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Mount Snow NCS Finals

The finals of the national championship series arrived at Mt. Snow, Vermont this weekend and Team Rage took the trails by storm winning two championships in the process. The action started for the cross country team on Friday with the Semi-Pro and Expert class races.

We'd like to thank our sponsors for enabling us to do this (and make us faster with your products). Thanks to Harpoon, International Bicycle Centers, California Dried Plums, Panaracer, Gary Fisher Bicycles and Pedros for the support. Allen Myers had the team trailer with your logos plastered all over it (pictures to follow) well positioned and it become the center of activity for the weekend.

Thanks to Mary Ellen at International the team had front-row seats for the Pro Short track race, which we watched from the Gary Fisher tent. On Sunday morning the team heads out for a ride with the Gary Fisher World Cup team (Chrissy Redden won the series as we watched and will lead the ride) followed by lunch -- cool.

PHOTOS

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Friday 17th
The cross country course featured 1300 feet of vertical (the climb was on twisting and technical singletrack this year) followed by a very technical singletrack descent. In front of a crowd estimated at 10,000 strung along the semi-pro race course, Adam Bucklin and Ben Moody led out on the first lap. The pair led the entire race, schooling the international field which had riders from all over North America, Australia, Austria, Italy and Costa Rica. Bucklin hammered the entire race and seemed like he was in a zone -- almost always standing and powering up the climbs. Ben Moody was on his tail and the pair built a three minute lead on the field.

With each lap, Richard Fries, publisher of The Ride magazine and announcer for the national series sung the praises of the two riders and also Harpoon's support of mountain biking in New England. Bucklin pulled away from Moody on the last lap building a near two-minute crossing the line in 1:48 for the championship. Ben followed two minutes later FOR A ONE-TWO FINISH! It was a thrill to see the two guys on top of the podium at a race this big!

The Expert class race featured Rage's own Iron Man -- Gary "Cozy Cozy" Contic. Gary is racing both the Mt. Snow race AND the 24-Hours of Great Glen as a solo rider this weekend -- wow. Despite two flats and a very tough course, Gary finished the race (most would have packed it in and headed for Great Glen, but not our Cozy), showered up and took his support crew to Great Glen. He's racing there as this report is written.

Team Rage developing rider Nate Ringquist had a very strong showing in the Expert 19-24 race. The national field in Nate's race went out at a blistering pace, and Nate was right in the mix from the beginning. In a very technical climbing section in the woods, Nate was one of the only riders actually riding the section and became a crowd favorite as a result. Nate finished 14th and seems to get stronger with each race.

Sat. 18th
Both Downhill and Cross Country action continued on Saturday in front of a crowd estimated at 20,000 with more Sport and Expert class racing. The story on Saturday was Rage's own Iron Woman -- Joselle Crandall who competed in her first downhill race, changed quickly and competed in the cross country event 30 minutes later! Joselle took a 3rd place finish in her downhill class (missing 2nd place by a mere 8 seconds) and then took 7th in the sport women's cross country. Shari Heier took 5th in the same race (Shari, you should definitely race more!).

Team Rage wasn't done with the championships though. The technical cross country course definitely favored "North Shore" Dave Currie's bike handling skills. Dave led out from the start and never looked back taking the win in 1:28 and barely broke a sweat (he didn't have any water for 2/3 of the race after losing his water bottle on the first descent section). Just behind him, Leo Devillian took 3rd place and despite a couple of chain problems, Kalle Karu took 10th for three Rage top ten spots. Matt Potter raced well in his first NORBA Sport class race after upgrading from beginner and placed 22nd -- nice job Matt. Tony Velleco finished 44th and Jon McNeill finished 48th on a lame ankle out of 68 riders.

The team continued to grab podium spots in the beginners races. Michelle Wilson led the way with a 2nd place finish in her race handling the technical sections with only one brake! "Fast Eddy" Powers lived up to his nick name and showed us what he could do when not plagued by flats and took 5th in the national race! Jake Ringquist took 5th in his beginner junior class after spending the week at the Mt. Snow mountain bike camp. Leo Keifer also took 5th in his class and Max Saunders took 8th. Jim Urbine finished 11th and Toby Salin finished 20th to round out the results in the beginner class. Nice job!

Over on the downhill course Rage racers were also posting great results and having a great time. These guys race down the mountain over terrain and at speeds that most of us wouldn't dare go attempt. Tommy Zarr finished 3rd in the Sport men's category. Keli Fleathler finished 6th. Despite having a plate installed in his collar bone four weeks ago, Allen Myers raced strong and finished 19th in a class of over 40 riders. Lynn Woods ride leader Nate Brown finished 19th in his class also and seemed to have a smile on all weekend -- he loves this race. Pro downhiller Jody Stoddard made the mountain cross finals and both his downhill race and the mountain cross will be completed late on Sunday afternoon.

In the kids race, the Post boys (Alex and Christopher) showed their stuff against World Cupper Seamus McGrath (Alex practiced all week for this). Both guys did well and had a great time.

Thanks to Tim Post, Mary, Barry Price, Pete Nevius, Jeff Cutler, Tom Walker, Chrisspy, Sally and the Ringquist family for cheering us on, handing out water bottles and encouragement on the race course -- you guys were great!