Video & Race Report: EWS Points on Offer at ESC Enduro #2 - Glen Park, Pennsylvania
Three years ago the Pocono Bike Club reached out to George Ulmer to ask about the possibility of hosting an Enduro race on their local trails, since then Glen Park has grown to become a favorite among Maxxis ESC riders. You'd be hard pressed to find a more fun variety of trails on a 500' vertical piece of hill, this place has it all from fast flowing double track, a rock garden more gnarly than some DH courses and plenty of opportunities to get your wheels off the ground. Add in its central location, warm weather, Enduro World Series qualifying points and it's no wonder this venue draws riders from as far away as Canada and Kentucky.
The Maxxis ESC team and the Pocono Bike Club have outdone themselves yet again this year, putting together six stages all with their own quirks. The trails at "The Glen" aren't particularly long and with some classes reaching 50+ racers times are always tight here, so you've got to be 100% focused and ready to go flat out all day if you want to be on the podium.
265 racers made the trip to Stroudsburg and registered for a shot at EWS points, that says a lot about the community that the Maxxis ESC team has built with several other big events being hosted on the East Coast this weekend.
It's been a slow transition further north but spring is in full swing here in the Poconos with temperatures reaching the mid 80's this weekend.
Wabi Sabi's food truck was on hand, providing racers and spectators with a variety of delicious menu choices from yakisoba noodles to shepherd's pie.
The first ever Maxxis ESC Ebike race was held Saturday afternoon, riders made their way up Stage 4, then down Stage 2, then back up Stage 5 before finally descending Stage 4 to the finish line. John Beaupre puts the Intense Tazer through its paces in the Stage 4 rock garden.
Ebike Podium. The podium was a day after the EBike race, at least these two guys came back for their Pinkbike picture.
Short stages and tight times require racers to really turn it up on race day to be competitive, adjust accordingly.
The first sunny morning riders meeting of 2019, thanks Mother Nature!
Six stages this weekend and we're pedaling to all of them, luckily the transfer trail was gradual and smooth so racers were still smiling after 3,000 feet of climbing.
Stage 1 was the shortest of the day but several rock kickers intertwined by loose hero dirt kept riders on their toes. Bike Fettish rider Zach Mehuron started off his 2019 race season strong, sending it into seventh place in the Pro Men's class.
Flat Tire Defender Super Stage winners from each class, including our fastest amateurs Kale Cushman and Jack Brown, with their rewards for clocking the fastest times of the day on Stage 1.
After another pedal to the top of Glen Park riders dropped into Stage 2, JRA Cycles racer Bassil Silver opts for the fire road gap on his way to 17th place finish in the massive 50+ deep 30-39 men's class.
Kale Cushman finds the flow at the bottom of Stage 2, she would win this as well as four other stages, capturing her second Maxxis ESC Specialized Enduro Series win in the Amateur women's class.
Staple Stroudsburg dining spot Arlington Diner set up an aid station near the top of the stages, keeping racers fueled up to get them through all six pedal transfers.
Stage 3 was thought to be the most overall technical trail of the six, offering several line options which puzzled some riders on practice day. Emmett Avery doesn't think twice about styling it out on this optional rock gap, he would finish in ninth for the Pro Men, his second top ten of the season.
Tomahawk Cycles rider Laurence Dube powers his way through the rhododendron jungle at the bottom of Stage 3, he dominated the Men's 30-39 class, winning all six stages with a time that would have put him 12th in Pro Men. The 30-39 Class had 50+ racers thus qualifying the Class for the SDR Clothing Cash Rewards to the top three finishers
Safety first.
While there are plenty of technical features here, the smooth bits of trail between them really allow racers to pick up speed. Stephen Shum approaches Mach 1 on his way to a 13th place finish in the 40-49 men's class.
Jack Brown shows the Stage 4 rock garden spectators how it's done, he would win every stage and secure the U21 men's win by a commanding margin of 34 seconds.
There was a lot of debate whether going around this Stage 5 tree feature would save you time. Storrs Cycle Center rider Jake Baxter keeps it low and fast to take fourth place for the 21-29 year olds.
Speed Legion Racing's Chris Mari is not afraid to let it roll on the smooth sections of trail here at The Glen as he has quite a bit of Downhill racing experience. He points it through the top section of Stage 6 past the power transfer station on his way to a fourth place finish in the 30-39 men's class.
Stage 6 wasn't all about pure speed though, there were plenty of chundery bits toward the bottom of the trail to mix things up. Tomahawk Cycles rider Yannick Martel keeps it calm through this tricky combo of rock drops, he earned two stage wins and a third place finish in the 40-49 men's class.
The two fastest amateurs on Stage 6, Kale Cushman and Jack Brown, took home a fresh pair of hoops complements of Alex Rims.
The new fly-by timing system allows racers to nervously watch in real-time as results come in throughout the afternoon.
Pro Podiums
All smiles from Kim Quinlan as she makes her way through the rock garden heckle pit on Stage 4, she was able to lock down third place despite a crash on the final stage.
Alisha Darin is one of the most consistent racers out there, she hasn't taken a stage win yet in 2019 but was able to earn second place this weekend and is currently leading the Pro Women's points battle after two races.
Canadian Kayla Morin-Blanchette made the long drive south in search of dry trails and her efforts paid off, winning two stages and taking the Pro Women's win by 18 seconds. "I started pedaling on the trails two weeks ago and this race was my first of the year so I had no expectations except having fun on the bike. The feeling on my new Trek Slash was really good. The trails were really fun, quick and flowy with some technical sections, but in general it wasn’t a hard course. I felt confident on the bike in practice but not enough to imagine a podium the next day. I have to say that it was a good surprise to get a place on the podium."
Pro Women: 4th - Kathryn Lawrence, 2nd - Alisha Darin, 1st - Kayla Morin-Blanchette, 3rd - Kim Quinlan, 5th - Lauren Breza
Chris Miller was able to link together a consistent set of runs, taking two stage wins and third place overall come Sunday afternoon with a final race time of 14:35.
Danny's Cycles racer David Kahn has recently made the transition to the Pro Men's class and it's clear he's been putting in work with the Lees-McRae College cycling team, just four seconds off the win this weekend with the fastest time of the day on Stage 1.
Adam Morse was on a heater all day, keeping it rubber side down to take the Pro Men's win with the fastest overall times on three stage. He is now five for five at this venue, winning all three Maxxis ESC races as well as two Mid-Atlantic Super Series stops. "There is certainly something about these trails that gets me fired up. The runs are short, but every burst on the pedals rewards you with absurd speed. It reminds of racing downhill where you are just fully pinned at all times. The old enduro saying "smooth is fast" can no longer land you on top with more and more talented riders coming out to raise the bar, so I am most honored to be the one here at Glen Park."
Pro Men: 4th - Kyle Kimble, 2nd - David Kahn, 1st - Adam Morse, 3rd - Chris Miller, 5th - Max Beaupre
Register Here For the Maxxis ESC Box Components Showdown at Thunder Mountain
Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: Jason Scheiding
Full Results
Easternstatescup.com
2019 MAXXIS ESC SCHEDULE
MAXXIS ESC SPECIALIZED ENDURO SERIES
May 5 Diamond Hill, RI
May 19 Glen Park, PA – EWS Qualifier
June 2 Thunder Mountain, MA
June 23 Blue Mountain, PA
July 7 Burke Mountain, VT PA – EWS Qualifier
July 14 Plattekill, NY
July 21 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 4 Killington, VT
Aug 18 Plattekill, NY
Sept 8 Victory Hill, VT
Sept 29 Mountain Creek, NJ
Oct 6 Thunder, MA Finals PA – EWS Qualifier
MAXXIS ESC INTENSE DOWNHILL SERIES
June 2 Thunder Mountain, MA
June 23 Blue Mountain, PA
July 14 Plattekill, NY
July 21 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 4 Killington, VT
Aug 18 Plattekill, NY
Sept 29 Mountain Creek, NJ
Oct 20 Plattekill, NY Finals
MAXXIS ESC BOX SHOWDOWNS - DH and Enduro on the same day
June 2 Thunder Mountain, MA
June 23 Blue Mountain, PA
July 14 Plattekill, NY
July 21 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 4 Killington, VT
Aug 18 Plattekill, NY
Sept 29 Mountain Creek, NJ
MAXXIS ESC EWS QUALIFIERS
May 19 Glen Park, PA
July 7 Burke Mountain, VT
Oct 6 Thunder Mountain, MA Enduro Finals
CLIF ENDURO LITE presented by Maxxis ESC
Aug 25 Burke Mountain - Beginner Enduro Racers - Families - Kids - Fun!
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8 Comments
- 13 0
fattyheadshok
(May 22, 2019 at 17:46)
Incidentally for what it’s worth Kale Cushman “The Gazelle” as I refer to her is only 13 years old! Watch out for this one. She passed me last year in the Mt. Creek race. She caught up with me (I ride in the “old and busted” category) as I was struggling to make sense of a gnarly rock garden. This tiny voice behind me politely asked if she could get by me. I quickly moved aside to let her by and I watched this child fly by me blonde hair streaming out the back of her helmet literally dancing the bike through the gnar leaping effortlessly from rock to rock. I just stood there mouth agape as I had just witnessed some of the most graceful athleticism I’d ever seen. This young lady is not to be trifled with. She may be our next Jill Kintner.
- 6 0
fattyheadshok
(May 22, 2019 at 17:31)
Great times were had by all. I got to race with my 12YO boy along with one of my best buds. This is such a fun event. I’m still buzzing from it. Kudos to the organizers and Pocono bike club! See ya next year.
- 8 0
mgs781HD
(May 22, 2019 at 17:05)
Awesome ESC event. Great pix and write up Andrew!
- 3 0
lukecushman
(May 24, 2019 at 17:31)
Eastern States Cup event paired with the spectacular trails built and maintained by the Pocono Bike Club - add in a dash of beautiful weather to make a perfect weekend of racing.
- 1 0
Brooksinct
(May 23, 2019 at 13:57)
Always a great event and thank you Andrew for the pictures and words!
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