NORBA National Series #6 - E2

Schweitzer Mountain, Idaho, July 29-August 2, 2004

Main Page Results Previous Stage

Stage 2 - August 1: Short-track, Downhill

Dunlap and Kabush post Short-track wins; Minnaar and Pruitt take Downhill titles

Hesjedal takes arathon crown in addition to yesterday's XC victory

By USA Cycling

The final day at Schweitzer Mountain Resort featured dramatic short track competitions on a course filled with climbing and little room for tactical moves. Alison Dunlap (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Geoff Kabush (CAN) scored wins this afternoon in the pro men's and women's races.

The women lined up first for what proved to be a race between Dunlap and RLX/Ralph Lauren teammates Jimena Florit (ARG) and Willow Koerber (Gunnison, Colo.). Dara Marks-Marino (Flagstaff, Ariz.) took the early lead in lap 2 with Shonny Vanlandingham (Durango, Colo.) and Koerber in pursuit.

Katerina Hanusova (CZE), Jimena Florit, Kerry Barnholt (Boulder, Colo.), Chrissy Redden (Golden, Colo.), and Dunlap eventually joined the trio to form an elite front group.

As the race reached the half way point, Kerry Barnholt and Dara Marks-Marino were dropped off the back as Alison Dunlap worked her way up to the front. As Dunlap attacked and broke off the front, it was Koerber and Florit that were able to keep her pace.

The race became a battle between Dunlap, Florit, and Koerber. Redden, Vanlandingham, and Hanusova were not far behind for the remainder of the race as they fought to bridge the gap.

Half way through the final lap, Dunlap made the decisive move on the climb coming out of the last corner and claimed the race as her own. Florit followed in second and Koerber finished in third. Chrissy Redden and Katerina Hanusova rounded out the podium in fourth and fifth.

The men's race began at an incredible pace, with the early lead taken by Travis Brown (Boulder, Colo.). He was accompanied by Geoff Kabush (CAN) and Barry Wicks (Corvallis, Ore.). The chase group included Chris Sheppard (CAN), Ryan Trebon (Corvallis, Ore.) and Brent Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo.).

Kabush attacked with Travis Brown and Ryan Trebon being the only riders able to match his pace. Sheppard and Miller fell behind about half way through the race and Kabush and Brown picked up the pace, dropping Trebon. With the two lead men working together, Trebon was able to remain at a respectable distance by himself, illustrating the strength of his legs this afternoon.

As the race neared the end, U.S. Olympian Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo.) led a chase group that Todd Wells (Murrieta, Calif.) comfortably sat in on.

Kabush distanced himself from Brown with only two laps to go and formed a substantial gap. Brown and Trebon maintained their second and third positions as Aussie Trent Lowe and U.S. Olympian Todd Wells shot out of the chase group to battle for the fourth and fifth podium spots.

Kabush crossed the finish line with a five second gap over Brown. Trebon finished third, with Lowe and Wells in fourth and fifth respectively.

Also on the agenda today was the marathon event, which began at 7 a.m. and covered 55 miles and over 10,000 feet of climbing on the back side of Schweitzer Mountain. One day after winning the pro men's cross country event, and just hours before taking on the short track race, Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) took on the ultra endurance event, posting a victory in 3:48:34 over Cameron Brenneman who was 10 minutes behind. Chris Eatough finished third, with Aaron Potts and Jeremiah Bishop rounding out the top five in the open men's category. In the women's open class, Monique Sawicki finished first in 4:57:13, followed in second by yesterday's 3rd place finisher in the women's cross country race - Kelli Emmett. Shannon Gibson, Angela Sucich, and Dorothy Wong came in third, fourth, and fifth.

Downhill contest puts Norba #6 in the books; athletes head to Aspen for round #7

Sandpoint, Idaho (August 1, 2004) - Today's downhill event closed out the weekend as the crowd favorites continued their dominance of the NORBA gravity competitions. Kathy Pruitt (Lake Almanor, Calif.) and Greg Minaar (RSA) claimed the victories, repeating their successes in Vermont.

Kathy Pruitt shaved 13 seconds off of her first place morning qualifying run to take the victory in the finals, while Greg Minaar succeeded in the men's race after taking it easy in the qualifier.

The spectator-friendly course allowed fans several vantage points from dining and lodging areas, and from the hiking trails that run parallel to the course. The 2.5 mile descent from atop the Great Escape Quad saw riders start at 5,900 feet in elevation and finish at 4,000 feet.

The women were the first down the mountain. April Lawyer (Murrieta, Calif.) had the time to beat, with Tracey Hannah (AUS) in second, when the three most anticipated riders began their descent. Bernadita Pizarro (Chile) flew through the technical sections at the top and took the lead in 5:39.7. Crowd favorite Marla Streb was the next rider to come into sight, posting 5:36.6 and taking over first position.

Former Junior World Champion Kathy Pruitt rode with confidence and powered down the home stretch to her second downhill victory of the season in 5:35, shaving 13 seconds off of her morning qualifying run.

In the men's contest, Bryn Atkinson was the third man down the mountain and maintained the time to beat at 4:42.7 for the first half of the competition. Things were shook up however when the strongest riders started their runs.

Dustin Adams (CAN) took over the top spot until Sam Hill (AUS) finished five seconds ahead. Joel Panozzo (AUS) flew through the top's more technical sections, and rode conservatively at the bottom to take over second place.

Current World Champion Greg Minaar (RSA) blew away the competition and posted the win in 4:29.2. Second place went to this morning's top qualifier, World Cup Downhill Champion Nathan Rennie (AUS).

With the short track, marathon, and downhill events putting NORBA #6 in the books today, focus now turns to next week's activity in Aspen. There are only two NORBA events left on the calendar this season before the one-day national championship in Mammoth, Calif.

Riders will take to the trails of Colorado this weekend for round seven in Snowmass and will then head to Durango for the Series finals, where Series Champions will be crowned.

Although, the Olympic Games begin this month, several Olympians will also make the trip to Aspen as a final preparation race prior to boarding a plane to Athens.

Pro action kicks off on Friday with the mountain cross qualifier. Saturday will feature the cross-country and mountain cross finals, while Sunday will wrap up competition with the downhill, Super D, and short-track.

Results

Short-track

Men
 
1 Geoff Kabush (Can)         
2 Travis Brown (USA)         
3 Ryan Trebon (USA)          
4 Trent Lowe (Aus)           
5 Todd Wells (USA)           
 
Women
 
1 Alison Dunlap (USA)        
2 Jimena Florit (Arg)        
3 Willow Koerber (USA)       
4 Chrissy Redden (USA)       
5 Katerina Hanusova (Cze)

Downhill

Men
 
1 Greg Minnaar (RSA)         
2 Nathan Rennie (AUS)        
3 Sam Hill (AUS)             
4 Joel Panozzo (AUS)         
5 Dustin Adams (Can)         
 
Women
 
1 Kathy Pruitt (USA)         
2 Marla Streb (USA)          
3 Bernadita Pizarro (Chi)    
4 April Lawyer (USA)         
5 Tracey Hannah (Aus)