US ProXCT #1 and Kenda Cup West #2 - Fontana National - 3

Fontana, California, USA, March 28-29, 2009

Photos

Race 5 - March 29: Cross country: Elite & Category 1

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Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Trek Bicycle Store team-mates Adam Morka and Emily Batty.
The gorgeous Southridge Park in Fontana, California saw this week's national mountain biking round.
Willow Koerber (Gary Fisher/Subaru) warming up before the race.
Luna team-mates Chloe Forsman, Catherine Pendrel and Georgia Gould.
Gary Fisher team-mates Willow Koerber and Heather Irmiger at the start.
Amanda Sin (3 Rox Racing) on the front row.
Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women's MTB) fresh off winning the Pan American Games.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) leading the women's field up the first climb.
Georgia Gould leading Luna Women's MTB teammate Catherine Pendrel up the course's biggest climb on the second lap.
Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru) climbing in third place.
Emily Batty (Trek) climbing in fourth place a week after her Pan American Under 23 Championship win.
Willow Koerber (Gary Fisher/Subaru) riding in fifth place.
Melanie McQuaid (Sho Air) riding to a ninth place finish.
Most of the women's field had to push their bikes near the top of the mountain.
Sue Butler (Mona Vie) climbing a steep section of the mountain.
Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women's MTB) descending in first place.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) chasing teammate Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women's MTB).
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) pushing her bike through a rocky area.
Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher) riding in third place on the third lap.
Luna's Georgia Gould chasing teammate Catherine Pendrel up the paved climb.
Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store) descending on the technical singletrack.
Amanda Sin (3 Rox Racing) on her way to a sixth place.
Kelli Emmett (Giant) was descending well all day.
Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru) racing on the flat.
Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store) trying to chase down the third place rider.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) made it three in a row at Fontana.
United States Cup promoter Scott Tedro shows off the new trophies.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary) and Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru).
Sam Schultz (Gary Fisher/Subaru) at the starting line.
A colourful fan waited for riders at the top of the first hill.
Geoff Kabush (Rocky Mountain/Maxxis) gets the hole shot.
Adam Morka (Trek Bicycle Store) leads Adam Craig (Giant) up the first climb.
As usual there was a bit of chaos on the first climb.
Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain), Sid Taberly (Shoair/Specilaized), and Jeremiah Bishop (Monvie Cannondale) try to chase down Max Plaxton (Shoair/Specialized) on lap two.
Max Plaxton (Shoair/Specialized) was first up the steepest climb.
Geoff Kabush (Rocky Mountain/Maxxis) chasing Max Plaxton (Shoair/Specialized).
Sid Taberlay (Shoair/Specialized) leading Jeremiah Bishop (Monvie Cannondale).
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru) riding in fifth position.
Riders were eventually forced off their bikes near the top of the climb.
Max Plaxton (Shoair/Specialized) leading the race
Geoff Kabush (Rocky Mountain/Maxxis) closing the gap to Max Plaxton (Shoair/Specialized).
Adam Craig (Giant) moving up from eighth place to fifth.
Sam Schultz (Gary Fisher/Subaru) is riding strong with teammate Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru).
Andy Schultz (Kenda/Tomac) riding in 12th place.
Kris Sneddon (Kona) and Adam Morka (Trek Bicycle Store) running a technical section of the course.
Max Plaxton (Shoair/Specialized) on a climb.
Adam Craig (Giant) being shadowed by the Gary Fisher riders.
Geoff Kabush (Rocky Mountain/Maxxis) taking his fourth consecutive Fontana victory.
Max Plaxton (Shoair/Specialized) doing a wheelie for the crowd as he finished second.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher) beats teammate Sam Schultz in a sprint for third place.
Team Mona Vie re-group after a hard race.
Men's podium (L-R): Sam Schultz (Gary Fisher/Subaru), Max Plaxton (Shoair/Specialized), Geoff Kabush (Rocky Mt./Maxxis), Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru) and Adam Craig (Giant).

Race 4 - March 28: Super D

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Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Kelli Emmett (Giant) and Sue Butler (Mona Vie) pose before the race.
Adam Craig (Giant) is the current United States of America Super D Champion.
Carl Decker (Giant) looked confident on the start line.
Giant team-mates Kelli Emmett, Adam Craig and Carl Decker.
Racers pull up at the Super D start.
Bikes lay on the ground during Le Mans start.
Alex Ryan (CCN) hits a rut on the climb.
Nate Byrom (Northstar) on the steep climb.
Carl Decker (Giant) moving into the lead.
Travis Liverman (Champion) riding to a third place finish.
Aaron Bradford (Onsite) riding to a fourth place finish.
Ryan Woodall (Dedicated) leading Giant's Adam Craig.
Adam Craig (Giant) got off to a poor start but recovered.
Riders, including Adam Craig (Giant), cresting the hill.
Kelli Emmett (Giant) got the hole shot.
Kelli Emmett (Giant) on the steep climb.
Anina Aaron (Kenda) chasing Kelli Emmett (Giant).
Sue Butler (Mona Vie) riding in third position.
Sue Bulter (Mona Vie) climbing the ridge.
Kelli Emmett (Giant) near the bottom of the singletrack.
Women's podium (L-R): Sue Butler (Mona Vie), Kelli Emmett (Giant) and Anina Aaron (Kenda).
Men's podium (L-R): Aaron Bradford (Onsite), Adam Craig (Giant), Carl Decker (Giant), Travis Livermon (Champion) and Ryan Woodall (Dedicated).
Super D series leaders Carl Decker and Kelli Emmett.

Race 1 - March 28: Four cross

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Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Racers with the towering rocky cliffs behind them.
Mitch Ropelto (GT) easily qualifying.
Blake Harney (Yeti) during his qualifying run.
Mitch Ropelto (GT) cornering hard near the bottom of the course.
Dale Holmes (KHS) leading near the top of the course.
Dale Holmes (KHS) cornering on the bottom of the course.
Dale Holmes (KHS) leading at the top of the course.
A crash in the men's final that took down Blake Carney (Yeti), Mitch Ropelato, and Eric Carter (GT).
Men's podium (L-R): Mitch Ropelato (GT), Blake Carney (Yeti), Dale Holmes (KHS), and Eric Carter (GT).
Melissa Buhl (KHS) winning her heat.
Jill Kintner (Red Bull/Intense) qualifying comfortably.
Jill Kintner (Red Bull/Intense) catching some air.
Jill Kintner (Red Bull/Intense) in a corner halfway down the course.
Jill Kintner (Red Bull/Intense) followed closely by Melissa Buhl (KHS) in the final.
Melissa Buhl (KHS) riding to a third place finish.
Women's podium (L-R): Ashley Verhagen (BOS Hammerheads), Jill Kintner (Red Bull/Intense) and Melissa Buhl (KHS).
The best hairdo of the weekend award went to this guy.
'Randie' the motorcycle stunt woman warmed up the crowd...with an equally impressive, albeit fake, hairdo.
Motorcycle stunts preceded the 4X racing.