Fontana National race May 3-6

yesterday i rolled out with gouge (followed nam and ethan) out to check out the action. i was pretty excited since i had never been out there before. we came across CC as we were checking out the vendor/team area and we chatted with her for a bit then we headed up to the chunky sections of the DH course. on our hike up we saw Ross and said whuddup to him for a few and then we saw chris (dirtytorpeedy) and Lor and Sharky, and then we saw Mosh cruise through. torpeedy scored the deal of the day (or maybe not) when he traded a DOS XX for a DVD called "GIT SUM" from the guy with the backpack and megaphone. the wind was blowing hard most of the time and the sections had a lot of powder so dust was flying everywhere. we sought some relief from the wind behind the big bush after the steep rock face to the moto style ruts. after watching the DH we headed down to check out the Mountain Cross, that was bitchin. I think we all wanted to be out there trying it out, couldnt help but think of the BMX days. We watched those races for about a 1/2 hour and saw some good bar to bar racing with a few crashes on the very last turn before the finish line. it was a long day out there, but it was a lot of fun to check out.

 

Windy again today but here are a few pics of our Incycle/STR DH racers from yesterday!! Always fun watchin' them rip through these courses...Southridge has some technical rock sections and steep chutes. CONGRATS to all that raced!!
Pics: Jason (JfromLV), Brandon (Bflofoxrider), Adrian (Foesnasty), Tyler ( Dirttorpeedos son came in third!!), and the STR crew hangin' out. I'll post more tomorrow.

 

One of the highlights of the weekend was had with the megaphone the guy has in the background! Nothing like some good heckling to make the time pass!

 

we could hear him from the lower rock garden, i was wondering where he was lol

 

Thanks for all the pics guys. I had myself a rough day on the course. I took a bad fall on my third practice run that had me otb while practically getting impaled by my handlebar. By far the worst pain I've ever felt from a crash and it left me with two perfect concentric circles on my stomach from the lock on grips. I recovered enough to do my race run, but needless to say I wasn't feeling all that sharp. Had another crash on my race run when I clipped one of the poles holding up the course lanes and nearly got passed at the finish line. All in all, I still had a blast and can't wait to do it again.

By the way, I noticed quite a bit of sandbagging in the beginner class where my buddy was racing for the first time. There were guys who rode fontana regularly including the winter series and they were cracking the same times as the sport riders. No big deal, just kinda lame.

Hey sauce, I didn't get a chance to introduce myself, but I saw you rocking the SS, great job!

 

The Fontana races were a blast! I was out all three days to support the Incycle, Cal Poly and STR guys! It was so great to c everyone! And I must say we have an awsome group of riders...Way to represent, congratulations to Jason(1st place!!),Dirty, Foenasty (littleman), Tyler, Sarha, Curtis...I know I'm forgetting some of the potemu peeps...But also other participants, Joe, Branden...keep riding lil' dood and get that new bike dialed in..and to Blair and the Cal Poly mt bike team way to represent my almamamma! And Keven Smallman, who turned Pro this year...very impressive!

Bret great to c you and George out there. The course is always open so you guys should make a play date out there. Nam and Mosh...get better so you can ride soon.

I want to also thank the weather gods, cuz it was a perfect weekend. Oh yah..Sharky, it was great hanging with you and meeting your peeps.

 

Let's start with Thursday practice

Link: dirthippie/Southridge 5-3 practice - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

(Downhill and 4X practice)

Practice is fun to watch cause they tend to be a bit relaxed . In 4X they'll throw in a bit more style...:clap:

 

Friday DH practice, 4x and Super D races

dirthippie/Southridge 5-4 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Pics: random 4x, random 4x, Chris (Dirtorpeedo) and Jason coming in at Super D.

 

Saturday DH practice /DH and 4X Pro and semi pro race

Link:dirthippie/Southridge May 5th - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Pics: ??, Vince from STR, 4X race,Crash...

 

Sunday Pro men/women Downhill

Link: dirthippie/Southridge 5-6 Pro DH - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
That's our buddy Blair watchin' in style!! CC, Dstepper and Chris (Mosh1dh) behind.
Men
1 - Cody Warren
2 - Nathan Rennie
3 - Justin Leov
4 - Andrew Neethling
5 - Chris Kovarik
6 - Eric Carter
7 - Jared Rando
8 - David Klassenvanorschot
9 - Amiel Cavalier
10 - Duncan Riffle

Women
1 - Kathy Pruitt
2 - Claire Buchar
3 - Marla Rtreb
4 - Lisa Myklak

 

i spot a steppie!

man i wanna to see kovarik run, rennie is nuts running that kenda short tracker semi slick...

here is a pic of that nasty steep rocl roll into the sand pit (STIL)



name this bubb.....

 

That was good times yesterday! Never been out there but glad I went. Nice seeing everyone out there. Thanks to CC and dirttorpedo for the beer :beer:. I came home with face and arms covered in dirt and dust from all the wind.

That last picture - where's his other hand? 8-[

 

Bret and George - I missed you guys! I didn't know you were going to be there! Sux!

Congrats to everybody for doing so well. Watching everybody race was major inspiration. I don't really know any of the STR dh-ers, so introduce yourself people! I'll be at the Elings Park downhill race in Santa Barbara (June 2nd). So say hi! This time I'm doing it with a road cassette on my bike! No more bs with my chain falling off and not being able to pedal!

And if anybody wants to screw around at Fontana ... I'm free Mondays-Wednesdays. I'd like to try some stuff on the pro/expert course, but I don't want to go alone. Sharky?

Marla Streb rules! 3rd place baby!

 

Some pics from the weekend........Will post the XC pics on the other Fontana thread.

I've never watched DH before but it was alot of fun. Only one major spill in the Pro's race but watching the variety of different riding styles and bikes close up was pretty awesome.

Good to see Dean, Sharky and Cathy out there amongst others. I've got some pretty good video footage from some sections too - might try and get it hosted up on YouTube later.

Major thanks to my buddy Ryan for handing out the ice cold beer - you've saved us man!! :beer:
Next time I'm taking a crate of Sierra, a box of ice and a large sun shade out there! 8)

Dean and Sarah at the bottom of the wall..



View looking down...









Dean, Chris and Cathy await the carnage....









OMG!! MARLA!!! Have my babies!!!!!!! ARGHHHHHHHH!!!



Sarah talks tactics with a like minded soul - they were both in tears when Marla went by. Bra's and underwear flying all over the place - totally messed up.



More STR gang



Yes some dude really did carry a sofa up here in 90 degree heat!

 

Last but not least......The sharkster...

 

anyone notice the rattler near the expert course rock section just under the rock drop??? saw it there right before i saw gonz

 

don't talk about sharky like that ross [-X

 

Thanks Sharky !!!!

 

Namster [-X
Here's our buddy...stayed pretty quiet the whole time but eventually they taped off the area just in case. He just hung out in the same area just off the course the whole weekend.

 

Keith ... I think you're jealous of Marla. That is SO wrong, man.