National Mountain Bike Series #3 (NMBS) - 2

Santa Ynez (Los Olivos), California USA, May 16-18, 2008

Photos

Race 17 - May 18: Elite Men Short Track,

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Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Series leader Barry Wicks (Kona) won the start.
Carl Decker (Giant MTB) leads the race across the ridge.
Carl Decker (Giant MTB) is an accomplished descender.
Barry Wicks (Kona) chasing Carl Decker (Giant).
Carl Decker (Giant) leading a long train of racers.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher) racing through the S turns.
Saturday's cross country winner Sid Taberlay (Avanti) rode again with the leaders.
Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) leads seven racers into the wind.
Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) leading the race through the turns.
Carl Decker (Giant MTB) is third wheel through the S turns.
Sid Taberlay (Avanti) attempting to get two wins in two days.
Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) at the front of the race.
Cody Peterson (Scott) would go on to finish 11th.
Sid Taberlay (Avanti) at the front of the race.
A group of seven came together mid-race near the start/finish.
Carl Decker (Giant MTB) took another shot at getting off the front with Todd Wells chasing.
Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) leading Barry Wicks (Kona).
Chance Noble (California Giant Berry) rode with the leaders until the final two laps.
Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) beats Barry Wicks (Kona) in a sprint finish.
Andy Schultz (Kenda) had his best short track ever finishing seventh.
Men's podium (L-R): Todd Wells (GT Bikes), Barry Wicks (Kona), Geoff Kabush (Maxxis), Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Suburu/Gary Fisher). Not present was Sid Taberlay (Avanti).

Race 16 - May 18: Elite Women Short Track,

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Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Heather Irmiger (Suburu/Gary Fisher) tries to stay cool in the 100 degree heat.
Jenny Smith (Trek/VW) looked very strong in Saturday's cross country and was hoping for another good showing.
Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) looked fresh after Saturday's cross country win.
Katerina Nash (Luna MTB) was going to be hard to beat as NMBS defending short track champion.
Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) wins the start and leads much of the first lap
Leaders race across a ridge in the women's short track event.
Catherine Pendrel (Luna MTB) chasing Heather Irmiger (Suburu/Gary Fisher).
Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) followed by Mical Dyck (Trek/VW) through the S turns.
Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) leading the race on the first lap.
Katerina Nash (Luna MTB) coming through the S turns.
Emily Van Meter (Sobe/Cannondale) would go on to finish 10th.
Katerina Nash (Luna MTB) followed by Mical Dyck (Trek/VW).
Katerina Nash (Luna MTB) on the back of the course.
Mical Dyck (Trek/VW) responding to Katerina Nash's (Luna MTB) attack.
Katerina Nash (Luna MTB) alone on a ridge above the venue.
Katerina Nash (Luna MTB) descending a very sketchy downhill
Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) well behind her saddle on the steep downhill.
Heather Irmiger (Suburu/Gary Fisher) descending with other chasers.
Katerina Nash (Luna MTB) crossed the finish line alone for the win.
Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) beating Heather Irmiger (Suburu/Gary Fisher) by inches for second place.
Women's podium (L-R): Mical Dyck (Trek/VW), Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB), Katerina Nash (Luna MTB), Heather Irmiger (Suburu/Gary Fisher) and Catherine Pendrel (Luna MTB).

Race 7 - May 17: Elite Men Cross Country,

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Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Flowers in the vineyards next to the cross country course.
Todd Wells (GT Bikes) wins the start and led the first lap.
Barry Wicks (Kona) leading Todd Wells (GT Bikes) and Sid Taberlay (Avanti SRA) across a grassy hill.
Sid Taberlay (Avanti SRA) celebrates his first NMBS cross country victory.
NMBS series leader Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) at the start.
Barry Wicks (Kona) and Carl Decker (Giant) at the start line.
Todd Wells (GT Bikes) leading Sid Taberlay (Avanti SRA), Barry Wicks (Kona), and Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) on the start loop.
Sid Taberlay (Avanti SRA) didn't seem to be bothered by the 103 degree heat
A long line of racers head out into the hills of the Chamberlain Ranch.
Sid Taberlay (Avanti SRA) riding in second place.
Tall Barry Wicks (Kona) descending on the course.
Carl Decker (Giant) descending in sixth place.
Todd Wells (GT) leads a group of four into the start/finish area.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Suburu/Gary Fisher) trying to stay hydrated.
Barry Wicks (Kona) descending with Sid Taberlay (Avanti SRA) close behind.
Andy Schultz (Kenda) had a great day and finished eighth.
Ignacio Torres (Turbo Bike) had the loudest cheering section by far.
Spectators try to stay cool under the shade of oak trees.
Jeff Schalk (Trek/VW) rode strong to a seventh place finsh.
A Kenda racer descends an open hillside high above the race venue.
Barry Wicks (Kona) made a valiant effort to the take the win but finished third.
Karen Hernandez, from Los Angeles, offers shade to the racers.
Men's podium (L-R): Todd Wells (GT), Geoff Kabush (Maxxis), Sid Taberlay (Avanti SRA), Barry Wicks (Kona) and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Suburu/Gary Fisher).

Race 5 - May 17: Elite Women Cross Country,

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

The hilly singletrack on the Chamberlain Ranch in Santa Ynez (Los Olivos), California.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) leading a long train of riders on the first lap, but later succumbed to heat exhaustion.
Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) was ecstatic with her first NMBS cross country victory.
Trek/VW women has a fantastic day (L-R) Lea Davision (third), Mical Dyck (fifth) and Jenny Smith (fourth).
Beautiful vineyards surrounded the 8,000 acre Chamberlain Ranch where the race was held.
The top ranked Luna Women's Team: (L-R) Georgia Gould, Katerina Nash, Catherine Pendrel.
Racers at the start faced a 100 degree temperatures.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) wins the start as usual.
Mical Dyck (Trek/VW) went on to her best NMBS finish ever.
Leaders Georgia Gould, Katerina Nash, Lea Davison, Catherine Pendrel and Mical Dyck head out into the hills.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) descending before she was overcome with heat exhaustion.
Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women's MTB) descending in second place.
Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) riding in sixth place.
Sue Haywood (Trek/VW) rounding a fast corner.
Chloe Forsman (Luna Women's MTB) would go on to finish 16th.
Judy Freeman (Tough Girl) eyeing a tricky downhill corner.
Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) had moved up to fourth by the back side of the course.
Katerina Nash (Luna Women's MTB) riding with both knees bandaged.
Jenny Smith (Trek/VW) rode a strong race and finished on the podium.
Lea Davison (Trek/VW) trying to stay cool on a fast descent.
Heather Irmiger (Suburu/Gary Fisher) rode a solid race and finished sixth.
Rachael Lloyd (Proman) the United States National Super D champion.
Sue Butler (Mona Vie) moved up rapidly after a crash at the start.
Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) wins her first NMBS cross country race.
Lea Davision (Trek/VW) was very excited with her third place finish.
Women's podium (L-R): Mical Dyck (Trek/VW), Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women's MTB), Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB), Lea Davison (Trek/VW) and Jenny Smith (Trek/VW).