2018 Southridge Winter Series Opener Race Report
The 2018 Southridge USA KMC Chain Winter Series got off to a decidedly summery start over the second weekend of January in Fontana, California. While much of the rest of the country was locked in a deep freeze and/or buried in snow, this iconic SoCal venue was bathed in bright sunshine, warm temperatures – it hit the low 80s on Sunday –and wind. Lots and lots of wind, especially during Saturday's Cross Country and Enduro events. It calmed down a bit for Sunday's Downhill finals, but still added an extra challenge for riders traversing the ridgetops.
![Here s a good example of why Southern California has had a nasty fire season. Can you say parched]()
The 2018 season marks the 25th year for the Winter Series, making it one of the longest running mountain bike racing series in the country. Promoter Donny Jackson began staging events at this unique, urban setting a couple of years before that, and since that time Southridge Park has become one of the most recognizable MTB destinations in the sport, often drawing big names from around the world looking to bag some quality saddle time.
One of those names at the 2018 season opener was Bruce Klein, a local rider who cut his teeth at Southridge. The 20-year-old is the reigning USA Cycling Pro GRT Champion who last year competed in several World Cups and finished in the top 20 at the World Championships in Cairns, Australia. Just the day before this event, Klein announced that for 2018 he would be riding for the Commencal /100% UCI Downhill MTB Factory Team. He has a full schedule laid out, including all the World Cups and the World Championships this season, as well as selected events such as Crankworx, Pro GRTs and the U.S. Nationals.
Klein showed up with his new colours and rig and proceeded to win the event, just ahead of Nik Nestoroff, who has now taken over Klein's former ride with KHS Factory Racing. Steven Walton made his Pro class debut a good one, finishing third with a time just one second off the winner's. Dani Johnson (Chainline) captured the victory in a small Pro Women's field.
This was the first of six rounds in this year's Winter Series, with the next event coming up in two weeks. The series is sponsored by KMC Chain, Hayes, Fox, ODI, SDG, Intense, Box, Sun Ringle, KHS, Maxima, Foes, Troy Lee Designs and Turner Bikes.
More information and complete results can be found at http://southridgeusa.com
![Frenchman Julien Bourdevaire Moment Bicycles notched the Pro Men s Cross Country win after a racelong tussle with Mexico s Gustavo Pedroza.]()
![The Pro Women s Cross Country was the sole property of of Meade Plum Buttermilk Academy .]()
![Ty Kady Baghouse smoked the Vet Pro Cross Country race on Saturday.]()
![NBA Hall of Famer and current TNT network broadcast analyst Reggie Miller has gotten into Cross Country MTB racing in a big way. His skills are developing rapidly.]()
![Topping the Enduro charts by four seconds was Empire Bikes-backed Cody Masson.]()
![Max Sedlak Cycleogical grabbed the runner-up spot in Saturday s Enduro.]()
![Former MTB journalist and current Giant Bicycles executive Andrew Juskaitis showed that he still has what it takes placing third in the Expert 35 class in the Enduro.]()
![Megan Duehring Felt was the fastest female in Saturday s Enduro.]()
![Bruce Klein Commencal 100 drops in on one of the most recognizable mountain bike racing venues in the land. Klein held on for the Pro Men s Downhill victory at the 2018 Southridge USA season opener despite what he called a moment.]()
![Just two days before the event Bruce Klein revealed that he would be riding for the Commencal 100 squad for 2018. He stated that he loved the bike after just ten days in the saddle and proved it by winning on Sunday.]()
![Nik Nestoroff made his Pro DH debut on his new KHS Factory Racing ride getting nudged out of the win by just three tenths of a second.]()
![Last season s Junior Expert champ Steven Swaltonator Walton Commencal has moved up to the Pro ranks for 2018. He was a solid third place in the Downhill.]()
![Dani Johnson Chainline put in a solid run for top honors in Pro Women s Downhill.]()
![One to watch Cole Suetos Incycle Intense captured the Downhill Junior Expert 15-18 class by over two seconds ahead of teammate Austin Dooley.]()
![Age group National Champ Bobby Bondurant Truckerco Big Bear Freeriders is a Southridge regular and grabbed another 60 Expert DH win.]()
![Southridge USA draws a good number of young rippers including Justin Hammer Duncan who topped the Beginner Men 9-10 DH division.]()
![Bruce Klein Commencal 100 on top of the Pro Men s Downhill podium joined by Nik Nestoroff KHS Steven Walton Commencal Cody Johnson Chainline and Jarod Hanson Incycle Intense .]()
![The Pro Women s Downhill podium featuring Dani Johnson Chainline Amanda Wentz Gamut Fox Transition and Emily Gacad Incycle Intense .]()
![There s a genuine family atmosphere at Southridge a community that s been built over 25 years.]()
Here's a good example of why Southern California has had a nasty fire season. Can you say parched?
The 2018 season marks the 25th year for the Winter Series, making it one of the longest running mountain bike racing series in the country. Promoter Donny Jackson began staging events at this unique, urban setting a couple of years before that, and since that time Southridge Park has become one of the most recognizable MTB destinations in the sport, often drawing big names from around the world looking to bag some quality saddle time.
One of those names at the 2018 season opener was Bruce Klein, a local rider who cut his teeth at Southridge. The 20-year-old is the reigning USA Cycling Pro GRT Champion who last year competed in several World Cups and finished in the top 20 at the World Championships in Cairns, Australia. Just the day before this event, Klein announced that for 2018 he would be riding for the Commencal /100% UCI Downhill MTB Factory Team. He has a full schedule laid out, including all the World Cups and the World Championships this season, as well as selected events such as Crankworx, Pro GRTs and the U.S. Nationals.
Klein showed up with his new colours and rig and proceeded to win the event, just ahead of Nik Nestoroff, who has now taken over Klein's former ride with KHS Factory Racing. Steven Walton made his Pro class debut a good one, finishing third with a time just one second off the winner's. Dani Johnson (Chainline) captured the victory in a small Pro Women's field.
This was the first of six rounds in this year's Winter Series, with the next event coming up in two weeks. The series is sponsored by KMC Chain, Hayes, Fox, ODI, SDG, Intense, Box, Sun Ringle, KHS, Maxima, Foes, Troy Lee Designs and Turner Bikes.
More information and complete results can be found at http://southridgeusa.com
Frenchman Julien Bourdevaire (Moment Bicycles) notched the Pro Men's Cross Country win after a race-long tussle with Mexico's Gustavo Pedroza.
The Pro Women's Cross Country was the sole property of Meade Plum (Buttermilk Academy).
Ty Kady (Baghouse) smoked the Vet Pro Cross Country race on Saturday.
NBA Hall of Famer and current TNT network broadcast analyst Reggie Miller has gotten into Cross Country MTB racing in a big way. His skills are developing rapidly.
Topping the Enduro charts by four seconds was Empire Bikes-backed Cody Masson.
Max Sedlak (Cycleogical) grabbed the runner-up spot in Saturday's Enduro.
Former MTB journalist and current Giant Bicycles executive Andrew Juskaitis showed that he still has what it takes, placing third in the Expert 35+ class in the Enduro.
Megan Duehring (Felt) was the fastest female in Saturday's Enduro.
Bruce Klein (Commencal/100%) drops in on one of the most recognizable mountain bike racing venues in the land. Klein held on for the Pro Men's Downhill victory at the 2018 Southridge USA season opener despite what he called "a moment."
Just two days before the event, Bruce Klein revealed that he would be riding for the Commencal/100% squad for 2018. He stated that he loved the bike after just ten days in the saddle, and proved it by winning on Sunday.
Nik Nestoroff made his Pro DH debut on his new KHS Factory Racing ride, getting nudged out of the win by just three-tenths of a second.
Last season's Junior Expert champ, Steven "Swaltonator" Walton (Commencal), has moved up to the Pro ranks for 2018. He was a solid third place in the Downhill.
Dani Johnson (Chainline) put in a solid run for top honours in Pro Women's Downhill.
One to watch: Cole Suetos (Incycle/Intense) captured the Downhill Junior Expert (15-1
class by over two seconds ahead of teammate Austin Dooley.
class by over two seconds ahead of teammate Austin Dooley.
Age group National Champ Bobby Bondurant (Truckerco/Big Bear Freeriders) is a Southridge regular and grabbed another 60+ Expert DH win.
Southridge USA draws a good number of young rippers, including Justin "Hammer" Duncan, who topped the Beginner Men 9-10 DH division.
Bruce Klein (Commencal/100%) on top of the Pro Men's Downhill podium, joined by Nik Nestoroff (KHS), Steven Walton (Commencal), Cody Johnson (Chainline) and Jarod Hanson (Incycle/Intense).
The Pro Women's Downhill podium, featuring Dani Johnson (Chainline), Amanda Wentz (Gamut/Fox/Transition) and Emily Gacad (Incycle/Intense).
There's a genuine family atmosphere at Southridge, a community that's been built over 25 years.
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Worth mentioning that Cole Suetos would have been 4th place in the pros. He's 16 ????
PS: DirtySixer also.