The 2025 Pro Downhill Series is kicking off at Ride Rock Creek in North Carolina. Post all the goods you find here. Schedule is below w/ track walk tomorrow. Stoked to be out here for the first time!
Link to who's registered to race - https://www.bikereg.com/Confirmed/69554
https://prodownhillseries.com/rock-creek-schedule
Hey Spomer,
Rent a frameworks endurobike and do some bikepark laps tomorrow with all us locals taking a Wednesday off to shred.
So much excellent NC goodness on that hill that isn’t between the tape this week!
Aaaaand…the wife drew the short straw this week and traipsed from Arkansas to North Carolina last night with the son. I just thought I had FOMO for T-Nats. Looking forward to following vicariously in this thread, especially since we are slated for flood level rains all week, so I won’t be out riding.
had a super fun film sesh with neko and asa at kanuga yesterday. that vid will be released after sea otter. but it dumped rain last night and forecast implies it'll start to dry out. 4 hours of pro practice today, so will drop a raw tonight. should be a ripper!
Track walk looked a little slick. Rock Creek dries well, though, so hopefully moisture is about finished:
Another trackwalk post:
I was out lapping the park all day with quebecois kids. Conditions were primo. Rock Creek dirt loves moisture.
vital raw from today. INSANE conditions by the end of practice
and neko bringing fun back to the pits!
course pov with dante silva
course POV with tegan cruz
Gapping that logover was nuts. What a mad man.
I want to be racing so bad, it's snowing where I am today.
Good ole springtime in Laradise! As a former resident, I remember that feeling well.
Link to live timing for seeding.
http://www.artiming.eu/results/2025/Prodownhillseries1/
Pro women's seeding results
1. Anna Newkirk 2:08.740 (Frameworks Racing / 5DEV)
2. Aletha Ostgaard 2:10.170 (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team)
3. Kailey Skelton 2:13.648 (Ari Factory Racing)
4. Maylei Leaneagh 2:15.638 (SBR racing/ Commencal/ RKT)
5. Lisa Baumann 2:16.594 (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres)
6. Taylor Ostgaard 2:18.417 (Monster Army/Sram/Rockshox/Schwalbe/Smith/TLD/Crankbrothers)
7. Matilda Melton 2:19.613 (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres)
8. Cameron Bragg 2:20.887 (Future Frameworks)
9. Emmy Lan 2:20.986 (Forbidden Dunbar Racing Team)
10. Caitlyn Farmer 2:23.298 (Fly Racing/Ryno Power/ODI)
11. Zanna Logar 2:23.396 (Future Frameworks)
12. Sara Ligman 2:23.845 (Monster Army, Schwalbe, ODI)
13. Rachel Pageau 2:23.891 (Southern Gravity)
14. Isabella Naughton 2:24.045 (KHS Pro MTB Team)
15. Raina Logar 2:24.458 (The Gravity Collective)
16. Tayte Proulx-Royds 2:24.912 (Kona Factory Team)
17. Mary McLarnon 2:26.571 (The Gravity Collective)
18. Jordy Scott 2:26.855 (Sr Suntour, Hyper, Kenda, Title, Shimano, ODI, RNDM, POC)
19. Frida Helena R›nning 2:27.588
20. Kelly Swarens 2:29.167 (Specialized/Smith/Chromag/Maxxis/Thule/Galbraith Gravity Racing)
21. McKenna Merten 2:31.662 (KHS Pro MT
22. Isla O'Connor 2:32.759
23. Kale Cushman 2:33.263 (Specialized)
24. Charlie Bernard 2:33.877 (Commencal SL)
25. Kallie Stewart 2:39.445 (BGR MONDRAKER/OHLINS, PEDRO?S, MONSTER ARMY)
26. Emma Jarl 2:42.090 (GIA Racing)
27. Matilda Gentry 2:45.849 (CLTMT
28. Alyana Van Horn 2:46.426 (Specialized, Savage Factory Connection, Adventure Bicycles)
29. Erin Kromis 2:46.429 (RaceKraft/TRP/100%/Diety/6D)
30. Mariajose Montoya 2:47.909 (Piedmont University)
31. Emily Harris 2:49.961
32. Luciana Polan¡a 3:00.663
33. Camille Bernard DNF (Commencal SL)
34. Alexandra Galarneau DNF (Centre National de Cyclisme de Bromont)
Pro Men's Top 20 - tight times with Asa laying it down.
1. Asa Vermette 1:52.019 (Frameworks Racing / 5DEV)
2. Ryan Pinkerton 1:53.061 (Mondraker Factory Racing)
3. Tyler Waite 1:53.369 (Yeti Fox Factory)
4. Luca Shaw 1:53.386 (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team)
5. Richard Rude 1:55.665 (Yeti Fox Factory)
6. Aaron Gwin 1:55.816 (Gwin Racing)
7. Antoine Pierron 1:55.846 (Commencal Schwalbe by les Orres)
8. Neko Mulally 1:55.922 (Frameworks Racing / 5DEV)
9. Christopher Grice 1:56.605 (Gen-S)
10. Dante Silva 1:57.015 (Intense/Monster Army)
11. Colton Peterson 1:57.019 (Specialized Team)
12. Jonty Williamson 1:57.061 (Yeti Fox Factory)
13. Cole Suetos 1:57.293 (Insta360 ZFR)
14. Ryder Lawrence 1:57.540 (HSC Racing / MonsterArmy YT)
15. Luke Mallen 1:57.599 (Outlaw/Commencal)
16. Tyler Ervin 1:57.621 (Frameworks,SR Suntour,100percent, RevGrips, , Crankbrothers, Maxxis, Trp, Fluid Focus)
17. Elliot Jamieson 1:58.114 (Commencal, 7Mesh, Shimano, Maxxis, Fox Suspension)
18. Cohen Bundy 1:58.306 (Outlaw Commencal)
19. Alexander Mallen 1:58.582 (Outlaw/Commencal)
20. Mitch Ropelato 1:58.870
Link to full results (118 riders total) - http://www.artiming.eu/results/2025/Prodownhillseries1/
Pro Final Results from PDS Rock Creek - Asa and Aletha take the wins. Pro men was insanely tight. A total of $17,500 paid out between podiums and $500 Suntour Holeshot awards. The track dried out and according to Luca was the trickiest it had been all week with hardpack sections covered in loose dirt. All said, it was a killer weekend at a venue with a great track and great vibe. The race was run very well and the depth of talent in #USDH right now is pretty astonishing. Everyone looks so fast and the young riders are fully pinned.
Since this was part of the Continental series, they had a separate "podium photo" for riders that are on UCI teams. I didn't take pics b/c it was just too confusing. Asa, Waite and Jonty were on the Junior "continental" podium, while Elite "continental" podium was, Luca, Pinky, Gwin, Antoine Pierron and Richie Top 5 (vs the actual Top 5 of the race). 🤷♂️
Full results - http://www.artiming.eu/results/2025/Prodownhillseries1/
Top 10 Women
1. ALETHA OSTGAARD 2:06.245
2. ANNA NEWKIRK 2:08.443
3. KAILEY SKELTON 2:11.005
4. LISA BAUMANN 2:11.273
5. MAYLEI LEANEAGH 2:12.373
6. TAYLOR OSTGAARD 2:12.790
7. MATILDA MELTON 2:14.359
8. CAMERON BRAGG 2:17.670
9. EMMY LAN 2:18.731
10. TAYTE PROULX-ROYDS 2:18.816
Top 20 Men
1. ASA VERMETTE 1:51.706
2. LUCA SHAW 1:52.145
3. RYAN PINKERTON 1:52.319
4. TYLER WAITE 1:52.404
5. AARON GWIN 1:53.967
6. JONTY WILLIAMSON 1:54.457
7. ANTOINE PIERRON 1:54.661
8. RICHARD RUDE 1:54.755
9. CHRISTOPHER GRICE 1:55.353
10. RYDER LAWRENCE 1:55.433
11. JAKE POLITO 1:55.468
12. DANTE SILVA 1:55.591
13. LUKE MALLEN 1:56.027
14. EVAN MEDCALF 1:56.047
15. NATHAN KITCHEN 1:56.188
16. ELLIOT JAMIESON 1:56.269
17. BENJAMIN DE VALL 1:56.617
18. COLE SUETOS 1:56.699
19. COHEN BUNDY 1:56.731
20. TEGAN CRUZ 1:56.777
It just feels like there's so much energy behind this series and DH in general in North America.
agreed, to me this series is ranking above crankworx and IXS.
Lol at the Prize money blowing the UCI out of the water too. That's how it's done!
They had to separate the pros and juniors as the top 5 in each category get a golden ticket regardless of the overall. Whether they are on a Uci team or not shouldn’t factor into it.
The prize money on offer at the Pro DH series is identical to that on offer at World Cups. I think Clay has probably done that deliberately.
While WC prize money is totally inadequate, it's not getting blown out of the water here.
Agreed though that this series already has more of shine to it than CWX etc..
Observations from Race Day from an old head:
1. No one could tell me where Spomer was to cop a feel
2. Lars Tribus did a solid MC job smoothly with Grizz
3. Walking the pits during/post race brought back all the cruel memories of putting it all on the line. So many young, fit, intense people’s faces showing the frustration of a run just off from perfect.
4. The depth of dialed in rider/bike combos was absurd. Especially in the women’s field. Bikes & riders were precise & on the edge while completely composed.
5. Simple, perfectly sculpted 90 degree berms will ruin your day. Watched maybe 10% of the field ruin their day off a step down w/braking bump lander. No 2 riders overcooked it the exact same.
Congrats to everyone who laid down a time.
Condolences to those who walked away w/ nothing but a time & a lesson. You all put on a heck of a show & downhill is in good hands.
Butch, this is the post and insight we want from you! Cheers.
Will this be broadcasted at some point?
yep. would imagine the race replay vid will be posted soon.
I barely recognized you with the full silver beard 😎. FYI that wasn't Griz on the mic with Lars, it was "The Captain". He is from New Jersey and travels the series with the Monster PDS crew.
Spomer was hard to miss in the tie dye!
I got some post race audio from a few racers the ole iphone that will be live on Gravity Co-op Hot Seat Podcast later in the week. Doing my best Sven Martin impression when I actually get to make it to a race this season! Vibes were high at the race and the level of riding on display was really impressive. The riders made for a killer replay show. Word is that the show drops on the Monster Energy Pro Downhill YouTube Channel at 11am 😲
USDH is so sick. I was living vicariously while the boy was at the race with the wife, but everything just seems so professional and well run. The podcasts, the race show, live timing, WhatsApp updates, race recap… it’s kind of insane.
Race recap vid coming in hot!
No one would trust me, but I'd love to sit in on those quiz sessions, just to slip in the random curve ball.
Mangler refused to source a bullhorn for me to rile the crowd up in the down times.
Wanted to do Neko inspired DH trivia.
Oh...and the train horn twins....they really should be somewhere separate from the cheering section of the crowd. Space the mayhem out so racers can hear a few cheers & jeers as opposed to "BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" for 45 minutes straight.
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