Race Report: East Coast Junior MTB Championships at Glen Park

Words and Photos: Dan Brodeen

On any given summer weekend, the Pocono Mountains in northeast Pennsylvania is populated by tens of thousands of tourists. Couples, families, and tour groups visit the tourism based area in search of water parks, hiking, shopping, and most often a break from the grind of the 9 to 5. While all this goes down, an ever growing population of mountain bikers descend on Glen Park in Stroudsburg, the largest town in the region. The small county park had seen very few visits since the era of free ride and downhill riding ended in the mid to late 2000s. There was a small group of locals under the guidance of the Pocono Bike Club reinventing the mountain for enduro starting around 2012 but the park really was an unknown to those outside of the Poconos. In 2017 the Maxxis Eastern States Cup's George Ulmer and Pocono Bike Club leadership set up a meeting to discuss the possibility of a Maxxis ESC enduro race at Glen Park. Both went into the meeting with reservations. The PBC wasn't sure if they were ready for the attendance the series attracts while the Maxxis ESC had its reservations about Glen Park's somewhat unknown terrain. The gamble made by the two organizations was a clear winner however after the first race. The success continued with the second year's race, setting an attendance record for enduro races held on the east coast. This year's ESC Glen Park race was honored to achieve North American Enduro World Series Qualifier status.


The Eastern States Cup has a long history of supporting youth racers. For multiple years the series funded the ESC North American Downhill Team. The team was the first all junior squad to receive full trade status from the UCI. The Maxxis ESC's Clif Kids program offers the youngest riders out on the course a guide to make sure their racing experience is a safe one. As a way to continue their support of youth mountain bike racing, the Maxxis ESC took on the role as promoter for the East Coast Junior Mountain Bike Championship, a race created by the promoters to complement the already established US Cup West Coast Junior MTB Championships at Vail Lake in California.

The race would be the first of its kind on the east coast offering both enduro and XC racing on the same weekend to solely racers 19 and under. After some deliberation, Glen Park seemed like the perfect location for the two disciplines to coexist for a weekend. The Glen is full of both natural and man made features that always send the stoke level to 10. Dan Brodeen of the Pocono Bike Club was tasked with building a championship worthy XC course on a mountain that is almost exclusively ridden on long travel bikes. Two large trail projects helped create a 2.5 mile loop that climbs the mountain in two stages then rewards riders with a half mile descent to the start/finish area. A large percentage of racers made it out to the race on Friday to sample the new course and to learn the lines for the enduro.


Practice wasn't just two wheeled fun on Friday. In between the enduro and XC practice sessions, Lees McRae College Director of Cycling Tim Hall made a series of informational presentations to the young racers. Hall also serves as the Bobcats Head Coach. He spoke with racers about cycling in college and all the programs Lees McRae offers. He emphasized that his school's program focuses on personal development as well as athletic. He feels he opened the attendees eyes to the fact that membership on the team is more than just racing your bike.

After each session he answered individual questions from both parents and racers. It was noted by multiple onlookers that the youths attending were hyper focused on every word coach Hall had to say. Cell phones weren't seen for the entire 50 minute session. Coach Hall was drawn to the event because it was only open to juniors and offered two disciplines that Lees McRae tends to attract to their program. Hall feels the event will grow much bigger once the word gets out about what a positive experience it is for young racers.






Brilliant sunshine and a chill in the air welcomed racers Saturday morning. The 10-12 year old boys and girls lined up first to be the first XC racers in the history of Glen Park. The race flowed throughout the day while parents, friends, and siblings cheered on the young racers. Cranks Around the Campfire Mountain Bike Festival partnered with the event and offered the Cranks Kids Corner. In addition, they provided festival passes to their event for every podium spot awarded all weekend. Cranks Around the Campfire takes place August 23-25th 2019 at the Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation (www.cranksaroundthecampfire.com). Cranks offered different games and activities to keep the younger spectators occupied while their siblings raced. A steady line of supportive parents kept their stoke level high at the Santa Mama Coffee Roaster's tent. Local rider and co-owner Luke Heller took time out to show a handful of kids the basics of being a barista. Just in time for lunch the vintage polished aluminum Wabi Sabi food truck pulled in to offer up their signature Ramen menu. Another local rider, Jay Cooper, owns and operates the food truck in addition to his Saki Brewery and Bistro Sango Kura in Delaware Water Gap, PA.






Elite Boys winner Caleb Bottcher from New Zealand has been touring the east coast with his coach Matt Miller, while his fellow countrymen deal with winter conditions back home. Miller of MTB PHD started coaching Caleb at age 15. Caleb is focused on getting in top form for the upcoming World Championships in August at Mont St Anne. Caleb truly enjoyed his stay in the states and is exploring college team options since back in New Zealand they really don't exist. Caleb stuck around for Sunday's enduro race and placed a respectable 15th in Elite Boys on his rigid post equipped Santa Cruz Blur.



Sunday's less than optimal forecast of rain didn't dampen the spirits of the enduro field and the weather ended up staying dry until well after racing ended. The stages were full of variety and each one had its own flavor. The park is located on Godfreys Ridge and offers only 450 vertical feet of descent. The stages optimize the lack of vert but still contain almost no climbing. That doesn't mean however that there wasn't a lot of pedaling. The Glen is known for its flat corners that will have you sprinting back to speed if you haven't fully dialed your cornering technique.

There were many features that had riders catching some hang time but the course always provided a B line around to keep things safe. Racers used one common transfer trail back up the mountain. About 3/4 of the way up, the climb crosses the road where racers could stop at the Arlington Diner Aid Station. Local George Halas has been running his aid station for every enduro race and it has been one of the extras that set the Pocono Bike Club events apart from other local races. George also owns and operates the local bike shop in Stroudsburg, the Pocono Bike Company. Anyone looking to get to know the Glen's terrain should check out their Wednesday night group ride.






The event will return to Glen Park in 2020 with a summer date that will be announced at a later time.




XC RESULTS
ENDURO RESULTS


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!

Posted In:
Racing and Events Enduro Racing Race Reports XC Racing