Kenda US CUP Delivers Epic Experience in Fontana

July 22nd, 2010 3:11pm

Kenda US Cup

From the moment we planned to go to Fontana for the second round of the Kenda US Cup West, we knew it would be special. We heard the 4x course was going to be reworked by Eric Carter, the downhill was 80% new and the XC course featured a "climb" or two that boasted 787 feet of elevation per lap on just a five mile loop.

Super D Delivers in a Big Way See Pictures of the Weekend Here. It began with one of the closest finishes this writer has ever witnessed when the Pro Mens Super D contest was decided by just .25 of a second. Giant team mates Adam Craig and Carl Decker put on a two man runaway show where the two raced wheel to wheel for the 3.5 mile short course. Coming down to the hill into the spectator area, Craig led Decker through the tight walled section leading up to the finish line. With about 50 meters to go the two riders stood for a sprint finish with Decker overtaking the Craig in a photo finish

4X - New Track and a firecracker finish Immediately following the Super D was the 4x finals. Much of the buzz this week was that the track was reworked by Eric "EC" Carter. Besides riding with a vengence this year, the legend in the sport has a gift for track design. In one week, Carter managed to pull of the impossible. His track upgrade was actually more exciting to watch, more technical, faster and competitive at the same time. The most significant changes included a burmed first turn instead of the previous flat turn, a reworked launch angle on the first double jump and a complete rebuild of the entire bottom half of the track. the bottom half featured several step up jumps and a series of BMX style rythym sections that offered riders a great risk / reward opportunity - to manual or double if they could carry enough speed. Great for racing and for spectators. It was past world champion versus current world champion in the womens 4x pro final as Jill Kitner went head to head with Melissa Buhl. Kitner stormed out of the gate and was never challenged. But the battle for second raged as Buhl ended up third as she was passed in the last 20 meters by former BMXer Ashley Verhagen. See Pictures of the Weekend Here.

This was Kitners debut return to the mountain after a reconstructed knee surgery and an 12 month MTB lay off as she prepared and competed in the Bejing Olympics in BMX. The Pro Mens final was filled with fire works as the top two qualifiers made their way into the finals. KHS rider Dale Holmes got a great gate and lead the field into the first turn followed by Eric Carter (GT), Blake Carney (Yeti) and Mitch Ropelato (GT). But two corners later Eric Carter was taken out by fellow teammate Ropelato in a questionable passing effort allowing Holmes to ride to the victory uncontested. Not to be taken lightly, Carter returned the favor in the second to the last corner showing the new team rookie what a taste of the World Cup circuit will taste like with riding like that. Heated words were exchanged at the finish line but nothing would take away the victory effort by Dale Holmes.

Downhill - no support from USA cycling, but the fans, they loved it. Keeping pace with the rest of the weekend, the Pro downhillers got to sample a new run also. A short course featuring the dreaded "wall", the new course offered up a more technical top section than in years past. With little rain in recent weeks, the course quickly deteriorated into silt and exposes rocks that until practice were hidden. The constant pounding that experts and pros put it through makes the course one that changes from the first rider down the hill to the last. Local favorite Eric Carter took out the top podium spot as he has done so many times on this mountain over GT teammate Kevin Aiello by just three tenths of a second. Just a second back was third place finisher Cameon Cole. Cody Warren was a tenth of a second off in fourth place with Brad Oien rounding out the podium. Cheering them on was a multitude of fans lining the course. Many having never seen a race before were treated to perfect weather and some great riding. Their enthusiasm and support made the DH "THE" spot to be. For a few minutes there it actually felt like a small world cup event.

XC - the NEW Fontana Course XC is definitely alive in the US. to the tune of 110 Pro riders lining up for the start of Round 2 of the Kenda US CUP -West. Add that to the new look Fontana course and you have a downright World Cup event complete with multiple ascentions of burly climbs. Yes, this new course looked and rode like a world cup event. Fast laps meant the spectators got to see the top guns often, the sheer number of riders ensured you always had someone to watch and the course had so many good vantage points. While all things change, one thing remains the same. The winners of the mens and womens races has been dominated by Geoff Kabush (Rocky Mountain) and Georgia Gould (Luna). Infact Kabush has never been defeated here and Gould is sporting a three race win streak. But they did not win it that easily. While Kabush always looked strong and in control, he did have to battle the Sho-Air team of Canadian Max Plaxton and Sid Taberlay (ShoAir). Although he had led most of the race Plaxton had to settle for second place. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru) out-sprinted his teammate Sam Schultz for third. Adam Craig (Giant) rounded out the podium in fifth. The race turned out to be quite tactical as Plaxton and Sid Taberlay (ShoAir) were the only team with numbers among the leaders, but Kabush's experience paid off as he waited patiently and allowed his preseason training to pay off. Gould and Luna teammate Catherine Pendrel had a slugfest at Southridge Park in the women's race. Gould's superior power on the flats allowed her to take a 36-second victory over Pendrel. A resurgent Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru) took third convincingly, while 20-year-old Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store), fresh off her Under 23 Pan American Championship win, took fourth. See Pictures of the Weekend Here.

The Companies that make this happen The Fontana race really stepped up to the plate this year. Don &Team Big Bear really did a superior job at mixing up the courses this year - the only way they could have done better is if they could control the weather and order some rain just before the event a little each evening to get things packed down again. They also put together food and industry vendors that really makes this an event. Lets not forget we have sponsors like Kenda and Sho-Air to thank. Kenda always seems to step up to the plate for all disciplines and we are all fortunate to have found an ally in Scott Tedro of Sho-Air without whom this weekends racing would not have been such a success. Lets be sure and support these quality companies and let them know we appreciate their commitment to the sport we love.