2013 Pro Gravity Tour Announced

Racing into its fifth year, USA Cycling’s Pro GRT will feature ten events from coast to coast, an increase over the six events that made up the 2012 calendar.

The tour kicks off in March with three new additions. Reaper Madness Downhill & Super D leads things off in Boulder City, Nev. Riders will then head west for the Fontana City – California Golden State competition a few weeks later. In April, the popular Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, Calif., will host the Pro GRT’s third stop.

Racing resumes in May with two east coast favorites: the Mountain Creek Spring Classic 2013 in Vernon, N.J., followed by the 2013 Plattekill Gravity Open in Roxbury, N.Y. Both events are also part of the POC Eastern States Cup.

Another race familiar to Pro GRT riders, the Chile Challenge, marks the start of the second half of the calendar. The June event takes place in Angel Fire, N.M., less than two months before the venue will host the 2013 USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships.

Riders will head to the China Peak Ski Resort for the California Golden State event later that month before crossing the country for the Windham Downhill in Windham, N.Y. on June 30, which is a UCI C2-inscribed race. July’s sole event is the Snowshoe Mountain Pro GRT in West Virginia. The Pro GRT concludes in early September at the Mammoth Kamikaze Bike Games in Mammoth Lakes, Calif.

Series points are given to top finishers at each event and used to determine the individual men’s and women’s standings that rank the best downhillers competing in the U.S. The 2012 men’s top ranked rider was Logan Binggeli (Saint George, Utah/KHS Factory Racing), while Jacqueline Harmony (Sedona, Ariz./IXS-510-Smith Optics) finished first in the women’s standings.

2013 Pro Mountain Bike Gravity Tour

• March 15-17   Reaper Madness Downhill & Super D — Boulder City, NV
• March 30-31   Fontana City - California Golden State — Fontana, CA
• April 21           Sea Otter Classic — Monterey, CA
• May 19           Mountain Creek Spring Classic 2013 — Vernon, NJ
• May 26           2013 Plattekill Gravity Open — Roxbury, NY
• June 7-9        Chile Challenge — Angel Fire, NM
• June 22-23    California Golden State — China Peak Ski Resort, CA
• June 30          Windham Downhill — Windham, NY
• July 13-14      Snowshoe Mountain Pro GRT — Snowshoe, WV
• Sept. 4-8       Mammoth Kamikaze Bike Games — Mammoth Lakes, CA

Four Events Make Up Pro UET

Now in its third year, the 2013 Pro UET will consist of four events offering series points to rank the top male and female endurance mountain bikers in the country.

Returning to the Pro UET from 2012 are two US Cup series races: the Sagebrush Safari 50 in Lake Morena, Calif., in May, and the Big Bear Classic in Big Bear Lake, Calif., in June. The Pro UET picks up again in August with the Galena Grinder Whit Henry Memorial at Galena Lodge in Idaho. Concluding the series is the brand new Templeton Cache XCM in Colorado Springs, Colo., on August 17.

The final standings of the 2012 Pro UET saw David "Tinker" Juarez (Whittier, Calif./Cannondale Factory) and Monique "Pua" Mata (Anaheim, Calif./Team Sho-Air Specialized) top the men’s and women’s rankings, respectively.

2013 Pro Mountain Bike Ultra-Endurance Tour

• May 19          US Cup – Sagebrush Safari 50 — Lake Morena, CA
• June 2           US Cup – Big Bear Classic — Big Bear Lake, CA
• August 10     Galena Grinder Whit Henry Memorial — Galena Lodge, ID
• August 17     Templeton Cache XCM — Colorado Springs, CO

2012 Northstar Pro GRT Images Day 1

2012 POC Eastern States Cup Update

Warm sunny skies, steep loose shale, and the best racing of the season is in The POC Eastern States Cup. The POC ESC came home to Plattekill for Series Race #2 and USA Cycling’s National Pro Tour, The Pro GRT #3. Trek World Racing’s Aaron Gwin and DRD’s Lauren Daney repeated their Mountain Creek wins on Plattekill’s super steep terrain.

Resurrecting one of the all time favorite race trails, The Steve Porraro Memorial Track ran steep and fast in the loose shale. The course was a perfect mix of steep technical terrain, high-speed traverse, and big jumps. There was plenty to keep riders on their toes with this track. The POC speed trap recorded the fastest pro, Adam Morse at 37 MPH . The weekend weather was warm with sunny race day skies in the Catskills. A perfect weekend of Racing unfolded.

Trek World Racing, One Ghost Industries, KHS, Voncooper, Oliver Racing and other top teams were in attendance.  World Cup Series Champion Aaron Gwin took 1st place at 2:11.00, TWR  team mate Justin Leov was hot on his wheel with a 2:11.68. Yeti Voncooper’s Phil Kmetz is on a tear with another series third place finish at 2:16.65. In the Junior Expert class Luca Shaw took top honors with a 2:21.34, and all the way from Newfoundland Jordan Hodder took Second with a 2:26.50. Walker Shaw was third at 2:29.51. Women Pro was won by Lauren Daney, 2:49.53, followed by Joanna Petterson at 2:51.53 and Rae Gandolf at 3:17.96.

It’s been an amazing start to the season for the POC Eastern States Cup! Thanks to POC, Loeka and all who have come out to support us. Lets keep the momentum going, we have a great season ahead of us. Hope to see everyone next weekend at POC ESC Race #3 at Attitash Resort, New Hampshire!

The ESC has some of the fastest racers in the world.  POC ESC Men’s Pro Points Leaders are Aaron  Gwin, Justin Leov, Phil Kmetz and Gavin Vaugn.  At Attitash this weekend the Pro Women’s ProGRT leader Lauren Daney and Men’s ProGRT #3 and #4 Voncooper’s  Phil Kmetz and Gavin Vaugn will be in attendance. Australia World Cup Racers: Matthew Dodd and Jesse Bare are racing Attitash and Pat’s Peak POC ESC #4 the following weekend

For a second year, Attitash Mountain Resort will serve as a host venue for the POC Eastern States Cup downhill mountain biking series. The POC Eastern States Cup is the USA Cycling Eastern Regional Championship Series with events being held in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York. This year, Attitash Mountain Resort will host two events, a regular series points event on the weekend of June 2 & 3 and the New Hampshire State Championship Finals occurring September 15 & 16.

“We are pleased to again host the Eastern States Cup events and to showcase the downhill terrain at Attitash to a visiting field of New England riders,” said Attitash Mountain Bike Programs Coordinator Nate Waterhouse. “The two weekend events, featuring the points event in June and the state championship finals event in September, should be an exciting race and fun weekend for the riders.” Attitash has been offering lift-serviced, mountain biking since the late 90’s.

The POC Eastern States Cup event will feature riders competing in a single run format taking the best times in age and rider level categories. The course will be a mix of descending open trails and single-track sections through the woods on Attitash Mountain. These are part of a greater network of 27 designated mountain biking trails that Attitash has continued to develop and maintain for summer & fall use. Attitash has over 20 miles of mountain bike trails including the more difficult and technically challenging downhill trails and eight cross country trails more suited to all abilities and those just beginning to discover mountain biking as a recreational activity. The mountain bike season at Attitash Mountain Resort will open, weekends only, beginning Saturday, May 26 and will then be open daily for the summer beginning Saturday, June 16. Mountain bike season passes are available for only $99. The Dirt Trax Bike Shop, located on the main floor of the Attitash Base Lodge in the South Wing, stocks a full line of mountain bike clothing and accessories, as well as a fleet of rental bikes and protective gear. For more information on the POC Eastern States Cup events and mountain biking at Attitash, visit attitash.com and easternstatescup.com.

Attitash Mountain Resort is the original summer fun ski area in the Mount Washington Valley offering the original Alpine Slide, year-round Nor’Easter mountain coaster, waterslides, lift-service downhill and cross-country mountain biking, scenic summit chair ride, and more. Attitash Mountain Resort is also home to the Attitash Grand Summit Hotel & Conference Center providing the areas only full-service, slopeside accommodations. For further information, please visit attitash.com or call 1-800-223 SNOW.

Attitash POC ESC Race Dates:

• June 2-3, 2012 POC ESC # 3
• September 15-16, 2012 POC ESC #12

Address: 775 Route 302 Bartlett, NH 03812

Camping Allowed: Yes

Lodging Deals: Mention the race and get 20% off lodging at Attitash Mountain Village Resort when you are up here....great rates for condos across the street from the race course! Standard studios with kitchens from $71/night until June 14th! Call ‎1-800-862-1600

DRD Intense's Lauren Daney Takes 1st At Mountain Creek Pro GRT

Vernon, New Jersey (May 21, 2012) – DRD Intense’s Lauren Daney captured her professional win of the season this past weekend at the Eastern States Cup ‘Spring Classic’ at Mountain Creek Bike Park in Vernon, New Jersey.   The newly designed racecourse provided racers with long, fast & challenging terrain to test any competitor.  Lauren’s victory would be hard earned, as she took things to the limit, and just a bit beyond!

“It was a rough, but great weekend for me,” said a battered, but ecstatic Lauren Daney.  “I was still getting accustomed to my bike, and getting it set up for my riding style, then I took a big spill in practice.  I was a pretty sore, so I wanted to save myself for race day.”

A beaten Lauren Daney managed to start her seeding run in order to make finals on Sunday.

“All I wanted to do was make it down the hill,” said Lauren.  “I kept things smooth, but fast & didn’t take too many risks.  This seemed to be the winning ticket to take today’s win!  I’m pumped!”

With her victory, Lauren takes over the 2012 Pro GRT series points lead.  Lauren now heads to Plattekill Bike Park in Plattekill, NY for the 2^nd round of the Eastern States Cup on May 27.

Follow Lauren & the rest of the ‘DRD Intense’ professional mountain bike team at http://www.facebook.com/DRDIntense

Lauren Daney & DRD Intense is proudly supported by the following sponsors…

• Dean Racing Development
• Intense Cycles
• ARMA Energy
• ONE Industries
• Shimano
• ODI Grips
• Sun-Ringle
• Marzocchi Suspension
• MRP
• SDG Components
• Maxmia Racing Oils
• SOL REPUBLIC
• GEAX Tires
• Bike Vault Bike Shop

Trek World Racing Make It a 1-2 At The 2012 Mountain Creek Pro GRT

Last weekend and this coming weekend sees back to back rounds of the Pro GRT on the East Coast of the USA, which all three DH riders from Trek World Racing are supporting. Yesterday saw the riders at Mountain Creek, at Vernon, New Jersey, home of the former US Open, and now the new Mountain Creek Bike Park which Aaron Gwin had the honor of officially opening on Saturday.

The event still carries a great prize purse and the fans are always vocal and big in number. Aaron qualified fastest on Saturday with a 2m 13secs, but Neko Mulally was a non-starter after injuring his ankle in a training incident. Perhaps best characterized as a serious sprain, the injury means that Neko was best to opt out of racing until he can put his weight back on the foot, most likely next week. Here's what he said:

"I stuffed my foot into the ground and twisted my ankle pretty bad. My foot slipped off the front of my pedal and planted onto the ground and then my pedal hit the back of my calf and caused my ankle to hyper-extend. I plan to keep the weight off it and the doctor says it should feel better in a few days. The goal is to be 100% ready for Val di Sole (Italy, World Cup #2), and I'm going to be as smart as I can to make sure that happens. It sucks, I didn't even crash, I just slipped a pedal following Justin. I didn't even lose speed but I just couldn't put weight on it when I got it back on the pedal."

The remaining two riders took to the final and in the super-hot conditions, staying well hydrated was key to getting a great run in. Aaron bettered his qualifier by 3 seconds to tak e the win in 2m 10secs, and now leads the series. Justin Leov took second with a 2m 14secs, making it a great 1-2 for the team.

Aaron said: "It was a fun weekend here in Vernon. I rode well today and I felt good. It's all building towards Italy and each time I race I feel better and better."

Justin said: "My run was good, after having a 'near season ender' in seeding yesterday, today was all about just having a solid top to bottom run and I achieved that. I will continue to build next week and should be on key for Italy."

The downhillers go to Plattekill, New York for the next round this weekend. Neko will decide on Friday whether or not he needs to race on the weekend.

More info on the Pro GRT series available here:

http://www.usacycling.org/progrt