Race Report and Video: Vittoria ESC Downhill - Blue Mountain

Blue Mountain Resort in the Poconos of Northeastern Pennsylvania played host this past weekend to the 7th round of the Vittoria Eastern States Cup Atlantic Downhill Series.


This is only Blue Mountain's second season as a host venue for the ESC tour, but the resort is earning high marks from those who have raced its rugged flanks. Boasting the highest vertical in the state, Blue Mountain offers rugged terrain coupled with machine-made park features, a winning combination.

In a mirror image of last season's downhill at Blue Mountain, afternoon practice on Saturday was a damp affair. A storm system moved over the area and soaked the region.

During one deluge, the camping area in the lower parking lot became a flood zone and there were reports of vehicle wakes swamping tents with several inches of water. Men's pro runner-up Leland O'Connor kept his pit protection from sagging under the weight.

Sunday was much drier and the mountain drained quickly allowing for prime conditions on race day. The course followed the same track as last year's event: Formula to OCS to Loose Cannon to Happy Ending. Danny's Cycles Junior-X rider David Kahn lit up the course for his second Atlantic Cup win of the season.

The top of the track was very rugged. The upper sections were absolutely littered with sharp-edged rocks. Teammates Steve Wittek and Will Rouse trained through a rough section on practice day.

There were many line choices for racers in corners and straights sections. Sheryl Senczakiewicz was joined by a large contingent of amateur women on the weekend, with Kristin Lenart taking the win in the category.


Roots were also in abundance. Michael Maldonado, who just turned 12, had his best result of the year with a 2nd-place finish in the 14-and-under cat. Maldonado, a well-traveled young racer, said, "I loved all of the tracks that the Eastern States Cup had this year but Blue Mountain suited my riding style best. It was rocky and really fast! I felt really good after riding in the mud during practice on Saturday. It was so much fun!"

It wasn't until reaching the lower sections of the course that riders got to enjoy more dirt than rocks. Felipe DeSousa seemed to enjoy the transition on his way to a 2nd-place finish in the crowded Cat 2 19-29 field. Taking the win in the category was Jacob Brewer, one of three Brewers, including Ben and Dan, to take home category wins at Blue.

Clear lenses, as Chris Cortolillo could attest, were a good call as overcast skies and dark wooded sections made visibility a challenge.

The terrain took its toll on racers' equipment. Cat 2 40-49 racer James Giarreputo was especially hard hit when he missed a corner and went over the bars. Hopefully his wheel took the worst of it.

The lower mountain featured numerous berms and jumps. Under-14 winner Zach Gareis, like most under -14 riders, was pretty comfortable airing it out on a bike.

Danny's Cycles junior-X rider Joe Montano took to the air just above the finish line for a 4th-place finish.

Mountain Creek Bike Park pro George Ryan pinned it to the line for his second 3rd-place finish of the season.

The POC speed trap winners for the race.

Canadian, Arianna Vegter had the fastest time for the pro women on the day, topping runner-up, Amy Temarantz by a thin 1.35-second margin. Vegter does most of her racing north of the border with this being only her third ESC start in the past three years.

The women's pro podium from left: Ella Skalwold-4th, Amy Temarantz-2nd, Arianna Vegter-1st, Cait Fields-3rd, Amy Alton0-5th

After a nearly two-month hiatus from racing the Eastern States Cup tour, defending Atlantic Series champion Mauricio Estrada returned to the scene with a splash, taking the men's pro field by a solid 3-second margin.

The men's pro podium from left: Jhony Betancurth-4th, Leland O'Connor-2nd, Mauricio Estrada-1st, George Ryan-3rd, Alex McAndrew-5th


The weather was whacky but the Eastern States Cup crew always finds a way to have a good time. Blue Mountain put on a great show. The Eastern States Cup downhill tour's next stop is a New England series race at the end of September, and it's at a new race venue: Thunder Mountain Bike Park in Massachusetts. Anticipation is high for this event as tales of the mountain's fantastic terrain have been making the rounds.

The double-point finals for both the Atlantic and New England downhill series will be at Plattekill Bike Park over the Columbus Day weekend in October. I'll bet the Maldonado family dog, Tina, has already marked her calendar.

Pics by Jason Scheiding / Words by Jeb Wallace-Brodeur


RESULTS: https://www.rootsandrain.com/race3305/2015-sep-13-vittoria-esc-atlantic-cup-dh-7-blue-mountain-pa/
http://www.easternstatescup.com
https://www.facebook.com/easternstatescup

2015 VITTORIA ESC Schedule:

Atlantic Downhill
May 3 Duryea Urban Downhill – Reading, PA
May 24 Plattekill Gravity Open – Roxbury, NY
May 31 Mountain Creek UCI ProGRT – Vernon, NJ - USAC State Championship
June 21 Plattekill Mountain – Roxbury, NY - USAC State Championship
July 19 Windham Mountain World Cup Track Test Race – Windham, NY
Aug 9 Windham Race the World– Windham, NY – World Cup Weekend
Sept 13 Blue Mountain – Palmerton, PA- USAC State Championship
Oct 11 Plattekill– Roxbury, NY - New England and Atlantic DH Finals

New England Downhill
June 14 Pats Peak MTB Bike Festival – Henniker, NH
July 5 Killington East Coast Showdown #1– Killington, VT- USAC State Championship
July 12 Jiminy Peak – Hancock, MA
Aug 1 Mount Snow East Coast Showdown #2 - Dover VT
Aug 23 Sugarbush East Coast Showdown #3 – Warren, VT
Aug 30 Attitash Mountain - Bartlett, NH- USAC State Championship
Sept 27 Thunder Mountain– Charlemont, MA- USAC State Championship
Oct 11 Plattekill– Roxbury, NY - New England and Atlantic DH Finals

East Coast Super DH Championships
Oct 18 Mountain Creek – Vernon NJ

Enduro
May 10 Plattekill Mountain – Roxbury, NY - USAC State Championship
June 7 Blue Mountain – Palmerton, PA - USAC State Championship
June 28 Attitash Mountain - Bartlett, NH - USAC State Championship
July 4 Killington East Coast Showdown #1– Killington, VT - USAC State Championship
Aug 2 Mount Snow East Coast Showdown #2 - Dover VT
Aug 22 Sugarbush East Coast Showdown #3 – Warren, VT
Sept 6 Killington Enduro Finals – Killington, VT

Super D
May 30 Mountain Creek Super D – Vernon, NJ - USAC State Championship

Triathlon
May 2 Killington Triathlon – Killington, VT

BOX Components East Coast Showdown Series
July 5 Killington East Coast Showdown #1– Killington, VT- USAC State Championship
Aug 1 Mount Snow East Coast Showdown #2 - Dover VT
Aug 23 Sugarbush East Coast Showdown #3 – Warren, VT

---

MENTIONS: @Eastern-States-Cup

---

Posted In:
Racing and Events Race Reports Vittoria