The Main Event: US Downhill National Championships 2017

Jul 23, 2017
by Jay Schultz  


After a long week packed full of two wheeled action—amateur downhill, enduro, dual slalom, XC, short track XC, etc.—it was time for the main event and to crown the 2017 Downhill US National Champions.

Lots of folks were bummed that Neko is on the injured list. Sure Gwin was the favorite but either Neko likes Snowshoe or Snowshoe like Neko.... or maybe even a bit of both. He has always done well here. It would have been great to see him mix it up with his teammate.
  Lots of folks were bummed that Neko is on the injured list. Sure Gwin was the favorite, but either Neko likes Snowshoe or Snowshoe like Neko.... or maybe even a bit of both. He has always done well here. It would have been great to see him mix it up with his teammate.

Tommy Zula bisects one of the many rock gardens on the track.
  Tommy Zula bisects one of the many rock gardens on the track.

Adam Delonais launched the track s second road gap one of the signature park features on the upper portion of the course.
  Adam Delonais launched the track's second road gap, one of the signature park features on the upper portion of the course.

A big crowd gathered to watch the action in the crux rock garden. Walker Shaw put on a good show for the peanut gallery.
  A big crowd gathered to watch the action in the crux rock garden. Walker Shaw put on a good show for the peanut gallery.

Armen Davis recovered from a shaky seeding run to take the Junior-X silver when it really counted.
  Armen Davis recovered from a shaky seeding run to take the Junior-X silver when it really counted.

Amanda Batty rallied the corners and brought home a silver medal for her efforts.
  Amanda Batty rallied the corners and brought home a silver medal for her efforts.

After crashing in seeding Dakotah Norton got some redemption on race day and just missed the podium with a fourth-place finish.
  After crashing in seeding, Dakotah Norton got some redemption on race day and just missed the podium with a fourth-place finish.

Charlie Harrison moved up a spot from his seeding result to take home the bronze medal.
  Charlie Harrison moved up a spot from his seeding result to take home the bronze medal.

Giant Factory rider Eliot Jackson took care of business this week with a sixth-place result.
  Giant Factory rider Eliot Jackson took care of business this week with a sixth-place result.

After a lackluster seeding run Kiran Mackinnon put together an impressive finals run to take the eighth spot.
  After a lackluster seeding run, Kiran Mackinnon put together an impressive finals run to take the eighth spot.

Warren Kniss backed up his seeding performance with a solid ninth-place run through the rocks.
  Warren Kniss backed up his seeding performance with a solid ninth-place run through the rocks.

Defending ProGRT overall champion Shane Leslie raced to a seventh-place on Sunday.
  Defending ProGRT overall champion Shane Leslie raced to a seventh-place on Sunday.

Colorado s Jacqueline Thomas turned in a solid bronze-medal performance for the pro women.
  Colorado's Jacqueline Thomas turned in a solid bronze-medal performance for the pro women.

Nathan St Clair has the eyes of a Champion. He wore the Stars and Stripes for Juniors in DS on Friday and he hopes to do the same for DH on Sunday.
  Nathan St Clair has the eyes of a Champion. He wore the Stars and Stripes for Juniors in DS on Friday was hoping to do the same in DH. It was not meant to be this day, as he finished 9th in Junior Expert Men

After winning the seeding run Luca Shaw had to settle for the silver medal after being edged out by reigning champion Aaron Gwin.
  After winning the seeding run Luca Shaw had to settle for the silver medal after being edged out by reigning champion Aaron Gwin.

Nikolas Nesteroff was untouchable in the Junior Expert field this weekend and took the gold medal by a whopping 17 seconds.
  Nikolas Nesteroff was untouchable in the Junior Expert field this weekend and took the gold medal by a whopping 17 seconds.

Jill Kintner
  Jill Kintner lead the field of 15 women by a big margin, 14 secs over her closet competitor Amanda Batty. I've lost count on how many titles she's won across the board, but she's definitely earned "Legend" status.

Aaron Gwin successfully defended his national title taking home the gold with a nearly 3-second victory over Luca Shaw.
  Aaron Gwin successfully defended his national title taking home the gold with a nearly 3-second victory over Luca Shaw.

Aaron Gwin and Luca Shaw relived their race runs after going one-two for the national title.
  Aaron Gwin and Luca Shaw relived their race runs after going one-two for the national title.

Views: 2,695    Faves: 4    Comments: 3


Samantha Soriano Mazie Hayden Alli Gaertner

Top 4 Junior X Women Results:
1. Samantha Soriano // 5:12.488
2. Mazie Hayden // 5:19.820
3. Alli Gaertner // 6:34.449
4. Emily Harris // 10:51.191

Nik Nestoroff Armen Davis Steven Walton

Top 5 Junior X Men Results:
1. Nik Nestoroff // 3:51.344
2. Armen Davis // 4:08.472
3. Steven Walton // 4:10.156
4. Damon Sedivy // 4:18.457
5. Aidan Casner // 4:26.574

Amanda Batty Jill Kintner Jacqueline Thomas

Top 5 Pro Women Results:
1. Jill Kintner // 4:53.719
2. Amanda Batty // 5:07.524
3. Jacqueline Thomas // 5:12.445
4. Amy Leishear // 5:31.926
5. Angelina Palermo // 5:32.219

Luca Shaw Aaron Gwin Charlie Harrison

Top 5 Pro Men Results:
1. Aaron Gwin // 3:41.871
2. Luca Shaw // 3:44.836
3. Charlie Harrison // 3:46.988
4. Dakotah Norton // 3:49.160
5. Demetri Triantafillou // 3:49.621

Jill Kintner Aaron Gwin 2017 DH National Champions
  Your 2017 U.S. DH National Champions, Jill Kintner and Aaron Gwin.


MENTIONS: @snowshoebikepark-official / @SnowshoeMTB / @snowshoeMTN / @jebcas / @USAC



Author Info:
gojammedia avatar

Member since Dec 10, 2012
124 articles

23 Comments
  • 17 0
 Yeah, that track looked gnarly. Good coverage none the less, congrats to all the winner & in reality, anyone that made it down those wet rocks in one piece!

Be cool if you guys did more of the results. 15-16 ex is the next crew coming up, them for sure but a lot of people who visit know people racing & there's no information anywhere on the race.
  • 6 0
 True, you can't motive the youth if you don't include them. They are the future of the sport after all.
  • 7 0
 @Boardlife69: Seriously, how stoked would some 12yo be if they podiumed @ got his pic on Pinkbike. That would probably be cooler to them than podiuming.
  • 2 0
 Here are all the results from the entire weekend.
www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?year=2017&id=10
  • 10 0
 Hey UCI... check out this proper DH track!
  • 9 0
 Now that is a proper DH track. Gnar, Gnar, Gnar.
  • 7 0
 Ben sums it up best and watch out for this kid, he's in the 13-14 age group and has a bright future ahead of him. He wins the interview game, hands down: www.instagram.com/p/BW4-2P6l3Hn
  • 4 0
 It really is pretty relentless rock / root gardens on a lot of the western territory. Its pretty much a given in the east. Some of the DH tracks ive seen im confused by like "where are all the rocks"
  • 1 0
 Yeah that looked awesome. Would love to see more tracks like that in the world cup. Cool how there were some narrow spots and not just wide open trail.
  • 8 0
 Snowshoe sending east coast downhill. Some of the best trails on earth. Paddle faster I hear banjo music.
  • 4 0
 Noticeable difference in speeds for top 5 guys. Looks fun, scary and crazy at same time. Gwinning
  • 4 0
 Note heavy lack of sponsors/branding on women's podium. Can't decide if that's refreshing or depressing?
  • 3 0
 Depressing. I'd love to see a more expanded women's field.
  • 1 0
 Could not be more stoked to have a rider in the top 5 on the pro women's podium. Big congrats Amy Leishear. We could not be more proud. Many thanks to all who helped make this possible and shout out to all the pro ladies! Monster course! Congrats Gwin!
  • 6 1
 I love America. Just look at the quality of those medals
  • 2 0
 Oh man that first crash, seeing that guy speeding in to the bushes, that's got to be a fail of the month! I hope he's alright.
  • 3 0
 Great Coverage - Thanks PB Team!
  • 1 0
 Such a blast cheering on all of the riders from Lower HairBall, it was suck a great place to appreciate the speed and skill level of all of the athletes.
  • 3 0
 nice coverage!
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