Hub-A-Palooza Weekend - Double Down Hoe Down 7

Lucas Chalcraft charging the Jetson line during Sunday's race (Pro Men).

The Hub-A-Palooza weekend and Double Down Hoe Down 7 returned to Spokane last weekend, kicking-off racing in the Inland NW. This spring event packed in two days of DH racing, an enduro race, group night-ride, dirt jam & high jump competition. Staged at Camp Sekani and Beacon Hill, home of Spokane's finest urban biking, the event drew its biggest turnout yet. Despite an encroaching housing development that would take out the top half of the course, event organizer Josh Tofsrud and The Bike Hub plan to keep running and growing this signature weekend as long as possible. Think you have what it takes to conquer the sand and granite? Come find out and make next year's Hub-A-Palooza even bigger.

Saturday's Race

The limited space and low vert at Camp Sekani produces some overlap in the two DH courses. In spite of the nearness, each course has its own unique flavor. On tap for Saturday's race was high speed, berms, and jumps as racers pinned down Sidewinder and ended up on Hollywood. A post race high jump competition saw reigning champ Lucas Chalcraft (Pro Men) take home the win again.

William Ryan (Cat 3 Men 40+).

An industrious Andrew Storm (Cat 2 Men 12-14) selling air horns to help cover the weekend's entrance fees.

Tim Lieb rock rolling on Kick Ass (Cat 2 Men 40-49).

Jason Balajadia racing to first on Saturday (Cat 2 Men 30-39).

Will cheer for road gap — spectators encouraging racers on their way. (Right) Zebediah Burke (Cat 2 Men 40-49).

Halvor Norris (Cat 2 Men 19-29).

Tyler Cortwright headed into the gap section (Cat 2 Men 19-29).

Tyler Booth (Cat 2 Men 19-29) skimming the branches on Sidewinder.

Boosting this granite wedge allowed riders to send it deep into the next turn. Casey Bebernes (Cat 2 Men 19-29).

Brandon Wampler (Cat 2 Men 19-29).

Jake Bassett (Cat 2 Men 15-18 ) taking the drop low and fast.

Gapping on Sidewinder.

Kristian Duft railing during his second run of the day — after his first run was waved off because of a crash down course (Cat 2 Men 19-29).

Jody Jacobson (Cat 2 Women).

Ethan Lieb put in under-two-minute runs for both races, earning him first both days (Cat 2 Men 12-14).

Ed Reilly (Cat 1 Men 40+) pulling out of the gate.

Superman laying down the tracks.

Josh Gibb (Cat 1 Men 15-18 ) and Casey Roberts (Cat 1 Men 19-29).

Granite gives the best boost.

Karen O'Connell putting in her first of two winning runs for the weekend (Pro Women).

Weston Potter (Pro Men).

Alec Watts on the way to his first Pro Win.

Saturday's weather brought the occasional gust of wind. Charlie Sponsel (Pro Men).

Tallying results and checking results. Josh Tofsrud (Event Organizer).

Lucas Chalcraft sending (Pro Men).

High jump takeouts.

Karen O'Connell, Sandy Densmore, and Rebecca Parish (1st-3rd Pro Women).

Alec Watts, Charlie Sponsel, and Lucas Chalcraft (1st-3rd Pro Men).

Smells like winning... and beer. Alec Watts basking in his first Pro Win.

The People's Enduro

Back in its second year, The People's Enduro attracted over 100 racers. The course was predominantly XC in nature, but a healthy dose of flow, tech, and the area's ever-present sand kept things lively. Last year's stage three on the DH course was replaced in favor of Rabid Rabbit, a poppy flow trail with plenty of motion. Also missing was the below freezing start and greasy trails that characterized the race in 2014.

Jeff Wommeldorf (Expert Men 30-29) drops in on stage one.

Griffin Beeston against the Spokane skyline (Sport Men 18-29).

Neal Strobel powering through the Esmeralda Trail (Pro Men)..

Charlie Sponsel (Pro Men) putting in a few bright morning turns.

Erik Nilson (Pro Men).

Kevin Brandford-Parish put in the fastest time on stage one (Pro Men).

Dan Garrett (Pro Men) and Jaime Rees (Pro Women).

Winding through the top of stage two.

Ryan Hayles (Expert Men 18-29) adapting to his line choice.

Emily Sabelhaus about to dive in (Pro Women).

Paul Doty (Expert Men 18-29).

Blake Finnerty finding time to pose for the camera (Expert Men 18-29).

Rebecca Parish (Expert Women).

Tim Schlosser (Expert Men 30-39) startles a deer along Vince's Tire Trail.

Aubrey Demchuk (Expert Women) and Chris Jakubowski (Sport Men 30-39) making good time on Good Behavior.

Joe Klemmer feeling the strain at the bottom of stage two (Sport Men 30-39).

Balsamroot, the official flower of spring in Spokane.

Carlos Lopez (Expert Men 40-49) turning and berming on stage three.

Ben Tobin (Expert Men 30-39).

The family that heckles together, stays together. Dan Garrett (Pro Men) is spurred on by his wife and daughters.

Jaime Rees, Emily Sabelhaus - not pictured, and Erika Krumpelman (1st-3rd Pro Women).

Neal Strobel, Kevin Brandford-Parish, Charlie Sponsel (1st-3rd Pro Men).

Sunday's Race

While granite plays a crucial role for each DH Course, Sunday's race really embraces the craggy stuff. As a result, the consequences are higher and the crash count has a tendency to creep up. The Bomber trail also sports more prominent features like the Girhtmore drop and Jetson line providing plenty of eye candy for spectators. Pro rider Weston Potter's blazing time of 1:31.40 earned him the spot on top of the podium and his first Pro Win.

Jeff Engles (Cat 3 Men 40+) punches through a gap in the granite.

Morris Vasser (Cat 3 Men 12-14) riding a tidy line over the Razor Drop.

Kyle Strom and Luke Carlon (Cat 3 Men 11 & Under).

Calvin Macy floating over The Leap of Faith (Cat 2 Men 30-39).

Matt Christensen (Cat 2 Men 30-39).

Tyler Booth throws in some style as Casey Bebernes closes in (Cat 2 Men 19-29). Booth lost time, and a shoe, during an OTB crash higher up the course.

Kyle Miller (Cat 2 Men 15-18 ).

Flatting out on the top-half of the course.

Tracy West (Cat 1 Men 40+) and Isabelle Desmarais. Desmarais podiumed in each of the weekend's three races (Cat 2 Women).

Soaring over Girthmore.

Mike Brawley and Adam Andrade making the plunge (Cat 1 Men 30-39).

Anthony Williams (Cat 1 Men 19-29).

Up and over on Bomber.

Dirt Corp teammates Karren O'Connell and Darcie Gray tackling the Jetson line.

Sandy Densmore (Pro Women).

Alec Watts and Kent Billingsley (Pro Men).

Weston Potter put in a time of 1:31.40, putting him at the top of the podium (Pro Men).

Charlie Sponsel putting his deputized 'DH bike' through the paces (Pro Men).

VIP seating.

Karen O'Connell, Emily Wood, and Rebecca Parish (Pro Women).

Weston Potter, Kent Billingsley, and Alec Watts (1st-3rd Pro Men).

Weston Potter is anointed after his first Pro Win (Pro Men).

Results:
The People's Enduro
Saturday's Race
Sunday's Race

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MENTIONS: @ericashley

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