Is there anything more satisfying after a hard day's work than a tall cool one? Just ask the 5,000 or so workers who completed one of the most challenging, massive and successful construction projects known to mankind. The Boulder Dam (later renamed Hoover Dam) was created in the proverbial middle of nowhere on the Colorado River in record time—from 1931 to 1936—in some of the most dangerous and harsh conditions imaginable. But before construction could begin, suitable housing needed to be created for all that manpower. So the U.S. Government carefully planned and built Boulder City from the ground up, one of the first "model" communities in the world. Its brave and hardworking citizens had everything needed to enjoy a modern lifestyle.
Well, almost everything. You see, all of this took place in the early to mid-1930s. If you paid attention in History class, you'll remember that this was the time of Prohibition. Pulling up a tall cool one was almost as difficult as drilling into the side of a rock canyon. As happened all over America, the illegal alcoholic beverage trade boomed. And in the case of Boulder City, most of the illicit activity took place in the hills and valleys just north of town. The area became known as Bootleg Canyon. The main dirt road leading in and out of the canyon even earned the nickname Hooch Highway.
These days Hooch Highway is used to shuttle gravity-obsessed mountain bike riders to the top of the Bootleg Canyon MTB Park. Hooch Highway was jamming this past weekend with a prodigious turnout for Round 1 of the 2017 DVO Bootleg Canyon Winter Gravity Series. This two-day soiree—Super D and Dual Slalom on Saturday, followed by Downhill on Sunday—also served as the USA Cycling Nevada State Downhill Championships. This ride spot's razor-sharp red rock and cool, blustery weather made it a hard day's work by anyone's definition. And I'll drink to that!
Results: downhillmike.com/2017-nsgc.html
On the way to Boulder City on a cool but pretty Friday afternoon.
Shuttling up Hooch Highway (you read that right) on the way to the top of Bootleg.
You do NOT want to crash at Bootleg. Vincent Kimber (Pivot/Truckerco) navigates the typically sharp rocks during Super D.
Riverton, Utah's, Cody Kelley (Yeti Cycles) blitzed the Super D course with a 8:52.08.
Lauren Bingham (Highliners MTB) set the fastest female time in Super D, besting the Pro Women.
Samantha Kingshill (left) and CJ Selig hike up to the Dual Slalom gates.
Coloring the lane lines in preparation for Dual Slalom battle.
Dante Silva and Angelo Loskota square off in a Dual Slalom heat.
Under cool and sprinkly skies, fans were treated to some close Dual Slalom action. Angelo Loskota (101) narrowly defeated Trevor Boldi (117) for the Cat 1 Men 15-18 title.
Julien Markewitz (LakeTown Bicycles) topped the Junior Men 13-14 division.
Cody Kelley (Yeti) put on quite a show over the weekend.
Local boy Eric Smith (All Mountain Cyclery) nailed the Cat 1 Men's 30-39 DH victory.
Steven Walton (Commencal), shown here during Friday practice, dominated the Junior Expert DH, setting fifth fastest time of the day and earning $100 from Truckerco.
It was a good weekend for Samantha Kingshill (College Cyclery/O'Neal), going 3-1-1 in Super D, Dual Slalom, and Downhill, respectively.
Number 1 in your program, number 1 in the final DH results: Logan Binggeli (KHS).
Mitch Ropelato (Monster/Santa Cruz/SRAM/TLD) was a close runner-up in the Pro Men's Downhill, missing the win by a mere .65 of a second.
New KHS team rider Bruce Klein ripped to a solid third in Pro Men Downhill.
Yet another shot of Cody Kelley (Yeti) in action. Style props!
Something's missing in this pic. Mitch Ropelato (Monster/Santa Cruz/SRAM/TLD) grabbed second place in the Chainless Downhill race.
Swag, swag and more swag. And a dog.
Sunday's setting sun and the DH awards ceremony signaled the end of a ripping weekend at Bootleg Canyon.
A generous purse was on offer, equally split between the Pro Men and Women. Here, event promoter Downhill Mike Sheur hands Samantha Kingshill a cool $500 in cash. This kind of payout - indeed, the event itself - would not have been possible without the support of DVO Suspension, Box Components, Promax, GT Bicycles, All Mountain Cyclery, Deity, Novatec, HT Components, Smanie, Onza, KHS Bicycles, Canfield Bros, Truckerco, Kali Protectives, Kore North Bikes, Gravity Cartel, IXS, Spank, Flitelinez, Lectric Bikes, Haibike, the Whiteface Mountain Bike Park, ODI Grips and Pinkbike. While we're at it, let's recognize the contributions of Dan Haskin the late Brent Thomson, as well as the Boulder City Parks Department.
The Pro Women's podium featured reigning National Champ Samantha Kingshill (College Cyclery/O'Neal/Truckerco) at the peak, attended by CJ Selig (Truckerco Five10/DVO), Emily Gacad (Incycle/Intense), Ming Goetz and Lecksi Winger (Ellsworth).
While Demetri Triantafillou (LakeTown Bicycles) and Chris Higgerson (Mojo Wheels/Foxhead) look on, KHS teammates Logan Binggeli and Bruce Klein engage in champagne battle. Second place finisher Mitch Ropelato (Santa Cruz/SRAM/TLD) was a little late to the party. Your Pro Men's DH podium.
Additional images by Ian Cook.
MENTIONS: @DVOSuspension / @pbcreative
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