Underworld Cup 2013 Course Previews

Apr 22, 2013 at 20:01
by Mike Estes  
Saddle up kiddies, it's time for a real DH race that won't be won on a 29er! The Dry Hill in Port Angeles, WA has become legendary. Following the annual gathering down south, the world's best DH racers migrate up the I-5 corridor and stop at Frugals to begin a very tasty weekend of racing. Here is what awaits:

Cat1/Pro track preview:
Underworld Cup Cat 1 Pro

by olympicdirtsociety
Views: 13,999    Faves: 21    Comments: 7


Cat 2's track preview:
Underworld Cup Cat 2

by olympicdirtsociety
Views: 4,319    Faves: 11    Comments: 3


Cat 3's track preview:
Underworld Cup Cat 3

by olympicdirtsociety
Views: 2,988    Faves: 8    Comments: 3



Spanking he competition in his first DH race ever

Photo by Ralbisurez


For practice information check this link right HERE.

For you racers, I highly recommend you visiting this website to review your 'race history' it's called Roots & Rain, just search your name, hit some tabs, great for photographers too!

Our most valued supporters, think about them when deciding upon your next purchase!
photo

NW Cup 2013



Author Info:
northwestdhdad avatar

Member since Apr 23, 2007
137 articles
Must Read This Week
Thank You For Everything, Pinkbike
75940 views
Pole Bicycles Has Filed for Bankruptcy
54278 views
First Ride: The Sub-$600 RockShox Domain and Psylo Forks
42250 views
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Mairiporã XC World Cup 2024
42039 views
Staff Ride: Matt Beer's NZ MTB Rally-Spec Ibis HD6
40408 views
Tree Root Pierces Harriet Harnden's Foot at Round 1 of the British National Downhill Series
37931 views
Review: Race Face's Era Chainring Uses Steel, Carbon, & Aluminum
28041 views
First Ride: Fox's New Transfer Dropper Post - Adjustable Travel, Up to 240mm of Drop
26686 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

89 Comments
  • 68 1
 Dear everyone complaining about the "no new track" thing. Have you raced in many places? Lots of times you race the same course - and lots of times those courses suck. The difference here? These tracks are RAD. They are always rad whether you hit them once a day for a race run or 12 times a day. Be stoked and be grateful for all the hard work the NWCup crew dedicates so YOU can have a good time. The Underworld Cup is one of the best weekends on the calendar.
Oh and pass the WHINE when you're done.
Geez.
  • 20 2
 Yes Mistress Kemp, may I get off my knees now? Or can you whip us some more! :-)
  • 4 1
 Good work Lacy!
  • 2 0
 im just trying to save up some cash to make it up to WA! =/
  • 5 0
 Bravo Lace for saying it like it is! Looking forward to a great weekend.
  • 3 0
 Well said LaceFace!
  • 2 0
 Lacy...you effing rule!
  • 1 0
 Haha i think the track looks great! Super stoked for this weekend!
  • 1 2
 Track looks sick as always. I'll be there and racing my 29er...watch out GWIN
  • 21 2
 If people don't like the track, they don't have to attend...
  • 4 0
 Truth.
  • 16 2
 imagine if the human eye picked up changes in light as slowly as contours do :L that would suck
  • 7 0
 I will be racing my first DH race ever this weekend, can't wait! Look for the guy on a Scapegoat wrapped around a tree about half way down.
  • 2 0
 I did my first DH race at Port Angeles a few years ago. Great atmosphere, as many shuttled practice runs as you could stomach, and didn't kill myself on the Cat 3 course. The helmet cams especially on the Pro course don't give any idea of how steep it is. I flatted on the Cat 3 course, had to walk down, spent most of it on my ass. Its STEEP.
  • 1 0
 Congrats!
  • 5 0
 Looks like a fun track, most stuff over here is arse over the back tyre stuff. That looks like anyone could let loose and have go tho. However it does look a lot like a british trail centre descent
  • 1 0
 i was thinking the same thing!.. its good to be able to get some speed and flow in a descent!.. but there was way to much sitting down and cruising for what we are used to in the UK for DH! We get that sort of riding at trail centres on short travel bikes Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Yeah its amazing how much tracks differ throughout the world. I dont particularly like steep stuff tho so this track looks like good place to play to me
  • 1 0
 Trust me gents, the video does not do justice to the trails. There is plenty enough tech for anyone on that track. Every single pro that rides that course raves about it, including the Athertons (raced there in 2010 when Iceland's volcano was having fits).

www.pinkbike.com/photo/4947393

It's truly worthy of any rider.
  • 2 0
 Didn't see any 29ers on track today.
  • 3 0
 Come by the NWProtective tent Fri-Sun & check out some of our product but more importantly to grab a free koozie while supplies last (limit 1 per person). Keep your refreshments cold and concealed so nobody get's in trouble.
  • 5 0
 Between the Oregon 12 mile downhill and the trails I am seeing here, it's time to make a road trip up to Oregon and Washington.
  • 2 0
 what,s with the different courses ?? when i raced DH 10yrs back we only had one course that everyone raced on , i never did any races where they had different courses for different rider class levels , the only course i remember that had 2 sections for different levels was either Whistler or BlackCoomb they has a Canada Cup course and then the BC Cup course . none the less looks like a fun event where in WA is this spot ?? i,ll have to get my passport and check it out one yr .
  • 1 0
 Port Angeles, WA! Come on down and enjoy the fun!
  • 4 0
 We do a variety of courses so that people can build up their skills safely and while having fun.
  • 1 0
 local LBS sponsored XC series in the capital region 23-25 years ago, races were every second week at the same venue but the course changed each race. THAT was fun. Racing the same course every time, ok maybe if its a once a year thing but regular events over and over.... dull. So rider X kicks at on that course everytime. Doesn't mean he/she will be any good someplace else.
  • 2 1
 29er or no... they's still bikes dudes... Cat 1 looks flowy enough for 29er, though I doubt those quick switchbacks would go as well for them. Gwinny got beat by Ropelato on a 29er, then won on a 29er. Lets watch it unfold before the attacks mates. I just want to see some good race runs!!
  • 2 0
 i heard through the grape vein that some guy named matt walker is making some noise and is expected to surprise some of the top riders.
  • 1 1
 I'm not so sure that's true...
  • 1 0
 Hahaha...I have a nemesis on the Roots and Rain site! Not sure if he's running Cat 1 this year, though. Will you be my nemesis, Mike?? Wink

Pumped - see you and everybody else this weekend!!
  • 3 0
 Gladly, but one of us has to be within 3% of each others time to register. Cool site huh?
  • 1 0
 Very cool site. I remember looking at it not long after they set it up, but kind of forgot about it after a while. If I was more competitive, I'd be on it all the time!

My racing "goals" are to have fun and to roll away in one piece...results are irrelevant (unless it's against one of my homies). Oh, and try to not be DFL or DNF.
  • 2 0
 Always interesting to see how well my winter training regimen of trail building and beer drinking gets me ready for racing my big bike. Usually, not that well! Wink
  • 3 0
 Very happy to be able to get redemption on the Cat 2 course after a lack luster first run, thanks for not changing it up!
  • 1 0
 You and me both man, I'm stoked to shred this time. And it should be a lot drier, no more tilling up rocks!
  • 6 3
 "Saddle up kiddies, it's time for a real DH race that won't be won on a 29er!"

ROFL!!!!
  • 4 1
 I got a laugh out of that one as well... It's about damn time.
  • 1 0
 I wonder how many pros read these comments and go "oh......challenge?!? I ACCEPT the challenge!". I wouldn't be shocked if some peeps bust them out on Thurs for a run or two just for a giggle. They'd be awesome on The Knuck, but once it got into the woods on Upper Pro.....yeah, gong-show.
  • 2 0
 I'll shred that piece with a 24in bike and beat all those 29ers just for a challenge.
  • 1 0
 Considering one of my riding buddies absolutely crushes runs on his 243 ht w/24" wheels, I could believe your statement.
  • 8 5
 Great track for a 29er looks fast.
  • 9 2
 HAHA, not!
  • 1 1
 I was thinking the same thing. Lots of good flow. No crazy drops into rock gardens. Looks like a better 29er track the sea otter!
  • 1 0
 On that note, did they remove Justice and Bat Cheddar's step down from the Cat1 course? Didn't see them in the video.
  • 3 0
 Looks awesome!
"Underworld Cup" is a great name
  • 12 12
 "it's time for a real DH race that won't be won on a 29er!"

IMHO it still isn't proper DH track and can be easily raced on 6' travel 29er bike ...
  • 17 3
 Do it then, bruh
  • 9 3
 Sure you can roll down it on a 29r but you won't be anywhere near a podium step!
  • 5 5
 Put up or shut up, @koreanboy.
  • 6 1
 Some of the Best Riders in the world disagree with you... I would love to see you roll through the chunder dome at full on race speed on a 29er! That would be epic!
  • 6 3
 I'm pretty sure KoreanGirl was referring to the Cat3 course. :-)
  • 4 5
 Really? I have $500.00 that says koreanboy won't podium on a 29er..
  • 3 0
 It looks like its got the 3F's: fun, fast and flowy. But not too crazy of a course. Lars is not even wearing his full face helmet for this ride.
  • 4 0
 Well... looks fun 29 or 26. I wouldn't win on either, but on that course, I suspect my time would be but the same or better on my Bandit 29 vs my DH bike.
  • 1 0
 I'm running longer cranks 229er and larger 49er sprocket that should do the trick...
  • 2 0
 So, have any of you used a camera before? If so, then you would know it takes off a few degrees of steepness. This is not a 29er course, and I have that first hand from someone who rode today, and knows a bit more than any of us.
  • 2 0
 @ODS - Was it Bart? I'd trust him if he said no bueno.

@Patsplit - Lars has ridden these trails at least 10,000x more than most of the rest of us put together. He was more-or-less just following Jill's tempo...which is still pretty frickin' fast. The one where Luke's following Bryn from the last race still gives me chills just pondering how they do some of the things they're doing.
  • 3 0
 A couple guys with a big S on their jersey. Not Superman
  • 1 0
 Indeed, although I'm sure they'd be a respectable substitute.
  • 2 0
 Man, the cat 3 trail looks insane! super roosty berm sections too
  • 1 0
 I registered for Cat 1 this season, but I'm seriously tempted to slap some dh-tires on my Bass and sandbag the 3's!!
  • 1 2
 i kept waiting for something like a rock section, gap or something else. Looks like a pretty easy track you could pedal all the way to the bottom i think. the hard-tails and full suspension bikes should post similar times.
  • 4 1
 Come see for yourself, its pretty easy all right, bring your klunker!
  • 3 1
 Compared to a "traditional" dh course, it's easier. It's easy to ride. Racing is a different creature - it's amazing how fast everything keeps coming at you - not much time to just sit up and take a breather. It's all-out until the finish and people are amazingly worked when they finish a 2.5-3 min race run.
  • 1 0
 cute.
  • 1 1
 What's cute is how cocky you sound never having been there or ridden it. Humility comes swiftly at Dry Hill. You wouldn't be the first cocky guy to leave that course in an ambulance after talking like that. In the case of this venue, looks are very deceiving.
  • 1 0
 double cute. Your home track or something?
  • 1 1
 Nope, but I have actually BEEN there to ride it.
  • 1 0
 really? Then why are you opening your stupid mouth. You just one of those guys that likes to start internet arguments over something you have no experience with? And no, i really doubt that trail has ever put anyone in the hospital. i think that is probably the point of it. And wtf is Dry Hill? Is that in the video or is this just completely random other trail you picked out of your ass? And how do you know i have never been there. You are making assumption,
  • 1 0
 Never put anyone in the hospital? I respectfully disagree, my good sir - www.pinkbike.com/photo/8121274
  • 1 0
 ouch dude. that looks like it was a bad day. So that was on that run in that race?

btw i never said it sucked but it is a super easy looking course. Alot easier than alot of the race courses ive seen. im not sure who these ding dong are who take offence to that.
  • 1 0
 Because I'm faster then you
  • 1 0
 See you between the tape! Let's race!
  • 2 0
 NICE!
  • 2 1
 How do you know it wont be won on a 29er x
  • 7 1
 Well the Cat 3 course is awaiting you buddy! Bring your Gary Fisher HiFly to the track!
  • 4 3
 Getting real tired of the 29er races
  • 1 0
 very sweet.
  • 1 0
 nice
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.036523
Mobile Version of Website