Race Report: GT Bicycles East Coast Junior MTB Championships - Blue Mountain, PA
The youth mountain bike community convened at Pennsylvania's Blue Mountain Bike Park this past weekend to have a shot at being the East Coast's fastest. Blue is the perfect venue for such an event, with plenty of room and terrain that lends itself to Cross-country, Dual Slalom, Enduro and Downhill races. With so many types of racing available, events like this give kids a chance to try a discipline they might not normally get a chance to. It's a busy weekend for the legs, but if anyone has the fuel to keep the fire burning it's these kids.
We're thrilled to have the support of GT Bicycles for the event this year, here's what Global Marketing Manager Rachelle Boobar had to say "What an awesome event to be a part of! To see the next generation of young east coast rippers coming together to show off their skills was truly inspiring. Not only are these kids fast and talented, they are also great young ambassadors for the sport. The vibes were high, the fist bumps many, and the support they showed for each other as they raced their hearts out was truly great to see. We can’t wait to come back year and continue supporting the growth of this event, and these young riders in their mountain bike journeys."
GT rider Phil Kmetz was on hand this weekend, leading a track walk with teammate Dylan Conte and riding the Enduro stages with the kids.
Only the fastest in each class will take home one of these bad boys.
Cross-country
Hannah Puttcamp was crowned the 16-18 girls class after ten laps with a final race time of 1:35.20.
And they're off! GT Bicycles Junior XC MTB Challenge starts the 16-18 boys.
Riverside Racing's Caleb Bradshaw rounded out the 16-18 boys top five.
16-18 boys runner up Owen Deale enjoying the scenic Poconos.
CCAP TTFEndurance Jr team member Ben Stokes bested the 16-18 men by over 40 seconds
A hard fought victory.
XC Podiums
Catching some air between events on Blue Mountain's newly opened jump trail Upper Empire.
Dual Slalom
Racer ready! The first ever GT Bicycles East Coast Junior MTB Championship dual slalom race kicked off Saturday afternoon.
Stowe MTB Academy rider Madeline Doiron took home the jersey for the 14-15 year old girls.
Stage 1 Cycling's Hudson Nablo had a banner weekend with U10 mixed class wins in all four disciplines.
Holden Trahan and Chris Liebig battled it out in the 11-13 boys class finals but it was Liebig who came out on top.
Tyler Zenoni roosts the dry Pocono dirt on his way to take the 16-18 mixed class win.
Dual Slalom Podiums
GT Bicycles gave away a new size small Force to one lucky winner at awards, we think he'll grow into it soon.
Enduro
Trek Pittsburgh rider Torin Pottinger would start Sunday morning with a stage win on Shakedown Street, then go on to take second place for the 16-18 boys.
Aiden Carder keeps it low and fast on his way to the 11-13 boys class win.
Trevor Zartan has been on pace lately, earning his first Maxxis ESC Specialized Enduro win a couple weeks ago and beating a fast 14-15 year old boys field this weekend.
Liv Racing Collective racer Riley Miller swept all four stage wins to take the 16-18 girls win, then finished second in DH Sunday afternoon.
Enduro Podiums
Downhill
Stage 1 Cycling's Kingston Duesing Bratkovics sent it into second place for the U10 mixed racers.
Levi Shum scored his best result of the season, second place in the 11-13 boys class.
Colten Hubbard has been chasing the podium this season and was finally able to put down a solid run this weekend, earning 14-15 year old boys class win by 4.51 seconds.
Eric Willetts scrubs his way into second place for the 16-18 year old boys.
Cutters Bike Shop ripper Abby Ronca earned her first Pro wins earlier this season and was able to do the same on her home track, winning by over six seconds.
Downhill Podiums
That's a wrap on an action packed weekend at Blue Mountain. Thank you to all of our competitors and parents for coming out, we'll see at a Maxxis ESC race soon or back here in 2022!
Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
XC Results
Dual Slalom Results
Enduro Results
Downhill Results
Easternstatescup.com
2021 MAXXIS ESC SCHEDULE
MAXXIS ESC INTENSE DOWNHILL SERIES
May 23 Powder Ridge, CT
June 27 Blue Mountain, PA
July 11 Thunder Mountain, MA
July 25 Windham, NY
Aug 1 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 29 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 12 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 26 Jiminy Peak, MA
Oct 3 Powder Ridge, CT
Oct 24 Mountain Creek, NJ - Series Finals
MAXXIS ESC ENDURO SERIES
May 2 Diamond Hill, RI
May 22 Powder Ridge, CT - Outbound Lighting Night Enduro
June 6 Glen Park, PA
July 11 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 1 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 22 Arrowhead Recreation Area, NH - EWS Gold Qualifier
Aug 29 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 12 Sugarloaf, ME - EWS Gold Qualifier
Sept 26 Jiminy Peak, MA - EWS Gold Qualifier
Oct 2 Powder Ridge, CT - Outbound Lighting Night Enduro
Oct 17 Mountain Creek, NJ - Series Finals
MOTOREX EBIKE ENDURO SERIES
May 2 Diamond Hill, RI
May 22 Powder Ridge, CT
June 6 Glen Park, PA
July 11 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 1 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 22 Arrowhead, NH
Sept 12 Sugarloaf, ME
Oct 2 Powder Ridge, CT
BOX COMPONENTS SHOWDOWN SERIES
May 22 Powder Ridge, CT
July 11 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 29 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 12 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 26 Jiminy Peak, MA
Oct 2 Powder Ridge, CT
GT BICYCLES JUNIOR XC CHALLENGE
May 1 Diamond Hill, RI - XC
July 10 Thunder Mountain, MA - XC
GT BICYCLES EAST COAST JUNIOR MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Aug 14-15 Blue Mountain, PA - DH - DS - XC - Enduro
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