8 rounds, 6 venues, 4 states, 1 season. This past weekend, the NW Cup took to Stevens Pass Bike Park for the final race of the season. As the weekend began, the weather was Brisk and the air was clean. In the sun it was hot and in the shade, it was chilly, like a true fall morning. Come nightfall, the clouds and the wind rolled in. Riders camps went soaring across the parking lot and the rain turned the road to mud. Saturday brought fog and even colder temperatures and then the warm sun returned by Sunday morning. Along with the weather, the atmosphere changed as the weekend went on. This race, in particular, was unlike any other in the series because it was the start of a tradition that would continue for years to come. Posted among the resort were posters honoring Declan Ervin as the race weekend was dedicated to him.
With overalls this weekend, the riders put everything on the line to pull out as many points as possible from this last race. For some, this meant a rough crash and a possible serious injury, and for others, it truly paid off. For the first time, event coordinators allowed racers to drop two of their lowest scores rather than just one. This meant that after this race, some results changed dramatically. One would think that the overalls would be secured by the final race but that is definitely not true.
For full results from the race click
HERE• Round 8 (Finals) of the NW Cup
• September 7, 2018 – September 9, 2018
• Stevens Pass Bike Park, Skykomish, Washington
• Cat 1/Pro rode Berserker to Finish
• Cat 2 rode PBR to Slingshot Wookie to Finish
• Cat 3 rode PBR to Rock Crusher to Finish
• 328 riders
Stevens Pass Bike Park mountain biking trailsThe people in the NW Cup are often described as being a family. Sadly, the family lost one of their own this past January, Declan Chase Ervin. A talented young man that was taken too soon. To celebrate his life, the race was renamed to the Declan Chase Ervin Memorial Race and included events in his honor. After seeding on Saturday, all riders from every category gathered at the top of the mountain. Led by Declan's younger brother Spencer Ervin and finished by his mother Traci Ann Ervin, the large train of riders descended down Rock Crusher for one final lap of the day. Spectators remained silent until riders went by and cheering spread through the crowd. To follow, there was a potluck in the RV parking lot where families gathered to tell stories and eat delicious food.
On Sunday, the celebration continued after the race. Prior to podiums, there were two awards given out in honor of Declan, the Run What You Brung and the Hard Charger Award. The Run What You Brung was given to Cullen Paille. As the recipient, Paille received a Fox 40 Fork from Fox, and TR 500 from Transition, a wheelset from Spank, handlebars and a drive train from Full Speed Ahead, and Fly Racing along with other sponsors gifted him a kit. To select the winner of the Hard Charger award and panel was put together to discuss and select the person that was most deserving this year. The rider that was selected was Junior Ex rider, Chris Wharton. As Declan was the 2017 overall champ, it was only right that the 2018 overall champ be gifted this honorable award. For winning this award, Wharton's name will be placed on the trophy just below Ervin's. The trophy its self will remain in a glass case in the Stevens Pass Resort for years to come and each year a new rider will be added to the trophy. Both the memorial race and each reward will continue each year to ensure that Declan's memory will never be forgotten.
West Coast Racing sure knows how to celebrate a podium.For all photos from the race click
HERE.