2012 Northstar Pro GRT
Permalink The Pro GRT entered Tahoe this week on the slopes of Northstar. Trails there are somewhat rocky and have that fine dust in most corners that when pushed hard enough will give way to the harder ground below. This dust also hides sharp rocks and a number of riders crossed the line with flat tires.
Boondocks was the trail being raced on. It has it share of turns, rocks and smaller jumps as it winds down the moutainside. Fast times for the day were in the low 4 minute range and being at decent elevation around 7000 feet, conditioning could make a difference.
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Riders started out facing straight down the mountain and faded left over scattered rocks, drops and smaller jumps into the trees. The trail is slightly off-camber and wound it's way back and forth a few times before riders came to the first big feature. It is a rock about 5 feet tall that sends riders onto pavers that feed into a washed out right hander. People are given the option of a go around or just send the drop. SOme of the faster riders were going out about 15 feet off of it.
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After the drop the trail continues left through over rocks and some turns. Once through the turn riders go between two boulders. The next feature of note is a large boulder that sends riders down a wooden ramp. There were two routes here and although the boulder was funner to ride it makes you enter the trail again at a harsh 90 degree angle. The faster way to go was the alternate route that turned right before the boulder and fed riders into an s-turn and allow a bunsh more exit speed.
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Again riders are fed left along Boondocks over soft soil and rock. It fades right and opens up a bit sending you over a small rock section. Once through that the trail goes through some turns and across one that is built out of wood. The trail is wide here and offers many line choices. Here the trail heads right and opens to full fireroad width. I happened to grab an image of Mikey Haderer here as it turns out they would not allow him to race for points because he had only one practice run in.
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Once riders left this section the return to the tress and hit a few jumps they are smaller and most riders stayed low over these. Here Boondocks crooses another trail and riders are sent between two trees with a paver take-off. Once you drop between the trees it is almost entirely turns and high speed pedalling to the finish. At the finish there were two wooden ramps the one on the left was about ten feet high and launched riders into the sky while the other kept you low and was about half as tall. You heard amny a bike rub the rear tire when hitting the large sender on the way up the ramp.
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Overall the Northstar Pro GRT offered riders a very fun course. It was not the most technical but had a few sections to give riders pause while still allowing amateurs and pro riders alike the exact same course to race. Turnout was lower than expected but two other events were happening the same weekend. We will post results once they become available and with also proved a link to images shot at the event later this week.
Plattekill Bike Park Presents The Third Annual Pro GRT Fox Racing Shox Gravity Open
Plattekill Bike Park is proud to present the Third Annual Pro GRT Fox Racing Shox Gravity Open. This year the Fox Racing Shox Gravity Open moves to Memorial Day weekend, May 24-28, 2012. The race will be the third stop of the USA Cycling ProGRT National Series and will offer double series points in the POC Eastern States Cup Regional Championship Series. The ProGRT is the most prestigious downhill mountain bike racing series in North America. The POC Eastern States Cup is the richest, largest and fastest growing series in the nation. This combination event is aimed at riders and racers of all abilities.
Top domestic and international professional riders including many World Cup stars will be competing at Plattekill to test their skills on one of the best downhill mountain bike courses in the United States. This year Plattekill is featuring a classic track on the steep North Face side of the bike park. The course has steep chutes, berms and some big gap jumps at the finish.
Plattekill doubled the Pro GRT Purse and is offering a $5000 pro purse and some great prizes for amateurs. The race is a USAC qualifier for selection to the World Championship Team, so the pros will be really going for the win. Practice will open Thursday, qualifying is on Saturday and the race will be held on Sunday. Plattekill Bike Park will remain open thru Monday and will be open for freeriding every day of the event. Plattekill will run two lifts for complete access to their trail system.
Since 1974, FOX RACING SHOX has been the industry leader in the design and development of the highest performance shock absorbers and racing suspension products for snowmobiles, mountain bikes, motorcycles, ATVs and off-road cars and trucks.
The POC Eastern States Cup was founded in 2010 as a USA Cycling Eastern Regional Championship Series and featured two USA Cycling State Championships. This proved to be a popular formula with racers and venues. In 2011 the series grew, offering the USAC Regional and three state championships. The 2012 POC Eastern States Cup will feature 5 USAC State Championships and the Eastern Regional Championship at 8 great venues. 2012 and the future indeed look bright for the series and the racers in the East.
Plattekill is located in Roxbury, NY. The bike park has been hosting downhill mountain bike racing since 1993. The trails are endless and offer something for riders of all abilities. The fall line trail sections are quite steep and the natural terrain offers loose shale with large rock drops. Plattekill Bike Park uses two lifts accessing two distinct peak areas. Lift attendants place your bikes on the chair for the ride up. The base lodge offers a cafeteria, bike shop and restrooms. On the deck great burgers and refreshments will be available. Plattekill will be open Thursday thru Monday for riding and practicing.
Race Fee’s:
- $65 Cat1(expert) and Cat2(sport) and Cat3(beginner)
- $95 USAC Pro
- All Race Fees Include Saturday AND Sunday Lift Tickets!!!
- Thurs, Fri and Mon Lift Tickets are $20 per day with race entry.
- ($15 discount from our regular tickets)
Schedule:
- Registration: 9-4 Friday – Saturday and 8- 9 Sunday
- Double Chair Practice and Freeriding DH 10-4 Thursday - Friday, 8-4 Saturday, 8-11 Sunday
- Triple Chair open 10-4 Saturday and Sunday
Saturday Seeding Run DH
Pro and Cat 1 Juniors 4:00pm
Sunday Race DH
Cat2-3 12:00pm
Cat1 1:30 pm
Pro 2:30 pm
Pit Fee’s: 10x10=$100 20x10=200 20x20=$300 20x40= $400
Reserve spaces early. No e-z ups/tents will be allowed in the top two lots without reserved pit space, NO exceptions. The Reserved pit area will be patrolled throughout the event.
Camping: The third lot will feature primitive camping. Camping will cost $10 per night for a 12x20 space including your vehicle. Porta poties will be available. Water will be available in the Base Lodge.
No Electric will be available. Generators are allowed until 10pm.
Special Parking restrictions will be enforced
Pre Registration, Lodging and more info: links can be found on our site www.plattekill.com
2012 Plattekill Season Announcement
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Plattekill Bike Park located in Roxbury, NY is proud to announce the 2012 Plattekill downhill riding season. Plattekill has been hosting downhill mountain bike riding and racing for over sixteen years. That will continue full force in 2012. The bike park will open for riding April 14-15 weekend, the earliest in the East and the earliest ever at Plattekill. Plattekill Bike Park extended the 2011 Riding season into December in 2011 making for the Longest lift assisted mountain biking season in North America.
The first race of the season will be the Third Annual Gravity Open on Memorial day Weekend, May 23-27, 2012. The Gravity Open will be part of the prestigious USA Cycling National Pro GRT and the POC Eastern States Cup Series’. The race takes place Memorial Day weekend and will feature many national and international stars. Previous winners have included UCI World Champions. Plattekill Bike Park will host four POC Eastern States Cup Series races, the finals of the USAC NYS State Championships and the USAC Eastern Regional Championships.
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Due to the early start of the riding season and a late March snowstorm the bike park will spread 5-work weekend during the season. The goal this summer is a groomed trail fro top to bottom. Stay tuned for more information.
The trails at Plattekill are endless and offer something for riders of all abilities. The fall line trail sections are steep. The natural terrain offers loose shale with large rock drops. Plattekill Bike Park uses two lifts accessing two distinct peak areas. Lift attendants place your bikes on the chair for the ride up. The base lodge offers a cafeteria, bike shop and restrooms. On the deck great burgers and refreshments will be available.
Regular Season Opening April 14-15 Weekend
2012 Ride Fees:
All Day Lift $35
Two Day Same Weekend Lift $55
After 2pm Lift $25
One Time Lift with Bike $10
Trail Access (no lift) $15
Skyride $ 5
Season Pass $329
SEASON PASS SPECIAL UNTIL MAY 1, 2012……$279
Plattekill Mountain is the longest operating bike park in the Northeast with
over 60 miles of bike-specific lift accessed trails operating two lifts to
two mountain peaks.
Roxbury, NY (607) 326-3500
