A night at the pump track

Went to someones pump track tonite and tested out the pocketwizards, so far so good, Heres 2 shots, 1st of Brian Pracht and 2nd of Brad Oien, I will be going to Brian Head and Snowmass, I am leaving on wed. so look for daily updates!

Weekend Update

Went down to San Diego this weekend to watch some off roading and stuff. Went to the dirt jumps and shot a few photos, but it was way too hot so I didnt shoot much. Also got some new gear just in time for the last 2 norba events, where I will have live updates again. Check it-

Photos!

They are being uploaded here: http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=mtbphoto&P=theman&AID=3684193&T=1
Only 2 weeks untill our Brian Head/ Snowmass roadtrip

DH Final Results

Last man off and top qualifier crashed in the top section and number 2 qualifier Luke Strobel crashed near the end of the track. So number 3 qualifier Duncan Riffle with Honda/Ironhorse Took the win for the US National Championship. Results are not posted yet, but I think number 1 international qualifier Amiel Cavalier had the fastest time, but they is not official.
Here are preliminary results
1. Duncan Riffle 1:54.0
2. Ryan Finney 1:54.5
3. Rich Houseman 1:54.7
4. Cole Bangert 1:55.5
5. Chris Herndon 1:55.7

Womans
1. Tara Llanes 2:10.7
2. Melissa Buhl 2:11.2
3. Tracey Hannah 2:11.8
I will post photos tomorrow since I gotta jam home

DH Qualifying results

Womens:
1.Tara Llanes 2:10.74
2. Melissa Buhl 2:11.27
3. Tracey Hannah 2:11.87

Mens:
1. Amiel Cavalier
2. Andrew Neethling
3. Cody Warren
When I get the times I will edit this post

4X Results

1. Eric Carter
2. Brian Lopes
3. Rich Houseman
4. Cody Warren
5. Lars Sternberg

Womens:
1. Kintner
2. Leana Gerrard
3. Melissa Buhl
4. Tara Llanes
5. Amelia Colasurdo

Kevin Huffman won Semi-Pro
Pro DH Finals are at 4:15, So I will have results after that.

4X Results!

4X is over, there was almost a pass at the end, but it didnt happen. It was world champion vs. the National Champion. Amazingly Eric Carter who was out of a broken collar bone WON! Lopes almost pulled it at the end but he didnt get it. Eric Carter is your national champion! Eric got the whole shot and was in front the whole race. From the angle I was watching it looked like Lopes won, but I guess he didn't. Heres a photo of the wholeshot:

Jr X Results

The national champion of Jr X is Hank Cadle and is the first one to break the 2 minute mark with a 1:59.(pictured below). In second place is Logan Bingelli with a 2.03. I talked to a few riders and they said it was a pretty fun course and they would like to come back some day. Pro 4x results will be up later today
Jr X winner:

Morning update

The course is still dusty and dry of course. The beginners are going off right now and there is only one course, so pro have no DH practice and they dont practice 4x till 5pm, so its going to be a long day. Weather is same as yesterday- sunny with a bit of wind that keeps it pretty nice out, I still got sunburnt though. Last night we went to some dirt jumps and I took a few photos. Updates on 4x later tonite
Jumping:

Infineon!

Heres the first update from infineon-
1. The DH course is pretty fast, not one rock, and most of it is off camber. There are a few pretty stupid turns a little pedaling. Within the first 2 hours of practice someone had to be air lifted out which was pretty cool to see, they had to use a basket and stuff (look at the photos) Although one of the shortest courses, it sucks to walk and is nothing but dry brush and everything is slippery. It is very dusty but not too hot because there is a bit of wind. I dont know how this happended but they are shuttling everyone up in brand new 4 door 4x4 tacomas, there are about 10 of them, I think everyone is wondering where the money came from those.

2. HTX (HillCross) eh, its ok, there are 3 turns, yet it is a good distance. The turns are ok and there a few good jumps. The end section is filled with some woops/jumps that pretty much everyone is get screwed on because there are 5 of them and closely spaced. Pro qualifying has just ended and Brian Lopes got the fastes time
1. Lopes 31.58
2. Houseman 32.14
3. Carter 32.66
4. Warren 22.24
5. Ryan Condrashoff 33.28
Kyler Geraci won semi pro
Womens:
1. Kintner 36.12
2. Llanes 37.12
3. Buhl 37.34


Lopes is at a NORBA!

Some pretty good views from the DH course

Skidding is the game on this course

Air Lift

I don't think it has rained here in a while!

Sonoma

I am off to Sonoma right now. Should be there in about 8 hours or so. Will have updates tomorrow hopefully, including the course photos of DH and HTX (hill cross).

Photos Uploaded!

All of the photos are up and ready to be viewed: http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=mtbphoto&P=theman&AID=3657813&T=1

If you would like to buy photos please email me at: mtbphoto(at)gmail(dot)com
Look for updates on sonoma soon!

Last of Deer Valley

Deer Valley is now over and my photos are being uploaded as I type. Sonoma is next and hopefully I will have internet access and will update this blog again. Here are all the photos: http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=mtbphoto&P=theman&AID=3657813&T=1
I will post again when they are all uploaded (all 500 or so)

Saturday practice

Wow, what a dusty day. The dust is out in full force and everything is getting slippery to walk on at least. Saw a few good crashes today, but nothing hard. The course is changing by the rider and by the time the pro are up, the course will be pretty haggard. Experts race in 2 hours so I will post some results from that hopefully. I will have photos up tonite.

Photos from today

Fun, long day of practice, some people super skecthy, others pinning it. And if anyone cares, the bmx race was won by jared graves, he won by a lot.

Here is jibber jabbering Andre Sanchez:

This is Matti, hes one that is looking pretty fast:

Lastly this is Sanjay looking fast as usual:

BMX and more

The mountain cross, well, BMX was horrible and a joke. No other comments and I didnt take photos. The DH track is getting haggard and it is super dusty. They took out the new rock drop, so the course is exactly the same as last year. More photos later!

Photos!

The internet and my computer are very slow, so heres all I can do right now.

Commencal rider dropping the new section

Yeti rider dropping the top rock section

Air-Lift

a med-heli just landed in front of our condo and an ambulence pulled up, they were there for like 15-20 minutes and no one ever got into the heli. I heard that someone on the XC (marathon?) course had a heart attack and was found under a tree. I dont know if it is better that he stayed in the ambulence or that he didnt. Weather out there is a little humid with cloudy skies, just perfect to wreck photos. More stuff to come later

1st Practice Day

Just got back from the first pro practice. They marked the course off a lot better, removed some stumps and roots. People are flying, the new section of the course is still very sketchy and if you hit your brakes you will be drifting sideways. Saw at least a dozen riders crash, only one bad where you could see the guys muscle. The course is very dry and a little dusty. I got some photos, but this internet connection sucks. I will go to the media room later and give you guys some photos. Oh ya, and the cheater line around barney ruble is marked off, and you will have to hit the hip at the end of the course since they marked off the grass.

Walking the Course

We walked the course today, same course as last year pretty much.

1. I guess they didnt learn from last year because there is barely any tape and people will be cutting again.
   
2. Also the cheater line around that knarly rock drop thing is a lot longer, so forsure wont be faster this year.
   
3. Also there is an alternate route around that crazy rock garden.
   

1. The major change is after those wood drop jump things, You can go off to the right where the pro line is and drop onto the ski run (sketchy) or go around on last years course.
   
2. Lastly, the ending does have the hip, but there is a straight line that does a sharp right onto the old trail, but the grass is not marked off and that will be the fastest line

I thought that the course would be wet with the rain that we had coming up here, but it is dry in most sections, and there might even be some dust. Email me if you have any questions (mtbphoto(at)gmail(dot)com) Now for the photos!

Top rock drop section

Crazy rock garden called "barney rubble"

New section, drop off to who knows where to the right or take the old course to the left, the old course I am guess will take 10-15 seconds longer

Other view of the line above

This is toward the bottom of the section mentioned in the 2nd #2

And those crazy ski jumps, the are way bigger when you are right above or below them

Were Here!

We arrived this afternoon at Deer Valley, Utah after a long 11 hour drive. It really didnt seem that long. We ate some overpriced Italian food and sat down to watch some fireworks, I brought the wrong lens and got in the wrong spot, but still got a few good photos. Tomorrow I will hopefully have some race course photos. Hope to see you guys here!

Off to Deer Valley

Its Monday night and I am heading out to Deer Valley very soon. I will try to update this blog once or twice a day. I have no clue if the condo has internet or not, so we will see. Now take a look at my newest magazine shot: See ya