Big Mountain Enduro #4: Durango - JHK and Krista Park Take the Weekend

The Big Mountain Enduro returned to the racing scene this Labor Day weekend with its fourth stop of the series in Durango, Colorado, August 31 - September 1. The weekend of racing was some of the most physically demanding racers have seen yet, with nearly all of the transitioning done without shuttle assistance.

Day 1 sent racers deep into the backcountry to the top of Kennebec Pass and down the infamous Colorado Trail for two stages with more than 6,000' of descending. Day 2 kept riders close to town, throwing the most technical stage of the Series on Raider's Ridge at riders, and keeping riders guessing at who would pull away at the end of the weekend with a healthy mix of fast descents, alpine singletrack, rocky ridges and rumbly roads.

The top contenders in the Pro Men and Pro Women battled it out all weekend long, taking turns taking the lead on respective stages. Jeremy Horgan Kobelski (Trek Factory Racing) and Krista Park (Cannondale) took the win after four stages.

Big Mountain Enduro's next race brings racers to the finals in Moab, Utah on September 28-29. Stay tuned to BME's Facebook and Twitter for further updates. http://www.facebook.com/BigMountainEnduro

Pro Men Results

1. Jeremy Horgan-Kobleski 1:08:45.303
2. Mike West 1:09:55.168
3. Nate Hills 1:10:02.889
4. Joey Schusler 1:10:09.589
5. Anthony Diaz 1:11:03.292
6. Miguel Ramos 1:11:15.205
7. Mason Bond 1:11:42.962
8. Colton Anderons 1:11:55.918
9. Brent Winebarger 1:12:25.584
10. Brady Kappius 1:12:39.451

Pro Women Results

1. Krista Park 1:30:13.695
2. Heather Irmiger 1:20:31.394
3. Brittany Clawson 1:24:18.760
4. Darian Harvey 1:28:50.010
5. Sarah Rawley 1:29:17.562

For full results, visit http://www.bigmountainenduro.com/results.html


Pro Men Podium: Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Trek Factory Racing), Mike West (Yeti/FOX), Nate Hills (Mavic/SRAM/Yeti), Joey Schusler (Yeti/FOX), Anthony Diaz (Diaz Suspension Designs).


Pro Women Podium: Krista Park (Cannondale), Heather Irmiger (Trek Factory Racing), Brittany Clawson (Fort Lewis College), Darian Harvey (Mountain Bike Specialists), Sarah Rawley (Yeti Cycles/POC).


Joey Schusler (Yeti Cycles) looks into the distance right before he is the first rider to drop into Kennebec Pass. Nate Hills (Mavic/SRAM/Yeti) was the second rider to drop.


Heather Irmiger (Trek Factory Racing) and Krista Park (Cannondale) are nearly neck-and-neck in the BME Overall Rankings. Park, who calls Durango home when not traveling all over the country, took the win on Stage 1, and is favored to win the weekend.


Brian Buell (Banshee / Team Geronimo) starts Stage 1 from the top of Kennebec Pass with the remaining Pro and Amateur fields gaping from above. Mutant size water bars sent riders pogo-sticking down the top part of the trail, for everyone to watch.


Riders started their descent down Kennebec Pass through the infamous "Slide Rock" section. Rocks the size of toaster ovens and footballs littered sections of trails and made for white knuckles until racers plummeted into the alpine descent through thick trees and roots.


Dylan Stucki (Mountain Flyer Magazine) was plagued with numerous flats in Saturday's Stages 1 and 2 on the Colorado Trail. Good thing he is a local and can come back to Strava it anytime....


Jess Pederson (Team Geronimo) stylish on and off the bike, executes text-book form through the sweeping left hand turn on the bottom of Stage 2 on Dry Fork Trail.


The Amateur Men class find some air on the fast section of Raider's Ridge before hitting the "Rumbly Road" to end Stage 3.


Mike West (Yeti/FOX) charges down Stage 3 on his way to second place for the weekend.


JHK put down a smokin' fast time of 15:54.836 on Stage 3, the most technical stage of the weekend, a good 20-seconds into second place, Dylan Stucki (Mavic/Mountain Flyer Magazine).