Sea Otter Classic Mountain Bike Races - 1

Monterey, California, USA, April 16-19, 2009

Photography

Stage 14 - April 19: Downhill - Elite men & women

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Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Tracy Mosley (Trek) rides to a 0.6 second win over Melissa Buhl (KHS)
Tracy Mosley (Trek) nears the finish of the Sea Otter course.
Jacqueline Harmony rides to a seventh place.
Jessica Vogt (Dainese)
Katie Holden crosses a wooden bridge.
Miranda Miller rides to sixth place.
Mio Suemasa (Intense) did not crack the top ten.
Clair Buchar rides to a fourth place finish.
Kathy Pruitt (Jamis) crosses the wooden bridge
Kathy Pruitt (Jamis) hammers out of the saddle
Kathy Pruitt (Jamis) corners.
Melissa Buhl (KHS) has a fantastic run.
Melissa Buhl gets caught behind a slower rider but still won second place.
Leana Gerrard (Mona Vie) is happy with her race.
The "Sisterhood" Kathy Pruitt, Clair Buchar, and Mio Suemasa
Kathy Pruitt (Jamis) after her third place run.
Tracy Mosley (Trek Global)
Leana Gerrard is ready for some sun bathing with eye protection.
Melissa Buhl (KHS) after her race
Cody Warren rides to 11th place at Sea Otter
Duncan Riffle rides a steep section of the course
Eric Carter (GT) rides to sixth place.
Eric Carter (GT) pedals out of the saddle.
Andrew Neethling (Trek World) races to third place on the podium.
World Champion Gee Atherton apparently has a mechanical.
Dan Atherton (Animal Commencal) rides to seventh place
Jared Rondo (Giant) eyes an upcoming corner.
Nathan Rennie drifts under control in a corner.
Justin Leov rides a burm
Justin Leov on a steep pitch.
Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) finishes one tenth of a second out of first place
Veteran announcer Larry Longo.
Race winner Mick Hannah (GT)
World Champion Greg Minnaar after the race

Stage 10 - April 19: Cross Country - Elite men & women

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Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store) won the short track race on Saturday
Willow Koerber's Richie gives her a good luck kiss before the race.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) wears the ProXCT leader's jersey.
Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women's MTB) is one of the race favorites.
Lene Byberg (Specialized) was expected to be on the front of the race.
Kelli Emmett (Giant) rides well in the heat.
Kathy Sherwin (Kenda/Tomac) hopes for a good outing.
Lene Byberg (Specialized) checks out Georgia Gould during the start.
Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store) pulls out in front on the start.
The elite women head out on Laguna Seca Raceway for a lap on the pavement.
Typical Sea Otter fireroad that is used for cross country racing.
Georiga Gould (Luna Women's MTB) takes another victory.
Lene Byberg (Specialized) takes second place.
Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women's MTB) finishes third
Willow Koerber (Gary Fisher/Subaru) finishes fourth and continues her good start this season.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) cools down. It seemed much hotter than the actual 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kelli Emmett (Giant) after the race
Fellow Canadians Emily Batty (L) and Catherine Pendrel (R)
The race through Kathy Sherwin's sunglasses
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru) at the start
Andy Schultz (Kenda/Titus) is used to racing in the heat.
Max Plaxton (Sho-Air/Specialized)
The pro men's field was over 150 racers.
Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air/Specialized)
World Champion Christoph Sauser (Specialized)
Sam Schultz (Gary Fisher/Subaru)
Sho-Air's Ty Kady wears a helmet camera
Men's start going off smoothly
Todd Wells (Specialized) signals for the photographers to get off the course.
Pro men head out for a lap on Laguna Sega Raceway.
Todd Wells (Specialized) crosses a ridge in second place.
Christoph Sauser (Specialized) with a 45-second lead
Christoph Sauser (Specialized) climbs with his bar ends
Christoph Sauser (Specialized) on a long fireroad climb
Todd Wells (Specialized) climbs while in second place.
Todd Wells (Specialized) chases his teammate.
Max Plaxton (Sho-Air/Specialized) climbs with Sam Schultz and Sid Taberlay
Max Plaxton (Sho-Air/Specialized) climbs in the heat
Sam Schultz (Gary Fisher/Subaru) has been off to a great start this season.
Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air/Specialized) sits on the paceline is about to move up.
Jeremiah Bishop (Mona Vie/Cannondale) on a steep climb with Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski.
Carl Decker (Giant) rides in the top ten.
Manny Prado (Sho-Air/Specialized)
Eric Batty (Trek Bicycle Store) rides near the front of the race.
Christoph Sauser (Specialized) celebrates his victory on his full-suspension Epic.
Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air/Specialized) finishes second.
Max Plaxton (Sho-Air/Specialized) finishes third.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru) moves up to fourth place.
Christoph Sauser (Specialized) was mobbed by the press after the race.

Stage 8 - April 18: Short Track - Elite men, Elite women & Category 1 men

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Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store) is relaxed before the race
Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store) wins her first national level short track race against a stacked field.
Todd Wells (Specialized) wins the hole shot and the race.
Todd Wells and Burry Stander worked together at the front of the race after their Specialized teammate Christoph Sauser flatted.
Seamus McGrath (Jamis)
Todd Wells (Specialized) celebrates his short track victory at Sea Otter.
Seamus McGrath (Jamis)
Jeremiah Bishop (Mona Vie/Cannondale)
Burry Stander (Specialized) coming off a third place finish at the World Cup in South Africa.
World Champion Christophe Sauser (Specialized) was hoping for a strong finish.
Sam Schultz (Gary Fisher/Subaru) was last year's short track winner.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru) descending during the short track race.
Burry Stander (Specialized) descending on the short track course.
Carl Decker (Giant) on his way to a third place finish.
Christophe Sauser (Specialized) leading the race across a flat part of the course.
Christophe Sauser (Specialized) and Burry Stander (Specialized) with a gap.
Burry Stander (Specialized) cornering while leading the race.
Christophe Sauser (Specialized) later flatted out of the race.
Carl Decker (Giant) cornering during the race.
Burry Stander (Specialized) hammering out of the saddle.
Team-mates Burry Stander (Specialized), Christophe Sauser (Specialized), and Todd Wells (Specialized) in control of the race.
Ryan Trebon (Kona) riding in sixth place.
Todd Wells (Specialized) taking control at the front.
Burry Stander (Specialized) descending behind Todd Wells (Specialized).
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru) descending in seventh place.
Carl Decker (Giant) out-sprinting Jeremiah Bishop (Mona Vie/Cannondale) for third place.
Lene Byberg (Specialized)
Pua Sawicki
Willow Koerber (Gary Fisher/Subaru)
Katerina Nash (Luna Women's MTB) wanted a strong finish as a short track specialist.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) takes command at the start.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) trying to stay with Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru).
Melanie McQuaid (Sho-Air/Specialized) looking strong early.
Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store) riding in the top five.
Kathy Sherwin (Kenda/Tomac)
Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru) wearing a helmet camera.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) and Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher) with a gap on the field.
Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women's MTB) speeding across a grassy off-camber section of the course.
Lene Byberg (Specialzed) leading Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB).
Lene Byberg (Specialized) leading the race in the S-turns.
Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store) in the S-turns ahead of Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB).
Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru) riding towards the most aggressive rider award.
Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store) streaking to the finish for victory.

Stage 7 - April 18: Dual Slalom - Elite men & women

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Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Melissa Buhl (KHS) wins the women's dual slalom final against Jill Kintner (Red Bull)
Michal Prokop took 10th in the men's race.
Sam Hill (Monster/Specialized)
Mike Haderer has a good time on his way to an eighth place finish.
The course was fast but a bit dusty.
Claire Buchar rides to a fifth place finish.
World Champion Gee Atherton
Mike Haderer keeps his bike under control.
Jill Kintner (Red Bull/Intense) is having a great day.
Melissa Buhl (KHS) wins most of her runs easily
Eric Carter (GT) looks very impressive on the course.
Jill Kintner (Red Bull /Intense) focuses on the course.
Kathy Pruitt (Jamis) rides to a third place finish.
Gee Atherton corners hard.
Sam Hill (Monster/Specialized) corners.
Jill Kintner edges out Kathy Pruitt.
Mio Suemasa rides to fourth place.
Jill Kintner (Red Bull) takes a breather after one of her runs.
Cody Warren is one of the fastest riders on the course.
Sam Hill (Monster/Specialized) soars through the air.
The crowd was large for the professional dual slalom races.
Jill Kintner leads Melissa Buhl at the bottom of the course.
Melissa Buhl (KHS) flies through the air to victory in the women's race.
Gee Atherton finishes fourth.
Jarred Rando barely eliminates Gee Atherton.
Sam Hill rides to victory
Cody Warren finishes second and shows off for the crowd after crashing in the finals.
Cody Warren answers questions for the media

Stage 2 - April 17: Super D

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Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Carl Decker (Giant) won the elite men's Super D.
Kelli Emmett (Giant) used her experience to get a strategic win in the women's Super D.
The Sea Otter Classic is always a festival as well as a bicycle race.
Kelli Emmett (Giant) is always a Super D favourite.
Carl Decker (Giant) sporting some cool goggles for the race.
Where there are bike racers there are coffee vendors.
The infield at Laguna Seca Raceway is packed with bicycle industry vendors.
Rachel Lloyd (Proman) is the current USA Super D champion.
Rachel Lloyd's (Proman) Super D race will be her only action for the weekend.
Wenndy Simms (Kona) is also one of the race favorites.
Oakley Girl Rachel Troop
Jason Sager (Jamis) is wearing a movie camera during the race.
Junior Men staging for their race.
Maureen Kunz (Lost Coast Brewery) waiting for her race to start.
Professional men setting their bikes upside down for the Le Mans start.
Robert Marion (Kenda/Tomac) does plenty of mountainous training in North Carolina.
Professional men kneel down and have to touch their heads to the ground for the start.
Professional men must jump up and spin around to claim their bikes before the real race starts.
Professional men running to their bikes.
Christopher Everist gets the hole shot.
Aaron Bradford went on to a second place finish.
Nate Byrom riding to a third place finish.
Carl Decker (Giant) chasing Leland Scott.
Carl Decker (Giant) leads by the end of the climb and goes on to win.
Professional men race down the valley in a cloud of dust.
The Sea Otter Super D course is run on open fire roads.
Men in the distance on a fire road climb, including Jason Sager (Jamis) and Carl Decker (Giant).
Wendy Simms (Kona) gets the hole shot in the women's race.
Rachel Lloyd (Proman) chasing Wendy Simms (Kona).
Kelli Emmett (Giant) overtaking Anina Aaron (Kenda/Tomac) on her way to victory.
Shanon Holder racing out of the saddle.
Rebecca Rusch (Specialized) appears to be having a lot of fun.
Jamie Stamps (Another Bike Shop) climbing out of the saddle.
First year professional Philicia Marion (Kenda/Titus).

Preview

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru) is a favorite in the cross country event.
Luna's Georgia Gould and Catharine Pendrel can be expected to battle in the cross country race.
Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store), the U-23 Pan Am Champion, will be riding for a podium finish.
Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) won last year's downhill and dual slalom races at Sea Otter.
World 4X Champion Melissa Buhl (KHS) will be returning from the World Cup race in South Africa to compete at Sea Otter.
Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air/Specialized) is coming off a win in the Kenda US Cup West series.
The infield at Luna Seca Raceway is crammed with bicycle industry booths.
The dual slalom course at the Sea Otter Classic
Carl Decker (Giant) will be hoping to repeat his 2008 Super D victory.
Sam Schultz (Gary Fisher/Subaru) won the 2008 short track but will compete against a stronger field this year.
Kelli Emmett (Giant) should be the favorite in the Super D race
Katerina Nash (Luna Womens MTB) has been nearly unbeatable in short track over the past several seasons.
World Champion Christoph Sauser (Specialized) is one of the favorites in the men's cross country and short track races.
Burry Stander (Specialized) is coming off an excellent race on home turf at last weekend's World Cup in South Africa.