Welcome to Windrock Bike Park in Oliver Springs, Tennessee.
Charlie Harrison Leads Nik Nestoroff out of the start hut for the 1st national race of the year. Day 1 of practice was quite foggy, but the worse weather was yet to come.
Matt Sterling takes a familiar line in the 2nd
corner of the course with Austin Dooley in tow. They’re both on new bikes this
year with Matt switching to a Pivot Phoenix and Austin to an Intense M29.
Cole Suetos and Zach Gareis share their findings with their
teammates, Kaden Pankow, Matt Sterling, & Dante Silva.
Nik Nestoroff figures out the rock garden early on whilst
aboard a KHS 29er prototype bike.
Californian Junior, Ethan Alexander made his first trip out to Windrock to enjoy playing in the mud.
Windrock Bike Park is part of the Windrock Park, the biggest
OHV park in the country at 75,000 acres. The bike park has become the hub in
the southeast for downhill riding, with legend Neko Mulally running the park
and teaching the juniors.
Tristan Lemire snakes down the signature orange clay turns
at the top of the course. Tristan came down from Quebec to escape the snow and
get an early start to his bike season
2018 USA National Junior Champ, Zach Gareis kicks off
qualifying with a 4th place against some of the best Junior Experts
in the world.
SoCal’s Angelo Loskota would race in the domestic pro
category for his first year out of Juniors. He would finish 6th on
race day.
After Qualifying 1st in the Elite Men Category,
Charlie Harrison was the man to beat on Sunday. Charlie sends the big boy step
up near the bottom of the track during the 1 hour practice.
Cole Suetos demonstrates how to become one with the track.
Not your typical California conditions, but a little studying during practice
and Cole would improve from his qualifying position.
Emily Harris would throw her goggles back and rally down the
mudfest of a course to take the win in her category.
Austin Dooley drops in on the first really muddy section,
and the first section with real fans. He would finish 11th on the
day.
Dante Silva cleans the rock garden looking good enough for
10th.
Kaden Pankow pedals through the slop aboard his Commencal
29er. He would end up crashing and having trouble clipping back into his
pedals.
Cole Suetos ran it smooth in the flying mud to a 5th
place finish in the JR EX category.
Matt Sterling slings it wide at the bottom of the rock
garden en route to a solid 4th place finish.
Steve Walton was on a quick run until he had a massive
crash. He would end up 35th
Titus Nicholson enjoyed his first race in the pro category
rallying through the slop.
Nik Nestoroff had a strong 1st showing of the year showing with a 9th place, only 1 second off of 5th.
Charlie Harrison was on another level all weekend having
familiarized himself with Windrock at the Downhill Southeast races years ago.
He would best 3rd place by 5 seconds, but miss out on the win by
just half a second to the Frenchman, Loris Vergier.
Matthew Sterling went 4th to be the fastest USA
Junior, only 1 second off of third. Cole Suetos would snag himself a 5th
place finish, 4 seconds behind Matt.
The Elite men’s podium, featuring Charlie Harrison in 2nd
place. The clouds had just darkened and moments after podium it began to pour
down yet again.
Charlie and Neko share a hug after a successful weekend for
both of them. We’re off for a month and then back for the 2nd
national round up in Port Angeles, Washington!