Gravity East # 7 – The Whiteface 5K Downhill
Race Director for Gravity East Race #7 event is
Mike Scheur (Downhill Mike)
For immediate release:
8/31/2010
The Gravity East Series rolls onto Olympic territory to the most challenging and longest course of the 2010 season, the 5K downhill at Whiteface Mountain, Wilmington, New York.
Mike Scheur (Downhill Mike)
With just two races left in the Gravity East season the point series in all categories is starting to really heat up as rider’s battle for the top spot.
Whiteface Mountain and the area village of Lake Placid were the hosts to the 1932 & 1980 Winter Olympics and the famous “Miracle on Ice”. On September 11th & 12th Whiteface Mountain Bike Park will be hosting in unison the Gravity East Race # 7 , the Pro GRT Finals and the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference Race for the Rochester Institute of Technology
KHS Pro Chris Heath
Whiteface Mountain Bike Park will be the host to some of the best downhillers in the country and provide much excitement as the riders compete on this 3.1 mile course which mixes speed, fast flowing and technical sections throughout. For more race venue information please visit www.downhillmike.com
Whiteface 5K Race Director: Mike Scheur (Downhill Mike)
Race Fees & Info, Registration & Lodging
The Gravity East Series is officially sanctioned by USA Cycling for Mountain Biking and all USAC rules apply.
Please see additional Info and Rules for Gravity East Series at www.gravityeastseries.com
Race Entry $28.00 Pre-Register
Visit www.active.com or call 877-228-4881 using event I.D. # 1878160. On line registration will end on September 8th.
Race Entry $ 35.00 On-Site Registration
Chainless 5K Downhill Race Tickets $ 10.00
Lift Tickets 1 Day $ 35.00, 2 Day $ 65.00, 3 Day $ 95.00
Race Schedule
Friday 09/10
Race Practice 9am – 3:30pm
Saturday 09/11
Registration 8am – 2:15pm
Race Practice 9am – 3:00pm
Pro Racers Seeding Run 3:30pm
Sunday 09/12
Registration 8am – 10am
Race Practice 9am – 11am
5K Downhill Race 12pm
Chainless 5K Downhill Race 3pm
Awards Ceremony 4pm
A $ 5000 cash purse will be awarded to the winners in the Pro Racer’s category. The top three riders in each amateur category will win prizes.
Pro Men’s 1st $ 1500.00
Pro Men’s 2nd $ 750.00
Pro Men’s 3rd $ 500.00
Pro Women’s 1st $ 1250.00
Pro Women’s 2nd $ 650.00
Pro Women’s 3rd $ 350.00
Lodging Info – Ride n’ Stay
Camping is available in the vicinity. Please visit www.downhillmike.com for more information on camping and Ride n’ Stay packages.
Or contact Race Director Mike Scheur (Downhill Mike) at info@downhillmike.com
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Gravity East Series # 6, Killington “The Beast”
For Immediate Release: Race Report & Results
This past weekend the Gravity East Series made its second and final stop of the 2010 season in the State of
Killington Resort hosted the Gravity East Series race after a 5 year hiatus from downhill mountain biking competition. Killington provided a great event atmosphere with a free concert featuring the band Twiddle Saturday following the day’s race practice.
The newly designed race course started just below the mountain top lodge located on Killington’s Peak elevation of 4241’. The course was 2.2 miles long providing a very challenging race with times in the 6 to 8 minute range with a very fast run to the finish off a fire road stretch.
The Gravity East Series once again drew a great number of riders from all over the East and beyond including quite a few new riders from local
In the hotly contested Pro Men’s category, pro riders battled “The Beast” to become the one victorious. The Dominator, Gerritt Beytagh (Moorewood Bikes) mastered “The Beast” to beat local Vermonter Gavin Vaughan (Giant/HGB) for the win. It was Beytagh’s 4th win of the season and inches him closer to
Visit the GES website for more information and point standings at www.gravityeastseries.com.
The Gravity East Series rolls on to Olympic territory next month in Lake Placid at
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Beytagh lets it all hangout at Highland Mtn Bike Park
Gravity East Series Race # 4
July 11, 2010
For Immediate Release
This past weekend at
By the time the DH race took place on Sunday the race course conditions were perfect. The technical rocky descents, bermed turns, and fresh loamy soil made up a race course that tested your skill and your will to let off the brakes. Racing in all the fields has been close all season, but especially the PRO men and after a race run crash at Plattekill Mtn Bike Park July 4th weekend, Geritt Beytagh was determined to get back on the top of the podium. Geritt did it with authority by throwing down a blistering time of 1:53:8 followed by Ben Moody with a 1:56:6 in second and Gavin Vaughan with a 2:00:3 in third. In the pro women's field Joanna Peterson won with a 2:18:3 followed by Dawn Bourque with a 2:28:8 in second and Karen Egan had 2:33:5 for third.
Current Gravity Results and Standings can be found here: http://www.gravityeastseries.com/standings.html
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July 5, 2010
Race Report: Gravity East # 3 Plattekill Mountain Bike Park
For Immediate Release
Rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air, can best describe GES racing Plattekill Bike Park this past holiday weekend
With a stacked PRO field this race would be anybody’s call Chris Heath (KHS Factory) threw down the fastest time of the day followed closely by Ethan Quehl(East Coast Gravity Pros), Gavin Vaughan( Team Giant HBG) who get race run of the weekend after injuring his hand in practice Saturday. 15 year old Richie Rude( Specialized Allride Acadamy) was fast enough for the fourth spot with Jason Memmelaar(Team Giant HBG) right behind him rounding out the top five.
In the Pro Women Dawn Bourque(Rocky Mountain Bikes) took the top spot on the podium followed by Karen Eagan(Highland) and Joanna Petterson(Nema Maxxis)
Results:
|
Rank |
Bib |
Name |
Team |
Class |
Result 1 |
|
1 |
97 |
Chris Heath |
KHS Factor |
M Pro 1-9 |
2:39.16 (1) |
|
2 |
23 |
Ethan Quehl |
East Coast |
M Pro 1-9 |
2:41.05 (2) |
|
3 |
96 |
Gavin Vaughan |
Giant/HBG/ |
M Pro 1-9 |
2:41.53 (3) |
|
4 |
90 |
Richard Rude JR |
Specialize |
M Pro 1-9 |
2:42.55 (4) |
|
5 |
48 |
Jason Memmelaar |
Giant/HGB |
M Pro 1-9 |
2:43.46 (5) |
|
6 |
46 |
Leif Lorenzen |
|
M Pro 1-9 |
2:44.87 (6) |
|
7 |
98 |
Phillip Kmetz |
FTW Racing |
M Pro 1-9 |
2:45.32 (7) |
|
8 |
67 |
Adam Morse |
VonCooper/ |
M Pro 1-9 |
2:46.13 (8) |
|
9 |
66 |
Tim White |
VonCooper/ |
M Pro 1-9 |
2:46.31 (9) |
|
10 |
70 |
Geritt Beytagh |
Morewood B |
M Pro 1-9 |
2:47.00 (10) |
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Gravity East Series Race # 3
Independence Day Weekend!
Friday, July 2 – Monday. July 5
Celebrate Independence Day with the Gravity East Series as it moves north to the mountain that started it all,
The Gravity East point series is heating up, with a 3 way tie for second place in the men's Pro field between Gavin Vaughan, Jason Memmelaar and Richie Rude all vying for the top spot with Gravity East Series points leader Geritt Beytagh. Fifth place Leif Lorenzen and the rest of the pro men are close behind and all in striking distance. In the Pro women's field it is a battle between Dawn Bourque, Karen Egan and a new rider to the Pro Women's scene Rae Gandolf.
In the amateur fields all the point races are tightening up with the top five spots being all up for grabs in every division. Now that the two mid-Atlantic races are in the books, it could be anybody's series. Everyone gets to drop one race out of the 8 race Gravity East Series. Please check out the Gravity East Series for more series rules and details at http://www.gravityeastseries.com .
The Plattekill bike Park will be open July 2nd - 5th for racing and free riding.
Discounted $20 lift tickets for Friday and Monday each if you have a DH
entry (non racers $30 each day). Pro entry includes free Friday ticket.
A Baked Ziti or Chicken Alfredo dinner will be offered Saturday night.
3. July 2nd - 4th Plattekill Mountain, Roxbury, NY www.plattekill.com
4. July 10th -11th Highland Mountain Bike Park,
5. July 31st- Aug.1st Sugarbush Resort,
6. Aug. 14th-15th Killington Resort, Killington, VT www.killington.com
7. Sept. 11th -12th Whiteface Mtn,
8. Oct 2nd - 3rd Vertical Earth Gravity Park, Danielsville, PA www.verticalearthpa.com
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Seven Springs
Video of Seven Springs Gravity East Race #2 Provided by Voncooper.com
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BEYTAGH & BOURQUE GRAB GRAVITY EAST
Seven Springs Downhill Race Report
15 Year Old Phenom Destroys Cat. 1 Women, Just Misses Being Fastest Overall Female
Press Contact Information: Gravity East Series presented by Voncooper Productions
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
Ken Getchell, Account Manager, 610-397-1950
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 13, 2010; Champion, PA, USA: A record field of entries came to aptly-named Champion Pennsylvania this weekend for the Seven Springs Downhill, round two of the 2010 Gravity East Series presented by Voncooper Productions. The fast, flowing course at Seven Springs Resort is characterized by a series of berms and banked corner, putting a premium on cornering ability. The course was in mint condition throughout Saturday practice, and a light rain overnight only added to the tackiness of the surface for Sunday’s race. But while the rain improved traction on most of the track, conditions in the infamous rock garden went the other way as slick rocks caused multiple falls. As last year, you could hear the spectators in the rock garden cheering and ringing cowbells provided free by Voncooper.com to spectators. Pro stalwart Alejandro Ortiz (Morpheus/ Vertical Earth) didn’t enjoy the atmosphere quite as much as the spectators, though. Ortiz took a nasty crash in the rock garden, resulting in a DNF and a trip to the hospital. Ortiz was released later in the evening; but as of Monday morning, the extent of Ortiz’s injuries, if any, was unknown.
While Ortiz was dealing with the agony of defeat, Gerrit Beytagh (Morewood bikes USA) was experiencing the thrill of victory, with a very large exclamation point. Beytagh firmly established himself as the rider to beat on this year’s Gravity East tour, taking his second win and remaining undefeated. The experienced Beytagh won by 1.3 seconds over Ethan Quehl (East Coast Gravity Pros) and another second in front of third place Gavin Vaughan (Giant/ HBG/ Troy Lee Designs/ Smith / Five Ten).
After taking the first win of the GES season at Massanutten, 2009 Champion Dawn Bourque (Rocky Mountain/Chainline) returned to the Gravity East presented by Voncooper and showed that she hasn’t lost any of her winning form from last year. Bourque took the win in the Pro Women’s class by over four seconds, followed by Rae Gandolf (Sierra Nevada Brewing) with Karen Eagan (Highland Mountain Bike Park) in third.
Gravity East continues to be the incubator of incredible talent, as teenager Ritchie Rude Jr. (Specialized Allride Academy) finished 4th in the Pro Men’s class. But this year’s teenaged “next big thing” appears to be 15 year-old phenom Lauren Daney (Grom Racing). Daney won the Women’s Category 1, the highest-ranked amateur class for women, by an astounding 25 seconds. Daney’s time would have been quick enough for a solid second place finish in the Pro Women’s class, a more relevant statistic at Seven Springs this year as all categories of riders competed on the same track. Daney not only rode faster than all but one other female competitor, her time put her well within the top half of all times recorded for the day and was faster than quite a few of the Category 1 Men. It was yet another performance reminiscent of last year’s “next big thing” and 2009 Gravity East Pro Champion Neko Mulally, who despite having not yet graduated from High School, heads back to the World Cup circuit this week after breaking his arm the 2010 Gravity East Season Opener in Massanutten.
Speed must run in the Mulally genes as Neko’s younger brother Logan continued to show that he’s an outstanding racer in his own right by winning the highly competitive Junior Male Category 1 class, followed by New Hampshire rider Alex Couture (Giant Bikes). Finishing in third was a new rider to the Category 1 Junior class, Damon Morin (Highland Mountain bike park), who showed that he, too, is a true contender for the Gravity East season championship.
The fans, riders and staff all enjoyed Seven Springs, and many commented that it is one of their favorite Gravity East venues. Series Director Dan McDonald confirmed that a return to Seven Springs in 2011 is already in the planning stages. McDonald commented after the race, “Joel (Rerko, Seven Spring’s Action Sports Director) and his staff were kind and courteous and helped make the event a special event. They always seem to take care of the little details here. The Expo area is also something unique to Seven Springs and must be experienced.”
Following a couple week break, the Gravity East presented by Voncooper Productions next heads into the wild Red, White and Blue yonder for the July 4th Independence Day races at Roxbury New York’s famous Plattekill Bike Park. For more information, see www.GravityEastSeries.com.
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NEW PRESENTING SPONSOR FOR GRAVITY EAST
Voncooper Productions Sponsors America’s Largest Gravity Racing Series
Press Contact Information: VonCooper.com Gravity East Series
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
Ken Getchell, Account Manager, 610-397-1950
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Note: A Voncooper promo video to accompany this release is available at:
http://rcpt.yousendit.com/883801415/5fa2a4d6152e1d0a785e2f8f7f378373 |
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June 3, 2010; Conshohocken, PA, USA: Dan McDonald, Director of Gravity East, announced today that Voncooper Video Productions has signed-on as the presenting sponsor of the Gravity East presented byVoncooper.com downhill series at least through the end of the 2010 season. The announcement comes as the series prepares for its second 2010 event at Pennsylvania’s Seven Springs Resort on June 13.
Voncooper Productions was founded by Willem Cooper in 2006. Based in Newport, Rhode Island, Cooper also sponsors a racing team on the tough East Coast mountain bike scene. Though known in the cycling industry for their action sports videos, including last year’s Gravity East highlight reel, Voncooper Productions also provides video production for business, weddings and, “anything else that may need video,” says Cooper.
Ken Getchell, whose PR firm, SpectaSport, handles the Gravity East Series presented by VonCooper.com, says Voncooper is at the top of the list of production companies for racing sports. “As the PR guy for the series, of course I’m going to say good things about their new sponsor,” said Getchell recently. “But the reality is, Willem is one of the few guys I’ve worked with that not only understands the artistic side, but also the commercial side of the video business. His videos aren’t just pretty pictures; they’re edited so they perfectly compliment the story we’re also trying to tell in print. Even more important is that Willem understands the time frames of the media business. I’ve worked with other producers, and they just can’t meet the timeframes that modern media requires. Voncooper’s tight and compelling highlight video of Massanutten’s Yee Ha! Downhill, by comparison, was already published on a number of websites by Monday morning following the race. It takes a real pro to hit timelines like that and still provide an excellent product.
For his part, Cooper soft-pedals the marketing rhetoric. “We’re reliable and you get what you’re expecting, or better,” he says simply. For more information on Voncooper Productions, visit their website at www.Voncooper.com.
Upcoming Gravity East presented byVoncooper.com events:
June 12-13 Seven Springs Resort; Seven Springs, Pennsylvania
July 3-4 Plattekill Mountain; Roxbury, New York
July 10-11 Highland Mountain Bike Park; Northfield, New Hampshire
July 31- August 1 Sugarbush Resort; Warren, Vermont
August 14-15 Killington Resort; Killington, Vermont
Sept. 11-12 Whiteface Mountain 5K DH; Wilmington, NY
October 2-3 Gravity East Series presented by Voncooper.com Finals
Vertical Earth Gravity Park at Blue Mountain; Danielsville, PA
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GRAVITY EAST GETS “DOWN” AT MASSANUTTEN
RACE #1
Press Contact Information: Gravity East
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
Ken Getchell, Account Manager, 610-397-1950
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 20, 2010; Conshohocken, PA, USA: Gravity East is introducing a new, non-championship, event following practice for the classic Yee Ha! downhill race at Massanutten Resort, on Friday, April 30. The skinny-tire asphalt racers typically call this kind of preliminary event a prologue, but series publicist Ken Getchell says the term doesn’t really capture the true character of the festivities at the popular Virginia resort. “It’s not really a prologue in the sense of the Tour de France,” says Getchell, “it’s more of a schmo-logue where the big ole’Gravity East family can get together for the first time in months and let their hair down before laying all on the line for the first time the next day.”
At the heart of the evening will be a Gravity East Inaugural Foot-Down Derby. Wildly popular with New England mountain bikers and Portland cyclocrossers, the object of a Foot-Down Derby (other than an excuse to drink beer) is to eliminate your competitors by forcing them to put their foot on the ground. At ten rounds, Gravity East’s Dan McDonald claims the Foot-Down Derby at Massanutten will be double the length of a typical UFC title fight; a comparison that he freely acknowledges is apropos to nothing, “except it sounds good.” There will be (more-or-less) strict rules about contact in the Foot-Down Derby, and McDonald says “unnecessary” groping will be strictly prohibited. There will also be a racing event as muscular downhillers compete, primarily for the amusement of their peers, in a downhill slalom race aboard kiddie bikes designed for kindergarten-aged children.
It won’t be all fun and games during the weekend, though. While Friday night’s Foot-Down Derby and Kid’s Bike Slalom may be lighthearted, the following day’s Yee Ha! Downhill is one of the East’s most iconic downhill races. Taking place on one of the few American courses to ever host a World Cup downhill, the early season Yee Ha! traditionally draws riders from throughout the U.S. and Canada as they compete in all 15 of Gravity East’s championship classes. Like athletes everywhere, however, gravity racers need to warm-up and get loose in order to perform at their peak. “Most likely,” say Getchell, “for many riders that will mean spending Friday night eating, drinking, watching people fall down in the Derby and Kid’s Bike Slalom -- and telling lies that will be exposed the next day.”
More information on the Yee Ha! Downhill weekend, the first round of the 2010 Gravity East series, can be found at www.GravityEastSeries.com.
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Surprises Abound as Gravity East Confirms 2010 Schedule
Press Contact Information: Gravity East
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
Ken Getchell, Account Manager, 610-397-1950
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 9, 2010; Conshohocken, PA, USA: America’s Gravity East downhill racing series has released its confirmed 2010 schedule that includes holding the first downhill race in a generation at Killington Vermont. The eye-opening news was only one of several surprises on Gravity East’s recently-released 2010 schedule that will span much of the eastern United States from America’s northern border with Canada, to the charming beauty of the Shenandoah Valley that was known as the Breadbasket of the Southern Confederacy during America’s Civil War.
“We’ve made a lot of upgrades behind the scenes this winter,” says Gravity East’s Dan McDonald. “A lot of them may seem relatively minor on the face of if, but they’ll add up to a higher-quality experience for our racers and mountains.” The standardization of the registration process and race weekend schedules, as well as the utilization of a single timing company for the series are just a few of the ‘backdoor’ improvements that Gravity East management has made behind the scenes has part of a series-wide quality-improvement program.
But the biggest change most racers will notice is the new schedule. The return of Killington, one of the iconic venues of mountain biking’s first golden age is a major coup for the series that already boasts of offering World Cup and (road race) National Championship venues for each of the season’s first two races at Massanutten and Seven Springs. On the opposite end of the schedule, the Gravity East Finals have been relocated to the rapidly expanding Vertical Earth Mountain Bike Park at Eastern Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain. “We wanted to bring the Finals to a mountain that was more geographically centered for both our Northern and Southern racers,” says McDonald, “And since the Finals are late enough in the year that weather can become an issue on the northern mountains, it just made sense to move the Finals southward.”
As the series has grown, Gravity East has also removed aspects of its program that it felt didn’t add enough value for the racers or the sponsors. Gone is last year’s dual-slalom experiment. “We tried Dual Slalom last year,” says McDonald, “but it drained a lot of time and resources that we felt could be better spent by focusing on our bread-and-butter Downhill program.” Also gone are back-to-back race weekends, a change that McDonald was only too happy to make, “Back-to-back weekends really stretch our staff to the limit, they’re tough for our amateur racers who have to work for a living, and they don’t really benefit the pro riders either since paying for a hotel and rental car for a week is often more expensive than flying back home after the race. Getting rid of them is one of the little things we’ve done to improve the series for everyone from novice racers to world-class pros like Neko Mulally, who has confirmed that he plans to compete in as many Gravity East races this year as his World Cup program allows.”
2010 Gravity East Schedule:
April 30th (Friday) - May 1 Massanutten Resort; McGaheysville, Virginia
June 12-13 Seven Springs Resort; Seven Springs, Pennsylvania
July 3-4 Plattekill Mountain; Roxbury, New York
July 10-11 Highland Mountain Bike Park; Northfield, New Hampshire
July 31- August 1 Sugarbush Resort; Warren, Vermont
August 14-15 Killington Resort; Killington, Vermont
Sept. 11-12 Whiteface Mountain 5K DH; Wilmington, NY
October 2-3 GES Finals -- Vertical Earth Gravity Park at Blue Mountain; Danielsville, PA
Official Gravity East Series Sponsors
More information about the 2010 Gravity East downhill racing series can be found at www.GravityEastSeries.com.
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NEKO SPLATTEKILLS THE COMPETITION IN GRAVITY EAST
Bourque, Eagan Win Women’s Titles
Press Contact Information: Gravity East Series
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
Ken Getchell, Account Manager, 610-397-1950
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 11, 2009: Neko Mulally, Specialized Team America’s 16 year old phenom, is Gravity East’s 2009 Professional Men’s Champion in both the Downhill and the Dual Slalom divisions following this past weekend’s Gravity East Finals at Plattekill Mountain New York. “We have seen the future, and it’s scary fast,” says Gravity East publicist Ken Getchell of Mulally. “He’s fast and smooth and picks uncanny lines. Just think what’s he’s going to be like as his body physically matures over the next couple of years.” Jason Memmelaar (Hayes/5 ten/Manitou/Smith), the winner of the Seven Springs round, was runner-up in the season standings. Alejandro Ortiz (Nema/Morpheous - Ecuador) finished the year on two podiums, as runner-up to Mulally in the e.thirteen Dual Slalom points championship and as third place overall in the Downhill standings. Mulally finished the season with five Gravity East Downhill victories and never finished lower than fifth (one race). On the Dual Slalom side, Neko finished with a perfect score of five victories after dropped races were calculated. Only a crash in the semi-finals of Saturday’s e.thirteen Dual Slalom kept him from sweeping every race.
On the Women’s side, Dawn Bourque of Rhino Bike Works was overshadowed by Mulally’s exploits, but was no less dominant in winning the Gravity East Downhill Series. In fact, she was more dominant, winning seven of the Gravity East Downhills (including five in a row) where Mulally scored “only” five downhill victories. After missing the first three races, Bourque went on to win every other Downhill on the Gravity East Schedule, with the exception of the new venue at Eastern Pennsylvania’s Vertical Earth Mountain Bike Park at Blue Mountain, where deliciously sponsored Karen Eagan of Samuel Adams Brewery took the victory. Eagan had what many riders would consider a dream year in the Gravity East this year, winning the e.thirteen Dual Slalom title and finishing second in the Downhill standings. Overall, Eagan won three times in Gravity East competition this year; twice in Dual Slalom and once in Downhill.
In on-track action, 208 entries signed into Plattekill despite rainy (again!) conditions. The racers who followed the entire Gravity East Series this year saw about as much rain as Noah; and if they had the choice of changing any one thing about the series this year, most racers would ask for drier weather. Even most of the races that were held in the sun took place after rainy practice days.
In the Dual Slalom, Neko crashed in the Semi’s, but beat Ben Hulse in the final to take third. The big winner was Alejandro Ortiz, who took his first Gravity East victory in either discipline this year. Runner-up was Kyle Karpuska (Von Cooper) with his best Gravity East result of the year. Karen Eagan confirmed her status as 2009 champion by beating Lauren Daney (Inspired Athletes) in the final. Kate Parhiala (Ryde) finished third on the day but scored enough points to take second place in the season standings.
In Sunday’s Downhill, Dawn Bourque, Karen Eagan and Stephanie Gubernat (Cutters Bike Shop/VerticalEarth) finished 1,2,3 for both the race and the season title. Bourque’s time of 3:19.15 was over seven seconds faster than runner-up Eagan. In the Men’s race, Mulally blazed down the course with a time of 2:32.33. Memmelaar raced home second in 2:36.00 and Ben Moody (Rhino Bike Works) rounded out the podium with a 2:38.39
Full Results and Point Standings to be published shortly:
Gravity East Finals, Preliminary Results:
Gravity East e.thirteen Dual Slalom, October 10, 2009:
Men:
1. Alejandro Ortiz (Nema/Morpheous - Ecuador)
2. Kyle Karpuska (Von Cooper)
3. Neko Mulally (Specialized Team America)
Women:
1. Karen Eagan (Samuel Adams)
2. Lauren Daney (Inspired Athletes)
3. Kate Parhiala (Ryde)
Gravity East Downhill, October 11, 2009:
Men:
1. Neko Mulally (Specialized Team America) 2:32.33
2. Jason Memmelaar (Hayes/5 ten/Manitou/Smith) 2:36.00
3. Ben Moody (Rhino Bike Works) 2:38.39
Women:
1. Dawn Bourque (Rhino Bike Works) 3:19.15
2. Karen Eagan (Samuel Adams) 3:26.63
3. Stephanie Gubernat (Cutters Bike Shop/VerticalEarth) 3:46.94
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And The First Shall Be Last - Plattekill Mountain Hosts Gravity East Finals
The first-ever lift-assist Mountain Bike Park in the East will host the final race of the 2009 Gravity East Series on October 9-11.
Plattekill Mountain in Roxbury New York is known for some of the most extreme gravity riding in the East, though with 60 miles of trails, there is literally something for everyone (even cross country). Plattekill first opened in 1995, when Missy Giove was still World Champion and Neko Mulally was wearing diapers. (The first World Championships weren’t held until 1990). Since then, Plattekill has been host to tens of thousands of visitors and countless races.
It’s this race-organizing experience that has brought the Gravity East Series to Plattekill for the Gravity East Finals, a double-points event for both Downhill and the e.thirteen Dual Slalom that will close out the 11 race season that stretched from the Old South nearly to the Canadian border. And it literally will literally be a “must attend” event, as series rules state that riders must have annual USAC licenses and attend the Gravity East Finals in order to take a Championship Title in any class.
According to Plattekill’s Marketing Advisor George Ulmer, who knows the trails at Plattekill as well as anyone on the planet, racers face a challenging course. “Loose and steep,” said Ulmer when asked to what the racers can expect. “A lot of shale and drops with good flow on natural terrain.”
Plattekill will also be having an Oktoberfest BBQ and bonfire with a surprise chef for the weekend preparing BBQ pulled pork, homemade coleslaw, baked potato's and more. Plattekill has a large pile of trees, the size of a two-car garage, that have been drying for months and should make for a classic bonfire.
On top of the Purse that the Plattekill Race Series offers, Gravity East will be paying out season awards:
• GES Finals PRO Points purse is $5000.00 for Downhill
• GES e13 PRO Dual Slalom Points Purse is $1000.00, 400.00 in e13 swag, 25.00 for 3 Fastest Qualifers from BTX Air
For more information on the 2009 Gravity East Finals, see www.GravityEastSeries.com or www.plattekill.com/summer/.
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VERTICAL EARTH AT BLUE MOUNTAIN OPENS THIS WEEKEND
Nation’s Newest Bike Park Opens in PA
Press Contact Information: Gravity East Series
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
Ken Getchell, Account Manager, 610-397-1950
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DATE; 9/09/09 Conshohocken, PA, USA:
This Saturday is the official grand opening of the east’s newest mountain bike park. Vertical Earth at Blue Mountain in Palmerton Pennsylvania opens September 12 with a $500 Jump Jam before bringing in the “Big Show” of the Gravity East downhill racers on September 25-27. Vertical Earth opens as full-fledged Mountain Bike Park, with its high-speed quad lift servicing 8 new trails, two jump parks, pump track and a Neko Mulallay-designed dual-slalom course that will feature heavily during the Gravity East Weekend.
“We’ve been trail building seven days a week since April,” says Vertical Earth Mountain Bike Park President Dan Whitehead. “For the remainder of this season, we’ll be open as part of Blue Mountain’s Adventure Saturday’s from 10 to 5. Next year, we’ll expand with more trails, cross country facilities, rental bikes and a full schedule. We’re even planning to bring cross country races to the trails we’ve already started building to compliment the gravity riding we already have. Blue Mountain is courting mountain bikers as a catalyst for expanded year-round activities.”
Blue Mountain, which boasts the highest vertical of any bike park or ski area in Pennsylvania at over 1,100 feet, is located half an hour north of Allentown Pennsylvania and just two hours from both New York and Philadelphia. Information/Pics and Video can be found here www.verticalearthpa.com.
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WHITEFACE & RIGHT COASTERS IMPRESS
Neko Wins, Heath Takes ProGRT Title
Fun, Fun, Fun Until Daddy Took the Chainring Away (Oh wait, That Was Fun Too)
Press Contact Information: Gravity East Series
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 1, 2009; Conshohocken, PA, USA: New York’s Whiteface Mountain lived up to its billing as a wild ride this past weekend. The Whiteface 5K featured a lot of rocks and even more roll as 202 competitors in 19 classes riders attempted to become one of the few to crack the 8 minute barrier down this massive mountain. With the downhill portion of the Gravity East weekend also counted as the final event of USA Cycling’s new Pro Gravity Tour national series, an east vs. the nation was expected but never materialized as the home field advantage saw Gravity East regulars on top of the podium.
The weekend began with the Gravity East e.thirteen Dual Slalom and the Lars Tribus “How (not) to Snap the Start” clinic. The dual slalom track at Whiteface is out of character for the venue as it’s about the only part of the mountain that can be described as smaller than average, making the start even more critical. In his second heat, Tribus (Chumba/Rockshox) anticipated the start – but guessed wrong. Snapping into the still-closed start gate, he went over his handlebars right at the gate. Tribus was able to come back and, having already demonstrated how to take out the front end of one’s bike on the start, showed how to take out the back end in the final for third and fourth against Kyle Sangers (J & J). As the gate dropped, Tribus snapped so hard that he snapped his cog into pieces, costing him the race but putting him in serious contention for the unofficial “Hulk-Out” of the year. In the pro final, Pennsylvania’s Neko Mulally (Specialized Team America) bested Pro GRT competitor Logan James (Pedal the Peak-e.thirteen) from Utah.
On Sunday, things got more serious as both the speed and the consequences for failure increased significantly. Whiteface served as the eighth round of the 11-race Gravity East Series. It’s also the longest downhill course in the East, and one of the longest and fastest in North America. With the inaugural Pro Gravity Tour title also on the line, it was ‘game on’ from the start of the day. The Pro seeding runs saw NY veteran World Legend Jurgen Beneke (unattached) run an 8:18 to take the first seed ahead of Dave Trumpore (Evil Bikes) and Neko Mulally (Specialized Team America).
Sunday turned out to be a beautiful day with sunshine and cool, autumn-like, temperatures. Throughout open practice, it was clear that the track was getting consistently better, and faster. Giant Bicycles had planned to give a bonus to fastest rider through Whiteface’s infamous speed trap. Unfortunately, the speed gun broke down, causing officials to change plans and award the $200 to the best amateur time -- and make just about everybody ask the question, “Why don’t speed guns ever break down when they’re pointed at my car?” Compounding the ignominy was that the bonus was won by a rider who isn’t even close to being old enough to get a speeding ticket. 14 year old Gravity East regular Richard Rude Jr. (Santa Cruz Allride) had people shaking their heads in disbelief when he came down the mountain with a time of 8.17.80, two-tenths quicker than Jurgen Beneke’s pole-winning pro seeding run. When the dust had settled at the end of the day, it was realized that Rude’s time would have placed Richard in 10th in the men's pro field and was quick enough to win his class by over forty-eight seconds.
It was obvious now that the build up to the Pro runs were going to be insane. First in the Hot seat was none other than the consummate Pro Gavin Vaughan (Sinister Snowfire) with a time of 8:19. Vaughn sat in the hot seat awhile before some astounding times sent him back to the pits. First to break the 8 minute mark was Jason Memmelaar (Hayes/Manitou/SunRig) with a 7:58. Memmelaar’s time was quickly smashed by Jurgen Beneke's 7:52. Then Gerrit Beytagh (Morewood Bikes) clocked an amazing time of 7:50. Finally, as all eyes watched the mountain, Neko Mulally came in with a record time of 7:48.15 to win the $2,000 dollar first-place portion of the Men's Pro Purse. Fastest of the visiting ProGRT riders was series leader Chris Heath(Manitou/Hayes) from Colorado who grabbed 6th to clinch the Overall for the Men's ProGRT champion’s Jersey from USA Cycling and the Helmet Trophy from Dylan Dean.
In the Pro Women’s race, the first to sit in the hot-seat was Massachusetts native and well-known northeast pro Karen Eagan (Sam Adams Brewery). Eagan held on to the hot-seat as rider after rider was unable to eclipse her time of 10:05.50. Eagan stayed in the hot seat until top seed Dawn Bourque (Rhino BikeWorks) of New Hampshire blew away the competition with a 9:41.29 to capture the Win and the $500 Women's first prize. Jennifer Wolf (Vixen Racing) was the only Pro GRT series regular to show for the women’s race. Unofficially, Wolf scored enough points to take over the runner-up position in the final ProGRT standings as Darian Harvey had already clinched the season title following her win at Windham Mountain. Final points are still being calculated for the Pro GRT women's series.
Following the official race, 39 riders got “pumped” and went back to the top for the chainless race. Some took the race more seriously than others; Richie Rude showed up at the start with two none-drive side crankarms, eliminating his chainring and bashguard. For the second year in a row, the win was grabbed by none other than Moorewood Bikes own Gerrit Beytagh. Beytagh grabbed the win with a time of 8:03.73, smashing 2nd place finisher Jurgen Beneke’s time of 8:24.72. Rounding out the top three was Heikki Hall with an 8:30.03
The next Gravity East weekend takes place at Blue Mountain Resort in Danielsville, Pennsylvania on September 26 and 27. The double-header weekend will feature not only the Gravity East Downhill, but also a round of the Gravity East e.thirteen Dual Slalom series on the Neko Mulally-designed slalom course at Blue Mountain. For more information, see
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GRAVITY EAST TO DEBUT PRO FORMAT AT WHITEFACE 5K
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
Ken Getchell, Account Manager, 610-397-1950
According to McDonald, the additional Pro seeding run is the model for what is expected to become the standard format for the Gravity East Series next year. But Downhill Mike is quick to point out that there is an important difference between the Pro Seeding run as used at the Whiteface 5K and the qualifying round as used at the World Cups. “Nobody will be eliminated in the seeding rounds,” says Sheur. “Every pro entry will still race in the final. But what the seeding run will do is set the starting order in the final so that the riders most likely in contention for the win will all be racing right after each other so that the track conditions are as fair and equal for all of them as possible.
More information about the Gravity East Series, including contact information and links to Whiteface Mountain 5K registration and lodging, can be found at www.GravityEastSeries.com.
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MUD SLINGING AT SUGARBUSH GRAVITY EAST
Press Contact Information: Gravity East Series
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 4, 2009; Warren, Vermont, USA: Chris Heath and Dawn Bourque were the big winners of the Gravity East Sugarbush Downhill last weekend under what has become normal conditions for racing in 2009 -- mud. Sugarbush Resort, located in mid-state Vermont, was the location for the seventh stop of the Gravity East Series. Despite it's relatively remote location, Sugarbush is a very large resort area that is couple with other resorts using a network of lifts that resembles ski areas in the Rockies. And, while Sugarbush might be unfamiliar many young riders, the mountain has a long history of racing rooted in the heyday of Mountain biking in the late 90's. In just the last two years mountain biking and racing has returned to Sugarbush, spurred on by the increasing popularity of series like Gravity East.
All the major elements of a classic downhill course were represented at this year’s Sugarbush course: fast brake-burning open ski slope, high-speed rock roads, grassy turns and bermed turns that slammed racers into tight technical woods. As brakes were cooling off from the top portion of the course, racers made their way through a tight, wooded course section that started out with some slow tight maneuvering around trees. A slick off-camber stretch led to the rock face. The rock face at Sugarbush resembled a World Cup course and was taped-off very wide. Racers commented that I had so many lines it could give you a headache as tried to decide which line to use. The finishing segment of the course could have been a small Dual Slalom course. Racers were treated to berms, table-tops and step-down jumps before hitting one last, really long sweeping berm that shot them across the finish line.
The 2009 Gravity East Series has been a textbook example of East Coast racing. And Sugarbush was the poster child for what it means to race on the east coast. Rain leading up to the event on Friday night made for a half-dry and partially muddy conditions. Warm sunny day during practices turned several sections into peanut butter by the end of the day and a nice “ripe” smell through the wood section. Race day arrives with cloudy skies, but the course dried out to the point that gave a good amount of traction, while still retaining enough slippery feel to make it fun. Race order for the day started with Cat 3, followed by Cat 2, Cat 1 and finished with Pro. Cat 3 made it down the hill and Cat 2 began their runs. It was time for Cat 1 and Pro to head up the lift to await their runs. As the big dogs approached the lift, everyone noted that a dense cloud cover had swept over the mountain. The cloud cover obscured the top of the lift and the dark clouds gathered around the peaks. Many went and grabbed their rain jackets, umbrellas or trash bags. Rain started to fall half-way through the Cat 2 runs and never slowed down after that. By the time the Pros were scheduled to start the ground had already formed puddles everywhere at the top of the mountain and nothing was left dry. That super-fast open slope section of was now a saturated wet and muddy. What were fast grass turns were now slick skid-steer paths around corners. The woods were covered in wet slime. Crashes were abundant for the remainder of the race. Riders reported having to remove their goggles half-way down the mountain because they couldn’t see through the mud-covered and steamed lenses. The riders that were able to keep both wheels on the ground and blaze the mud turned in some respectable times for the day.
Dawn Bourque of Rhino Bike Works continued her stranglehold on the Gravity East Women’s season, winning her fourth consecutive race by “only” 8.3 seconds over Karen Eagan of team Sam Adams. But, while Bourque may have a winning streak going, Chris Heath has the best winning percentage in Gravity East. Heath, a member of the USA’s Pan American Games team, made the trip from Colorado to win the first Gravity East he’s entered this year. Ben Moody (Rhino Bike Works), winner of the last Gravity East at Attitash, was a close second only 0.27 seconds behind Heath.
Despite the weather, the weekend was a good weekend for racing. The staff of Sugarbush executed a flawless event. Registration was a breeze and everything stayed on time. Sugarbush’s bike shop provided necessary support and parts to the racers of the weekend and was well-stocked with the brake pads that everyone needed due to the muddy conditions. Fox Racing Shox were also on hand again to support racers with any suspension issues they may have had.
The next race on the 2009 Gravity East Calendar is the double-double big-dollar event at New York’s Whiteface Mountain on August 29-30. The Whiteface 5K is a 3 mile, 8-plus minute downhill that doubles as both a Pro Gravity Tour and Gravity East event with the pro men’s race paying two THOUSAND dollars to win. The weekend will also feature a round of Gravity East’s inaugural e.thirteen Dual Slalom Series. For more information on Gravity East, see www.GravityEastSeries.com.
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SUGAR, SUGAR
Sugarbush Downhill Returns
Press Contact Information: Gravity East Series
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
Ken Getchell, Account Manager, 610-397-1950
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 28, 2009; Conshohocken, PA, USA: Sugarbush is back on bikes and hosting round 7 of the Gravity East Downhill Series on August 1 and 2. The huge, two-mountain ski resort in Warren Vermont regularly hosted major events during the first heyday of mountain biking, then gradually faded from the mountain bike scene. When Summit Ventures purchased the resort, mountain biking again became a priority and the resort has spent six years restoring and constructing trails and park features. Today, Sugarbush has a freeride park and over 18 miles of lift-assisted cross country and downhill trails. Last year, the culmination of that hard saw Sugarbush host its first mountain bike race in nearly a decade as the Gravity East Series roared down the resort’s Lincoln Peak.
In 2009, Sagebrush’s lift assisted riding season runs through October 11, and includes three bike-specific events. An Xterra off-road duathlon was held on July 11-12, and the Women’s Wrench and Ride clinic was held on July 25-26. But it is the return of the Sugarbush Gravity East Downhill on August 1-2 that is the undeniable highlight of this year’s summer mountain bike season at the resort. With Gravity East now the biggest series of its kind in North America, the significance of the race has increased significantly, and the history of the venue has only increased its prestige.
The racetrack used at Sugarbush, and first unveiled last year, fittingly represents the history of downhill racing at “the ‘Bush”. The course starts with an old-school fire road section reminiscent of the type of downhill racing that was in vogue in Sagebrush’s mountain bike halcyon days. The riders “fast forward” through the opening section and find themselves in a thoroughly modern downhill course with bermed corners, steep drops and difficult technical sections embodying the obstacles that had to be overcome to bring mountain biking and downhill racing back to this great mountain.
For information on the Gravity East Sugarbush Downhill, see www.active.com for racer discount lodging for race weekend at Sugarbush, call 800.53.SUGAR and mention the Gravity East.
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RHINO TIME AT ATTITASH
Rhino Bike Works Controls Gravity East in New Hampshire
Press Contact Information: Gravity East Series
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
Ken Getchell, Account Manager, 610-397-1950
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 21, 2009; Bartlett, New Hampshire, USA: Despite serious competition from the U.S. National Championships and the renowned Claymore Challenge freeride comp at nearby Highland MTB Park, the Gravity East Downhill at Attitash was another great success. 149 racers and cooperative weather, along with Corey Madden and his Attitash crew combined for another awesome Gravity East Series event. But in the end, it took a Rhino to tame the course.
Saturday’s sunny and somewhat humid weather made practice runs on Attitash’s amazing mix of technical sections and flowing bermed a bit dry and dusty. All that changed on Saturday night as the weather turned and laid down some of the wet stuff. Race day turned out to be misty with light rain, however the track stayed solid. “Misty with light rain” may not be everybody’s idea of “perfect” weather, but it was just enough to settle the dust and add that tacky feel to the course that downhillers love. And it was a fitting welcome for riders arriving from Highland’s Claymore and the Nationals in Colorado who were taking advantage of the extended 7 am practice session on race morning.
One of those was Ben Moody of Rhino Bike Works/Highland MTBpark/POC Armor, who outgunned Neko Mulally (Specialized Team America) by exactly one-half second to claim his second Gravity East Downhill in as many weeks. The two were the class of the field as third place Alejandro Ortiz (Morpheous Cycles/ Hayes/ Nema) was nearly 5 seconds further back.
Not to be outdone by her Rhino Bike Works teammate, Dawn Bourque scored her third consecutive Gravity East Downhill victory. Bourque completely dominated the women’s class, winning by an astounding 15 seconds.
The Gravity East Series takes a rest week before returning to Vermont’s Sugarbush Resort on August 1-2. For more information on the Gravity East Series and it’s upcoming races, see www.GravityEastSeries.com.
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GES #5 Highland Results and Report
NORTHFIELD, New Hampshire - What a weekend for gravity racing. One of the best to date races this year took place this weekend at Highland MTB Park in Northfield, New Hampshire. It was the fifth stop of the Gravity East Series signaling the halfway point for the whole series and what a weekend it was. Due to many factors, this was one of the best stops of the Gravity East Series this year. The wonderful sunny, blue sky weather was a major factor in making such a great weekend. In spite of not one but two competing events this weekend - one being only about an hour drive away - Highland turned out 139 participants for the weekend in DH.
Beyond great courses, lots of riding, and great weather. Shaums March, owner of MMR Mountain Bike Coaching and Camps, was on site in person providing personal training and clinics on Friday and Saturday. Fox Racing van was on staff to support the racers for the weekend. The wonderful crew of Highland made sure everyone had plenty to eat at the cafe while the bike shop was quick to provide emergency repairs and help where needed. Hats off to the entire Highland crew!
The courses that were prepared for this weekends event by the Highland Trail crew was a major highlight of the weekend. The dual slalom - we are talking old school true dual slalom - was designed and constructed by Kyle Ebbett with assistance of a trail crew of 10 people that worked almost non-stop for two whole weeks to prepare for this weekend. The work showed through on probably one of the best DS courses I have seen in my entire career of racing. All the participants walked away from the race with a grin from ear to ear. Course designer Kyle Ebbett secured the top podium spot for the pro men and Dawn Bourque took the pro women. The course was a great for spectators and people lined the course from the top and bottom cheering the racers on to the finish.
Download the full set of results in PDF.
The DH race took place Sunday on the trail named Eastern Hemlock that is apart of Highland's extensive trail network. While rain did fall Saturday night, conditions during the race were great. Just enough wetness to make for a fun track. High speed rocky descents, quick bermed turns, and tacky soil made up the race course that tested your will to let the brakes off and your sprinting strength to rocket out of the turns. Racing was very competitive with such a fast course. Ben Moody set the bar high blazing the finishing line with a 2:40.16 ahead of second place Chris Higgerson by over four seconds. Shaums March came across the line in third place - what better advertising for you teach methods than showing how they can perform. Dawn Bourque pulled off a double header by also winning the Pro Women DH with a 3:16.93.
Download the full set of results in PDF.
Immediate Release: Windham Race GES #4 - 212 Registered Racers need to know that GES Director Daniel McDonald has assured the Pro Purse will be made by Windham, also per Kelli Lusk USAC Mountain Bike Events & Program Director was sent the Results from the Windham GES and will honor all points and ranking as well the event is still a qualifing event for the National Championship in Sol-Vista, Colorado for both DS and DH races at Windham
WINDHAM GETS 2010 WORLD CUP FINALS
Gravity East Series to Debut the New World Cup Gravity Courses Next Week
June 19, 2009; Windham, New York, USA: Rick “Hodgie” Hodge, Special Events Director for New York’s Windham Mountain, announced this afternoon that the UCI has officially designated New York’s Windham Mountain as the host of 2010 UCI Downhill, 4cross and Cross Country World Cup Finals on August 28-29. Gravity racers won’t have to wait long to get a preview, as the newly completed World Cup downhill and 4cross courses will officially debut for competition next weekend June 27-28 during the Gravity East at Windham Mountain.
Windham Mountain is a well-known skiing mountain and has developed several pro/international ski racers and snowboarders. But Windham’s mountain bike program is very new, with the very first tree having been cut only in April of 2008. But the facilities have already received rave reviews from Olympic team members Georga Gould and Adam Craig following last year’s “East Coast Nationals”. "You could see how much expertise and hard work went into the making of the course,” said Gould following last year’s debut mountain bike weekend. Adam Craig was even more effusive in his blog, “Every inch of each and every course, Super D, Slalom, Downhilll, Cross Country was manicured in some way or another. Beautifully benched in rolling grade singletrack with problem solving ladder bridges and hand placed rocks to link sections that would be unridable was the norm on the XC track. The gravity courses weren’t the usual fall line skid, they had great flow and were built with an eye toward sustainability. Good stuff overall, thanks, people who live and ride in the Catskills.” Thus far, Hodge and the Windham Mountain staff has been intent on establishing the resort as a first-class competition venue, but their plans call for a full network of lift-assisted and cross country trails to be open for recreational riding by next spring.
Memmelaar and Gubernat Corner the Competition at 7 Springs
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
The Seven Springs course is based on a trail designed by former World 4X Champion Eric Carter. Fittingly, it’s a track characterized by multiple bermed turns, jumps and a sweet rock garden. Traction is critical as it quickly became obvious that this is a track where races are won or lost in the corners. The bottom jumps approaching the finish were in the open and in full view from anywhere in the expo area. But a sizeable contingent of spectators trekked up to the rock garden to watch the action, where they spent the afternoon ringing bells, whooping and hollering, and generally creating a great scene for some of the nation’s fastest racers.
The Pro winner was Jason Memmaelar of 2wheelfreaks.com / Manitou. Mr. Memmelaar proved he knows how to corner with a 2:10 time that was three seconds faster than runner-up Alejandro Ortiz (Trail Youth Adventures / Nema / Hayes). On the women’s side, Stephanie Gubernat (Vertical Earth / Cutters Bike Shop) posted an even larger margin of victory as she won her first Gravity East downhill of the year by 3.5 seconds over Rae Gandolf (Sierra Nevada).The Gravity East continues with Downhill and e.thirteen Dual Slalom racing on June 27-28 at New York’s Windham Mountain.For more information, see www.GravityEastSeries.com.
