Why Ride Downhill? The U.S. Open of Mountain Biking 6

The pros may steal the show at the U.S. Open, but it's the dedicated amateurs and fans that make our sport so incredible. Jack Rice reports from Killington.

The 2024 U.S. Open of Mountain Biking in Killington, Vermont, was the season ender to the inaugural Pro Downhill Series. And with the final World Cup DH in Mont-Sainte-Anne next week and Open class winners getting $15,000, the field was stacked with Elite level pros from around the globe. Jack Rice was there snagging shots and getting interviews, but instead of the usual questions with only top riders, we commissioned him to search the pits and ask amateur riders a simple question - Why Downhill?

While plenty of answers resonate around the excitement and action of what DH is, an overwhelming response praised the community as a reason for coming back to ride and race. It's the people that make our sport so special, and it's our hope that the comradery of the #USDH community continues to grow. Enjoy Jack's photos and interviews from the weekend.

Interview contents

  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 1:09 - Meredith Burnette
  • 2:25 - Jamie Tate
  • 3:18 - Dusty Mason
  • 4:10 - Kerry Marshall
  • 5:02 - "Scott and the fam"
  • 6:33 - Jacob Dyke
  • 8:57 - Bailey Gunter
  • 11:04 - Cole Bernier
  • 13:40 - Jack Burnette
  • 21:54 - Tyson Henrie
  • 23:55 - Tabias Spencer
  • 24:59 - Lachie Stevens-Mcnab (Race Winner)
  • 25:47 - Nina Hoffmann (Race Winner)
  • 29:23 - Max Beaupre and Why NOT Downhill
  • 31:51 - Tegan Heap
  • 33:00 - Dylan Conte
  • 36:20 - Lucas Dedora
  • 36:57 - Anna Newkirk
  • 38:37 - Chris Grice
  • 39:50 - Clay Harper
Burnette%27s pit 0
The Burnette pits.
Burnette pits%2C Meredith snuggling with the kitty%2C all the way from Georgia%21.jpg?VersionId=l1qGsH2bONpzhzIsV8dOKce2G5LGs
Meredith Burnette
Burnette%27s pit%2C Jack with his Frameworks-2
Jack Burnette's Frameworks
Burnette%27s pit%2C Jack with his Frameworks.jpg?VersionId=ik0RBc6Gwd3ho7T3rM1
Jack Burnette
Jamie Tate%27s setup-2
Jamie Tate's helmet honoring friends and fellow Naval soldiers.
Jamie Tate%27s setup
Dusty
Dustin "Dusty" Mason
Dusty%2C dusted lol 0
Dusty, dusted.
KerryMarshall
Kerry Marshall
Scott and the family%2C just enjoying the vibes%2C riding bikes and loving life-2
"Scott and the fam."
Scott and the family%2C Scott working on his favorite bike his Commencal.jpg?VersionId=XilfiTmidG
Jacob Dyke
Jacob Dyke
Bailey Gunter and his 2020 Scott Grambler.jpg?VersionId=CT
Bailey Gunter
Bailey Gunter and his 2020 Scott Grambler-5
Cole Bernier %28right%29 and his adaptive crew
Cole Bernier and the adaptive crew.
Cole Bernier%27s DH sled.jpg?VersionId= iCOu9zbsJZn
Tyson Henrie - Outlaw Tribe.jpg?VersionId=zkXyXeSfV9.
Tyson Henrie
Tabias Spencer%27s pit set up -3
Tabias Spencer
Tabias Spencer%27s pit set up
Lachie Stevens McNab-3
Lachie backs up qualifying and goes home $15,000 richer.
Lachie Stevens-McNab-4.jpg?VersionId=APfnHbATR fvsYhttmodIkOWlQ3KZsf
So, Bowman, hope I didn't bankrupt ya.
Lachie Stevens-McNab
Lachie's winning Trek Session
Nina Hoffmann-2 0
Nina Hoffmann cashing in once again!
Nina Hoffmann 1
Nina's winning Santa Cruz V10
Pro Men bubble bath-2
Maple syrup (because it's Vermont) is part of the podium celebration. Oisin's look is priceless as Lachie does the syrup shoe-y.
Pro women bubble bath.jpg?VersionId=VvMsoFpE5aOw11bj

Now for Jack's remaining photo selections in no particular order.

 

Fred Bassett%2C the legend
Fred Bassett
Fred Bassett%2C the legend%2C RIP Scott Huntley 0
RIP, Scott Huntley.
Remi Meier-Smith1
Remy Meier-Smith
Tahnee Seagrave-2 0
Tahnee Seagrave. She didn't race after hitting her head in practice.

 

Lucas Dedora-2
Lucas Dedora
Dylan Conte-2
Dylan Conte
Angel Suarez
Angel Suarez
Bernard Kerr 1
Bernard Kerr

 

Dante SIlva
Dante Silva
Kailey Skelton
Kailey Skelton

 

Gracey Hemstreet-2.jpg?VersionId=3y.zBR0tCxFH ZS0cR
Gracey Hemstreet

 

Kye A%27hern
Kye A'Hern

 

Greg Minnaar 0
Greg Minnaar

 

Phoebe Gale-2 0
Phoebe Gale
Dan Slack 2
Dan Slack
A very classic USDH photo%2C Emily Reilly waiting on husband Patrick Reilly from his practice runs%2C he%27ll be back
Emily Reilly
Austin Dooley 2.jpg?VersionId=UTwNi
Austin Dooley

 

Steve Peat
Steve Peat
Laurie Greenland.jpg?VersionId=psimbwrVWPfFRTTS6Mpeo
Laurie Greenland
Jarod Hanson%2C designated hype man
Jarod Hanson, designated hype man.

 

Taylor Ostgaard 0.jpg?VersionId=PAQmpidGg7LEv
Taylor Ostgaard
Lucas Cruz crashes during race day practice.jpg?VersionId=NHGzdnfqjXrlzwz3cJRYuNUET5KEF
Lucas Cruz
Neko Mulally 1
Neko Mulally

 

Frida Ronning 0
Frida Ronning
Aletha Ostgaard 1
Aletha Ostgaard
Blenki%2C making the whoops pass at mach speed%21
Blenki making the pass in the whoops!
Joe Breeden-3.jpg?VersionId=UaLWFVoyHL
Joe Breeden
Oisin Ocallaghan 1.jpg?VersionId=VcUAxAG056oJ42yl7t0c6coR9WedDIK
Oisin O'Callaghan
Andreas Kolb-2.jpg?VersionId=a
Andreas Kolb
George Brannigan.jpg?VersionId=RACALT2e6
George Brannigan
Dakotah Norton-2 0
Dakotah Norton
Luca Shaw-2
Luca Shaw

 

 

Richie Rude 2.jpg?VersionId=
Richie Rude

 

Jack Zenoni.jpg?VersionId=5 ud4c WfLQmi8FFvA2EB2BfH3rKQR
Jack Zenoni
Ryan Pinkerton 4.jpg?VersionId=la.d36VY79Ow7q 3Iv9KSJS6qCs3
Ryan Pinkerton
Cole Suetos 0.jpg?VersionId=NDAekdvC
Cole Suetos

 

Erice Van Leuven-2 0.jpg?VersionId=M1AJNwaJ8z
Erice Van Leuven
Zack %28aka Snack%29 Harper
Zack Harper, Clay's son.

 

Anna Newkirk-4 0
Anna Newkirk

 

Aaron Gwin 0
Aaron Gwin
Mille Johnset-2.jpg?VersionId=SqKc.5Qw.Wb
Mille Johnset
Max Beaupre
Max Beaupre
Kirk McDowall.jpg?VersionId=CUIoCtYltD30a5DzkYDQjYyE.s
Kirk McDowall

 

SR Suntour Holeshot winners%2C Matthew Walker and Phoebe Gale
Suntour Holeshot winners, Matt Walker and Phoebe Gale
Teagan Heap-2.jpg?VersionId=a2WI0Sn1k5LEKzC5zIDr2
Tegan Heap
James McAllister primo tool box%2C Cresline pit
James McAllister's toolbox in the Crestline pits.
Ryder Lawrence 1
Ryder Lawrence
Cash Shaleen 0
Cash Shaleen
Matt Walker 0
Matt Walker

 

Asa Vermette sitting this one out healing up from a broken back.jpg?VersionId=Y.oyMN7TwQ Bn
Asa Vermette sitting this one out with a broken back.

 

Kale Cushman 1
Kale Cushman
Chris Hauser.jpg?VersionId=HKFphlKEoU1Xumkc5J
Christian Hauser

 

Clay Harper.jpg?VersionId=wk7SdlR2g10mSK9xjg
Clayton Harper. The reason any of this exists right now.

 

Chris Grice-2 0
Chris Grice

 

Wyn Masters 3
Wyn Masters

Enjoy the Race Replay from Pro Downhill Series

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