The Southern Californians, Drake Barron and Bruce Klein welcome you to Mountain Creek Resort in Vernon, New Jersey for the 3^rd U.S. National/Pro GRT Race.

Zach Gareis grew up racing here and was excited to get things started. Zach switched bikes this year going from his national champs bike, the 27.5” wheeled Devinci to the 29” wheeled Commencal.

Samantha Soriano was straight to business on the uplift despite the casual Friday shirt.

Bruce Klein takes us out on course for the first laps of practice. The first crank of the pedals is crucial.

Kaden Pankow drops into the first rock section right underneath the lift. The bike ping pongs off of the rocks here, but you try to hold it straight.

First year Monster Army athlete out of Vermont, Adrien Hayden takes us across the next section of roots and rocks. Keeping your speed across the flat bit is key.

Tristan Lemire turns onto the rooty entry into the “99” rock garden. Tristan looked comfortable all weekend on somewhat similar terrain to what he has up in Quebec to train on.

Mazie Hayden, sibling of Adrien Hayden, has been dominant in the Northeast not only in Downhill bike racing, but also skiing! She has been attending more national races this year and is getting some good momentum for the world cups.

Nik Nestoroff tucks into the rock compressions in the “Asylum” rock garden. This is a fan favorite spot come race day.

Nik’s new & old KHS teammate (from 2014), Steve Walton takes to the track and boosts out of the Asylum rock garden

New Hampshire native, Andrew Driscoll rolls down the bridge on his fresh Intense 29er bike.

Nik takes a moment in the sun to grab some lunch right by the lifts.

Bruce pushes down on his suspension, trying to become one with the bike before qualifying runs.

New Jersey local, Titus Nicholson rips down the Asylum rock garden to start off qualifying on Saturday. Titus has been racing here for at least the last 5 years.

Dante Silva would take top qualifying honors for the Junior Expert class by 1.5 seconds over Monster Army teammate, Tristan Lemire.

Angelo Loskota would compete in the domestic Pro category and finish 7^th on the weekend.

Samantha Soriano would stomp her qualifying run to take the TQ for the ladies by 5 seconds.

Sunday Morning practice before finals had Nik and Steven looking for tenths of seconds on the track.

Back in the pits, swapping out brake rotors for slightly less bent ones. Free speed.

The Juniors would start the show first on Sunday. Zach Gareis came screaming down the hill, blitzing the whoops section, but ended up just 2 seconds off the pace in 3^rd.

Tristan Lemire came down the hill after Zach and would go faster by 2 seconds to take over the hot seat. With only one rider left at the top of the hill, fingers were crossed.

Dante boosts a natural step-up in the final 30 seconds of his finals run. He crossed the line on the same second as Tristan, but just 0.43 seconds off of the win.

Samantha would be the last Pro Woman down the hill, but a slight bobble put her back 2 seconds and she settled for 2^nd place.

Steve Walton sneaks on top of the rocks he and Nik were looking at earlier. Steve would finish in 11^th on the weekend.

Bruce jumped into this steep chute, turning heads once again as he did all weekend, but it was not meant to be as a slight crash kept him off the podium in 10^th.

Nik was generating all sorts of speed on the track come race run. He finished 1.4 seconds off 2^nd place to end up in 5^th against a very talent heavy podium.

The Junior Expert Men Podium with Tristan Lemire in 1^st, Dante Silva 2^nd, and Zach Gareis 3^rd.

2^nd and 4^th for Samantha Soriano and Mazie Hayden on the weekend for the Pro Ladies.

Nik sneaking on to the last spot of the Pro Men’s Podium with a killer run.

Party laps after the race! The Californians soak up the last of the east coast dirt before flying back. We’ll catch up again in July at National Champs at Winter Park in Colorado. Good luck to the team at the Idaho Pro GRT in the meantime!