Underworld Cup: Day 1 - Practice

Apr 27, 2013
by Paris Gore  
The Pacific Northwest weather generally doesn't welcome those returning from the sunny days of Sea Otter with open arms, but Friday here in Port Angeles, WA, came with skies for miles. A track known and loved by many riders, the "Underworld" Cup, a combined MTBGP and NWCUP event, brings a "real" track (as Brook MacDonald put it) in comparison to the rather mellow Sea Otter course. With a seeding run tomorrow, today's practice was all fun in the dust while tomorrow could be another story with the rain scheduled to return.

Bulldog
  Brook "Bulldog" MacDonald looking contemplative. Or hungry.

Stevie Smith
  Stevie Smith on an outside line. The last NWCup saw a Canadian in the top spot for both the men and women - could it happen again?

Cedric Gracia
  Cedric Gracia, stylish as always aboard his DVO equipped bike.

photo
  Junior National Champ, Jay Fesperman, will be racing a number of World Cups this year for the Yeti squad.

An unexpected face in the race scene The Claw destroying laps and looking quite fast for a guy not used to racing.
  An unexpected face in the race scene, The Claw was destroying laps and looking quite fast for a guy not used to racing.

Lars Sternberg
  Lars Sternberg has an eye for creative lines, finding takeoffs and landings where others stay rooted to the ground.

Josh Bryceland
  Josh Bryceland, coming in hot. Those white socks might not look the same tomorrow if the weather follows the forecast.

Connor Fearon
  Connor Fearon takes flight aboard the Carbon Operator.

Andrew Neethling
  Andrew Neethling threads the needle through the greenery.

Bulldog
  Bulldog charging hard at the edge of the track.

Jill Kintner looking for a triple domination in the women s class this weekend.
  Jill Kintner looking for a triple domination in the women's class this weekend.

Jared Graves
  Jared Graves placed fourth at Sea Otter - we'll see what he can come up with on the rougher Port Angeles course.

Troy Brosnan pinned
  Troy Brosnan pinned.

Phil Metz
  Phil Kmetz enjoying the hero dirt during today's practice.

Luke Strobel with his double shot frappuccino with lots of extra whipped cream...
  Luke Strobel with his double shot frappuccino with lots of extra whipped cream...

Load em up The Devinci crew heads out to grab some grub.
  Load em' up! The Devinci crew heads out to grab some grub.

photo


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57 Comments
  • 118 2
 Hope the Claw smashes it!
  • 17 0
 I know! The Claw with a number plate, love it!!
  • 2 18
flag mfbeast12 (Apr 27, 2013 at 14:09) (Below Threshold)
 Next he'll be riding Gwin's 29er. and winning.
  • 37 1
 I would love it if Semenuk showed up to a few of these smaller races and competed. I think we've all been just about dying to see him race.
  • 21 1
 was this a UCI sanctioned event?

I'm telling . . .
  • 4 0
 Yea. Mtbgp and NW cup..
  • 13 0
 Those wheels are 20 something, no??
  • 12 11
 Hell yes!! BIG bikes and Small wheels on a steep track! Wish I was racing here instead of Sea Otter last weekend. long live proper DH racing.
  • 11 8
 You say that as if people think Sea Otter is "proper" DH. When in fact, no one says that. It's DH in name only and I'm fairly certain we all know that as do the racers, sponsors, spectators, etc... Stop trying to dump on Sea Otter for not being Leogang or Schladming or whatever. It's never tried to be, it's just you that thinks it has so relax mate.
  • 8 6
 Hey cyrix,
I'm not "dumping" on Sea Otter. I raced there almost every year going back to 2006. I support them with my hard earned cash. It's a fun track and rougher than it looks on video.
Monterey is practically in my back yard. My point is the racing in the NW cup looks epic and I'm jealous. Racers in that area should be freakin' stoked and support their local races.
  • 9 7
 Cute, have your comment removed so people don't see what you said then flip your story. Eh, whatever. If props are that important more power to you.
  • 1 0
 someones weak!..
  • 3 0
 I just wanted to say his initial post was not there this morning when I posted and some other post was, but now his post is back and the other is gone. I think it was a mistaken deletion of a comment. So I apologize for my last message.
  • 10 0
 Yeah Jay representin the east coast shred it man
  • 4 0
 Jay is fast. Hope he does well.
  • 4 0
 yeah phil!!
  • 2 1
 It's Phil Kmetz with a K.
  • 3 1
 yeah i know, i ride with him all the time we live in the same town
  • 3 0
 pictures are awesome i like it Big Grin
  • 17 18
 This is picture perfect...showing the different riders from different disciplines coming to together to race this one race. This is the future of our sport, and it is exciting. No matter what your background is, as long as you have mad skills, and a still beating heart to make some climbs...Enduro is your race! At the end of it, were just riding up a hill to come done the 'fun' side. Is that not what mountain biking truly is?
  • 30 0
 Say what?
  • 21 0
 Looks like dh to me
  • 14 0
 maby, but this is a dh race not an enduro race!!
  • 3 2
 ...or throwing your bike in the back of the van to come down the "fun" side. That's even "funner!"
  • 12 1
 Thankful to see a dh race with dh bikes. Not against enduro in any way or form, but it is nice to see proper downhill.
  • 3 0
 Lars if flat out insane! Killer!
  • 2 0
 can someone tell me what is the shoes steve smith is wearing?
  • 2 0
 yup, fiveten hellcat fiveten.com/products/footwear-detail/13880-hellcat-team-black
  • 3 1
 Dirtyknobbies it is a dh race not an enduro race!
  • 2 0
 Is anyone on flats anymore?
...at the races.
  • 1 0
 There were 5 riders just in those pictures riding flats. So....yes
  • 1 0
 beautiful photos! the course looks amazing too
  • 1 0
 smashing pics, thanks paris!
  • 1 0
 Looks like one hell of a rowdy track!
  • 1 0
 Rowdy lol
  • 1 0
 The claw is useing the new 2013 freerider VXI 5.10 shoes again and flying
  • 2 0
 gwin there ya?
  • 1 0
 ya.
  • 2 0
 Fesperman representing!
  • 1 0
 Everyone of the photos could be a POD. Good stuff, Paris Gore.
  • 1 0
 That's so cool seeing world cuppers on a local track.
  • 1 0
 Well done great to see Gracia back!
  • 1 0
 looks like a lot of fun
  • 1 2
 Is that a new Troy Lee kit Troy Brosnan is wearing? All red jersey. It would fit my helmet!!
  • 1 0
 now we're talking !!!...
  • 1 0
 stoked for bryceland!
  • 3 4
 wheres Ian Hylands these pics a really good and then not so good.
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