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2011 US AM National Champs DH Track
This past week Beech Mountain Ski Resort in North Carolina held a Qualifier Race for the up and coming 2011 National Downhill Champs. This race also was a great chance to see what Beech Mountain and Chris Herndon/Crew have been working on to prepare for the big event. The Qualifier Race was to be held on what will be the Armature Race Track for Nationals.
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Beech Mt Ski Resort has been holding Downhill Races all the way back to the mid 90's. Over that time Racers and Race Promoters have come and gone, but Beech Mt has always been one of the best venues in the South East for Downhill Racing. It is the highest Ski Resort on the East Coast at 5,506 feet. The mountain has everything to offer with steep terrain, lots of rock, and lots of roots. Throw in some Southern brown sole and you have the makings of a great track. Weather plays a big roll on race day here too. You never know what you’re going to get as we saw this past weekend with rain the night before when it showed only 10% chance of rain.
My Race Run brought to you by the Drift Innovation's HD Helmet Cam
The AM Race Track is one of the best constructed Downhill Courses the South has seen in years. It offers everything you can throw in a proper DH Track. Out of the Start Gate you pick up speed on the open ski slope with some S-Turns and a small Rock jump. When you enter the woods you will find that the course was made much different than most DH Tracks. It’s wide and open with lots of line choices. This was the vision that Chris Herndon wanted. The fast lines are obvious, but also have higher risk if done wrong. He planned this track out well. It’s like this all the way down the mountain till you come out on the bottom ski slope where there are a good mixture of Berms and Jumps.
![photo]()
![photo]()
Race day was super Foggy with lots of Wind. The Wind was like hitting a wall that almost stopped you if you were not putting a good forth effort on the gas. It was like this all day.
With the success Beech Mountain has seen from this past race and with the up and coming National Champs, they plan to open a Bike Park in 2012. They have also invested the time to build and install Bike Trays for the lifts that will allow riders to get 6+ runs in an hour.
![photo]()
Look to see big things from the 2011 US National Downhill Champs this year along with Beech Mountain Ski Resort in NC.
Hope to see you all there: Cecil Linder
Beech Mt Ski Resort has been holding Downhill Races all the way back to the mid 90's. Over that time Racers and Race Promoters have come and gone, but Beech Mt has always been one of the best venues in the South East for Downhill Racing. It is the highest Ski Resort on the East Coast at 5,506 feet. The mountain has everything to offer with steep terrain, lots of rock, and lots of roots. Throw in some Southern brown sole and you have the makings of a great track. Weather plays a big roll on race day here too. You never know what you’re going to get as we saw this past weekend with rain the night before when it showed only 10% chance of rain.
My Race Run brought to you by the Drift Innovation's HD Helmet Cam
The AM Race Track is one of the best constructed Downhill Courses the South has seen in years. It offers everything you can throw in a proper DH Track. Out of the Start Gate you pick up speed on the open ski slope with some S-Turns and a small Rock jump. When you enter the woods you will find that the course was made much different than most DH Tracks. It’s wide and open with lots of line choices. This was the vision that Chris Herndon wanted. The fast lines are obvious, but also have higher risk if done wrong. He planned this track out well. It’s like this all the way down the mountain till you come out on the bottom ski slope where there are a good mixture of Berms and Jumps.
Race day was super Foggy with lots of Wind. The Wind was like hitting a wall that almost stopped you if you were not putting a good forth effort on the gas. It was like this all day.
With the success Beech Mountain has seen from this past race and with the up and coming National Champs, they plan to open a Bike Park in 2012. They have also invested the time to build and install Bike Trays for the lifts that will allow riders to get 6+ runs in an hour.
Look to see big things from the 2011 US National Downhill Champs this year along with Beech Mountain Ski Resort in NC.
Hope to see you all there: Cecil Linder
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Member since Aug 24, 2006
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1 Comment
- 1 0
caleb93
(Sep 1, 2011 at 14:20)
Great race to bad weather wasnt on our side, ready for the real thing though
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