Plenty of precious metal and a closetful of coveted stars-and-stripes jerseys were ready for picking at the 2015 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships in Mammoth Lakes, California, in mid-July. For the first time in a long time, both endurance and gravity disciplines were combined into one event, with enduro being added for the first time for good measure. Over six days of practice and competition, it made for a hectic and compelling celebration of the knobby tire. Between the high altitude (averaging 9000 feet/2743 meters) and the dry, volcanic, pumice sand and rock composition of the terrain, this was a true test for America's best.

2015 USA National Championships
Pro racing kicked off with the Men's Short Track, under mostly blue skies and pleasant conditions, an atmospheric theme that would hold up throughout the week.

2015 USA National Championships
Multi-time national champ Todd Wells (Specialized) looked like the man to beat in Short Track, but a rear flat with less than two laps to go derailed his chances in what is rumored to be his last title fight.

2015 USA National Championships
In what many were saying is the changing of the guard, it was Russell Fintesterwald (SRAM/Troy Lee Designs) taking advantage of Wells' misfortune to score the Short Track win.

2015 USA National Championships
A jubilant Chloe Woodruff (Stan's NoTubes/Niner) scored the Pro Women's Short Track victory. It was just the beginning for the gal from Prescott, Arizona.

2015 USA National Championships
This seemingly innocuous downhill left-hander gave riders fits all week. Ellen Sherrill regrouped from this getoff to win the Women's Single Speed division with ease.

2015 USA National Championships
The Under 23 XC race came down to a battle between Sepp Kuss (LiVe Well/Bountiful Bicycle) and Cypress Gorry (Whole Athlete/Specialized). Gorry, shown leading here, put in a last-lap attack that sealed the deal.

2015 USA National Championships
Kate Courtney (Specialized) had her way with the Under 23 XC Women's field.

2015 USA National Championships
All the courses at the National Championships were filled with a wide variety of Amateur age and skill groups. One of the more impressive non-pro performances of the event was put in by Idyllwild Cycling's Nicholas Beechan, who won his division in both Short Track and Cross Country by wide margins.

2015 USA National MTB Championships
Kyle Strait would have to settle for second place this year in the Dual Slalom.

2015 USA National MTB Championships

2015 USA National Championships
The Pro Men's Dual Slalom whittled down to a duel between Kyle Strait (4) and Luca Cometti (10). The latter would prevail by about half a second after two runs at the tasty Mammoth Bike Park pitch. Photo by Sara Beckman.

2015 USA National MTB Championships
Jill had incredible week, taking home three national titles. Here she is claiming her first in the Dual Slalom.

2015 USA National Championships
Red Bull/Norco/Sombrio rider Jill Kintner was simply unstoppable in Pro Women's racing, winning all three races she entered. This is a moment in her Downhill run. Photo by Sara Beckman.

Mammoth - Photo Peter Morning

2015 USA National Championships
The hotly contested Junior Expert Cat 1 17-18 Downhill class was topped by Trek's Charlie Harrison.

Mammoth - Photo Peter Morning

Mammoth - Photo Peter Morning

USA Nationals 2015
Jacob Jordan (Southridge/Trek) took a soil sample during qualifying and ended up in the hospital to get stitches in, shall we say, a delicate place for a human male, then scorched the course to spend considerable time in the Junior Expert hot seat. He ended up with fourth.

USA Nationals 2015
The silver medal in Junior Ex was draped around the neck of Andras Simon (Intense/Incycle).

Mammoth - Photo Peter Morning
Cam Zink makes light work of the rock garden, he would place 23rd when all was said and done.

Mammoth - Photo Peter Morning
Dylan Conte concentrated.

Mammoth - Photo Peter Morning
Logan Binggeli on his way into 5th place.

USA Nationals 2015
Truckee, California's, Michael Sylvestri appeared to have a genuine chance at the National Championship. Until Gwin flew into view, that is. Sylvestri with silver.

Mammoth - Photo Peter Morning

Mammoth - Photo Peter Morning

Mammoth - Photo Peter Morning
Luca Shaw was on the hunt for gold but would come away with the bronze.

Mammoth - Photo Peter Morning

Mammoth - Photo Peter Morning
This gives you an idea of conditions.

Mammoth - Photo Peter Morning
The crowds were out in full force.

2015 USA National Championships
Aaron Gwin (Red Bull/Specialized) took a break from his sensational World Cup Downhill campaign to capture yet another USA Cycling title. His plunge down the Elevator Shaft and into the finish was jaw dropping.

2015 USA National Championships
With the sun getting low over the mountain on Saturday evening, Durango, Colorado's, Howard Grotts (Specialized) was able to put over a minute on fellow young gun Keegan Swenson (Sho-Air/Cannondale) and a large field of Cross Country Pro Men. Early leader Todd Wells (Specialized) was looking for redemption after his Short Track flat, but ended up a disappointed sixth.

2015 USA National Championships
Chloe Woodruff (Stan's NoTubes/Niner) put in a weekend to remember, winning both the Pro Women's Short Track and Cross Country.

2015 USA National Championships
Enduro made its National Championship debut, and it was Mitch Ropelato (Specialized) making history in Pro/Open Men.

2015 USA National Championships
Jill Kintner (Red Bull/Norco/Sombrio) had her eyes on a three-peat, which she pulled off decisively over Georgia Gould (Luna) in Sunday's Enduro.

USA Nationals 2015
Brian Lopes knows Mammoth's slippery pumice slopes as well as anyone - he is the defending Kamikaze champ, after all - and he used that knowledge to his advantage for runner-up in the Pro / Open Men Enduro results. Photo by Sara Beckman.

USA Nationals 2015
The ever-stylish Spencer Rathkamp (Gaerne) swooped the large Senior Men's Enduro division with a time of 31:35.

2015 USA National Championships
A Kodak moment for America's 2015 Pro MTB National Champions (l-r): Aaron Gwin, Howard Grotts, Chloe Woodruff and Jill Kintner.

Photos by Philip Beckman pbcreativephoto.com and Peter Morning http://www.petermorning.com .


MENTIONS: @MammothMountain, @intensecyclesusa, @Specialized, @COMMENCALbicycles, @Cannondale



Author Info:
pbcreative avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2014
20 articles

21 Comments
  • 24 1
 Mammoth did a great job with nat champs this year!
  • 15 1
 Lopes will still be podiuming when we're all dead.
  • 13 2
 Jill Kintner is amazing. she's in a class of her own it seems
  • 7 1
 "His [Gwin's] plunge down the Elevator Shaft and into the finish was jaw dropping."

Video??

BTW, another really well done article PB! Congrats to all of the Gwinners.
  • 2 0
 Few things I noticed:

1: why is ropelato wearing a hoody?
2: The last picture shows only the xc and dh winners, yet there was dual slalom and enduro national champions and are not included?
  • 6 1
 Yeah Mikey!
  • 6 2
 Jill raced enduro! I thought it would never happen!
  • 2 0
 The enduro courses were awesome! Hope they keep them the same next year. Can't wait to go back to mammoth again for KBG!
  • 4 2
 It's always nice to see a Rasta charging in front.
  • 1 0
 Awesome photo coverage Pinkbike!
  • 3 2
 Dude's got dreads.
  • 1 0
 I spy me
  • 1 1
 Fantastic Photos!
  • 1 2
 I heard that red V10 is the new color this year for 29" wheels.
  • 1 2
 Slalom course looks good
  • 1 2
 Luca2015
  • 1 3
 Lopes is riding on a USD fork. Something new from XFusion?
  • 2 0
 Their Revel fork is USD.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, but this thing hasn't exactly a subdued color (gold cover your eyes fluo). So, black (and black stanchions) means prototype... Could you please PB get a hold on this bike ? Even if you need to use Arsène Lupin methods... Wink
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