Midwest MTB Racing Recap

by Jay Richards
June 30, 2009

Racing in Mankato at MT Kato ski area for race #4 in the MNSCS highlights this weeks Midwest mountain bike race report.

Bluff Riders Charge

Pretty much ideal racing conditions greeted riders in Mankato, considering MT Kato is typically one of the hottest races of the year as Devin Curran reported in a comment "If it is not hot would not be Kato". Local Stu Hanson reported 3/10ths of an inch of rain the day before which tightened up the loose and settled the dust for most of the day until nearly 400 riders times 2-5 laps  generated dusty conditions late. The Mt Kato course featured around 500ft of climbing per lap and a nice mix of open ski slope and woodsy singletrack with high speeds on loose on top of hard compacted making a technical component. Different courses were set up for each class, as usual. Comp and Elite riders were greeted with the "quick release" descent which featured a tight and twisty rootish downhill leading to a quick drop that forced a few riders off the bike intentionally and unintentionally.

Feeling swine-flu-west-nile-lyme-diseasel-ike symptoms, I opted out of racing but headed south anyways to catch the racing action starting with the Sport racers and help Jake with his feeds and what not in the Elite race. And I thought I would do my best to take take a few pictures of the racers with a camera I am still trying to learn (which was set on settings from taking pictures in a hockey arena, which I forgot to adjust). We arrived shortly before the start for the Sport race and I headed backwards on the course to watch riders come down the last tricky downhill descent. Before the riders came flying by, I watched a mountain bike patrol person get dialed in and a bystander enjoy the woods setting, taking drags on a freshly lit cigarette. Most of the racers that came by cleaned the corner nicely but a few riders coming in hot had some issues but no big crashes and injuries so that was all good as MNSCS photographer Dana Schoppe was also nearby capturing the action. Josh Collins, racing in the 30-34 class pretty much crushed the field, taking the win by over 5 minutes as second place on down was tight as usual in the largest class in cross country racing. Breck Nordic Ski coach, Beckie Alexander took the overall win among all ladies and was eager post race to rub in the fact her husband Wallace couldn't make race day as he was going aero in a tri in Iowa.

Walking up the first climb to watch the Comp and Elite riders roll off, I had to take my sunglasses off to see if the stretch of riders strung out the base area were really all racers ready to get the wheels moving. Nice. Caught word that Pro rider Jason Sager was in town to dice it up with some of the Midwest's finest and knew he would be a rider to watch. The first wave to head out were the Elite riders and Sager wasted no time getting to the front and get down to the business of drilling the field. "I wasn't interested in riding with anyone so went on the attack right off the bat ... I didn't know how I would feel or be able to hold the pace since I spent so much time /riding /last week" Sager reported at the finish line. Sager works for the company Edge which makes bike components such as wheels and had a huge week of product testing and working with Pro Cycling magazine for a future feature story. Sager would ride the entire race in the big ring, taking the win over current series leader Brendan Moore by just over 2 minutes. Sager also reported at the finish line that he wasn't sure he would be racing on the day as his luggage didn't come in the day before and was expecting to either spend the day chilling on the lake with relatives in the Twin Cities or tearing up the dirt at Mt Kato. Sager will continue his visit in the Midwest possibly racing in Wisconsin this weekend before heading back west for US MTB Nationals at Sol Vista in Colorado. Sager also manages the Professional team Jamis. Rounding out top five were Jesse Rients, Iowa fast guy Cam Kirkpatrick, and Sam Oftedahl. 2007 JR National Short Track Champion Eric Thompson rolled in 6th.

In Jr racing action, Michael McBurney held off late charging Jake Richards by 10 seconds as this years Jr phenom Jack Hikens was in Superior,WI hanging out with the family. After getting Jake set with his last feed, I made my way to the quick release descent to watch almost the entire field drop in for some thrills and spills.

In the Women's race, local racer Jenna Zander of North Mankato blew apart the women's field once again taking the lead near the top of the climb using her local knowledge and building form for Nationals to take the win by over 15 minutes!! After the race Jenna reported feeling great and enjoys the challenge of working her way up into the mens field and catching as many riders as she can! Aware of this, Expert male Jan Rybar exclaimed before the start; "Iz have one goal for ze raze. And thatz iz notz to getz pazzed by Jenza Zander before zee zecond lapz". Jenna plans on racing at the WORS race this coming weekend as she fine tunes her form before US Nationals. Racing for the first time this year was the always smiling Jennifer Fisher who reported after the race "my legs felt so great out there since I was racing the first time, was so much fun for a change". The tough and persistent Coorey Coogan grabbed the third spot on the "quick release" descent after passing Rebecca Sauber who yelled out "having a off day". Jennifer Nowlin rounded out the top five. Cody Larson cranking it on a singlespeed took top honors in the Comp race over 75 racers split over two heats.

Almost 60 racers in the Elite field as the series continues to see record turnouts at each race compared the the past five years.

Skinnyski coverage on Bluff Riders Charge

Looking Ahead

WORS drops in on the Fourth of July weekend with race #5, the Chippewa Valley Firecracker, at Lowes Creek Park located at the Eau Claire County Expo Center. "Fast rolling trails with exciting singletrack twisting and turning through Lowes Creek County Park. Open sections provide opportunity to hammer, while technical singletrack will test your skills with tight corners, side hills, creek crossings, quick drops, and power climbs." reports race organizers on the event page. Bonfire, fireworks and a couple of all you can eat deals as well. With venue location having fairly close proximity to Minnesota, expect a handful of Loon Staters to make the trip east.

Word coming in from Duluth about upcoming mountain bike race in mid July at Lincoln Park, a bit of a spin off from the Green Man festival which used to be held at Spirit Mountain featuring an action packed weekend. The Lincoln Park Mountain Bike Challenge and Festival will feature trials competition, cross country mountain bike racing, live music with Two Many Banjos headlining a wide variety of bands and a beer garden to quench the thirst. Also a $1000 cash prize given in a raffle with a mountain bike also to be given away.

Keep the wheels moving!