Results: Dakotah Norton & Kailey Skelton Win the US National DH Championships 2021

Jul 12, 2021
by Ed Spratt  

The results are in from the US DH National Championships, with Dakotah Norton and Kailey Skelton taking the 2021 titles.

Kailey Skelton secured the Women's Elite national title with a win of nearly 13 seconds on second-placed Caroline Washam. Dakotah Norton managed to take the national title in the Elite Men's racing, with Luca Shaw coming across the line in second place with Austin Dooley rounding out the top three.

Check out the full results below.

Results:


Men:

1st. Dakotah Norton: 3:24.98
2nd. Luca Shaw: +1.03
3rd. Austin Dooley: +3.55
4th. Aaron Gwin: +4.37
5th. Neko Mulally: +5.43


Women:

1st. Kailey Skelton: 4:05.89
2nd. Caroline Washam: +12.72
3rd. Ella Erickson: +13.87
4th. Mazie Hayden: +15.29
5th. Kialani Hines: +16.03


Full Results:

Women:
photo
photo

Top 30 Men:
photo
photo



Posted In:
Racing and Events DH Racing Results Dakotah Norton National Championships


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81 Comments
  • 34 3
 I'm just gonna throw it out there but it looks like Gwins days at the top or behind him......... thoughts
  • 16 7
 really depends if he wants to put in the hard work like he use to. He needs to get the hunger back he is to busy enjoying the money he made. Cant blame him. However if its invested correctly he won't need another title he is going to have to want it.
  • 18 1
 Probably just Instagram keeping him down.
  • 10 0
 @Krzymndyd: but he still has yet to win the rainbow stripes. There must be some part of him that doesn't want to retire without a world champs win.
  • 2 0
 @mtnrush666: I am sure he does. Through the years in a lot of different sports you see this weather it be football, golf, surfing etc but the great ones find a way.
  • 18 5
 Kenda tires.
  • 7 1
 @CantClimb: you see the Vital video where he flatted in the rock section Dak was gapping?

Didn't I watch you walk down something like 3 runs in a row years back b/c of those darn things?

If it is the tires, I'd have to black out some Minions and get back to business.

That's all Specialized Gravity is doing
  • 11 1
 Agreed. I'm a long time Gwin fan. I have no issue with his politics or anything else. I truly believe he elevated US DH racing from the party and send it mentality to a true professional athlete mentality. That being said, I just don't think he wants it as bad as the other guys anymore. After listening to his pod cast interview, he basically said he doesn't want to change his training because it worked in the past. He doesn't want to spend time in Europe in the offseason, or spend time on wet/euro style tracks. He's comfortable, and he rides that way. He talked about the bike a bit and being more involved with improving the brand and ultimately sales. Unfortunately, he's not winning, not even on the podium, so I doubt he's selling bikes which makes R&D more difficult when funding is an issue. Tracks don't get any dryer than this Winter Park track and he was 4.5 out. Maybe he crashed, maybe he had a mechanical, but unless he's willing to change and admit that he needs to in order to keep up with those that surpassed him, I don't see him being a threat to the WC podium anymore.
  • 5 8
 @Pegboy: Good thing you're not steering his ship.

People who win multiple World Cups per season don't fade away. You're welcome to look back at results and find a single multi-win or multi-championship winning World Cup racer who just suddenly fell off a cliff and couldn't win any more.
  • 3 1
 He was sick all week.
  • 9 0
 @blowmyfuse: Oh really? Minnaar being the exception, they almost all do. Even Sam Hill (And yes , he did great in Enduro, but that's not DH). I'm old, I've seen it many, many times. Usually it starts with an injury (which Gwin has had), but there are more fade aways than those who went out on top while still winning. Hopefully I eat my words, but I would expect to see Dak on the box far more often than Gwin in the future.
  • 5 0
 Most of the answers are on the Vital MTB podcast. Man, that is one interesting listen. I couldn't believe how candid it was. For example, one question was "are you still the most high paid racer in the sport?"
Kudos to Gwin for allowing and answering questions like this. That's very rare. Great insight for me sitting here making assumptions.
And wow, how crazy what happened between him and Instagram? That's a real eye opener.
  • 2 0
 Cant say that.. Look at Minnaar..
  • 2 0
 @nicktapias: he is the G O A T not the chainless wonder
  • 7 0
 @Pegboy: Great comments- I would also add that Gwin came to the sport and brought with him a new style of training and competing. I think he was able to dominated as he had an "edge" initially from understanding how riders in the Moto world trained with strength/core training. People saw what he was doing and caught up. All the top guys train hard these days and the level of competition is better than ever. Gwin is an amazing rider- but so are all the top guys these days! The level is so high that it might not be that Gwin has gotten worse but the field has just gotten better. Gwin not beating Brosnan, Wilson, Norton, Hart, Bruni, Pierron etc. might speak more to how good they are currently riding than how poor Gwin is... to an extent. Just another piece of the puzzle.
  • 2 0
 @blowmyfuse: you can’t think of any former racers who couldn’t maintain winning seasons? Really?
  • 1 1
 @giantwhip: I’d respond with a list of at least eight riders but he’ll just get mad at me for disagreeing Frown
  • 2 1
 @CantClimb: YES. Smartest comment on here.
  • 1 1
 @giantwhip: did you mis-read my comment?

Or am I misreading your question?
  • 2 2
 @blowmyfuse: you're talking about top racers who couldn't maintain their winning seasons. Gwin, Hill, Peat, Smith are just a few
  • 2 2
 @giantwhip: downvoted you for adding Smith to that list. Aside from that it is fair and can include others like Gee Atherton, Rennie, Mick Hannah...buuuuut Smith passed away before any pattern of decline as I recall. I think he placed second in Lourdes in his final year of racing along with a bunch of top 20's.
  • 3 1
 @giantwhip: Just because you're not winning at the moment doesn't mean you're not going to win again. Not at all.

GM won in 2012 & then took 3 years to win again in 2015

Sam Hill went FIVE YEARS without a win. Then won 2 in the same season. Won in 2009 then a drought until two World Cup wins in 2014.

Steve Peat is his own list . Started World Cups in 1999. So many podiums and top 10's over that span.
Peaty won TWO World Cups & World Champs at age 35 in 2009.
Got SECOND to Gwin at 37 years old at Windham 2 years later.
  • 1 0
 @CantClimb: yup
  • 5 1
 When you have 4 houses you don’t have time to win.
  • 1 1
 @giantwhip: just say you agree otherwise he’ll keep crying Big Grin
  • 1 1
 @SterlingArcher: you just stalk my comments all day. If only you had a life outside of my posts. Poor thing.

Really starting to pity you & all the validation you need from a single user.
  • 1 2
 @blowmyfuse: thank you for proving my point HAHAHA. Learn how to relax and take a joke, amigo! Big Grin No need to be such a crybaby all the time Beer
  • 1 0
 @Madfella: I don’t really follow Instagram. What happened?
  • 2 1
 @SterlingArcher: to anyone who doesn't know what's happening, @SterlingArcher is following me around in every single post I make and commenting at me, not contributing to the discussion. So if you're wondering what his thoughts are, he doesn't have any. He's just trying to harass me. And PinkBike won't do a thing about his harassment. Enjoy.
  • 1 1
 @blowmyfuse: dude there’s a reason you’re not allowed in the pits at ESC and plattekill.
  • 1 1
 @cuban-b-can-blow-me: wait aren’t you the guy who got banned three times from pinkbike but begged and begged to be let back in only to be banned again for harassment? HAHAHAHA
  • 1 1
 I repeat.... to anyone who doesn't know what's happening, @SterlingArcher is following me around in every single post I make and commenting at me, not contributing to the discussion. So if you're wondering what his thoughts are, he doesn't have any. He's just trying to harass me. And PinkBike won't do a thing about his harassment. Enjoy.
  • 1 0
 @blowmyfuse: you got it sir! New rule on pinkbike: Blowmybutch gets the last response in every thread, NOBODY DARE RESPOND TO HIM! ok will you please stop crying now lol

Ironic considering your behavior at that one race (which continued into the next event)
  • 1 1
 @SterlingArcher: to anyone who doesn't know what's happening, @SterlingArcher is following me around in every single post I make and commenting at me, not contributing to the discussion. So if you're wondering what his thoughts are, he doesn't have any. He's just trying to harass me. And PinkBike won't do a thing about his harassment. Enjoy.
  • 31 2
 I'd love to see the results with Gwin and Mulally on a YT TUES again lol
  • 6 30
flag DoubleCrownAddict (Jul 12, 2021 at 7:14) (Below Threshold)
 Can't blame them for not wanting to be associated with YTrash.
  • 2 0
 @DoubleCrownAddict: you apparently have not been to the IE 909
  • 4 1
 @DoubleCrownAddict: oh great, you again.....
  • 17 6
 If desire and training has not changed, you have to think it’s the bike. Both Neko and Gwinn are slower since switching. VPP is not that easy a design to work with for some.
  • 8 9
 Neko is the same - Dak and Shaw were always up on him regardless.
  • 20 1
 @neimbc: Neko was the 2019 national champion beating out Charlie Harrison and Norton. Neko was more competitive with Dak and Shaw until recently. Although, I think a lot of that is Dakota getting faster.
  • 7 0
 Seems to be an odd vibe on the current IFR team compared to others. We stopped by the pits a few times at snowshoe and everyone is just kinda off in their own world.

I seem to remember one of the IFR riders borrowing a bike from Dean Lucas for a race since they didnt have any backup bikes (?)

Hope Aaron is cool with where things are in his life as he overall seems like a good dude.

Just my crap opinion.
  • 4 0
 @ATXZJ: It was Joe Breeden whose bike got lost in transport. He was not an IFR rider but the team he was on (who did not travel to Snowshoe) rode the Intense M29 frame. So, not part of that team but it probably would have been nice if the IFR team could have made it work to lend him a frame (if they had one in Joe's size).
  • 1 0
 @RCederholm: thanks for clarifying that one. I was fuzzy at best
  • 6 0
 @jeremy3220: Neko had a pretty bad back injury a year or so ago from what he’s said. Sounds like it really affected his training/racing last season. I could see that carrying into this one if he’s only recently been able to really push. Dunno if that’s the cause, so many factors it’s hard to say. Maybe just wishful thinking on my part I’d love to see him on form.
  • 11 1
 I think the level one must be at with respect to willingness to take risk is so high right now it’s hard for someone who has made it (aka, made real money and is financially secure) to be at the top. This I’d suggest is what is holding gwin back more than the bike.
  • 7 1
 Remember when Gwin left Trek for Specialized? He struggled on the older Demo 8 (as did Sam Hill when he went from Iron Horse to Specialized). Gwin and Neko are definitely slower versus the same competitors since switching to Intense.

Could be other factors that we aren't aware of but Gwin is one of the most competitive people I have ever met, he wants to win. So either the bike just isn't working or maybe the stress of owning and running the team is messing with his mental game.

Will be interesting to see how the rest of the season unfolds for Gwin and Neko.
  • 2 0
 Gwin is a smart man. He probably bought into the intense team thinking he would build the team up for future success (better riders, higher paying sponsors) and banked on the risk that he and Neko could build that base. Unfortunately they’ll need to improve their own race results if their original plan is going to work out. How else will they attract talent AND sponsors?
  • 5 1
 A lot of different factors at play, too.

New tires.

New bike.

New Team.

New wife.

Gwin doesnt need to win anymore. He’s got proven experience and business accumen. Neko, likewise, has been successfully running race series and building new parks. If after a few years with Intense neither is winning world cups, but comes out the other side with better long term income generators, they’ll be better off than many racers.

Looks at Sam Hill. Took a year off to focus on spending time with family, and obviously a bit slow to come back to form. Who cares? The dude doesnt need to prove to anyone he’s one of the best, but Im sure his kids/wife would like him to not break his neck and spend months every year traveing.

If Gwin and Neko are getting a paycheck from Kenda and we’re all talking about them, isnt that better than no paycheck and the occasional podium? The sponsorships are worth far more than the win, and easily more sustainable.
  • 8 2
 Gwin was out of a contact because YT screwed him late in the season. He put together what he could and made choices around getting more money (ex: going with Kenda over Maxxis since Kenda would pay him/do signature tires). And he's been left with a likely inferior frame and definitely inferior tires that he is STILL developing years into the program. I'm sure if Gwin was back on the YT or any modern 4-bar bike with Maxxis tires, he's be going 4 seconds faster over that long course. This is really a great example of how gear can make a big difference at the highest level.
  • 8 0
 Congrats to Norton, well deserved title!
Did Gwin actually move to Montana?
  • 10 0
 On the Vital MTB podcast he stated he now has four houses. One in Cali, one in Montana, and one right near wind rock in Tennessee. I don’t remember the fourth location but he did specify that it was a rental/investment property.
  • 14 0
 It wouldn't be surprising if Gwin changed his official residence for tax reasons.
  • 1 0
 @IanJF: we for higher income taxes than you. But no sales tax at least
  • 1 0
 @IanJF: his wife is from there and her family still lives there.
  • 6 0
 @IanJF: Great for registering the McLaren.
  • 1 0
 @Idaho: Thanks, didn't know that! Won't join the speculation as how that affects Gwin's taxes; I would have thought that Montana being in the Rockies might actually be a better place to prepare for European alpine downhill tracks than Southern California...
  • 1 1
 @Idaho: Pretty sure he was referring to the Windrock place being a rental since he won't be there most of the time.
  • 1 5
flag SterlingArcher (Jul 12, 2021 at 10:01) (Below Threshold)
 @Idaho: he still owns that home in Laguna beach but he doesn’t live there because of all the Asian people singing karaoke all the time Wink
  • 1 0
 @aaronjb: Doesn't Montana have a sort of Autobahn somewhere to open it up?
  • 3 0
 @neimbc: No aaronjb is probably refering to the registration loophole in Montana use mostly for supercars. Registering a car in Montana is cheap, doesn't need to ever be inspected, and all you have to do is get one of the law firms in Montana who deal with this scheme to set up a LLC in your name and they go to the Montana DMV for you.
  • 2 0
 @neimbc: No
  • 7 0
 Would have been cool to include the Jr. results.
  • 1 0
 And maybe some details like the location (I see Trestles on the IG post), track, conditions, equipment, injuries, etc. They're so quick to get the post out these days for clicks I think the actual details get left behind.
  • 1 0
 They're mixed in the aggregate listing of results on USA cycling link. There is no junior breakout for some reason.
  • 3 0
 Dak is the man, definitely has that next level speed, Only a matter of time until he wins a WC. This is Gwins final year on Intense, no doubt in my mind he would be faster on a better bike. I'd love to see what Gwin could do on the New Trek Session, or the Commencal, As far as factory race bikes go the playing field isn't level. Look at Brook on Mondraker vs the GT seasons.
  • 5 1
 The Force is still with Dak Yoda. We love to see it.
  • 4 0
 Hopefully we can see Kailey in the WC.
  • 6 1
 I think its the kendas
  • 1 0
 Agreed 100 percent.
  • 2 0
 There's a reason that no one else chooses to race Kendas at world cups. YT did Gwin dirty dumping him at the last minute and I gotta believe Kenda gives a lot of $ support for Gwin and IFR which they needed to put a team together.
  • 1 0
 Listened to the podcast and sounds like he is really busy with all of this other engagements. It was a good run but I really hope he can win World Champs or perhaps get more wins to get the GOAT Title from Minnaar.
  • 2 0
 Hell yeah way to go Austin! Some strong riders coming up the ranks in SoCal.
  • 4 0
 Dak has been killing it!
  • 1 3
 Aaron Gwin is on fire right now!!!
  • 2 0
 Full results here
my.raceresult.com/174832/#0_3EF1B7
  • 1 0
 That's Enduro. .
  • 1 0
 where are the junior results??
  • 2 0
 I am confused because it is showing Grice in the overall and he is a junior.
  • 1 0
 Anyone know what tires Dakotah used?
  • 4 0
 Maxxis.
Front: Assegai
Rear: Minion DHR II







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