NORBA USA National Championships - CN

Mammoth Mountain, CA, USA, September 15-18, 2005

Photography

Race 6 - Sunday, September 18: Short Track XC,

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Images by Rocky Arroyo/www.arroyophotography.com

Shonny Vlandingham (Luna) works hard for first place
Adam Craig (Giant) on his way to victory in the STXC
Adam Craig (Giant) celebrates as he wins a national STXC
Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) finished a lap down
Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven Cycles) could be forgiven for taking htings a little easier today
Shonny Vlandingham (Luna) makes it look so easy
Heather Irmiger feels the strain of a dry day at altitude
Shonny Vlandingham dominated on her way to winning the women's race
Dara Marks Marino (Ford/Specialized) took second behind Vlandingham
Heather Irmiger (Tokyo Joe's/Go Lite) took fifth place
New XC National Champion, Mary McConneloug came home fourth
Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkwagon) gets right down near the bars
Heather Irmiger (Tokyo Joe's/Go Lite) was part of a strong women's field
Dara Marks Marino (Ford/Specialized) on her way to a second place finish
Heather Irmiger (Tokyo Joe's/Go Lite) pushes it during the women's race
John Tomac hangs out at the finish area
Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkwagon) focuses hard on the task at hand
I'm gonna eat you for breakfast! Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna) gives it her all during the short track
Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkwagon) works hard during the short track race
Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna)
Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven Cycles) performed quite well after her XC win
Heather Irmiger (Tokyo Joe's/Go Lite) trails Vanlandingham to eventually take a fifth place finish on the dusty course
Chris Eatough (Trek/VW) showed plenty of resolve to still place ninth on a tough and dusty course
Adam Craig (Giant) took control and rode a strong race to win
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) led most of the men's Short Track
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) was travelling in cruise control before a mechanical problem
Adam Craig (Giant) cruises ahead of the dust to win the pro men's Short Track
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) ran after his flat tyre stopped him riding
Damn! JHK picked up a flat tyre while leading the Short Track
Gawwwn! That tyre isn't much use to anyone anymore

Images by Steve Medcroft/Cyclingnews.com

Shonny Vlandingham (Luna) wins easily after her XC disappointment the previous day
Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna Chix) and Sue Haywood (Trek/VW) on the start line. Vanlandinhgam won the race. Haywood came third.
Following her Cross Country National Championship, Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles/Kenda Tires) wasn't able to match the intensity set at the front of the Short Track race and finished fourth.
Vanlandingham started the race still bandaged from her final-mile crash in the Cross Country race on Friday.
Alison Dunlap raced her final professional cross country event on Sunday. During the call-up ceremony, she was awarded a specially-made jersey by her Luna Chix team.
All ceremony aside, Vanlandingham, determined to avenge her cross country loss, was aggressive from the gun.
Vanlandingham, Dara Marks-Marino (Ford/Specialized) and Haywood made up the mid-race lead group.
The Short Track featured a short, steep climb up the finishing features of Saturday's Mountain Cross course.
The leaders race up the Mountain Cross whoops.
Dunlap said she was just happy to be part of the race. She finished eigth.
Vanlandingham broke free with ten minutes remaining in the race and soloed to the win.
Vanlandingham left nothing to chance in the Short Track. She was aggressive, powerful and dominating; the definition of her 2005 NORBA season.
Vanlandingham was visibly relieved after Sunday's Short Track knowing that she would be taking home at least one National Championship jersey.
Mary McConneloug's life partner and teammate Mike Broderick (Seven Cycles/Kenda Tires) set the early pace in the men's Short Track.
Chris Eatough even got into the act to have another chance to race Trek's new all carbon cross country hardtail.
Horgan-Kobelski moved to the front early in the race and made a winning move. But a flat tyre in the final laps bumped him out of the lead and down to seventh on the day.
Mike Broderick (Seven Cycles/Kenda Tires)
The lead group formed, with Adam Craig (Giant), Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher), Todd Wells (GT/Hyundai) and Carl Decker (Giant) making up the group after 3D-racing rider Cody Peterson put in a huge attack to break up the field.
Horgan-Kobelski leading over the mountain cross course climb.
Craig, Horgan-Kobelski and Wells stuck together until JHK made his move.
Adam Craig had no tactical reason to attack Todd Wells in the closing laps, with teammate Carl Decker dangling ten seconds behind.
Wells seemed resigned to team Giant's tactics and settled the pace to try and catch his breath before the final showdown.
Craig attacked up the mountain cross course climb on the last lap to gap 2003 short track national champion Wells and take his first short track national championship.

Race 4 - Saturday, September 17: Mountain Cross,

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Images by Rocky Arroyo/www.arroyophotography.com

Eric Carter (Mongoose/Hyundai) tears up the course to win the mountain cross championship
Jill Kintner (Yeti Cycles) cruises her way to first place
John Tomac (Kenda/Cortez) makes a comeback? Tomac makes an unexpected appearance at Saturday's Super "D" to take 13th overall
Beverly Chaney (Roaring Mouse Cycles) shows her enthusiasm after taking 1st place in the 40+ category

Race 2 - Friday, September 16: Cross Country,

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Images by Rocky Arroyo/www.arroyophotography.com

A dream machine for some… a work machine for others
Lined up and ready for action
Just say cheese… but try your best not to smile
Sam Schultz (U23 National Team) looks very relaxed before the start of the U23 race
Andy Schultz (Cannondale) focusses before the start of the U23 race
Sam Schultz (U23 National Team) handles the curves with ease
Nick Ranno (Trek/VW) works the turn in the U23 race
Andy Schultz (Cannondale) shows no sign of slowing down in the technical sections
Andy Schultz (Cannondale) works the grade
Nick Ranno (Trek/VW) tackles the grade
Start line energy.
Start line energy.
Todd Wells (GT/Hyundai) attacks the technical single track in lap two.
Adam Craig (Giant) tops a hill section on lap two to eventually take 3rd.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher) works the hill portion of the course again in lap two to eventually take 1st place.
Ned Overend (Specialized) still shows that he can work us all at age 50 and come in at 5th place.
Walker Ferguson (Scott USA/Spinner) tackles the climb on lap two.
Adam Craig shows us how to sip oxygen at high altitude, climb and still take 2nd place without showing any sign of grief.
Todd Wells (GT/Hyundai) can still smile while climbing above nine thousand feet.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher) tackled the down hill on the third of four laps.
Walker Ferguson (Scott USA/Spinner) eases into his turns on the third of four laps.
Todd Wells (GT/Hyundai) shows no holding back on his turns on lap three.
Ned Overend (Specialized) takes fifth place, beating more than a few riders half his age.
The men's podium - Ned Overend, Adam Craig, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Todd Wells, and Walker Fegurson.
Quietness at the start line.
Shonny VanLandingham (Luna Women's MTB Team) prepares for the start.
Shonny VanLandingham (Luna Women's MTB Team) prepares for the start.
Shonny VanLandingham (Luna Women's MTB Team) handles the curves on the single track to complete the first of three laps.
Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkswagon) works to complete the first of three laps to eventually take fifth place.
Alison Dunlap (Luna Women's MTB Team) kicks up dust on the first of three laps to eventually take second place.
Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) works her way up the grade on her second of three laps.
Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) serves me some serious dust for lunch on her descent from the first of three laps.
Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven Cycles) shows us a well earned and emotional finish.
Shonny VanLandingham (Luna Women's MTB Team) arrives at the finish in 4th place. Despite a flat tire and a displaced drivetrain, Shonny still showcased an amazing race and a podium finish.
The women's podium - Sue Haywood, Willow Koerber, Mary McConneloug, Alison Dunlap, and Shonny Vanlandingham
The new US national champions - Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Mary McConneloug

Images by Steve Medcroft/Cyclingnews.com

Having a chat... Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher) and Adam Craig (Giant) waiting for the start of the men's U.S. National Championship Cross Country race.
Todd Wells would finish second after four laps of racing.
Inaugural MTB World Champion and hall-of-famer Ned Overend (Specialized) battled Jay Henry (Ford/Specialized) for the final podium spot and won.
Craig and Horgan-Kobelski led the field up the big climb to open the second lap.
Todd Wells never let up his chase and when the two riders immediately ahead of him (Craig and Walker Ferguson) faded, he foudn himself in second place.
Clearly in National Championship winning form. Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna Chix) led the women's race from the first lap. A flat tire and subsequent fall in the final mile saw that lead disappear and left the win for Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles/Kenda Tires).
Willow Koerber (Subaru/Gary Fisher) and Dara Marks-Marino (Ford/Specialized)
Mary McOnneloug stayed close enough to gain the advantage when Vanlandingham suffered a final-mile mechanical.
Former World and defending National Champion Alison Dunlap finshed second behind McConneloug in her second-to-last race before retiring.
Once Horgan-Kobelski established his lead, he never relinquished time.
Adam Craig said he could not properly recover from his recent back-to-back European campaign weekends and raced in "survival mode."
Fresh from a road campaign with HealthNet/Maxxis, former Junior World Champion Walker Ferguson came third in the race and proved he is ready to re-focus on elite-level mountain biking.
Shonny Vanlandingham seemed to have no trouble with the downhills.
Horgan-Kobelski cantered in and finished with no challenger in site.

Race 1 - Thursday, September 15: Marathon,

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Images by Rocky Arroyo/www.arroyophotography.com

Shari Hausbeck (SRAM / ROCKSHOX) ready for race start
Chris Eatough (Trek / VW) climbs the grade on his way to third place.
Chris Eatough (Trek / VW)
Chris Eatough (Trek / VW)
Chris Eatough (Trek / VW)
Arlo Buijten (Titus) attacks the climb on his second lap just above Canyon Lodge
Kip Biese (Cannondale) attacks the climb on his second lap just above Canyon Lodge
Kip Biese (Cannondale)
Gretchen Reeves (Rocky Mountain Cycles) used her World Cup fitness to take victory in the women's race, getting an early gap then consolidating on lap 2.
Gretchen Reeves (Rocky Mountain Cycles)
Gretchen Reeves (Rocky Mountain Cycles)
James Williams (Team Steven K S) climbs the grade just above Canyon Lodge to begin his second of three grueling laps.
Monique Sawicki (Team Mata) ups the heat on the beginning of the second of three laps to eventually take second place.
Monique Sawicki (Team Mata)
Monique Sawicki (Team Mata)
Mandy Eakins (Velo Sport) climbs her way into the second of three loops to eventually take third.
Mandy Eakins (Velo Sport)
Travis Brown (Trek/FRS) rode the technical single track like he was on rails to finish up his second of three laps and eventually take first place.
Chris Eatough (Trek/VW) handled the technical single track well on every lap on his way to third place.
Nat Ross (Subaru - Gary Fisher) eases into a single track on his way to fifth place.
Gretchen Reeves (Rocky Mountain) shows no sign of restraint after completing her second lap.
Monique Sawicki (Team Mata) rolls toward the finish
Travis Brown (Trek/FRS) celebrates his first place finish.
The men's podium - Michael McCalla, Chris Eatough (Trek/VW), Travis Brown (Trek/FRS), Jay Henry and Nat Ross (Subaru - Gary Fisher)
The women's podium - Gretchen Reeves (Rocky Mountain) and Monique Sawicki (Team Mata)