Poor Nate Furbee: on a burner of a race on all time dirt and DNF'd. Something went adrift on stage 3. Gonna have to call out a rock and tire combo not having a good encounter. My guess is that Nate swiped right but that rock swiped left.
Dusten Smith getting a taste of victory in the Grom race. Not sure how old he is but it's safe to say that if he wins a few more that his parents might not have to pay for a new bike.
For some reason Chris Wharton does not exist in this photo even though he's got a number plate on and he's flat out PINNED on "Borderline": he's got a DNF next to his number on the results sheet and no times for any stages. Dang.
Aaron Altier of the young guns category railing stage 3. Young guns, you ask? Expert 18-29 category. Their times won't win the pro category, but they're not that far back. Altier, for example, would have taken 17th in pro.
Bryce Kans may have only finished 20th in the young guns category but officially he placed first in the "nearly got a bar drag" category on stage 3's bermaliscious goodness.
Gavin Ullrich, aka the Dirty Fingers Shop Grom, pinning it to win it in the "Riddler" DF skinsuit that can't be unseen. At day's end he'd be fourth overall for the younger guns category (Junior Expert 17 & under).
Full Gas: Jess Palacio digging deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep on stage 3. Of course, you'd be digging deep, too, if Matt Slaven was dropping in after you. Nothing like being a bunny rabbit for a big dog to motivate some extra effort.
Fast. Fast enough to take home bragging rights for the win. Oh, wait: she IS home. Local EWS racer Kim Hardin putting the hurt on the rest of the field with four stage wins and first overall.
Fast old guys Trace West nearly getting blown over on stage 5 of the race (note the flagged trees in the background: it was windy as f--k on that ridge) but keeping the rubber side down well enough for 9th place overall.
Amy Morrison took a flyer on getting into the race with a waiting list entry, scored the golden ticket, and came home fourth, with two stage wins. Keep an eye on the California girl as she lives the racing dream for Marin bikes this summer.