Sea Otter Classic - NE

Monterey, California USA, April 17-20, 2008

Photography

Stage 15 - Sunday, April 20: Downhill - Elite & semi-pro finals,  

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Images by Sean Walkinshaw /www.brightroom.com

• Melissa Buhl (KHS) on her way to victory.
• Melissa Buhl (KHS) catches air.
• Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) won the men's race.
• Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) on his final run.
• Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) sprints for the line.

Images by Sue George / Cyclingnews

• A semi-pro rider negotiates a wooden bridge near the end of his final run.
• The bridge didn't slow riders down.
• Leanna Gerard finishes her run.
• Kathy Pruitt finished seventh on the day
• Melissa Buhl won the elite women's race.
• Fionn Griffiths ended up second.
• Rachel Atherton was the fastest seed.
• World Champion Sabrina Jonnier had her best-ever Sea Otter downhill finish.
• Andrew Neethling took a finishing line off the main track as did many pros.
• Justin Leov on his way to third.
• Eric Carter finishes his run.
• Jared Rando
• Gee Atherton
• Bryn Atkinson pulls a wheelie over the line.
• Jurgen Beneke
• Christopher Kovarick finishes second.
• Steve Peat
• Nathan Rennie
• Greg Minnaar wheelies on his way to finishing first.
• Number one qualifier Sam Hill
• Justin Leov rode a prototype bike with Yeti's slider design.
• Another look at the slider design
• How to keep track of your prototypes

Stage 13 - Sunday, April 20: Cross Country - Elite men & women,  

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Images by Steve Medcroft / Cyclingnews

• The San Dimas High School Marching Band chased the Otter around to launch the cross-country races on Sunday.
• The band carried flags representing the countries who fielded athletes in the pro men and women's XC races
• 22 year old Sam Schultz (Subaru-Gary Fisher) steadies himself for the start of the race. Schultz wore number 1 on his plate (he was the highest-placed racer from 2007 - 6th)
• Andy Schultz (Titus/Kenda)
• "Rad" Ross Schnell (Trek/VW)
• Ryan Trebon (Kona Les Gets) came second in Saturday's Short Track and says his fitness is not yet at mid-season form.
• "The Lung" Ned Overand (Specialized) still in the pro field at 51 years old.
• Aussie Sid Taberly
• Ken Onedera (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
• The 38-mile racecourse seems to suit endurance specialist David "Tinker" Juarez (Monavie/Cannondale)
• Nat Ross stands behind Sam Schultz at the start. Nat, one of the veterans on the Subaru/Gary Fisher team, takes an active role mentoring Schultz who he touts as 'the next big thing' in cross country mountain biking
• The men are off.
• Kelli Emmett (Giant) dons the skinsuit.
• Lea Davidson (Trek/VW) won the Short Track and was a favorite for the Cross Country.
• Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna Chix) was also a favorite. Vanlandingham says she's focusing on Xterra off-road triathlon competition this year as well as mountain biking.
• Kelli Emmett sizes up the Luna Chix before the start of the women's Cross Country
• One minute to go.
• The women's are ready.

Images by Sue George / Cyclingnews

• Kelli Emmett on her way to victory.
• Miguel Martinez celebrates his win.
• Carl Decker leads the men at the end of the first lap.
• Carl Decker is about to re-enter the raceway.
• Sam Schultz looks for another good result after his win yesterday.
• Mitchell Peterson hangs tough.
• Ryan Trebon leads what's left of the men's pack going out for lap two
• The lead group of eight with one to go.
• Ryan Trebon leads Sid Taberlay and the rest of the bunch.
• Tinker Juarez heading out for lap two.
• Mike Phillips
• Eric Batty leads Stefan Widmer
• Andy Schultz rides alone.
• A group goes out for lap two.
• A view from the cross country course.
• A singletrack section of the cross country course.
• A race of the spectators
• Kelli Emmett got her lead during lap one.
• Kelli Emmett on a steep climb.
• Four women worked together in an attempt to catch Kelli Emmett.
• The women chase Kelli Emmett
• The chase group had three Sobe / Cannondale racers out of four total.
• Kelli Emmett had a lonely day off the front.
• Kelli Emmett heads out for lap two.
• Four women chase Kelli Emmett
• Getting ready for lap two.
• Jenna Xander leads the chase group.
• Lea Davison looks back on the race track to see if any others will catch the chase group.
• The women head out on lap two to the off-road portion of the course.
• Jennifer Gersbach stretches her legs.
• Emily Batty leads Jean Ann McKirdy
• Shonny Vanlandingham
• Chloe Forsman
• Krista Park
• The long grind up the race track on the way out to lap two.
• Miguel Martinez had plenty of time to celebrate his win.
• Miguel Martinez speaks through an interpreter after his victory.
• Miguel Martinez
• Sam Schultz rode to second.
• Sam Schultz coasts to a stop after his race.
• Sam Schultz
• Mitchell Peterson finished fourth.
• Kenji Takeya is the Japanese National Champion, finishing 12th for the day.
• Sid Taberlay. We like his jersey!
• Kelli Emmett after her victory.

Images by Greg Robidoux

• The women start out for a two lap, 38 mile race.
• Kelli Emmett on her way to a solo victory.
• Kelli Emmett climbs
• Ryan Trebon spent a lot of time on the front on lap one.
• Miguel Martinez on his way to victory.
• Miguel Martinez gives it some gas riding solo off the front.
• Ryan Trebon leads Sid Taberlay

Stage 10 - Saturday, April 19: Short Track - Elite men, elite women & semi-pro men,  

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Images by Sue George / Cyclingnews

• Kelli Emmett before the start.
• Lea Davison getting ready on the line
• Melanie McQuaid smiles from the start line.
• Jenna Xander had a fast start.
• Emily Van Meter
• Lea Davison couldn't stop smiling after her win yesterday in the Super D.
• Shonny Vanlandingham was without her usual team-mates Georgia Gould and Katerina Nash
• Heather Holmes
• SoBe HeadShok team-mates Teresa Richardson and Emily Van Meter
• The women are ready to start.
• And they're off...
• All the women want a shot at the smoothest line.
• Melanie McQuaid set a blistering pace at the start with Lea Davison.
• Amanda Riley leads a chase group through the blowing dust.
• Chloe Forsman
• Melanie McQuaid punches it up a short, steep climb.
• Watch out for gopher holes. Kelli Emmett learned the hard way.
• Kelli Emmett runs and quickly makes up lost ground after her crash.
• Chloe Forsman leads Emily Batty
• Jean Anne McKirdy
• Melanie McQuaid is at the front of the women's lead group
• Kelli Emmett takes her turn in front of Lea Davison and Melanie McQuaid
• Lea Davison follows Kelli Emmett
• Lea Davison celebrates her win with a comfortable lead
• Lea Davison gets interviewed after her win.
• Melanie McQuaid
• U23 Canadian National Champion Emily Batty
• Ryan Trebon rolls up to the start.
• Carl Decker is called up.
• Ross Schnell gets an early call-up.
• Ross Schnell and Andy Schultz
• Sam Schultz and Ryan Trebon on the start.
• Andy Schultz on the start line.
• Ryan Trebon concentrates before the start.
• Rotam Ishai enjoys a front row start position
• Ross Schnell and Andy Schultz start as they finish - near each other.
• Kenji Takeya, Manuel Prado and Cody Peterson on the start line.
• The men are off!
• Ryan Trebon and Ross Schnell had the best start in front of Carl Decker.
• Ross Schnell stands and gives it gas
• Miguel Martinez - remember this guy?
• Ken Onodera
• Cody Peterson leads Andy Schultz
• Carl Decker rides alone
• Break companions Sam Schultz and Ryan Trebon stayed away most of the race.
• Miguel Martinez
• Ross Schnell is happy to be racing again after his knee injury.
• Cody Peterson spent lots of time on his own, with the leaders always in sight.
• Ross Schnell finished fourth.
• Andy Schultz would finish fifth
• Sam Schultz takes his first pro short track win
• Ryan Trebon comes across second.
• Cody Peterson finshes up in third.
• Ryan Trebon was excited about his new 29er.
• Ryan Trebon talks about his race.
• Cody Peterson and Ross Schnell have a little fun after the race.

Stage 9 - Saturday, April 19: Dual Slalom - Elite & semi-pro qualifying & finals,  

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Images by Sue George / Cyclingnews

• A good-sized crowd gathered to watch the dual slalom held after the short track.
• Rachel Atherton qualified second and would finish fourth for the day.
• Fionn Griffiths gives congratulations to Sabrina Jonnier after the semi-final round.
• Melissa Buhl defeats Rachel Atherton in the semi-finals.
• Rachel Atherton (left) and Melissa Buhl shake hands after their race.
• Steve Peat comes across the line in the semi-finals.
• Kirt Voreis (left) and Steve Peat after their round.
• Greg Minnaar and Andrew Neethling in the men's semi-finals.
• Greg Minnaar watches the second heat of the men's semi-finals.
• Rachel Atherton comes across the line in the consolation round where she finished fourth.
• Rachel Atherton
• Sabrina Jonnier defeats Melissa Buhl in the finals.
• Greg Minnaar looks back at team-mate Steve Peat after their team's 1-2 finish.
• Steve Peat after his second place
• Greg Minnar won the the dual slalom.
• Number one seed Sabrina Jonnier always made her runs look effortless.
• Steve Peat (left) and Greg Minnaar celebrated after their final run together.
• Greg Minnaar was swarmed by cameras after his win.

Stage 2 - Friday, April 18: Super D ,  

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Images by Sue George / Cyclingnews

• There weren't any crowds at the Super D finish since it was several miles away from the expo area where most events were held.
• Carl Decker (Giant) crosses the finish line with a comfortable margin of victory.
• Jurgen Beneke finished second in the men's Super D.
• Michael Garrigan ended up third.
• Carl Decker chats after his win. Maybe the glasses are the secret to his success!
• Emily Van Meter (SoBe / Headshok) after the women's Super D.
• Trek VW's Lea Davison discusses the race with her competitors afterward.
• Mary Ellen Ash (Easton) after the women's Super D.
• Third place Kelli Emmett
• Kenji Takeya (Specialized) made the trip all the way from Japan.
• Clint Burke raced with the masters. There was no canine category.