The country’s best downhill and dual slalom riders are coming back to Angel Fire this year for the USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships at 10,500′ elevation.
This race determines the United States National Champion for both Downhill and Dual Slalom in Junior Age Classes, Junior Category 1, Category 1 Age Classes, and Pro. Racing begins Friday and continues through Sunday.
Want to see what the riders have in store this weekend? Rider Chris Boice stopped by the bike park and rode the course for everyone to see. Video below:
Event Overview:
FridayDownhill Practice, starts at 7 a.m.
Dual Slalom Practice, starts at 10 a.m.
Downhill Cat 2/3 Races, 9 a.m.
Downhill Cat 2/3 Awards, 11 a.m. at base area deck
Dual Slalom Qualifications, starts at 2 p.m.
DJ Miles Bonny – Legends Grill, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
SaturdayDownhill Practice & Qualifications, starts at 8 a.m. and Noon
Dual Slalom Practice, starts at 1 p.m.
Dual Slalom Races, 2 p.m. (Pros at 4 p.m.)
Dual Slalom Awards, 5:30 p.m. at base area deck
Red Bull presents Rad Company, 8 p.m. at the base of the mountain.
Sunday
Downhill Practice, starts at 8 a.m.
Downhill Male and Female Races, starts at 10 a.m.
Awards for Morning Races, 12:30 p.m. at base area deck
Awards for Afternoon Races, to follow races, at base area deck
Visit USAC’s at
www.usacycling.org/ for detailed event information.
Share your photos using the hashtag
#AFRdirtStop by the bike park this weekend and watch the pros show you how it’s done!
www.angelfireresort.com
Why is this SO endemic in bike vids?
Seriously I actually don't really know what to think about it. I find it good to be creative in the line choice but I also agree that it's a little sad if a track looks like a straight line in the end. Your thoughts?
If this is a US wc track, it's no wonder us brits spank the yanks at wc level!
Our tracks are like our roads....
Twisty AND fast!
www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/KHS-Angel-Fire-National-Championships,26178/jasonvelocity,91
go ride it, and then come back and let us know what you think. the gopro footage doesn't tell the track's story very well. those of us who've actually BEEN to AF know it's a proper burly track that is quite varied, and stacks up against the current WC tracks quite well
/endrant
As for the track, it doesn't look like it's technical at all... Some rock sections every now and then. It looks to me like it's more of a freeride track than a DH track.
michibretz, As others have noted, the video doesn't pick up how rocky and rough the trails are. And it's sharp volcanic rock. Those long flat out sections are relics of DH racing from the past, and just a feature of the mountain just being so large. I'm not saying it's better than Leogang, in fact I like Leogang. Always seems to produce great races.
Just for some perspective, Sam Hill broke his elbow or some shit at the 2005 WC at Angel Fire.
anyway, if you check out both mountains in google earth your findings will blow your mind ... Angle fire drops 1800ft in 2.8 miles Leogang 1700 in 0.9 miles. In fact the only 1300ft long stretch everybody likes to complain about in the mid section of Leogang is steeper than than the average of Angle Fire Resort
not saying it wouldn't be fun to ride, i might be even stoping by later this summer with my trail bike
www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/KHS-Angel-Fire-National-Championships,26178/jasonvelocity,91