2016 Duryea Downhill – Mt. Penn, PA.

May 4, 2016

Words by: Mike K.
Pics by: Mike Vanino, Mike K. & Amanda K.

Five Team Podiums

The team killed it at Duryea DH this past weekend. Five pairs of team feet on the boxes. Proud of everyone that podiumed. Also proud of everyone that raced and didn’t podium. This race in particular eats riders alive, every year. For 2016, the course followed the same course as 2014, with some changes. Most of the changes made the course so much more safe. The road gap was ridden by more riders this year than ever. It had a nice safety built and the transition was extended roughly 8 ft into the street. Not a single soul was injured this week on this feature and there was no ambulance parked there (for once). Nice job Fred H. and team.

We ran the race on Saturday due to the threat of storms on Sunday. The City would have shut us down. They allowed the riders to vote and there was near 50/50 split. Lazlo, Fred and Mike made the call to run on Saturday. It was actually a really cool format. We didn’t get to practice as much as we would have liked, but we had a really great time racing and hanging out after. There is something to be said for the one day format.

We had Amy, Dilon, Jem, Gary and Joe on the box this past weekend. STOKED for all of you, especially Gary. This was G’s first podium. Felt like winning myself seeing him up there. Good work!!

Amy’s Race – Pro Ladies

Amy is racing some stiff competition this year. Which is good. Cause she can get faster. She is limited only by her ability to find time to train. She came in second place this past weekend. Never rode this course before in her life and went into the whole thing blind without stopping to look at single feature on our first run together. Bunker gap included. So, with roughly 6 runs on this course, ever, Amy came in second. Good work girl!

Cam’s Race – Pro Men

Cam had a tough day. He was riding a borrowed bike that he picked up an hour before the race. He was playing with suspension settings and trying to get the right feel for a good part of practice. Turned up last in Pro Men with a time of 3:27:04. It’s the first race of the season buddy! We’ll get it dialed for sure. Glad you came out. Glad you had fun and glad you walked away safe. Smoked me, that’s for sure. Heh.

Dylan’s Race – Cat 1, 19-29

Dylan had a great race and a great practice. Fun to ride with this guy. He is loose and fast. Attacks the course with confidence and is a great guy to chase down. He came in third missing second place by just over a second. Big congrats buddy!!

Got a call from Dylan on Sunday after we all got home. He said he wants to step away from the team so he can do his own thing with no commitments. Said nothing was negative about the experience but would just rather go after the racing thing as a privateer. We wish Dylan nothing but good times and look forward to seeing him on the trail and at other races in 2016 and beyond. Looking forward to riding with you soon, D.

Gary & Joe Shack – Cat 2, 30-39

Joe had a great practice. We chased down our first lines together and had a good time. His mom and dad even came up from FLA. Joe crashed once in his race run but managed to get up on that box. Good work buddy!

Gary spent a good part of his day helping dial in Amy’s suspension. Whatever he did worked for her. And he managed to still get in enough practice time to get on the box. Stoked, stoked, stoked for this cat. It was a great day and a better award could not be given to a better dude.

Jem’s Race – Cat 1 Ladies

Jem did great for her first race with the team. She was battling an over-sized helmet that played into some difficulty practicing and racing I am sure. We’re looking forward to seeing Jem at the rest of the races this season and can’t wait to see her develop over the course of the year.

Mike & Joe P. – Cat 1, 40+

I am starting this post out with the podium pic from our category. Why? Cause Bobby and Jeremy would want to see it. But also cause Joe P. and I are not in it. Motivation. But congrats to all the winners and especially the Reading Racing guys – Chip, Fred, Pryde, Jake. Good bunch of guys and I am looking forward learning a lot watching all of you this season.

Joe did well this race. No yard-sale crashing. Very in control and very stable. He finished under one second faster than me and tied Lane (yes tied, they both ran a 3:38.05). To be anywhere in the vicinity of these two guys means I am doing something right….even if they had a slow race. After watching Fred’s GoPro race run, I learned I was running about 4 major sections all wrong. I have a lot of work to do but I know where and I know how. Bring it. : )

Random Shtuff

Justin Stuller – Massanutten Yee-HAW!

While we were in Reading, Stuller was in VA to race the Yee-HAW! It was wet and miserable but had a really great turn out. In his race run, he passed a rider on course and it sounds like that screwed up the timing system pretty badly. He was “given” a time resulting in last place, regardless of the time he saw the officials pen in near his name, which, according to how he was timing himself in practice, seemed right. Power was lost to the timing system at one point due to weather resulting in 6 riders getting re-runs. But according to what Justin is telling us, it sounds like the officials were threatening to DQ riders for coming over to the timing tent, or even asking questions related to their to times. At the end of the race, the officials moved Justin to last place with a time of 4:10:32. He thought he was more in the 3:4X:XX range. I can tell you from riding with Justin for years that I am 100% certain he did not come in last. Sorry this happened buddy. Remember people – GoPro your race runs. It is your only insurance policy.