FYI: Timed training kicks off today at 12:30 (Eastern time zone, US) with Elite women and all Juniors. Elite Men follow immediately afterward at 2:30.
FWIW for Fantasy players: Only one rider at Lake Placid last year went fastest in timed training and also won in Finals. (I won't say who it was, but it was someone who also qualified 1st and locked up the overall with a win in the finals at Lake Placid.)
Wildcard / Trivia: Asa Vermette is reputed to do some runs in timed training but often does so without a timing chip. Pretty sophisticated mind games with this young rider, I'd say.
Every single rider (except Reece) who has hit this rut right at the top has hit either a derailleur or pedal, sometimes both. There is going to be a mechanical at some point if they hit it hard enough.
All 3 commencal women have looked dialed in the weird ruts where most others have looked awkward. Gracey also just came by gloveless, sleeves rolled up, blasting “talk dirty to me” on her phone and ripping the shit out of it.
All 3 commencal women have looked dialed in the weird ruts where most others have looked awkward. Gracey also just came by gloveless, sleeves rolled up...
All 3 commencal women have looked dialed in the weird ruts where most others have looked awkward. Gracey also just came by gloveless, sleeves rolled up, blasting “talk dirty to me” on her phone and ripping the shit out of it.
she had the sleeves up in whistler too. I thought elbow pads would be a requirement but obviously not.
All the squids got free umbrellas from Nukeproof last week
Leatt Nukeproof gave out 700 of those umbrellas in Whistler on the Friday practice to anyone that walked up to their pits. I used one this morning to walk my kids to school.
tyler ervin following dakotah for a course preview. it's a greaser! (instagram only right now)
That looks so fun! Chill day in the wet where you can go around all the jumps…empty mountain with pretty leaves…does NY have legal weed?
And now that all I care about talking about poles…it looks like a lot of the tombstone tuffblock things have poles on to the inside of them—is that new? I seem to remember they themselves were the course markers, but if there’s a pole inside then they’re just too-close billboards, right?
The dirt is good but the best thing I’ve seen all day was 2 girls probably 5 and 7 that were so excited to see Tahnee and Marine. They were talking about their favorite places to watch from and which lines the riders were taking. The future is bright.
The dirt is good but the best thing I’ve seen all day was 2 girls probably 5 and 7 that were so excited to see Tahnee...
The dirt is good but the best thing I’ve seen all day was 2 girls probably 5 and 7 that were so excited to see Tahnee and Marine. They were talking about their favorite places to watch from and which lines the riders were taking. The future is bright.
The dirt is good but the best thing I’ve seen all day was 2 girls probably 5 and 7 that were so excited to see Tahnee...
The dirt is good but the best thing I’ve seen all day was 2 girls probably 5 and 7 that were so excited to see Tahnee and Marine. They were talking about their favorite places to watch from and which lines the riders were taking. The future is bright.
If anyone wants to compare this year's times to last year's finals winning times, here are the 2025 winning times, FWIW. They've made a few changes to the track this year, conditions this year are more moist, and the top 3 Junior men (in the overall) are now Elite, so times this year might vary somewhat compared to 2025. But still, here you go:
^^ Either they stopped timing after the 3rd split or they closed the track somewhere between the 3rd and 4th splits, because the times don't change after split 3 ^^
The dirt is good but the best thing I’ve seen all day was 2 girls probably 5 and 7 that were so excited to see Tahnee...
The dirt is good but the best thing I’ve seen all day was 2 girls probably 5 and 7 that were so excited to see Tahnee and Marine. They were talking about their favorite places to watch from and which lines the riders were taking. The future is bright.
I’m bummed it rained. That track would have evolved really well in the dry. The grass would held the dirt together in a way we don’t typically see. Can’t think of another track that doesn’t get ridden all year. Fear it’s gonna be pretty main line with the ruts cut in.
FYI: Timed training kicks off today at 12:30 (Eastern time zone, US) with Elite women and all Juniors. Elite Men follow immediately afterward at 2:30.
FWIW for Fantasy players: Only one rider at Lake Placid last year went fastest in timed training and also won in Finals. (I won't say who it was, but it was someone who also qualified 1st and locked up the overall with a win in the finals at Lake Placid.)
Wildcard / Trivia: Asa Vermette is reputed to do some runs in timed training but often does so without a timing chip. Pretty sophisticated mind games with this young rider, I'd say.
Every single rider (except Reece) who has hit this rut right at the top has hit either a derailleur or pedal, sometimes both. There is going to be a mechanical at some point if they hit it hard enough.
the updates are so rad!
@Red Number 3 alden was on the "ebike" in whsitler last week. maybe that's changed for this weekend, but doubtful
He qualified P19 in Q1 on that thing, so I would hope he'd be on it again. Thanks for spotting that, @sspomer !
quali start lists (PDFs) - smallest field of the year (pretty sure)
Cut Wetscreams for breakfast...PS jumps are closed so expect TT to be weird.![]()
All 3 commencal women have looked dialed in the weird ruts where most others have looked awkward. Gracey also just came by gloveless, sleeves rolled up, blasting “talk dirty to me” on her phone and ripping the shit out of it.
she had the sleeves up in whistler too. I thought elbow pads would be a requirement but obviously not.
Leatt Nukeproof gave out 700 of those umbrellas in Whistler on the Friday practice to anyone that walked up to their pits. I used one this morning to walk my kids to school.
Dirt is tacking up magnificently.
That looks so fun! Chill day in the wet where you can go around all the jumps…empty mountain with pretty leaves…does NY have legal weed?
And now that all I care about talking about poles…it looks like a lot of the tombstone tuffblock things have poles on to the inside of them—is that new? I seem to remember they themselves were the course markers, but if there’s a pole inside then they’re just too-close billboards, right?
The dirt is good but the best thing I’ve seen all day was 2 girls probably 5 and 7 that were so excited to see Tahnee and Marine. They were talking about their favorite places to watch from and which lines the riders were taking. The future is bright.
Did they have weed?
No only Marlboro reds and a 30 rack of PBR
He’s been on it all year. I remember hearing it on a pod preseason. Crestlines doesn’t make a dh bike big enough so he has reverted to e-bike mod.
If you spotted a boot car in the track preview, there is more to it lol https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/20010251?page=meet-the-fleet
If anyone wants to compare this year's times to last year's finals winning times, here are the 2025 winning times, FWIW. They've made a few changes to the track this year, conditions this year are more moist, and the top 3 Junior men (in the overall) are now Elite, so times this year might vary somewhat compared to 2025. But still, here you go:
Looks like TT times are to the 3rd split.
Here's some POV from Jackson with - of course - some commentary, from earlier today:
fantasy is open - https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/2026/round-9-lake-placid-usa
Elite Women, Junior Men and Junior Women timed training Top 10.
Troy's POV - i think it's been reported already but Lawlor said bottom of track is closed for fears of rutting out jumps too much.
^^ Either they stopped timing after the 3rd split or they closed the track somewhere between the 3rd and 4th splits, because the times don't change after split 3 ^^
Maybe @dantecusolito can find out what's going on?
[Edit: I posted my comment at the same time @sspomer explained the reason.]
Short track highlights
Women
Men
https://elevateadk.com/
https://themellowmooselp.com/
And if you drive a half an hour north to hogansburg New York and go to the reservation, they have $40 ounces.
Elite Men's Top 15 timed training
I’m bummed it rained. That track would have evolved really well in the dry. The grass would held the dirt together in a way we don’t typically see. Can’t think of another track that doesn’t get ridden all year. Fear it’s gonna be pretty main line with the ruts cut in.
Vital RAW from today. surprising more interesting that i thought it'd be based on helmet cams LOL
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