Downhill Southeast - Round Two Race Recap
It's round two of the Downhill Southeast, so where are we going? Back to the state of TENNESSEE! Enter week four of five coming off a widely successful first National level event at "the place where bikes go to die", aka Windrock, the Downhill Southeast crew headed a degree or two Southwest and about 150 miles to Sequatchie, Tennessee and Trials Training Center for round 2 of 3 of the DHSE brought to you by Neko Mulally (and crew).
Before we get to the good stuff, if you are in the Chattanooga area and have some free time, we've got two recommendations for you that are literally separated only by the Tennessee River. First, Racoon Mountain for your two-wheeled trail ride fix (keep your eyes open for some words, snaps and a video from Brice Shirbach on what Racoon Mountain has to offer in his next East Bound and Down installment). And second, Prentice Cooper State Forest.
First shuttle up for Saturday morning practice, the man in charge (Neko Mulally) was right there to make sure everything was going to plan. Not sure how he can turn off business so quick then get out and stay in point on the track. He does one hell of a job keeping his mind where it needs to be for the various roles he plays throughout the race weekends. Props buddy!
Some of our Northern neighbors were back for round two. Kristofer Euoy of Adrenaline Racer out early in what was a beautiful day on Saturday, with lots of sun and temps in the upper 60s. Not sure these ideal conditions would last as a significant amount of rain was on it's way during the overnight hours...
Rocks, rocks and more rocks. Follow Joe Englehardt's lead and you'll survive just fine. When you float over those points and baby heads, they can't hurt you.
Seems the "foreigners" were the ones with the most style this past weekend. That's not a complaint, not in the slightest bit. Adam Robbins was running a very close second to Isak Leivsson in the style category both Saturday and Sunday.
TTC looked to be either performing some deforestation or looking for a new quarry, so the center staff along with the DHSE crew created a new connector between the rock drop and Sender's rock. Seth Hanson comes out of the woods just downstream of the rock drop entering the connector before dropping into Sender's.
The new connector included a short pedal on an ever so slight uphill, over a small rock, a ladder drop between the trees, then on to the shoot leading into Sender's. Jake Smith pictured during Pro Men Practice.
Though you wouldn't know it from this image, Sender's Rock was the popular spectator hang out (this was late in the day during Saturday practice). The expectation was just that, SEND IT! This pic does absolutely NO justice. The skilled were sending it and landing about half way between the end of the bridge and the large rock in the middle of the trail. Again you can't tell from this image, but it's one heck of distance.
Photo Courtesy of Sean Leader - Is Neko ready to take up another sport? Getting some instruction from Mr. TTC/Trials Training Center himself, Troy Roberts after the conclusion of practice late Saturday afternoon.
Photo Courtesy of Sean Leader - Another day (Sunday pictured), nothing to be like the day before (Saturday). Rain moved in about 5:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and other than a few short breaks inbetween, it didn't really stop until about 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Angelina Palermo kicks off a wet and foggy Sunday Morning on the upper part of the course, aka Goat Trail. In these conditions Goat Trail is no joke, whether on two wheels or on two feet. It was an interesting morning for everyone.
Occasionally there'd be a 5 minute drizzle that seemed to disappear as quick as it appeared. At the higher elevations as soon as the rain stopped, the fog rolled in. Tommy Zula amidst the fog just a few hundred feet down from the start.
Photo Courtesy of Sean Leader - Yep, pretty much. No words really necessary here, all courtesy of rain and the upper part of the course (aka Goat Trail).
It's early, but Walker Shaw had a good afternoon in front of him. No spoiler alerts just yet, so we'll leave it there.
Seems not long ago, we all were "Seth (Hanson) who?" Now everyone in the Southeast and the Carolinas knows his name. At the end of the 19 Pro Men runs, he'd finish just outside the top 10 in the 11th spot.
This really shows the scale of Goat Trail and even then, photos really do it no justice. Compound the elevation loss over distance with wet rocks and slop, you've got your hands full. With the amount of rain that fell from the sky overnight, it wasn't going anywhere soon.
Photo Courtesy of Sean Leader - Pro practice was from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Sunday with the first rider at 12:30. With the rain finally going away just as the session started, it looked like the only section of the course that was getting better was the end of goat to the new connector. Other than that, it was still going to be a bit on the messy side. Andrew Slowey pictured.
Peek-a-Boo. Anyone guess who this rider might be?
Photo Courtesy of Sean Leader - The next two photos are of the same rider, I believe the same run, captured back to back sections of the course. Sean Leaders pic (above) shows Oliver Levick in the rock garden on the run into the next image.
Next image following the above (and a very brief shot of sunlight)... Oliver Levick out of the rock garden and into the short shoot to build up some speed to the first of two rock features. End of day, he'd go 14th in the field of 19 Pros.
Same feature as the above, this time with Geroge Schley showing how it's done. He would finish 15th in a field of 33 Amateurs.
It was a good (and uneventful) weekend for Patrick Alcisto, I mean Rafael Ferreira, I mean Patrick Alcisto (I give up trying to keep you two straight) finishing 8th in Amateur Men. Thanks for not repeating Round 1 at Bailey Mountain Patrick. My 70-200 thanks you.
The sole Cane Creek rep STILL putting down the PUNISHMENT on the new Helm. I think he might have been the only Pro with a single crown? Andrew Slowey took the 18th spot in Pro Men.
If there was a weekend award for style, it would have to go to Isak Leivsson on his Canfield Bros. No matter where he was, he was on point. Even on Sender's Rock the day before, the crowd mentioned it was all Isak, all the time. He ended up with the Bronze with a time of 3:07.025.
He's on a roll and he's only 13 years old. Chris Grice has already pulled the Three Peat: Bailey, Windrock GRT, and now TTC. Can he make it four for four at the final round of the DHSE at Windrock in just a few days? His time this weekend would have been good enough for the 10th spot in Pro Men, 3:26.263.... at AGE 13!!!
The above image is from race day morning practice, but fast forward to race runs and it was Frida Ronning's day for Open Women. She posted a 3:50.890... Great run Frida!
A busy week for this man, starting with a trip to the west coast for some PR duties with his new teammates. Then hurry back east for this weekend's event. It must have been the fresh bike and fresh kit that gave him the edge to take the King of the Mountain for round two. Neko took the top spot with a 2:55.186 over Walker Shaw by 4.1 seconds. Congrats Bud!
Above - Catch a glimpse of the action from Trials Training Center courtesy of Ross McDonald of MTBmaniatv.
Amateur Top Three:
1. Chris Grice - 3:26.263
2. Chuck Pitts - 3:26.448
3. Rafael Ferreira - 3:35.937
Intro Top Three:
1. Mitchell Odendahl - 4:06.352
2. Eli Podgurski - 4:25.062
3. Trey Mason - 4:58.699
Women' Open Results: 3. Megan Hutton (left) 4:23.761, 2. Angelina Palermo (right) 4:14.736, 1. Frita Ronning (center) 3:50.890. Women' Open Results: 3. Megan Hutton (left) 4:23.761, 2. Angelina Palermo (right) 4:14.736, 1. Frita Ronning (center) 3:50.890. Notable: Healing vibes to Carolina Washam with a broken hand due to an incident during Saturday practice.
The fastest Junior in the Pro Men field and walking away with a cool hundred bucks? That would be David Kahn in the 9th overall Pro Men spot stopping the clock after 3:17.862,
Pro Men Results: 5th - Jake Smith (far left) 3:12.480, 4th - Adam Robbins (far right) 3:12.283, Bronze - Isak Leivsson (second from left) 3:01.025, Silver - Walker Shaw (second from right) 2:59.286. Gold - Neko Mulally (center) 2:55.186.
Complete DHSE Round Two Official Results: Here
Downhill Southeast Info:
Neko Mulally
Series Information
Website
Downhill Southeast Series sponsors:
Blue Sky Fuel
Industry Nine
Fox
Worldwide Cyclery
Carolina Pro Flooring
Visit Knoxville
And we are off to the next round. See everybody in just a few days for the final round at Windrock Bike Park, Oliver Springs, TN, April 1 and 2, 2017. Image is from Laurel Point Picnic Area/Trail Head at Racoon Mountain, Chattanooga, TN.
MENTIONS: @mtbmaniatv / @IndustryNineOfficial / @foxracingshox / @NMulally / @seanleader
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Great photos and article though, looks like it was a fun weekend.
Fox has stepped up and given away two free products at each race so far to the fastest Am and Intro riders. By the time it's all said and done next weekend at Windrock we will have given out two forks, two shocks, and two dropper posts! The swag game at these races is also at an all time high! Too many hats, beanies, water bottles and brake pads given way to count...