How often does a mountain allow the general public to race the same track as the World Cup? Not very often if you ask me. Especially when the World cup is just two weeks out. There is always the possibility for the track to get messed up, leaving the trail crew with a ton of work. But not in our case. We were able to help the trail crew determine what was working and what was not, we helped break the track in, leaving it in World Cup ready conditions.
The Catskills are pretty spectacular. Hard To believe NYC is just a few hours away.
For weeks now the talk has been about how big the jumps were going to be. Back in 2012 the World Cup was shocked to see such massive hits. We were pleasantly surprised to see that the they were still big but the layout was changed a bit.
Jordan Newth and Tim White check out the bottom of the track from the lift.
POC ESC Athletes trying to figure out which way is the fastest way down. The line on the left is the old WC line, it was open for this race but for the World Cup only the line on the right will be for racing.
As we made our way down the track it was awesome to know that we were going to be able to be on it. This is the second time the Eastern States Cup has hosted a race on this track. Last time it was a couple weeks after the big event. From our beginner riders all the way to the top level guys. Everyone made it down the track some way some how.
Riders push up and challenge themselves before entering the first section of steeps.
Onlookers watch as riders attempt to drop the first rock.
Neko Mulally takes his trail bike up to study his lines.
Alex Mcandrew and Ben Bodycoat stand onto of the huge jump just before Peaty's Plunge. Remember where it got that name from?
Michael Maldonado showing the pros hows its done. This kid kills it.
Double crash in the bottom of the first steeps. Going to be interested area to watch from.
Dylan Conte leads Jordan Newth into the ski slope.
David Kahn leads the Dany's Cycles crew into the steeps
Jordan Newth looking fresh, for now.
Alex McAndrew elbows out buddy.
Team Xprezo Fly Racing, Dylan Conte and Tim White, blending into the scenery.
Neko taking a Go Pro cruiser run for review.
Big thanks goes to Justin Brigandi. Justin took time away from riding and racing to devote every weekend to helping Windham Mountain prepare the World Cup course. We thank you Justin for an incredible job and the world will see your hard work soon enough.
Lets get to race day. Waking up to the sound of heavy rain beating on the trailers and cars was a concern. With a gnarly track to begin with, in the wet could become really challenging. The thunder came down hard and furious for about an hour. But to our surprise the cloud cleared and the rain settled. If the track was a slip and slide or not it was soon to be determined.
Rain rolling of the MadKats Racing tent.
Camila Nogueira from Argentina absolutely killed it all weekend. Sending it off every jump, road gap and steep.
First ride up. lets see what we got.
First aid was ready to go, no matter if it rained or not.
And it begins, Some of the first riders made it down like champs.
Camila Nogueira fully pinned and on her way to taking the gold.
Max Morgan is something to watch. The kid is on a hot streak and couldn't be more stoked for him.
Maurcio Estrada Pulgarin is always in control.
The sun is starting to appear.
Alex McAndrew, tucked and ready.
Jason Memmelaar looked fast all weekend. But due to a flat he would come up short handed.
Matt Branney coming in hot.
Max Morgan on his way to a third place finish
Matt Cummings rounding the rocky corner
Nate Furbee looking pinned all weekend. Got to heat up the tires first buddy.
Jimmy Leslie flying over the road gap
Dylan Conte, Style is his middle name.
John Nicholson sending it.
Max Morgan, eyes on the prize
Pawel Jasnikowski, Slipping his way thought the most difficult part of the track. Shocked he made it without crashing.
Cole Mitchy plowing through the rocks.
Brandon Cassell impressing the EMT
Matt Cummings taking flight
Ben Bodycoat booooosting to the moon. track dried out giving him more speed then he needed.
This wedge is going to get people some serious style points.
Max Morgan making his way to the finish line.
Greg Williams knows what he has to do.
Alex McAndrew with style points.
Cam Cole sitting in the hot seat watching some local riders try and beat his time.
Dylan conte, Always messing around
Nate Furbee, making up time.
Alehaudro Ortiz making the top ten.
Oliver Levick attacking the last section.
And your winner, Cam Cole. So awesome to have some of the best in the world race against our boys. Congrats Cam.
As I made my way down the track i recognized this guy, Tom "Pro" Prochazka. Tom Pro, Managed Whistler bike park for years and help make it was is today. Can't helpbut wonder what he was doing at Windham?
Congratulations to all the athletes that participated in this weekends race. You are all winners and did an incredible job. Thanks to Windham Mountain for letting us race the World Cup Track. The ESC will be back at Windham hosting a race the same time on the same mountain as the World Cup!
Congratulations to all the Jr's, First place, Luciano Joes De Neufville Pascal, in Second Joshua Rogers, in Third Place Ben Bodycoat, in fourth place Matt Branny, in fifth place, Cole Michie.
Congratulation to all the pro athletes. In first place Cam Cole, In second place Neko Mulally, in Third place, Max Morgan, in 4th place, Mauricio Estrada, in fifth place Dylan Conte,
When you see a bottle of Wicked Wash empty on the cleaning line, you know it was a muddy day. But so much fun and another ESC in the bag.
The POC Eastern States Cup next DH race is next weekend at Mount Snow on the just resurrected 1990's World Cup Course. The DH series will return to Windham for a DH race to be run along side the Windham World Cup in two weeks.
FULL RESULTS HEREwww.trailforks.comwww.easternstatescup.comeasternstatescup@hotmail.com
Photos and story by: Jarad Kleinberg of MadKats Productions
Video by: Jason Scheiding
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