Ranch Style 2011 Dual Slalom Competition Results

May 11th, 2011 1:21pm

How do you top a great Dirt Jump competition loaded with big names, one-upping each other on every run? If you’re Ranch Style, you include a competition for the fasted mo-fo’s in North America on THE best dual slalom course in the US and shake well.

But don’t be mistaken, this isn't an after thought event. Dual slalom has been a staple part of the Ranch Style weekends festivities long before they became an official FMB tour stop. And at dual slalom time, even the Dirt Jumpers put on their race faces and throw down in the man-o y man-o format. In case you didn’t stick around, the same kids that have no fear when hucking big air most wouldn’t think about, can also handle a bike and bang some bars.

What makes this competition super cool is that amateurs get to race on the same course as their hero’s.

This year’s jump competition winner Greg Watts came back after celebrating his Saturday win and getting stoked watching the super cross finals to test his race skills. Fellow podium finishers Kelly McGarry (3rd) and Tyler McCaul (5th) also took the opportunity to mix it up with the full time gravity gang.

Like everything about Ranch Style, the men’s pro-field was legit - filled with most of North Americas finest gravity riders. Names like Ropelato, Del Bosco, Sternberg, Buell, Voreis and Strait, made sure the path to the top step of the podium would not be easy.

With tail winds chasing the competitors down the course, the riders qualified and raced each other in and out of the trees on there respective courses, occasionally coming together before splitting apart again to go down their own tree lined paths. Switch lanes, repeat, and may the best man win. Winners were based on the combined time differential of the two runs. (2.4 seconds was the maximum time differential allowed on any run on the 50 second course)

Qualifying times saw Team Geronimo(Banshee bikes) placing three riders in the top third of the field with Brian Buell setting the fastest qualifying time. Mitch Ropelato was second, Chris Del Bosco third and first time pro racer Cody Kelly sitting fourth.

Like the dirt jump competition, the excitement and speed of the racing continued to grow each round all the way through the finals. Instead of getting tired, these guys just  got faster.

Round after round went down until only four men were left in the semis (all top four qualifiers). It would be Ropelato (2) vs Del Bosco (3) in one match-up and Buell (1) vs. Kelly(4) in the other.

Del Bosco beat Ropelato in the first race run as Ropelato crashed pushing hard to make up ground. The multiple X-games medalist just had to stay on Ropelato's wheel on the second run on the faster right side to move to the final.

Top qualifier Brian Buell (Team Geronimo) was the smoothest rider all day long and continued his streak by taking out Cody Kelly in flawless fashion.

A perfect final was on tap with the fastest and most consistent rider of the day, Brian Buell going against the power and big stage experience of Chris Del Bosco (Cove Bikes).

The first heat saw Buell take a .4 tenth of a second win over Del Bosco. Buell choosing the faster lane for the first heat. The second heat saw Del Bosco lead Buell into the critical quad section and sandy right hand turn applying the pressure. Buell responded by sliding out on the next turn giving Del Bosco the victory.

It was an amazing weekend all around. Having been to many events over the last few years, it ranks among the best. You could see and feel the riders ratcheting up the speed every round. Even though it was a super chill event, these guys are competitors and winning may not be everything, but it sure beats losing.

Side Note --

The race was only Chris Del Bosco’s (Cove Bikes) second race in the last 5 plus years. A comeback in many ways, a former national DH champ Del Bosco walked away from bikes and achieved success in Snow Cross competitions around the world including medaling in both X-games and the Olympics. Del Bosco won the 2011 ski-cross World Championships in April and two days later rode his new Cove downhill bike for the first time racing the first round of the PRO Gravity Series event in Port Angeles just two days after that. Del Bosco finished 23rd just six seconds out of first in a 90 plus pro-field.

Thrilled yet not surprised by the result, US Distributor Ernest Vogel stated,  “I think this win is just the tip of the iceberg of what Chris can and will do on a bike this year”.

We believe him.

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Men's Pro Results

1) Chris Del Bosco - Cove Bikes

2) Brian Buell - Team Geronimo

3) Mitch Ropelato - Steve Peat Jr. Syndicate

4) Cody Kelly - Unspoken for (hint)

Team Geronimo showed up with the dominant team and Brian Buell showed everyone the dominant qualifying time. Buell looked smooth all day and his times showed it.

Here is Buell sending the quads on his qualifying run much to the delight of the ladies...

Winner and still ripper - Greg Watts showed up on Sunday morning to take two practice runs and throw in a solid qualifying run. Staying low over the quads on his dirt jumper.

Seventeen year old Cody Kelly in his first Pro Race. Qualified and finished fourth. Not bad for your first pro outing. Judging by his style, he has a future.

The  right hand turn following the rhythm section gave riders fits all day. If you cleared the quad, the entry speed was super fast and top was soft sand. Strength and perfect balance on the bike was key to cleaning this corner with speed.

It was the most important corner on the course.

Brian Buell going against Tyler McCaul in the heat. Buell would move on, but McCaul gave him a good run.

When you push it hard, you get close to the edge and small mistakes can cost you. Kurt Voreis coming to terms with the speed and corner following the quad section.

Mitch Ropalato styles to third place eliminating his good friend Cody Kelly in the small main.

Chris Del Bosco showing some moto style as he gets into the soft stuff and makes the save. Chris qualified third while and used the day to work the rust off his game.

Chris Del Bosco using both sides of the berm. Still working off the rust.

Ranch Style is awesome because the track is sick and the amateurs get to ride the same course as the pro's . You can ride the quad pack any number of ways. High, low, manual, double-double, etc etc etc.

This amateur race shows you two ways.

Brian Buell (red)  leads Chris Del Bosco (white)  over the double in heat one and to the finish line by a half second.

It's a dead heat over the quad jump - final heat as Del Bosco (Cove Bikes) pressures Buell (Banshee Bikes) into a mistake just two corners later for the victory.

No matter how sketchy the podium is, it's always good to be on it. Especially on top.

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