2009 US Open at Diablo Freeride Park
Well for the the third year in a row we have traveled to Race the US Open at Diablo Freeride Park in Vernon NJ. This year I would be racing in the Am junior division, at 14 years old I'm not allowed to race in AM senior. Also new this year was the addition of a new event, Giant Slalom on the Indy Cross Course.
Another cool thing this year was that Kirt, Travis and a bunch of the Allride Academy members were racing the Open - so i had a great weekend hanging out with my teammates.
First race was Giant Slalom Saturday Night - I did not practice any Giant Slalom because of the heat and the climb to the top of the slalom course - i didn't want to take anything away from my Sunday DH finals run. The GS was a best of two timed runs - I qualified first with a time of 44 seconds and thats pretty much were my timed race runs stayed with my fastest being a 44:25 good enough for Second, Brad Zdriluk was first with a nice 43:68. Congrats Brad.
Sunday came the start of the DH finals 26 Junior men qualified out of 80 riders.....the faster riders go last and since I qualified 3rd I would have to wait til most of the riders went.......well half way thru the group the course went on lightening hold and we were all sent down the mountain to seek shelter after about a hour and a deluge of rain the course reopened and racing resumed on a now wet and slimy course. The next several racers were having tough runs and there times were much slower than the previous dry conditions race runs.......I moved to the gate to take my run I wanted to do my best and hopefully that would result in a win. Well it was definately snotty in some spots but i love riding this mountain in the rain and i think that helped. I came across the timer at 2:42 good enough to win by 6 seconds...such a awesome weekend.
Thanks to Kirt, Travis and the Allride Academy for all the help this weekend I couldn't have done it with out you!
Thanks to Santa Cruz Bicycles, SRAM, Rockshox, Deity Components, WTB, DTSWISS, FOX, Troy Lee Designs, Cycle Center of Stamford, MRP. Thanks Diablo Freeride