Sea Otter Classic - Graves and Kintner win DH

69 Comments

57 7

bluezac17 (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:06)

is it just me or does the sea otter DH kinda seem not-so-downhillish? like whne people sport 160mm forks, there might be a need to redesing the course...

21 1

cdbfree (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:13)

coming from someone who's ridden the course, it's definitely a downhill. but it's shorter, not super gnarly steep, a lot smoother, and has a lot more flow than a proper world cup course. haha. you could ride it on a full dh rig, but the smaller bike will help a lot in the pedaling and rhythm sections.

jacob-jay-12 (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:20)

it looks like hell lot of fun though

11 0

brandonharrison (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:35)

YEAAAH TWO AUSSIES ON THE PODIUM! Go Graves and Hannah!

OneEyedHito (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:45)

I raced the course yesterday and it doesn't require an 8" slacked out rig at all. Super fast and the lesser travel rigs crushed the full on dh's usually. It isn't traditional dh for sure but it has a short steep or two but there are zero true rock gardens and roots are non existent. But DAMN WAS IT FUN!!!!!

OneEyedHito (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:47)

Dlongb13 raced it on a SC Nomad and blazed that F'er to a 6th out of 50 in his field with a 2:32!!! 6" bike!

alazamanza (Apr 22, 2012 at 14:02)

its much like whistler a line "air dh race" most of the pros race that on a 160 bike as well its very much a case of most of them use 160 bikes anyway so theyre all on the same playing field.. its supposed to be a bit flat for a full on dh track

Jacko6793 (Apr 22, 2012 at 14:27)

isn't Graves (pictured above) running 32's

jacob-jay-12 (Apr 22, 2012 at 14:29)

yeh, i think they're 120mm IIRC after reading about the protoype bike he was on

chrispaulcx (Apr 22, 2012 at 14:30)

^I think maybe 34's? Prototype?

cuban-b (Apr 22, 2012 at 15:39)

the sea otter dh course was designed way back when dh was just becoming a racing discipline and have never changed it. I think a lot of it has to do with just keeping the track the same every single year for consistency's sake, whilst preserving a classic race track. Anyone who's ridden it know the berms, table tops, that tree jump or alternate line around it, and the flat sections really well. it's a classic.

EddyDave (Apr 22, 2012 at 16:07)

Very sure its the new 34!

Sneze (Apr 22, 2012 at 16:57)

I like the DH course they have there because it is something different and it is interesting to see what the riders do in response to the more pedally course.

andrelika (Apr 22, 2012 at 17:47)

Coming from someone who has also ridden the course, its pretty much a super d track

MattJ (Apr 22, 2012 at 18:01)

Wow, thats awesome! Great job guys!

LTmtb (Apr 22, 2012 at 19:28)

It's a downhill for sure, but I don't think redesigning is in order as far as making it more downhill-esque. The Sea Otter hill is a sand dune, so there are very few rocks and no roots. The course has a ton of jumps and two steep, loose sections and utilizes the best hill in the Laguna Seca Recreational area. It's no WC downhill, but that's the location's fault, not the builders'.

sngltrkmnd (Apr 22, 2012 at 21:15)

As another reader who's ridden the course (and won a watch and some XC tires for getting the fastest time in my sport class event 11 years ago), it's not the fault of the designers so much as the limits of the geography there. You can't just drop a bigger mountain into Laguna Seca to make a steeper/gnarlier track. It's just isn't going to happen. It's small hill, and that's all it's gonna ever be. WC racers get to rip it up on what I'd call trail bikes because that's all the terrain requires. Sure, plenty of racers go fast on true DH bikes, but it isn't really required, as evidenced by Grubby's time today. (I'm not sure what Jill was racing on today. Anyone?)

brandoncoughlin (Apr 22, 2012 at 21:18)

I raced Cat 1 on my M9 and got 5th, its an extremely fast track and I've found the smaller travel bikes roll a lot faster but, it is a lot gnarlier then you expect it to be

Protour (Apr 23, 2012 at 7:27)

Whoever said it was like a super D is giving Super D way to much credit. Super D races usually have significant climbs and rarely have very many jumps, and they are usually at least 10 minutes long. It's a DH course, just a short, not too technical one.

TheCOJayhawk (Apr 23, 2012 at 13:48)

yeah graves may be racing a 120 mil on the front, but really you can't criticize the course, remember the nineties ones where it was fire roads, tucking, and just pedaling flat out? just going back to the roots, and it's a hell of a good time!

cuban-b (Apr 24, 2012 at 10:07)

seems as if graves' may have raced on the same bike for 4x and dh this past weekend.

jacob-jay-12 (Apr 24, 2012 at 10:11)

^ *Duel not 4x. but yeah, he did

cuban-b (Apr 24, 2012 at 10:15)

^ my bad, dual slalom! is what i meant hah

13 0

tristannaylor (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:05)

yeah!! Jared Graves on top!

joemtbftw (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:25)

But Mick Hannahs started off the season with a banger!

brooce (Apr 22, 2012 at 14:58)

He's beaten Aaron Gwin, he's beaten Brian Lopes - WOW!

brandoncoughlin (Apr 22, 2012 at 21:19)

Gwin was throwing up and sick since Saturday..

brandoncoughlin (Apr 22, 2012 at 21:21)

Not making some AMERICAN excuse for it but he just didnt have the strength to pedal, but Graves was FLYING!!

Protour (Apr 23, 2012 at 16:44)

Everybody riding a Specialized got smoked, especially the one's with flat pedals.

11 1

Kona-rob (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:05)

no knee pads? bit risky

goulldy (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:06)

Especially so early in the season!

Kona-rob (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:08)

exactly

Bennyy4x (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:14)

He rode the 4x at worlds once without knee pads

hoshi (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:14)

Leov didn't wear knee/shins in PMB either... well those guys know how much they can risk I think

Bjammin (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:30)

its reeally hot out and the course doesnt really call for it

5 13

yeti85 (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:49) (Below Threshold)

You train at 100% and race at 95%...if you're consistent and know your 95%, then you can risk it.

17 0

bikeaddict123 (Apr 22, 2012 at 14:12)

you race at 100%...

goulldy (Apr 23, 2012 at 5:37)

Sam Hill always looks like he's racings at 95% ... If not less. As did Danny Hart at Fort William and Champery last year - you could see he was holding it back!

timkoerber (Apr 23, 2012 at 9:13)

How can you train and race at 100%? You're going to burn yourself out training and end up sucking at racing! Physically sometimes you need to hold back so you have it in ya when you actually need it. Train smart - race fast.

Bennyy4x (Apr 23, 2012 at 9:16)

Stop bitching over a person not wearing knee pads to ride

ride360 (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:53)

Graves won it on a prototype 4" travel rail bike! Wish they'd finally update the old one.

www.bikerumor.com/2012/04/21/bike-check-team-issue-yeti-303-rail-4-travel-4x-slayer

tetonlarry (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:58)

That Yeti 4X bike you linked to looks amazing. They should definitely mass produce that frame!

kfitz (Apr 22, 2012 at 14:23)

hell yeah! lopes is still a badass!

JonnyValleyBoy (Apr 22, 2012 at 14:05)

Yes Manon!!!

dhurbaner (Apr 22, 2012 at 14:18)

yeh neko! crushin it .

endurocat (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:42)

Every time jared races this course he makes podium. You can only wonder what he could do if he starts racing enduro !

conv3rt (Apr 22, 2012 at 14:41)

Lopes. Didn't he just win an XC race somewhere? Animal.

kerberos FL (Apr 23, 2012 at 4:51)

Yes, the XC Eliminator (XCE) in Houffalize: www.redbull.com/en/bike/stories/1331574446381/uci-mtb-world-cup-xce-highlights

cuban-b (Apr 23, 2012 at 14:23)

Kyle strait, Lopes, Graves, CG all still killin' it! Soon we'll see Tomac, Rockwell, King, and Palmer all win races this year.

Protour (Apr 23, 2012 at 15:23)

Palmer, Tomac & Rockwell are still in shape, but King sorta let it go...

Karpiel073 (Apr 22, 2012 at 18:19)

MUST...HAVE...VIDEO!

rob-c (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:32)

Good to see Manon in the top 3 again!

tank3872 (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:51)

chuffed jared got the win one of the best riders of our time period !

N3Rd5 (Apr 22, 2012 at 21:28)

finally Graves gets Yeti a win! time to take the whole thing!

cungl (Apr 23, 2012 at 19:12)

Well done Mick in the DH and Troy in the DS. Go Aussies!!!

Fix-the-Spade (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:13)

Did Gravesy break out his 4x bike again? Man's a machine.

Dlongb13 (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:29)

He was riding the SB66 from what I saw.

Bjammin (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:31)

I think its his SB66, but don't quote me on that

duncanp (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:32)

Simply speculating here, but i think its actually one of gwin's old dh bikes; running shorter travel and restickered with Graves' name: nsmb.com/assets/2012/images/SeaOtter/SO2/SO2-17.jpg ...

Bennyy4x (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:53)

that's the new 303 though isn't it? gwin switched to trek way before that was out?

duncanp (Apr 22, 2012 at 14:00)

Well... its a striking resemblance of the 2008 303 SS www.littermag.com/2008/features/1041/1041a/viewentry2.php?entryID=88 , www.littermag.com/2008/features/1041/1041a/photos/2.jpg : www.nsmb.com/assets/2012/images/SeaOtter/SO2/SO2-16.jpg So it could have been around for a while.

Xpos3d (Apr 22, 2012 at 15:16)

Well spotted Sherlock! I think your right

Noahnuff (Apr 22, 2012 at 23:38)

holy crap! no doubt good eye @duncanp, thats totally the same frame!

OneEyedHito (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:44)

Edit

Enduro27 (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:51)

Jill literally looked signifigantly faster than graves on the 1st jump set, she was on fire through there!

OneEyedHito (Apr 22, 2012 at 14:09)

Hart raced I think. At one point I thought e was 2nd.

ralphus47 FL (Apr 22, 2012 at 16:59)

graves calfs are unhuman!

lilreece (Apr 22, 2012 at 13:48)

what happend to danny hart ? or didnt he race

RollaMan (Apr 22, 2012 at 20:51)

18th ahaa