The Calm Before the Storm - US MTB Nationals
And so it begins...... day one of the US Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals. The day started out early with the long registration lines and a 7:30 meeting on all things Enduro, as the two-day course maps were released for the first time just a few hours before. It felt like each of the four race disciplines all had some overlapping practice sessions at some point throughout the day. That made for a long day for everyone, the staff, the media, and the racers. A bit on the light side today in terms of on course content, as there was an afternoon shut down of the lifts and suspension of XC practice due to lightning in the area. But stay tuned, assuming we don't have any natural electrical threats in the future, there are still six more days of racing to come. Note: at the end of this post we've posted a couple of updates, including maps of the Enduro courses.
Name? License Number? Cat? Ahhh, here you are.
Got Chips? Don't lose, it will cost you over two hundred bucks.
Number 1. Any predictions? Enduro? DH?
Tara McCarthy, Event Director, goes over what's in store for the Enduro. The maps were fresh and released overnight (Sunday), so there were a few questions.
Assistant PCP, Ugur Tosun summarizes some of the rules of the trail.
X.... O...... X...... O...... X......, I win! Kidding, Ugur Tosun (left) and Philip Yates of the Trail Crew were all business.
Micha Rice is staying within USA Cycling, but moving on to other responsibilities and is no longer Events Director. Good luck Micha!
It's never too late for last minute set up. Just some fine tuning and moving stuff from point A to point B.
It was a day for the Amateurs on the DH course. The course isn't opened up to the big dogs until Tuesday.
The entry into the woods just past the Cup Cake Road Gap is a bit on the speedy side, as the trail crew completely reworked the gap and lander. Smoother is faster, faster is better.
The Dual Slalom the trail crew built for Nationals is legit. Plenty of elevation change and very very fast. The only complaint heard, was about having to push up. The action on race day should be fun to watch.
The red clay was hard packed, but does have some areas of dust that kicked up run after run after run.
Where are all the XC boys and girls hanging out? Answer, right here. This is the biggest obstacle on course for the XC crowd, lots of observing lines, or should I say line, as everyone took the same one.
Philip Yates and Ugur Tosun were interested in what everyone else was spending so much time looking at. Actually, if you are feeling a bit steely, the rock they are standing on was the easiest line, BUT it was a gap about 4 feet long. The problem.... it was on the inside of a right-hand turn after a short climb. I didn't see any takers.
The XC courses are either 3.5 miles or 4.5 miles dependent on the category one is competing in. The finish runs right down the middle of the Village, good for the spectators and rider families for close access.
XC Practice only lasted about 30 to 40 minutes before it was interrupted by weather, the electrical stuff, in the area. Rain could be seen off the North side of the mountain, but the only crackle to be heard all afternoon were the two F-18s flying low through the Allegheny Mountains.
Before we wrap up Day One, a couple of updates:
First, there have been some adjustments to the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals Schedule. Make sure that you visit the USA Cycling website and the Nationals Event page for all of the latest information.
Late Sunday/early Monday USAC released the Enduro race map. Each of the stages are mapped below and each map can be downloaded in pdf format via the USA Cycling website: [L=http://www.usacycling.org/2017/mountain-bike-nationals[/L]. If you've ever ridden out at Snowshoe Mountain and been on these trails, this Enduro is jam packed full of exciting stuff.
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The enduro kicks off after a 3-mile trek along Cheat Mountain Ridge trail to one of the best "trail ride" trails in the Back Country, 6000 steps. Stage 1/6000 takes you down about 600 feet to Shaver's Lake. A short break with an assisted ride the Ball Hooter ski lift. Stage 2 is top to bottom on the Basin side on Dreamweaver to trail B to trail J, then a pedal up Easy Street. Repeat the descent on the basin side, but this time Stage 3 takes riders on trail M and O and one more rest up the lift. Finally, time to switch sides, over to the Western Territory to the best of the best for Stage 4, 10 Gallon, New OG, Pro DH, Lincoln Log, a quick connection on Galfords Road to the lowest section of Lower Hare Ball. TIME TO REST!
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Day 2/final day of Enduro takes riders to the north side of the Mountain and an area just beyond Silver Creek Ski Area, which sees few trailer riders on any normal given weekend at Snowshoe Mountain. Riders start with a long pedal from the DH start, down to Westridge road, across to Silver Creek, then finally up Airport Road to the start of Stage 5. This stage starts/finishes on Lower Beaver Dam. A two part pedal up Black Run Road and Point of No Return for the start of Stage 6 finishing up on Head Adjustment. To get to Stage 7 riders pedal up Spruce Road, Powder Puff, and Upper Whistlepunk. Stage 7 is a return to the Basin side with a ride down Camp 4.2 with a break on the Ball Hooter Lift. Just as with day one the day finishes on the Western Territory with Ninja Bob, Ball-n-Jack, and Sweet Dreams.
Coming Up, Tuesday 7/18:
Seeding and Finals - Cat 2/3 DS
Finals - Cat 2/3 DH
MENTIONS: @snowshoeMTN @SnowshoeMTB @snowshoebikepark-official @mtbmaniatv @jebcas
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BUT, I don't work for the park, so when in doubt check with the staff to be 100% sure. I am only guessing based on what I know.