What Are You Crankful For?

We always look forward to November, the crazy race and travel schedules are over and life starts to return to normal, the holidays and most importantly time off from work is just around the corner, AND...... the for those of us in the Carolinas, the last race of the year is in our "back yard"....... Cranksgiving 2013 at Paris Mountain State Park, Greenville, South Carolina. Two and a half days of beverages, buds, and bikes. What else does anyone need? Nada!

What is rapidly becoming an annual classic kicks off Downtown G-Vegas with closely guarded secret Alley Cat route through the streets. The party's epicenter is Chicora Alley, which honestly happens to be one of the local eclectic dives in the Upstate, from Mexican to American.... I am telling the food de-lish! I am partial to the Burritos, but it's ALL good!

Yeah, most of us sink our hard earned cash into Downhill bikes, but some of the urban rides you see are freggin sick! I'd be willing to bet they don't come very cheap. These two are "White and Black", fitting for the photo and were pretty pimping steeds.


This was the first of the half dozen or so Alley Cats I've been to downtown, where each of the checkpoints were located at the top of four different parking garages across town...... a pseudo "concrete XC race." A mix of pedal legs for the 5 story climb with some two wheel slide action coming back down on the slick concrete....... that is assuming you were brave enough to pin it and play roulette with oncoming traffic.

Back to ground zero for the post race party. Fill up one some beverages and some food........ but pace yourself on the brew and don't party too late, there's still got two more days of racing in the woods to cap off the weekend. Bring on Super D Saturday and the Sunday Pain at the Enduro.

Assuming there's no lasting effects from the pint glasses the night before, it's out to Paris Mountain State Park for day one in the woods for the Super D. The folks at Upstate SORBA still have some of the sickest trophies I've seen compared to all the events I've been too over the past few years. Not to mention Recycle, Re-use, Renew!...... great use of some scrap metal that def looks pimp on the old trophy shelf.



The Suspension Experts South Carolina State Championships Super D practice kicked off at 8:30 and everybody was anxious to get out and get some dirt on those tires. I think we need some more words in that Super D title, it's a little short.

Luca and Walker Shaw, some of the biggest names from these parts showed the are good to their roots and came out for two days in the South Carolina woods. They were definitely two guys to keep your eyes on and likely forced others to dig just a wee bit deeper in the gasser to find those fractions of a second.


Two GVL locals, Andy Richter (top/red) and Jersey Jerry Mailloux (bottom/blue), pinning it through the bermed Pine section. Always a blast to race in your "backyard."


The lower half of the course is nice and tight, hard packed giving you that fix for finding your flow.

Clancy from the Clan they call Loorham..... well... ummm, not sure what he's trying to express here. I am sure those youngins are plotting some kind of mischief when they should be planning that attack on the Super D.

Luca and Walker taking some time to chill before it's time to get down to biz-ness.

SEI Racing's Matt Griffin, partaking in No-shave November, and Jeremy Raney, aka Mr. Giggles. Guys we think you need some brighter jerseys next season! You couldn't have picked a better match for that factory Yeti Lime. Color is your friend.

There are many many people to thank for putting this event together over the past two years, but the primary driver behind making it real? Jarret Peek. It was just three years ago, we can recall going to our first SORBA meeting ourselves and it just so happened to be his first meeting too. He's done a lot in that short period of time. Thanks for all your efforts Jarret....... and also thanks to ALL those involved, though not named. There's not enough room to type all those names.

What exactly is going in that mind? If a picture could speak........ local legend Christopher Herndon probably thinking, I wish my ankle was 100%. He recently broke it on a simple run. Super D Saturday he was putting in some laps, but not racing and just taking it easy. Funny how we seem to hurt things doing the simplest of things and how it effects our time in woods. Heal up quick my friend!

Erik Wolfe flying out of the Pine section on the upper part of the course. Erik finished 24th in a field of 26 in the Expert class.

Scout Clark a young female GROM from Greenville was sporting her new GROM Racing jersey on the top of the board in the Women's Youth class. I am sure this will be the first of many times she sits on that podium with that black and yellow jersey. Trust me folks, shez gotz skillz and can hang with her best bros of similar age.

Brrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaappppppp! Michael Kane knows exactly what I mean. Nuff said, Haha!

From a goof face to full focus.... it's race time with Clancy of the Clan they call Loorham. We've seen this GROM progress and make leaps and bounds in terms of skill. It's been three years, but seems like yesterday at the final DH race at Paris Mtn back in 2011, that he scared the bejesus of us running down the course. These days, no sign of fear and nothing but shreddin.

Twas a good day for Randy Richardson in the beginner class. The Silver isn't a bad way to kick off a holiday week. Congrats Dude!

We didn't see much of it all weekend and any air is good for a photo opp. Spencer Thomasson getting steezy during his race run. He had to settle for a 18th place finish in Beginner field of 25.

Ben Hobbs was looking for the two-fer and started Saturday out right taking the top spot in Men's Sport. Would it last til Sunday to make it two days, two golds? If I was a betting man I'd.............

Jay Sanderfer was a pleasure to watch all Super D-Day, lots of laps, pinned each and every time. He'd end up 13th in Sport Class stacked with 21 riders.

My boy Airwalk Robbie D (DeMao) gives us a little whippage on his race run. Rob's one of those "Old Schoolers" from Greenville filled with lots of stories about riding at all those places in the area that are no more and just a memory. Heck of a guy and a rider.

David Thomas keeping it low and fast through the rollers which was the crowd favorite hang out, probably more because it was the most accessible part of the course...... though it was straight fast and offered the best opportunity to put distance between the ground and the tires. David finished 18th in Expert.

Justin Mitchell with some more tuck. He finished one up on David (pictured above) with a 17th in Expert.

Luca and Walker would make it a 1-2 podium followed by Chris Wyatt. At the end of the awards the organizers announced an added incentive, if you could post both of the fastest times in both the Super D and the overall Enduro, you'd walk away with $500.00 cash. This was on top of the purse for each of the Expert classes. Luca had one down one to go and I'm sure he'd be laying down even harder. I'd be a heck of cash purse weekend for any rider to pull that one off.

Caroline Westray was the best of the women for the Super D followed by Debbie Gillespie and Megan Korol. Congrats!

Men's Suspension Experts Super D Results Expert:
1st - Luca Shaw 5:39.861
2nd - Walker Shaw 5:46.755
3rd - Chris Wyatt 5:59.420

Women's Suspension Experts Super D Results Expert:
1st - Caroline Westray 6:30.742
2nd - Debbie Gillespie 6:39.977
3rd - Megan Korol 6:41.175

Full Super D Results: Here

At the end of Day 1, it was out to event sponsor Sunrift Adventures, Traveler's Rest, SC in the getting colder by the second temps for a bonfire, beer and some pedal power drag racing.

Another day, another event. What do 150 Enduro riders look like chomping at the bit (and freezing) to kick Stage One of the Enduro? The lined looked like it stretched at least a quarter of a mile. It was important to stay out of the shade if you could, with the wind blowing and the temps dipping 20 degrees lower than it was on Saturday, it was bitter cold wait.





You can always count another "Old Schooler" and GVL-ian Cecil Linder to come out and support local events. Get as much racing in as you can before you join the four-zero club my friend! You're knocking on the door.


Jackie Batson played while husband Chip Batson worked the event. Great couple and always active in the local MTB scene.

Ross Monckton made the trip from Georgia and was one of two photographers that we know of that decided to put down the camera for the weekend and pick up two wheels for some pedal time. Hey, us photogs need to have some fun too. I just wanna know when it's gonna be my turn to be on the other side the lens???


Caroline Westray has been living the life out west representing Liv Giant, but managing to pencil in some time to get back home for competition and some turkey. It was a pretty good bet she'd go 2 and 0 on the weekend for the gals. She made good on that bet taking the Enduro for the Women and gets our personal vote for the fav shot of the weekend.

The Kane/Clancy/Scout train.... the promoters decided it was up the riders on how they wanted ride the stages. If your heart desired, you could go out alone or go with your buddy/buddies in groups of two or three with the intent of feeding off one another for more speed. They say you tend to ride faster in the chase than solo. Michael Kane, Clancy Loorham and Scout Clark kept the trio train together for all four stages of the Enduro.


Brissy Ridge was the trail of choice for the start of Stage 3. The first half before it turns into some DH flowing fun, is an up and down battle on some pretty gnarly terrain. Extremely rocky with blunt faces, very off camber and by far the most challenging to keep that forward momentum going.


By this time, we kept hearing two things: 1. "I'm ready for a HUGE HOT meal" and 2. "My legs are spent." Out of the gate it was a really climb, then a re-run of Saturday's Super D course down to the base of the park.

Men's Wild Turkey Enduro Results:
1st - Ben Renkema 31:18
2nd - Luca Shaw 31:24
3rd - Walker Shaw 31:28

Women's Wild Turkey Enduro Results:
1st - Caroline Westray 38:20
2nd - Debbie Gillespie 38:24
3rd - Jackie Batson 43:01

Full Enduro Results: Here

The best $10.00 Rob Duncanson ever spent. $10.00 for one raffle ticket = one complete bike in pieces, only short a head set. I'd say he was beyond stoked after they called ticket number 808424. For those that are on the fence, yeah the economy is still in a state of flux and seems these days companies are talking about scaling back, but I am here to tell you, Cranksgiving has some of the best quantity and quality when it comes to podium and giveaway prizes. Thanks to all the event sponsors for their contributions.

This is the second year for the 2.5 day event and it continues to get better and better learning and adapting to each of the challenges that are expected with any event. This WILL Be on our schedule next year, always exciting, always a great time. Thanks to all involved.... put this one in the books, enjoy your holiday week, then get started planning for 2014's event just a short 12 months away.

Season Chapter 2013 = DONE! Break Time!

Event Sponsors:
Paris Mtn. State Park
Suspension Experts
Industry 9
Smith Eyewear
RaceFace
MRP
Fly Racing
Kona
Maxxis
Trek
Norco
Thomson
Oskar Blues Brevard
Quest Brewing Co
REI Greenville
Sycamore Cycles
Great Escape
Sunshine Cycles
Glory Cycles
TTR Bikes
Carolina Triathlon
Lucky Bike
The Hub
BillyGoat Bikes
Sunrift Adventures
Halfmoon Outfitters
BikeStreet USA
Hincappie Sportswear
PuraVida Adventures
Ride Garden
Invert Skate Shop
Reedy Rides
Threshold Provisions
Chicora Alley
Elevated Trail Design
Greenville Rec
Greenville Spinners
Greenville Cycling Center
Mtn Khaki's
GoJaMMedia
Upstate SORBA
Wynit Printing
Headwaters Environmental
RSB/Ride Smooth Brother
Loaded Components USA