Race Report: Windham Eastern States Cup DH

Located roughly three hours north of New York City, Windham Mountain Bike Park is the host for Round 5 of the MAXXIS Eastern States Cup Downhill series. The series has raced the World Cup track for a few years now but Windham changed it up for 2018 with brand new sections of trail toward the base which linked to the Citizens DH track for a wicked combination of trails which still held true to the high speeds and technical terrain racers have come to expect here. The Catskills have had a rain-filled summer with no shortage of precipitation the week prior and downpours on practice day to help keep things interesting. It seems there's no in between here, it's either moon dust or monsoons, yet there's something downhill racers love about this mountain that keeps them returning year after year.


The skies opened up halfway through Saturday practice and it poured for a couple hours, adding to the already greasy conditions.


While most decided to wait out the raindrops, the kids kept it rolling through the storm.


With the rain came a thick fog that rolled over the top of the mountain. Imagine trying to ride while looking through mud splattered goggles, then combine that with less than 50 feet of visibility.


Can't see a damn thing, still gonna send it!


All doom and gloom on the top third of the track, luckily most east coasters have raced this section at least once in the past.


Jordan Daigle's fork seals appear to be working just fine, he would squeak just inside the Pro Men's top 10 come Sunday.


Pick a rut, any rut.


Having trouble finding your line? Just follow the small creek that formed on track like Emmet Moore.


Whipping up weatherproof webs in wicked, wet, and wild Windham.


One of those days when you just hose it all down, even yourself.


Just thinkin' about tomorrow...


Most riders (and photographers) were relieved to see the weather had cleared up in time for Sunday morning's practice session.


Although the track drained quite well overnight, there were quite a few puddles left over from Saturday's precipitation.


Canadian speedster Patrick Pare Martin flinging mud on the open ski slope at the top of the track, he would earn his best finish of the 2018 MAXXIS ESC season, a respectable sixth place in the Pro Men's class.


Andrew Wegiel won the unofficial road gap style contest and earned 8th place in the Pro Men's class. Fun fact: he has finished 8th at every MAXXIS ESC DH race he's entered in 2018, solid results for the first year pro.


Steve Day said he felt slow all weekend but he sure looked fast during his race run, besting the 30-39 Expert class by over eight seconds to take his first MAXXIS ESC win.


Giant Co Factory Off-Road Team member Matt Driscoll topped the Jr. Expert field by over 25 seconds on his way to take the win, a lot of that time was probably made on this jump that many chose to roll.


Bobcats Racing team member Joshua Miller was able to grab a fourth-place finish, for his third 30-39 Expert podium this season.


The infamous Windham rock garden saw little use this weekend thanks to the faster exit of this new line which pointed racers toward the bottom of the Citizens DH track. Wulfpak Racing's Duncan Durivage keeps his eye on the trail ahead on his way to a fourth-place finish, his third MAXXIS ESC 16-39 Amateur podium of 2018.


After deviating from the World Cup track, riders were met with a harsh combination of slick ski trail crossings and awkward, wet rock gardens.


Andrew Driscoll flies out of the woods and onto the final open ski trail section toward the finish, he topped the U15 boys by 21 seconds with a final race time of 4:16.


Tryon Bikes rider Matt St. Dennis hangs it all out on the new ski trail section, making his way toward the Fly Racing Speed Zone and a second place Amateur 30-44 finish.


Bike Check

Mark Schnepel is always a top contender in our competitive 40+ Expert class, this week we take a closer look at his Commencal Supreme DH 29. Say what you will about 29ers in downhill, this is one slick race rig.



Rider height: 6 feet, Weight: 175 lbs
Frame: 2018 Commencal Supreme DH29, size large
Fork: Fox 49 Float, 70 PSI, 2 volume spacers
Rebound: 8 clicks out, High speed compression: 16 clicks out Low speed compression: 5 clicks out
Rear shock: Fox DHX2, 500 lb SLS spring
Compression: Low speed: 16 clicks out, High speed: 5 clicks out
Rebound: Low Speed: 15 clicks out, High Speed: 8 clicks out
Brakes: TRP G-Spec Quadiem
Rotors: TRP-33 Two Piece Slotted Rotors, 203mm front & rear
Shifter and Derailleur: SRAM XO1 DH Shifter, SRAM X01 Type 3 Medium Cage Derailleur
Cassette: SRAM XG-795 X-Dome
Cranks: E13 LG1 Race Carbon, 165mm
Pedals: Shimano Saint M820
Chain Ring: 34t
Chain Guide: E13 LG1+
Wheels: Spank Spike Race 33
Hubs: Spank Spike
Tires: Schwalbe Magic Mary Addix Ultra Soft with Cushcore inserts, 22 PSI front, 25 PSI rear
Saddle: WTB High Tail Team Titanium
Seatpost: Thomson Masterpiece
Bars: Renthal FatBar 35, 800mm wide, 30mm rise
Stem: Renthal Integra II, 50mm
Grips: Renthal Lock-On, Ultra Tacky


On to podiums!


Fly Racing Speed Zone winners including our two fastest amateurs, Ella Bartosh and Andrew Driscoll.


Canadian Maxine Bergeron is always a threat for the Pro Women's podium, she took the win Sunday with a race run time of 5:26. "The track at Windham was a good challenge for me. The top half of the track was scary especially in the pouring rain, you had to stay focused even if it gets pretty loose. I love riding in the mud it gets wild at times and keeps you on your toes!"


Pro Women's winner Maxine Bergeron.


Drummer Racing's Steve Estabrook seems to be heating up in the second half of the season, finding his way on the box this weekend as well as at the past three MAXXIS ESC races.


Max Morgan keeps it low and pinned on perhaps the fastest section of the track just after the road gap, he would finish in second place for the Pro Men.


IJ Racing and Sick Components rider Rafael Gutierrez decided to join us this weekend following the Mont Sainte Anne World Cup and took the win by just over four seconds with a final time of 3:20. "Windham for sure is one of my favorite venues because my first World Cup ever was there so I have lots of great memories! Even if I have raced many times in the USA I only know the east coast and love it! Lots of rocks, roots and rain always make the tracks fun. My race run was a mix of taking risks in some sections and playing it safe in others, I think now with the level on the east coast you can't be conservative if you want to take the win."


Pro Men from left: 4th - Isaac Allaire, 2nd - Max Morgan, 1st - Rafael Gutierrez, 3rd - Steve Estabrook, 5th - James Frost


So long from Windham Mountain, we'll see both Downhill and Enduro racers next weekend for another BOX Components Showdown at Mountain Creek Bike Park in Vernon, New Jersey. No comment about the weather so we don't jinx it. Isaac Allaire currently leads the MAXXIS ESC Downhill series by just 68 points so it's anyone's ballgame for the overall with just three races left and many within striking distance.


Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: Jason Scheiding


Full Results
Easternstatescup.com


2018 MAXXIS ESC SCHEDULE

ENDURO
April 22 Glen Park, PA
May 6 Plattekill, NY
May 20 Binghamton, NY
June 3 Thunder Mountain, MA
June 17 Blue Mountain, PA
July 15 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 12 Victory Hill, VT
Aug 26 Mountain Creek, NJ
Sept 23 Killington, VT
Sept 30 Wilmington, NY
Oct 21 Thunder Mountain, MA Finals

DOWNHILL
May 6 Plattekill, NY
June 3 Thunder Mountain, MA
June 17 Blue Mountain, PA
July 15 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 19 Windham, NY
Aug 26 Mountain Creek, NJ
Sept 23 Killington, VT
Oct 14 Mount Snow, VT Finals

BOX SHOWDOWNS - DH and Enduro on the same day
May 6 Plattekill, NY
June 3 Thunder Mountain, MA
June 17 Blue Mountain, PA
July 15 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 26 Mountain Creek
Sept 23 Killington, VT

CLIF ENDURO EAST presented by Maxxis ESC
July 1 Mountain Creek, NJ - EWS Qualifier
July 29 Thunder Mountain, MA - EWS Qualifier
Sept 16 Victory Hill / Burke Mountain - EWS North American Continental Championships FINALS