The Maxxis ESC rolls into The Berkshires for our first Oakley Showdown of the season featuring DH and Enduro racing at Jiminy Peak. The tracks here aren't manicured by a trail crew, but rather raw and rowdy the way nature intended. The mountain is so steep that speed definitely isn't an issue, it's controlling that speed and navigating corners that's the challenge.You won't find groomed and buff trails but, it's perfect for gravity racing. With both Stan's Enduro and Intense DH racers in action this weekend, there were a whole lot of smiles across the mountain.
A recent rainy weather pattern in New England and more wet weather on practice day made for challenging conditions all weekend.
While trails dried out significantly come race day, there was still no shortage of sloppy spots to play with your tires.
It's been a tough season for bike maintenance, we've already ridden more mud than the whole 2022 season.
The only thing slicker than the mud are the roots, especially those slimy debarked spots.
Stan's Enduro
8:30am riders meeting and a 1100' vertical pedal to Stage 1 for our 192 Stan's Enduro racers. They would be able to use the lift for Stages 2-5.
5th place 21-29 class finisher Kyle Hamel keeping the vibes high during practice.
Will Miemis drops back onto the ski trail of Stage 2. He would go on to take his second 20U class win in a row, with four stage wins to boot.
First Pro men's class podium for young speedster Noah Couture, rounding out the top five. He would also win the Expert 16U Downhill class, finishing the weekend second in the Oakley Showdown.
Dan Moon attacks the steeps of Stage 4, he would finish in second for the 20U class.
Burke Warren was on an absolute heater, posting the fastest time of the day on Stage 4 before busting his carbon rim near the bottom, unfortunately ending his day.
Mia Migliorino would hang on to take P3 for the Pro Women.
Second place for Avery Ellis in the mud, her best Pro result yet.
Kale Cushman opted for the DH bike since there is just one pedal (or push) to the top. She would win all five stages and take the race win by a commanding margin of nearly 90 seconds.
Saben Rossi was able to grab a stage win and third place for the Pro Men.
First year Pro Luke Mello is already beating out some fast veterans, earning P2 this weekend for his best result to date.
No one could touch Kory Nagy this weekend through, he would top the Pro Men by over nine seconds with a pair of stage wins to earn his first race win of the season.
Stan's Enduro Pro Women: 3rd - Mia Migliorino, 1st - Kale Cushman, 2nd - Avery Ellis, Men: 5th - Noah Couture, 3rd - Saben Rossi, 1st - Kory Nagy, 2nd - Luke Mello, 4th - Tucker Shearer
Intense Downhill
Your classic New England DH course; steep, natural, great views. Fred Bassett has been racing since these types of tracks were the norm, it makes sense that he won the 50+ Masters class.
It's nice to see some familiar faces that haven't been between the tape for a few years. James Frost hangs on to take fifth place in the Pro men's class.
Amateur 30-39 class winner Robert Gobel navigates one of the several super steep chutes.
We even got Phil Kmetz back on a DH bike, he would slide his way into P9.
Parker Downing sends it off the lift tower pad, he would finish second in the 16U Expert class.
Max Abrams stays light over the roots entering the tricky double bridge section. He would squeak out the 18U Expert class win by a margin of just .05, incredibly tight racing from the talented junior classes.
Improving one place from last round, Maxine Bergeron would finish third in the Pro women's class.
Second place for Mazie Hayden, she'll be hunting for the top step at the her home race next weekend in Killington.
Kale Cushman somehow found the flow this weekend, besting the Pro Women by over 12 seconds to complete the double win.
Intense DH Pro Women: 4th - Alexandra Galarneau, 2nd - Mazie Hayden, 1st - Kale Cushman, 3rd - Maxine Bergeron, 5th - Hailey Sarausky
It's been a few years since we've seen Hugo Langevin on track but he proved the speed is still there, earning third place in a stacked Pro men's field.
Steve Estabrook would go P2 and clock the fastest time on the third split, just 1.23s off the win.
First Pro men's class win for 15 year old Lucas DeDora on a tough track against some of the fastest in the East, certainly won't be his last. We knew this day was coming after seeing so how much speed and consistency he has built over the past couple years, it was only a matter of time.
Intense DH Pro Men: 4th - Nathan Sterckx, 2nd - Steve Estabrook, 1st - Lucas DeDora, 3rd - Hugo Langevin, 5th - James Frost
Happy Father's Day to all the rad dads who spent the weekend racing or cheering with us.
Oakley Showdown: Kale Cushman taking it home for the ladies along with Noah Couture in 2nd and Nick Frazier in 1st for the men.
Thanks to everyone who came out for our first Oakley Showdown of the year, we'll see you next weekend at Killington for another one. Don't miss this one, The Beast is one of the best bike parks on the East Coast, get registered!
Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: Seth Merritt
Stan's Enduro Results
Intense Downhill Results
Race Recap Podcast
Easternstatescup.com
2023 MAXXIS ESC PRESENTED BY KATE'S REAL FOOD SCHEDULE
INTENSE CYCLES DOWNHILL SERIES
April 30 Powder Ridge, CT
June 18 Jiminy Peak, MA
June 25 Killington, VT
July 23 Sugarbush, VT
July 30 Mount Snow, VT
Aug 20 Sugarloaf, ME
Aug 27 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 17 Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 8 Powder Ridge, CT
Oct 15 Killington, VT Series Finals
STAN'S ENDURO SERIES
May 21 Powder Ridge, CT
June 4 Glen Park, PA
June 18 Jiminy Peak, MA
June 25 Killington, VT
July 8 Arrowhead, NH – Outbound Night Enduro
July 23 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 6 Burke, VT
Aug 20 Sugarloaf, ME
Aug 27 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 10 Arrowhead, NH
Sept 17 Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 1 Woodstock, VT
Oct 29 Thunder Mountain, MA Series Finals
OAKLEY SHOWDOWN SERIES
June 18 Jiminy Peak, MA
June 25 Killington, VT
July 23 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 20 Sugarloaf, ME
Aug 27 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 17 Thunder Mountain, MA Series Finals
MOTOREX EBIKE ENDURO SERIES
May 21 Powder Ridge, CT
June 4 Glen Park, PA
July 8 Arrowhead, NH – Outbound Night Enduro
August 20 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 10 Arrowhead, NH
Sept 17 Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 1 Woodstock, VT
Oct 29 Thunder Mountain, MA Series Finals
6/20/2023 6:30pm
0 comments
To post, please join, log in or connect to Vital using your Facebook profile Login with Facebook.
