MSC #2 - Chalk Creek Stampede Pic's Part 1

Mountain States Cup Race #2 brought us out of the snowy Front Range to the dry & dusty views of Mt Princeton. It was a good weekend of long cross country racing & a world class gravity crew. The cross country course reminded most folks that Fruita was a quick sprint & there is some work to do in the fitness department. The course was flat & dusty with a few quick, loose climbs & no room for rest. 4 laps of the course left most racers feeling cramped & wrecked but Jay Henry & Jenny Smith were able to win both the XC & STXC after a few close battles. The Dales Pale Ale / Spot Brand team was able to hold podium spots on both days as well with Jen Gersbach & Megan Monroe on the endurance side. Michael Vigers also rode to an impressive 5th in the stacked Mens Single Speed category that was dominated by Durango's Cale Redpath. Cale threw down a time that would have placed him 6th in the Pro Men's race, ouch. The gravity fans saw some amazing racing from some of the country's best. Anytime you have to extend the top 5 to the top 6 to include Eric Carter's name you know the field was as thick as a Ten Fidy sporting a bikini in Antarctica. Lyons own Sam Powers (Bitterbrush Cycles) won the Jr Sport Men 15-18 after stepping up from the beginner class last year. It came down to a super close & exciting finish that saw Sam stay focused & erase a .34 second deficit on his 2nd run to win by .001 while his buddies on the BBC crew went wild. What a way to get out of the gate, good job man! With the quality of fields so high at Nathrop can you imagine what it will be like at The Chili Challenge in Angel Fire, NM for round 3 as it will also serv as a world's team qualifier for MX and DH for pros and juniors, a world's team qualifier for MX and DH for pros and juniors, a NMBS for SD, DH and MX, a USAC MTB National Calendar Event (Gravity and XC), A UCI inscripted C2 event for DH and MX & National Championships (pro only) for MX. Damn, that's some HOT CHILE. As you are all thinking SHUT the crap up & show us some pictures, I respond....ok here they are.

Jen & Megan work together to claim 3rd & 4th in the Pro Womens Short Track
03-04 Collegiate D2 Dual Slalom National Champion Monique Hein readies for the DS after racing the Cross Country & Short Track
As always Mike West provides opportunity for photographers in the Short Track, he later went on to a 2nd place in the Expert Men 30+ Dual Slalom
Sam Powers works hard for his first Sport class victory
Wade lets you know who he & Sam represent, BBC yo!

Brian Reipe from Mountain Flyer Magazine also caught a few pic's of the Women's Short Track
Jen G bringing it home under fantastic views of the Collegiate PeaksMegan chasin'