the wet weather made for some necessary drivetrain repairs, which Shimano was happy to assist with. First up as always is the Super D race. It seemed several were turned off by the weather with just three pro men and no pro women in attendance. It was a shame too, because the dirt was amazing.
![Cole Picchiottino on his way to another 1st place finish in the Pro Super D race.]()
Cole Picchiottino on his way to another 1st place finish in the Pro Super D race, with a total time of 06:57.61. Evander Hughes, his teammate, finished second with a combined time of 07:08.92 and Cody Masson rounded out the category with a time of 7:10.04. Meanwhile over on the other side of the hill, DH practice was in full swing.
![Saturday s DH practice was in full effect despite some rain. The numbers were lower for sure but would that be the case for Sunday s main event]()
![A pleasant surprise and a pleasure to watch Finn Illes made the trip down from Canada eh -]()
![Jared Hanson pinned on his Intense DVO machine. How would he fair in Sunday s main event]()
![Buchanan pushes up as the Fontana Class Clown Doyle shows us his best Captain Morgan.]()
As the wind picked up and the precipitation returned Saturday afternoon, I called it a day and many of the riders did too. Sunday morning I arrived to partly cloudy skies and a much larger crowd than the day prior. It was clear that the storm had kept people hunkered down at home as they chose not to brave the wet weather for Saturday's practice.
![Early morning practice Sunday was packed with riders that avoided Saturday s rain.]()
![Vet Pro and legend in the sport Eric Carter was spotted rockin his throwback jersey from 1992.]()
![It was great to see several Pro Team riders with their Jr. counterparts. Nestoroff and Harrison here Cometti and Walton and below Beerten and Silva.]()
![KMC Winter Series Round 4 Southridge Park Fontana CA 2017]()
![Perhaps the most colorful kit and bike combo on the hill was in the new category for 2017 the Open Junior Category 14 and under dawned by Kaden Pankow.]()
![Finnley Iles had the crowd hyped as he is a treat to watch however he would finish two steps off the top behind both Nestoroff and Walton respectively.]()
![Steven Walton Factory Commencal rider drops in on the lower section of the steeps in Fontana. He finished 2nd in the Junior Expert Category.]()
![Nik Nestoroff pops off a little wall ride on his way to first place in the Junior Expert Category.]()
![CJ Selig races to a 3rd place finish in the Pro Women s Category. She was super stoked to not only finish well but to do so in a field of seven strong competitors.]()
![Anneke Beerten shreds past the crowd on her way to a second in the Pro Women s Category.]()
![Caroline Buchanan stays low and fast finishing first in the Pro Woman Category.]()
![It looks like we will be seeing more of this Dangerous Duo. Caroline Buchanan and Barry Nobles riding for Airborne have plans to hit several stops in the MTB world. Buchanan is shooting for all of the Crankworx events as well as 4cross and BMX events locally and abroad. She emphasized her riding career rotates around the four year Olympic cycles. Regarding this years calendar she specified I want to win both world titles again. MTB 4Cross and BMX . I would expect Barry Nobles to run similar events as the couple tour together.]()
Speaking of Buchanan, it looks like we will be seeing more of this Dangerous Duo. Caroline Buchanan and Barry Nobles riding for Airborne, have plans to hit several stops in the MTB world. Buchanan is shooting for all of the Crankworx events, as well as 4cross and BMX events locally and abroad. She emphasized her riding career rotates around the four-year Olympic cycles. Regarding this year's calendar, she specified, "I want to win both world titles again." (MTB 4Cross and BMX). I would expect Barry Nobles to run similar events as the couple tour together.
![Bruce Klein appeared to be on fire but it just wasn t enough to take the victory today finishing in Second Place behind Charlie Harrison.]()
![Harrison had some unique lines which proved to be fastest on the day in the Pro Men DH race. He attributed his win to coming off an exceptional team camp adding he loves the bike.]()
![Junior Expert Podium - 1st Place Nik Nestoroff - 01 58.31 2nd Place Steven Walton - 01 59.86 3rd Place Finnley Iles - 02 00.91 4th Place Trevor Boldi - 02 02.71 5th Place Cole Suetos - 02 04.72]()
![Pro Women s Podium - 1st Place Caroline Buchanan - 02 17.68 2nd Place Anneke Beerten - 02 19.56 3rd Place CJ Selig - 02 42.56 4th Place Dani Johnson - 02 50.16 5th Place Amanda Wentz - 02 51.32]()
![Pro Men s Podium - 1st Place Charlie Harrison - 01 54.78 2nd Place Bruce Klein - 01 55.01 3rd Place Luca Cometti - 02 00.70 4th Place Barry Nobles - 02 02.06 5th Place Sean Bell - 02 02.17]()
![KMC Winter Series Round 4 Southridge Park Fontana CA 2017]()
MENTIONS: @calledtocreation
A bike rocking a punk rock pink chain made by none other than the title sponsor KMC.
Also in attendance, Shimano. It was great having them return to providing neutral support for the fourth round of the series. Gritty conditions caused by the wet weather made for some necessary drivetrain repairs, which Shimano was happy to assist with. First up as always is the Super D race. It seemed several were turned off by the weather with just three pro men and no pro women in attendance. It was a shame too, because the dirt was amazing.
Cole Picchiottino on his way to another 1st place finish in the Pro Super D race, with a total time of 06:57.61. Evander Hughes, his teammate, finished second with a combined time of 07:08.92 and Cody Masson rounded out the category with a time of 7:10.04. Meanwhile over on the other side of the hill, DH practice was in full swing.
It was good to see riders out despite the rainy practice conditions. We spotted a couple of recognizable racers running the course.
A pleasant surprise and a pleasure to watch, Finn Iles made the trip down from Canada eh.
Jared Hanson, pinned on his Intense DVO machine. How would he fair in Sunday's main event?
Caroline Buchanan pushes up as the Fontana Class Clown, Kyle Doyle shows us his best Captain Morgan.
As the wind picked up and the precipitation returned Saturday afternoon, I called it a day and many of the riders did too. Sunday morning I arrived to partly cloudy skies and a much larger crowd than the day prior. It was clear that the storm had kept people hunkered down at home as they chose not to brave the wet weather for Saturday's practice.
Early morning practice Sunday was packed with riders that avoided Saturday's rain.
Vet Pro and legend in the sport, Eric Carter was spotted rockin' his throwback jersey from 1992.
It was great to see several Pro Team riders with their Jr. counterparts. Nestoroff and Harrison, here Cometti and Walton and below Beerten and Silva.
With nearly every color of the rainbow, this colorful kit and bike combo on the hill was in the new category for 2017 the Open Junior Category (14 and under) dawned by Kaden Pankow. The racing started shortly after 10:30am and it was a spectacle.
Finn Iles, had the crowd hyped, as he is a treat to watch, however he would finish two steps off the top, behind both Nestoroff and Walton.
Steven Walton, Factory Commencal rider, drops in on the lower section of the steeps in Fontana. He would finish 2nd in the Junior Expert Category.
Nik Nestoroff pops off a little wall ride on his way to his first place finish.
CJ Selig, races to a 3rd place finish in the pro women's Category. She was super stoked to not only finish well but to do so in a field of seven strong competitors.
Anneke Beerten shreds past the crowd on her way to the second step in Pro Women.
After not competing at Fontana in four years, Caroline Buchanan stays low and fast finishing first in the pro women's category.
Speaking of Buchanan, it looks like we will be seeing more of this Dangerous Duo. Caroline Buchanan and Barry Nobles riding for Airborne, have plans to hit several stops in the MTB world. Buchanan is shooting for all of the Crankworx events, as well as 4cross and BMX events locally and abroad. She emphasized her riding career rotates around the four-year Olympic cycles. Regarding this year's calendar, she specified, "I want to win both world titles again." (MTB 4Cross and BMX). I would expect Barry Nobles to run similar events as the couple tour together.
Lastly, in the Pro Men's DH Race, Bruce Klein appeared to be on fire, but it just wasn't enough to take the victory today, finishing in Second Place behind Charlie Harrison, but in front of Luca Cometti.
Harrison had some unique lines, which proved to be fastest on the day in Pro Men. He attributed his win to an exceptional team camp.
Junior Expert Podium - 1st Place: Nik Nestoroff - 01:58.31, 2nd Place: Steven Walton - 01:59.86, 3rd Place: Finnley Iles - 02:00.91, 4th Place: Trevor Boldi - 02:02.71, 5th Place: Cole Suetos - 02:04.72
Pro Women's Podium - 1st Place: Caroline Buchanan - 02:17.68, 2nd Place: Anneke Beerten - 02:19.56, 3rd Place: CJ Selig - 02:42.56, 4th Place: Dani Johnson - 02:50.16, 5th Place: Amanda Wentz - 02:51.32
Pro Men's Podium - 1st Place: Charlie Harrison - 01:54.78, 2nd Place: Bruce Klein - 01:55.01, 3rd Place: Luca Cometti - 02:00.70, 4th Place: Barry Nobles - 02:02.06, 5th Place: Sean Bell - 02:02.17
MENTIONS: @calledtocreation
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The other thing is when you say "Factory" teams. Gwin got a Yeti when Yeti had no money and Jackson has never been on any brand I'd call factory until 2017. In MTB, "Factory" brands are Specialized, Giant & Trek. Every other team is scrounging and pinching pennies.
The only time in MTB history that we truly had Factory level support was in Lopes', Nicole, Peaty, Palmer Era. Those teams were Specialized, GT, Cannondale, Trek & Giant and they brought tractor trailers to events.
As for Charlie coming up through the ranks, we're all proud as heck of a guy who latches onto DH and puts in years of work (despite cars, girls and hormones) to go after what they really want and shows the focus and determination to go all in long term.