NORBA Series #2 - E2

Snowshow, WV, USA, June 14-15, 2003

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Race 4 - June 15: Downhill

Streb, Kovarik Notch Downhill Wins

by Andy Lee, USA Cycling

Closing out the second round of the NORBA National Championship Mountain Bike Series in Snowshoe, WV this weekend was the downhill event, which featured top talent from around the world in a show of mental fortitude and old-fashioned courage.

Billed as one of the most challenging downhill courses on the NORBA circuit by many of the competitors, the run down Snowshoe Mountain featured the infamous "Wild Zone" a section of the course sporting an extreme drop off immediately followed by a series of technical turns through deep rock piles, one of the many difficult parts of the descent.

Chris Kovarik (Aus; Intense-Fox) blasted down the mountain with the day's fastest time in 4 minutes 32 seconds, four seconds ahead of his closest challenger, second place finisher Greg Minnaar, who also notched a podium in the Mountain Cross event yesterday. Rounding out the top five spots were John Waddel (AUS; ITS-Santa Cruz) at 4:39, Joel Panozzo (AUS; WTB Santa Cruz) at 4:42, and Julian Poomans (Pasadena, CA; Foes-Azonic) at 4:44.

The women's event saw a pair of Luna Chix riders visit the podium as Marla Streb (Los Osos, CA) and Kathy Pruitt (Lake Almonar, CA) took home first and fifth respectively. Streb clocked a winning time of 5:33, five seconds better than silver medallist, Lisa Sher (Chumba Wumba). Completing the podium was Fionn Griffiths (GBR; Foes-Azonic) in the third position with a time of 5:50, and Missy Giove (Pasadena, CA; Foes-Azonic) who claimed fourth at 5:52.

During the practice session early this morning, riders negotiated the slick and muddy trail in preparation for the final. When the rains came, however, it actually made the course a little more manageable as the water helped to wash of the rocks, allowing for a bit more traction and an easier final run.

I gave it 100% today, Kovarik remarked. "I didn't make any mistakes, I thought the rain was going to make it harder but the rain washed the mud off the roots and some of the rocks and it was a little more grippier" The previous two times I've raced here I didn't do well, This weekend I was determined to finish on a good note and everything came together for me, so I'm pretty happy with that."

Women's victor, Streb, agreed with Kovarik, "The rain helped. It cleaned the tires. My strategy was just to roll and not go into my threshold. It's like a survival thing just trying to get to the bottom", she said in reference to the course.

Photos

Images by Andy Lee/www.usacycling.org

Tracey Moseley during practice
Matt Thompson on the course during practice
Eric Rasmussen on his morning practice run
Todd Leduc on a downhill run during the morning practice session
Women's DH podium
Men's DH podium

Results

Pro Men
 
1 Chris Kovarik (Aus) Intense/Fox                        4.32.59
2 Greg Minnaar (RSA) Haro-Lee Dungarees                  4.36.09
3 John Waddell (Aus) Its/Santa Cruz                      4.39.94
4 Joel Panozzo (Aus) Wtb/Santa Cruz                      4.42.92
5 Julian Poomans (USA) Foes Azonic                       4.44.37
6 Kirt Voreis (USA) Team Allride                         4.44.49
7 Dustin Adams (Can) Giant/Pearl Izumi                   4.44.64
8 John Kirkcaldie (NZl) Maxxis                           4.44.79
9 Jared Rando (Aus) Giant/Pearl Izumi                    4.46.14
10 Nathan Rankin (NZl) Tioga Orange                      4.49.28
11 Eric Carter (USA) Mongoose/Hyundai                    4.49.98
12 Gary Houseman (USA) Intense Tire Systems Santa Cruz   4.53.20
13 Bryn Atkinson (Aus) Iron Horse/Mad Catz               4.53.70
14 Colin Bailey (USA) Maxxis Tires                       4.53.93
15 Rich Houseman (USA) Intense Tire Systems Santa Cruz   4.54.45
16 Chris Van Dine (USA) Astrix                           4.56.14
17 Henry O'Donnell (USA) Intense Tire Sys Santa Cruz     4.56.19
18 Chris Del Bosco (USA) Romic Oakley                    4.57.23
19 Sam Hill (Aus) Iron Horse                             4.57.28
20 Todd Leduc (USA) Odi Southridge                       4.57.92
21 Will Corry IRE Norstar Foes                           4.58.31
22 Mathieu Laurin (Can) Balfa/Rock Shox                  4.58.64
23 Andrew Neethling (USA) Global Racing                  4.58.82
24 Fabien Barel (Fra) Kona Clarks Fac Team               4.59.92
25 Aaron Peters (USA) Supheros Wtb                       5.00.51
26 Will Clifford (Aus) Yeti/Dragon                       5.02.26
27 David Klaassenvanoorsch (USA) Intense/Spy             5.02.74
28 Geoff Pendrel (Can) Balfa                             5.03.01
29 Aaron Chase (USA) Sobe/Cannondale                     5.03.24
30 Robin Baloochi (USA) Sobe Cannondale                  5.04.25
31 Lars Tribus (USA) Chumba Wumba                        5.05.38
32 Ben Cory (Aus) Tioga Orange                           5.06.17
33 Eric Goss (Can) Giant/Troy Lee/Smith                  5.07.42
34 Ryan Sutton (USA) Astrix                              5.07.67
35 Nathan Rennie (Aus) Iron Horse/Mad Catz               5.11.56
36 Shaums March (USA) Red Bull/Chumba                    5.11.93
37 Curtis Keene (USA) Wtb                                5.12.63
38 Christopher Odriscoll (USA) Azonic/Oakley             5.13.80
39 Ian Richards (USA) Rpm/Yeti                           5.14.70
40 Matt Johnston (USA) Go Ride/Lost Art Tatto0           5.15.08
41 Dave Mclaughlin (Aus) Yeti/Oakley                     5.15.29
42 Bernie Fredrick (USA) Lenz Sport                      5.16.27
43 Waylon Smith (GBr)                                    5.19.26
44 Lee Trumpore (USA) Transcend/Orange                   5.21.34
45 Hugo Donais (Can) Norco Factory                       5.21.57
46 Jamie Green (Aus) Giant Australia                     5.28.83
47 Byron Hills (USA) Fast Times Beyond Bikes             5.29.18
48 Matt Timmerman (USA) Michelin                         5.29.95
49 Matt Thompson (USA) Big Crank Racin                   5.38.78
50 Kain Leonard (USA) Tomichi Cycles                     5.40.64
52 Daniel Umland (USA) Odi Southridge                    5.49.73
53 Derrick Nobman (USA) Intense/Racers Edge              5.54.19
54 Troy Heflin (USA) Fat Tires/Marzocchi                 5.56.81
55 Eric Rasmussen (USA) Khs                              5.58.86
56 Erick Morningstar (USA) Youthcycling.Com              6.08.65
57 Alan Crisp (Aus) Balfa                                6.16.27
58 Seth James (USA) Gravity Warehouse                    6.33.96
59 Sven Martin (RSA) Turner Honda                        6.42.34
60 Jeff Evans (USA) Intense/Romic/Bolle                  7.14.68
61 Justin Havukainen (USA) Yeti/Oakley                   7.21.71
62 George Ryan (USA) Be One Bikes                        7.27.19
63 Ted Donofrio (USA) Northeast Intense                  7.30.16
64 Nicholas Jewett (Can)                                 7.53.14
65 Nate Adams (USA) Big Crank                            8.58.27
66 Mike Jones (Can) Norco Factory Team                   9.31.38
DNF Mike Moga ROM Big Crank Racing
DNF Gene Hamilton  Betterride/Astrix
 
Pro women
 
1 Marla Streb (USA) Luna Chix                            5.33.48
2 Lisa Sher (USA) Chumba Wumba                           5.38.51
3 Fionn Griffiths (GBr) Foes Azonic                      5.50.39
4 Missy Giove (USA) Foes                                 5.52.31
5 Kathy Pruitt (USA) Luna                                5.58.78
6 Dawn Bourque (USA) Dried Plums/Orbitz                  6.03.82
7 Melissa Buhl (USA) Khs                                 6.05.85
8 Mio Suemasa (Jpn) Trek-Volkswagen                      6.16.46
9 Tracy Moseley GRB Kona Clarks Fac Team                 6.41.93
10 Claire Buchar (USA) Balfa Cycles                      6.57.70
11 Hiroko Inomata (Jpn) Foes/Credit                      7.22.47
12 Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Intense                         7.23.25
13 Tara Llanes (USA) Giant Pearl Izumi                   7.34.46
14 Holly Kuhn (USA) Zoo York/Voodoo X/Eclipse            7.58.61
15 Gale Dahlager (USA) Astrix Poison Spider              8.02.45
16 Kathi Krause (USA) Avalanche/Arrow                    8.14.49
17 Anka Martin (RSA) Turner/Honda                        8.48.20
18 Allie Rau (USA) Velocity Racing                       9.36.71
19 Leigh Fiedler (USA) Rapid Descent Racing              9.53.56
20 Emily Johnston (USA) Velocity Smith Troy Lee Designs 10.51.83
21 Carol Gibbs (USA) Bonebreakers                       11.36.07
22 Jessica Vogt (USA) Team Rpm/Yeti                     11.49.66
23 Kristina Martinez (USA) Rpm-Yeti                     15.54.23

Series points after two rounds

Pro men
 
1 Chris Kovarik (Aus) Intense/Fox                            384 pts
2 Eric Carter (USA) Mongoose/Hyundai                         340
3 Greg Minnaar (RSA) Haro-Lee Dungarees                      316
4 John Waddell (Aus) Its/Santa Cruz                          314
5 Joel Panozzo (Aus) Wtb/Santa Cruz                          292
6 Dustin Adams (Can) Giant/Pearl Izumi                       280
7 Sam Hill (Aus) Iron Horse                                  278
8 Kirt Voreis (USA) Team Allride                             274
9 Jared Rando (Aus) Giant/Pearl Izumi                        262
10 Julian Poomans (USA) Foes Azonic                          252
11 Colin Bailey (USA) Maxxis Tires                           246
12 Gary Houseman (USA) Intense Tire Systems Santa Cruz       244
13 Bryn Atkinson (Aus) Iron Horse/Mad Catz                   240
14 Fabien Barel (Fra) Kona Clarks Fac Team                   236
15 Nathan Rennie (Aus) Iron Horse/Mad Catz                   226
16 John Kirkcaldie (NZl) Maxxis                              224
17 David Klaassenvanoorschot (USA) Intense/Spy               218
18 Todd Leduc (USA) Odi Southridge                           212
19 Rich Houseman (USA) Intense Tire Systems Santa Cruz       208
20 Andrew Neethling (USA) Global Racing                      208
21 Aaron Peters (USA) Supheros Wtb                           206
22 Ben Cory (Aus) Tioga Orange                               206
23 Shaums March (USA) Red Bull/Chumba                        188
24 Christopher Odriscoll (USA) Azonic/Oakley                 188
25 Steve Peat (GBr) Royal Orange                             186
26 Chris Van Dine (USA) Astrix                               182
27 Waylon Smith (GBr)                                        176
28 Bernie Fredrick (USA) Lenz Sport                          174
29 Ryan Sutton (USA) Astrix                                  158
30 Mick Hannah (Aus) Haro Lee Dungarees                      156
31 Jared Graves (Aus) Mad Cats Iron Hrse                     150
32 Aaron Chase (USA) Sobe/Cannondale                         150
33 Lars Tribus (USA) Chumba Wumba                            148
34 Matt Johnston (USA) Go Ride/Lost Art Tatto0               136
35 Nathan Rankin (NZl) Tioga Orange                          132
36 Henry O'Donnell (USA) Intense Tire Sys Santa Cruz         118
37 Chris Del Bosco (USA) Romic Oakley                        116
38 Will Corry (Ire) Norstar Foes                             110
39 Greg Smith (USA) Foes/Poison Spiders                      110
40 Mathieu Laurin (Can) Balfa/Rock Shox                      108
41 Will Clifford (Aus) Yeti/Dragon                           100
42 Travis Collins (USA) Maxxis                                98
43 Geoff Pendrel (Can) Balfa                                  96
44 Justin Havukainen (USA) Yeti/Oakley                        94
45 Brant Lyon (Can) Giant Tm Canada                           92
46 Robin Baloochi (USA) Sobe Cannondale                       92
47 Jason Codding (USA) Team Tld/Turner/Honda                  90
48 Mike Jones (Can) Norco Factory Team                        88
49 Eric Goss (Can) Giant/Troy Lee/Smith                       86
50 Luke Strom (Aus) Yeti                                      82
51 Kyle Leduc (USA) Odi/Southridge                            80
52 Curtis Keene (USA) Wtb                                     78
53 Karl Rogne (USA) Wtb                                       76
54 Ian Richards (USA) Rpm/Yeti                                74
55 Peter Weir (USA) Hopey Steering                            72
56 Dave Mclaughlin (Aus) Yeti/Oakley                          70
57 Todd Bosch (USA) Chumba Wumba                              70
58 Jiro Nakamura (Jpn) Wtb                                    68
59 Ross Milan (USA) Yeti                                      66
60 Lee Trumpore (USA) Transcend/Orange                        64
61 Hugo Donais (Can) Norco Factory                            62
62 Judd De Vall (USA) Schwinn Usa                             60
63 Jamie Green (Aus) Giant Australia                          60
64 Byron Hills (USA) Fast Times Beyond Bikes                  58
65 Matt Timmerman (USA) Michelin                              56
66 Eric Rasmussen (USA) Khs                                   54
67 Matt Thompson (USA) Big Crank Racin                        54
68 Kain Leonard (USA) Tomichi Cycles                          52
69 John Percy (USA) Karpiel Design                            52
 
Pro women
 
1 Marla Streb (USA) Luna Chix                                360 pts
2 Fionn Griffiths (GBr) Foes Azonic                          348
3 Tracy Moseley (GBr) Kona Clarks Fac Team                   346
4 Missy Giove (USA) Foes                                     328
5 Lisa Sher (USA) Chumba Wumba                               326
6 Melissa Buhl (USA) Khs                                     288
7 Tara Llanes (USA) Giant Pearl Izumi                        282
8 Mio Suemasa (Jpn) Trek-Volkswagen                          276
9 Dawn Bourque (USA) Dried Plums/Orbitz                      274
10 Hiroko Inomata (Jpn) Foes/Credit                          256
11 Gale Dahlager (USA) Astrix Poison Spider                  250
12 Anka Martin (RSA) Turner/Honda                            240
13 Leigh Fiedler (USA) Rapid Descent Racing                  234
14 Holly Kuhn (USA) Zoo York/Voodoo X/Eclipse                230
15 Emily Johnston (USA) Velocity Smith Troy Lee Designs      224
16 Kristina Martinez (USA) Rpm-Yeti                          210
17 Jessica Vogt (USA) Team Rpm/Yeti                          204
18 Tai-Lee Muxlow (Aus) Tioga Orange                         186
19 Kathy Pruitt (USA) Luna                                   156
20 Claire Buchar (USA) Balfa Cycles                          132
21 Maxine Irving (USA) Eco Lips                              132
22 Michelle Dumaresq (Can) Santa Cruz                        130
23 Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Intense                             128
24 Kathi Krause (USA) Avalanche/Arrow                        120
25 Allie Rau (USA) Velocity Racing                           116
26 Allie Rau (USA) Velocity                                  116
27 Patricia Loureiro (USA)                                   114
28 Tammy Pickerrell (USA) Romic                              110
29 Carol Gibbs (USA) Bonebreakers                            110
30 Lisa Myklak (USA) Astrix Sports                           108
31 Kristin Powers (USA) No Brakes                            102
32 Paula Santerior (USA) Karpiel/Michelin                    100
33 Gina Barbosa (USA) Azonic / Specialized                    98
34 Ryoko Hattori (Jpn) Fumayokohama                           94
35 Darcy Turenne (Can) Kona/Smith/Luck Shoes                  92
36 Michelle Rivera (USA) Lenzsport                            90