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2015 Whiskey Off-Road XC

Apr 27, 2015
by NinerBikes  
The Whiskey Off-Road 50 Proof Pro XC went down yesterday in Prescott, Arizona. The men's race was an interesting one, with many riders plagued by flats early on. Fernando Paez lead the early part of the race, but then it came back together and Howie Grotts took the lead and never looked back, riding his own lonely race solo to the finish, taking it by several minutes. In the women's race Hometown favorite Chloe Woodruff lead Georgia Gould and Rose Grant in a fairly tight group for much of the race. There were a few small lead changes during the 50 miles, but neither of the other women could put any space between themselves and Chloe.


Men's Results

1 Howard Grotts 03:04:25 Durango CO Men's Open Specialized
2 Derek Zandstra 03:06:10 Trenton ONTARIO Men's Open Scott, Shimano, CRCS DKI
3 Keegan Swenson 03:08:00 Park City UT Men's Open Sho-Air, Cannondale, Kenda
4 Fernando Riveros Paez 03:09:17 Colorado Springs CO Men's Open Raleigh, Clement, Shimano
5 Christoph Sauser 03:09:31 Yvorne NONUS Men's Open Specialized
6 Benjamin Sonntag 03:10:47 Durango CO Men's Open Clif Bar, Niner Bikes, SRAM
7 Todd Wells 03:12:38 Durango CO Men's Open Specialized, Clifbar, Oakley
8 Geoff Kabush 03:14:35 Oshawa BRITISH COLUMBIA Men's Open Scott, Shimano, CRCS DKI
9 Cameron Jette 03:14:36 Oshawa ONTARIO Men's Open Scott, Shimano, CRCS DKI
10 Spencer Paxson 03:14:53 Bellingham WA Men's Open Kona Bicycles, Shimano, Fox, Stages Cycling

Howard Crotts Derek Zandstra Keegan Swenson Fernando Riveros Paez Christoph Sauzer.

Howard Crotts, Derek Zandstra, Keegan Swenson, Fernando Riveros Paez, Christoph Sauzer.


Women's Results

1 Chloe Woodruff 03:47:12 Prescott AZ Women's Open Stan's NoTubes, Niner Bikes, Clif Bar
2 Georgia Gould 03:47:25 Fort Collins CO Women's Open Luna, Orbea, Fox
3 Rose Grant 03:48:09 Kalispell MT Women's Open Stans
4 Katerina Nash 03:49:44 Emeryville CA Women's Open Luna, Orbea, Fox
5 Larissa Connors 03:56:14 Silverado CA Women's Open Sho Air Cyclery, Cannondale, Enve Composites
6 Maghalie Rochette 03:57:34 St-jerome QC, CANADA Women's Open Luna, Orbea, Fox
7 Serena Bishop Gordon 03:58:28 Bend OR Women's Open LIV|Giant CLIF Bar, Julbo
8 Mical Dyck 04:00:54 Victoria BC Women's Open Stan's NoTubes, Cannondale, Kenda
9 Amy Beisel 04:05:52 Gunnison CO Women's Open LIV / SRAM / OSMOnutrition
10 Evelyn Dong 04:05:53 Salt Lake City UT Women's Open Sho air/cannondale, crank brothers, smith optics

Chloe Woodruff Georgia Gould Rose Grant Katerina Nash Larissa Connors.

Chloe Woodruff, Georgia Gould, Rose Grant, Katerina Nash, Larissa Connors.


Complete Pro results can be found here for the men, and here for the women.

Whiskey 50

Keegan Swenson takes a turn at the front at feed station one before turning down the road to Skull Valley.


Left Howard Grotts shoulder checks looking to see if there s anyone in sight. Right As he entered the singletrack he was all by himself not another rider as far as you could see.

(Left) Howard Crotts shoulder checks looking to see if there's anyone in sight. (Right) As he entered the singletrack he was all by himself, not another rider as far as you could see.


Chloe Woodruff leads Georgia and Rose onto the singletrack at the top climb. At this point they d been climbing for about 12 miles.

Chloe Woodruff leads Georgia and Rose onto the singletrack at the top of the climb. At this point in the race you've been climbing for about 12 miles.


Whiskey 50

Prescott's own Chloe Woodruff, crossing the finish line first in the pouring rain.


For results from Saturdays amateur racing and more info on the event check out the Epic Rides website.

Complete event recap with photos coming soon...

Posted In:
Racing and Events


Author Info:
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Member since Jan 4, 2013
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45 Comments
  • 42 1
 Loving the XC coverage
  • 16 3
 yeah me too. 50 mile race and 7 pictures, hmmmm. i sure would like to see more
  • 10 2
 I was thinking the same thing. There's certainly a large contingency of those who don't think much of XC but it's a tough sport.
  • 9 0
 Yeah but 50 miles is harder to photograph when compared to a 3-4 min DH race
  • 4 0
 Just added a bunch of shots from the weekend + a video covering the pro race. Check it out.
  • 2 0
 coverage... 7 pictures of this is sad...
  • 3 0
 FYI the last line of the post reads "Complete event recap with photos coming soon... " It's been a long week of travel for us, but we'll have our complete post with lots more photos up by the end of the week, alternately check out @epic-rides page for more images.
  • 2 0
 I've been riding mostly trail and all mountain/dh for the last couple years, but does it sure feel good to do more xc stuff again. I did a race this year for the first time in a while and really appreciate how well in shape you need to be to make a podium.
  • 16 2
 Women's podium payout exactly the same as the men's podium payout. Right on.
  • 1 1
 In XC, its a no brainer to do that. It looks like it was a close one for the top two ladies! Damn impressive for how long that race is.
  • 10 0
 Looks like the crowd was having a great time. Congrats to all the riders.
  • 7 0
 You should see the night life after the race its just as awesome. Prescott loves their whiskey race!
  • 5 0
 It was an awesome weekend! First about 250 amateurs did a 15 mile fun ride. Then the Pros raced a fat tire crit on the streets of Prescott Friday night. Then Saturday almost 1800 amateurs raced in either a 50 or 30 mile XC course. Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers hit the town to entertain us mountain bikers. We did get some rain and hail during our race and into the night. Concert was moved from outdoor venue into a local establishment at the last minute. Then Sunday the pros did their deal.. You want an awesome experience put the #whiskeyoffroad on your calendar!
  • 2 0
 Hear ye hear ye!
  • 5 1
 "The men's race was an interesting one, with many riders plagued by flats early on."
Wouldn't you think it's worth the few extra grams of rotational weight to run tires that actually have some puncture resistance, you know, so you can keep pedaling?
  • 4 2
 No because flats aren't that big of a deal most of the time. And these dudes are riding so far so fast that any weight savings is probably a blessing.
  • 3 0
 Just about every person in the race were running the most puncture resistant tires (their sponsor) made. Rocks were super sharp out there.
  • 2 0
 For sure but that track is more of a tire eater than most Xc these days...
  • 5 0
 I busted my butt to get a 4:30 in the amateur race on Saturday, seeing the Pros go 3:04 on Sunday is freaking mind blowing. That course is ridiculous hard.
  • 2 0
 Just did my first xc race, a 50k with about 4k of vert. I trained twice a week and pushed hard, paced in packs and finished ahead of my goal time at 3:08. The winner finished in like 2:20, and a guy single speeded it in 2:40.. i was like wtf
  • 8 3
 That's a really big check
  • 7 1
 hope they can find a really big bank
  • 9 2
 love seeing equal payout for the ladies!
  • 6 2
 Go Larissa!!!
  • 5 0
 Keep smiling! Fastest math teacher ever!!
  • 5 2
 Another great Whiskey race. Maybe some amateur coverage next time..
  • 1 0
 We've put some photos + a video on our page, more to come!
www.pinkbike.com/u/epic-rides/album/Whiskey-Off-Road-2015/?page=2
  • 2 1
 wonder how many 26ers ended up on the podium for all you big wheel haters? don't you hate it when someone asks a question that they already know the answer too? oh well.
  • 2 0
 Not a big wheel hater, i got one myself, but there are no more 26" XC bikes to even ride so what is the point of pointing that out?
  • 1 0
 Better question: How many racers on the podium got paid to ride the big-wheeled bikes they raced (and, not coincidentally, the only wheel size the respective manufacturers make these raced bikes with)? ..."don't you hate it when someone asks a question that they already know the answer too (sic)?"

A not-unrelated point: how many racers on the podium would have finished in the same place with different size wheels? Answer: 90% likelihood, all of them.
  • 1 0
 shut up Donny, your out of your element. all I read in your comment was walrus. did you ever think there is a reason there are only 29ers for sale for xc. plus dude if you ever rode a 29er on a xc course you would have to be an idiot to not pick the 29. most everyone I know doesn't keep up with who the pros are anyway so the whole "ride whatever is fed to us" or what the top racers are riding this or that" is bull. for the casual rider around my woods, they are just now hearing about the whole new 29 wheel size and all still run 23" bars. lastly 90% seems accurate. I still boss people on my 5 year old 26er on xc courses with at 34t front and my large cog in back is 32t. when I am racing a 29er I feel 10 years younger at the end of the race. what you got now?
  • 1 0
 wait.... are you really trying to say that companies are forcing their riders to ride a specific wheel size? that's dumb. you would kind of think that the company would want to do good to make money and just be good. why would they jeopardized a slower time at a race over anything? that would make them look bad and slow therefore loose money and make less sells. right?
  • 1 0
 correction. 27er for the little guys in xc.
  • 2 0
 Good to see young Americans on the podium without the support the "ferreners" have.
  • 3 0
 Howard Crotts?
  • 1 0
 Yeah. Ryhmes with Scrotts.
  • 3 0
 YEA KEEGAN!
  • 1 0
 Word is Christoph Sauser took a wheel from a team mate...should have been DQ'd
  • 2 1
 Howard has excellent form right now, can wait to see how he does at the world cups!
  • 3 1
 Howie Grotts?
  • 2 0
 Notice they misspelled his name "Crotts" below his shoulder check photo.
  • 3 0
 Yes, our bad, sometimes when writing in the middle of the night mistakes are made, and once the post is live on the home page we can't correct it.
  • 2 2
 It was fun to get to see this last year. Missing my home town right now!
  • 2 3
 Crazy ass xc riders, seriously.
  • 1 2
 Those guys look like roadies.







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