Just got this in from RideDC.com team rider Joe Burkell (cannondalerider):
The RideDC.com U.S. Open Trip is in the books and it was eventful to say the least. The week started with a four-hour drive up to New Jersey to ride with the likes of Aaron Chase, Adam Hauck, and a few others at Jeff Lenosky?s jump jam. An awesome video edited by the guys over at Trashbike can be found here (Link
http://vimeo.com/12119381). The team made it over to Diablo Freeride Park on Thursday and began practicing for the U.S. Open Giant Slalom and Downhill races as well as filming for the upcoming episode of The Chase Files. The best riders in the world were in attendance and hungry for the $7500 top prize including Andrew Neethling, Mik Hannah, Gee Atherton, and pretty much every other big name in downhill-mountain biking. Qualifying for the Giant Slalom included Mitch Ropelato taking the top pro spot as well as RideDC.com team members Joe Burkell and Adam Cain both qualifying for the amateur senior men finals.
The Giant Slalom finals on Saturday saw fierce competition in the pro class with Mitch Ropelato taking the top spot after the first run by cooking down the mountain at 39.65 seconds. During the second round of the best of two run format, rider after rider tried and failed to beat Ropelato?s time until second place qualifier Brendan Fairclough was able to crack that mark with a run of 39.52. Mitch had one last chance to take the top spot and came screaming out of the bottom of the course with all intentions of taking Brendan down. Unfortunately Mitch came a little too hot out of the last turn and crashed hard, going over the bars and carted out in an ambulance, leaving the top spot on the podium to Fairclough. RideDC.com team members Joe Burkell and Adam Cain finished up 22nd and 25th respectively in the stacked amateur senior men finals.
Sunday was Downhill Finals Day and everybody was talking about who would take down the $7500 purse for the pros and Jamis Downhill bikes for the top amateurs.
After the first 20-30 riders down in the pro ranks, no one came close to touching Sick Mik Hannah?s top qualifying time. Once the top qualifiers started making it down, things got interesting. The hot seat changed hands at least a dozen times before it was all over with Sam Hill, Steve Smith, Brendan Fairclough and many others all taking the top time after their run only to be defeated by the next rider down the course. Number 3 qualifier, Trek World Racing?s Andrew Neethling came down and knocked off his teammate Justin Leov with a time of 2:19.55, the fastest all weekend. Next up came world cup veteran Gee Atherton, who came close but ended up about ? a second slower than Needles, at 2:20.09. The last rider down was top qualifier and Moto-Whip champion, Sick Mik Hannah. Everyone waited eagerly but there was no sign of Hannah at the bottom of the course. Mik Hannah had flatted during his run, leaving the top spot and $7500 to Andrew Neethling. Look for Mik to come out strong during next weekends world cup at Fort William.
We would like to send out healing vibes to ridedc.com team member Dan Siegfried who lacerated his kidney during practice at the open as well as all others who suffered injuries this weekend on the challenging course. Look for more RideDC.Com race reports right here. Our next stop is next weekend at Seven Springs resort for Gravity East Series Round 2, stop by the ridedc.com pits to say what?s up!
